Nearly $53 Million for Maine National Guard Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $52,600,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the Maine National Guard in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“The brave men and women of the Maine National Guard are always ready to assist our state and keep residents safe when disaster strikes, playing a critical role in our national security,” said Senator Collins. “The proposed funding for these four projects would enhance the Maine Guard’s readiness while ensuring modern and safe working environments and reducing maintenance costs. As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“We are extremely pleased Senator Collins is pursuing Congressionally Directed Spending funds for projects that would vastly improve the Maine National Guard’s overall capabilities,” said Brigadier General Diane Dunn, the Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard. “Initiatives on a fuel cell hangar and aircraft maintenance facilities, as well as upgrades to both the Woodville Training Center and Southern Maine Readiness Center, would significantly enhance our refueling capabilities and better support our military readiness. As a noteworthy secondary effect, improving our own facilities in Maine would enable us to serve as a desirable training venue for units from other states and even active service components.”
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2025 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 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.
Funding advanced by Senator Collins is as follows:
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron / Aircraft Ground Equipment Facility
Recipient: Maine Air National Guard
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount Requested: $800,000
Project Purpose: To support planning and design of a new aircraft maintenance and ground equipment facility.
Maine Air National Guard Hangar
Recipient: Maine Air National Guard
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount Requested: $50,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct a hangar at the Air National Guard base in Bangor, ME.
Southern Maine Readiness Center
Recipient: Maine Army National Guard
Project Location: Saco and Scarborough, ME
Amount Requested: $800,000
Project Purpose: To support planning and design of a Maine National Guard Readiness Center.
Maine National Guard Woodville Training Center
Recipient: Maine Army National Guard
Project Location: Woodville, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To support updates to the Woodville Training Center range complex.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending.? Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024.? As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championingtargeted investments that willbenefit Maine communities.??
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