Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $14,420,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for requests to support coastal resiliency projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Maine’s working waterfronts are integral to our State’s heritage, economy, and culture,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would allow towns and cities throughout Maine to renovate their docks and piers, as well as support resiliency improvements to protect against flooding. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Details on the Maine coastal resiliency projects Senator Collins requested through the FY24 THUD appropriations bill are below:
Town Dock Improvements
Recipient: Town of Bucksport
Project Location: Bucksport, ME
Amount Requested: $4,100,000
Project Purpose: To allow Bucksport's dock to provide services year-round.
Castine Town Dock Improvement
Recipient: Town of Castine
Project Location: Castine, ME
Amount Requested: $288,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade the Town of Castine's floating dock and piling arrangements to preserve vessel access.
Rockland Downtown Waterfront Redevelopment
Recipient: City of Rockland
Project Location: Rockland, ME
Amount Requested: $4,060,000
Project Purpose: To redevelop the middle pier and related facilities in the downtown waterfront.
Searsport Municipal Pier Improvements
Recipient: Town of Searsport
Project Location: Searsport, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To complete municipal pier improvements in Searsport.
Augusta Front Street Resiliency
Recipient: City of Augusta
Project Location: Augusta, ME
Amount Requested: $3,972,000
Project Purpose: To promote economic development in Augusta’s downtown district and Kennebec River waterfront area by supporting resiliency improvements to Front Street, which experiences frequent flooding.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 THUD 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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