$2.5 Million for Maine Air National Guard Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

The funding now heads to the President to be signed into law

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $2.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to support the planning and design of a new aircraft maintenance and ground equipment facility for the Maine Air National Guard. The projects in this bill were approved as part of the negotiation that Senator Collins led to reopen the federal government. This funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. The legislation, which was officially approved by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, will now be signed into law by the President.

"From assisting our communities when disaster strikes to supporting our national defense, the brave men and women of the Maine National Guard are always ready to serve," said Senator Collins. "As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this funding to enhance the Maine Guard's readiness while ensuring modern and safe working environments and reducing maintenance costs."

"Maine National Guard is grateful for Senator Collins continued support and efforts to pursue proposed funding for a new maintenance and equipment facility at the Bangor Air National Guard Base," said Brigadier General Diane Dunn, the Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard. "The project will benefit the Maine National Guard, the state, and the nation. A modernized facility will help ensure that our Maineiacs are equipped and ready to conduct refueling operations for years to come. Our tankers are critical to our country's defense strategy. We are excited that is one step closer to approval."

Currently, flightline maintenance and ground equipment maintenance operate out of two separate and undersized facilities. This project will combine operations under one right-sized facility for the 101^st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor, helping to reduce response times.

Earlier this year, Senator Collins secured $50 million for the Maine Air National Guard to construct a new hangar in Bangor. This funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 full-year continuing resolution.

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 Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

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