Bill to Fund Key Interior and Environmental Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee

07.25.24

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

The measure, which was advanced by vote of 28-1, provides $41.9 billion in discretionary funding.

"This legislation provides funding for programs that support Maine's public lands, national parks, and tribal programs, and conservation efforts. Helping to ensure healthy and resilient communities, the legislation also supports critical upgrades to water and wastewater systems that will provide clean drinking water and mitigate increasing flood risks," said Senator Collins. "As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advance this funding as the appropriations process moves forward."

Bill Highlights:

Local Projects: More than$45 million for Congressionally Directed Spending projects in Maine.

Carbon Neutrality of Biomass: Includes a provision that recognizes biomass as carbon neutral across federal agencies.

Funding for Acquisition at Maine Wildlife Refuges: $1.5 million for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and $1 million for the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge.

Brownfields Grants: $99.4 million for the Brownfields Projects Grant, as well as $46.8 million for Brownfields Categorical Grant.

Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF): $1.6 billion for the Clean Water SRF and $1.13 billion for the Drinking Water SRF.

Community Wood Energy Program: $15 million for the Community Wood Energy Program.

Water System PFAS Support Funding: $117 million for EPA's Public Water System Supervision categorical grant, including $13 million directed at addressing PFAS.

Rural Water Technical Assistance Grant Program: Nearly $33 million and the continuation of report language directing that funding be awarded competitively. This includes $27.8 million to provide technical assistance to small and rural public water systems under the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act.

Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC): $6 million for the NSRC. A collaboration among universities in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, the NSRC sponsors research to sustain the health of northern forest ecosystems and communities, to develop new forest products, improve forest biodiversity management, and to establish a Digital Forestry Systems Research Consortium.

National Estuary Program (NEP): $42 million for the NEP. The Casco Bay Estuary Partnership and Piscataqua Region Estuaries are members of the NEP.

Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program: $6 million for this program, which supports many communities throughout Maine.

This funding advanced through the markup of the FY 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 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.

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