Senator Collins Officially Becomes Chair of Appropriations Committee

Collins is the first Mainer in 92 years to lead the powerful Committee

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins officially became Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Committee holds jurisdiction over all discretionary spending for the entire federal government.

First elected in 1996, Susan Collins ranks seventh in Senate seniority and is the most senior Republican woman. She is the first Republican woman to be elected to a fifth term, the first Republican woman to Chair the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the first Mainer to Chair the Committee in 92 years.

"I am honored to be the first Maine Senator in nearly a century to lead the Committee, and I remain committed to working to ensure that federal spending produces real results for the American people and that our state's needs are met," said Senator Collins. "As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, my priorities will remain helping Maine's communities, funding lifesaving biomedical research, investing in rural communities by supporting education, workforce, and child care programs, strengthening our national security, and improving our infrastructure."

Senator Collins joined the Appropriations Committee in 2009. Last Congress, she served as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. In previous years, she has also served as Chair and Ranking Member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee and Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee.

In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending for non-profits and state and local governments. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects in FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024 legislation. This federal funding promotes job creation, workforce training, and economic development; expands access to health care; supports law enforcement; improves public safety, education, infrastructure, and community resources; and protects our environment. As Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins will continue to work to secure such targeted investments that benefit Maine communities.

The last Mainer to lead the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Frederick Hale, served as Chair from December 1932 to March 1933, and as Vice Chair from March 1933 to January 1941.

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