Senator Collins Advances Nearly $6.5 Million for Maine in Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 29-0
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $6,418,000 for Maine Congressionally Directed Spending requests in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Act.
The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 29-0, provides $16.950 billion in discretionary funding, including $43 million in defense funding and $16.764 billion in non-defense funding. The bill also includes $143 million for disaster relief.
"Supporting business development and training programs in Maine’s coastal communities is critical to ensuring our future workforce has the tools they need to succeed in new and growing fields like aquaculture and innovative technologies,” said Senator Collins. “As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Funding advanced by Senator Collins for projects in Maine in the FY 2024 FSGG Appropriations bill is as follows:
Economic and Business Development Training for Lobstering Communities
Recipient: Island Institute
Project Location: Coastal towns from Damariscotta to Eastport, ME
Amount Secured: $1,477,000
Project Purpose: To provide financial education, income diversification training, and business skill development for Maine lobstermen.
Sunrise County Economic Council Small Business Training
Recipient: Sunrise County Economic Council
Project Location: Machias, ME
Amount Secured: $541,000
Project Purpose: To expand technical assistance, training, and startup programs for small businesses in Washington County.
UMaine Kelp Nursery and Aquaculture Demonstration Farm
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: South Bristol, ME
Amount Secured: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct a kelp and shellfish aquaculture demonstration farm to support the development of innovative technologies and practices.
This funding advanced through the markup of the FY24 FSGG 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.
