More than $1.6 Million for MDI Biological Lab Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $1,607,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the MDI Biological Laboratory in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“The scientists at the MDI Biological Laboratory are conducting impressive research to improve efficiency in drug discovery, helping to lower the cost of prescription drugs,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help to improve and expand the research capabilities at MDI, supporting their important work to improve human health. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“These advanced biotechnologies hold game-changing potential for identifying beneficial medicines and weeding out those with unwanted side-effects, early in the drug development pipeline. That will avert late-stage failures that drive up the cost of pharmaceuticals for everyone,” said President of the MDI Biological Laboratory Hermann Haller, M.D. “We are grateful for Senator Collins’ unwavering commitment to biomedical research, education, and development. It will ensure that the U.S. and our state remain at the forefront of a revolution in biotechnology and medicine, and it will save lives.”
This funding would support MDI Biological Laboratory’s efforts to construct an additional space and purchase related lab equipment to expand capacity for the development of emerging drug discovery technologies.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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