US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $14,566,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine law enforcement and public safety upgrades. These projects were included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now await consideration by the full Senate and House.
“It is critical that the men and women who make up Maine’s finest and bravest have access to the most effective equipment to better protect themselves and our communities,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would improve public safety efforts and emergency response capacity throughout Maine. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 CJS Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bills to be considered by the full Senate.
Funding advanced by Senator Collins for Maine law enforcement and public safety upgrades in the FY 2026 CJS Appropriations bill is as follows:
Cornish Public Safety Communications EquipmentRecipient: Town of CornishProject Location: Cornish, MEAmount Requested: $218,000Project Purpose: To purchase public safety communications equipment.
Farmington Police Department Public Safety EquipmentRecipient: Farmington Police DepartmentProject Location: Farmington, MEAmount Requested: $240,000Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Hancock County Public Safety Equipment Recipient: Hancock County Project Location: Hancock County, ME Amount Requested: $2,300,000 Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment for law enforcement agencies in Hancock County.
Kennebunk Public Safety Communications Equipment Recipient: Town of KennebunkProject Location: Kennebunk, MEAmount Requested: $5,018,000Project Purpose: To purchase public safety communications equipment.
Lewiston Police Department Public Safety Equipment Recipient: Lewiston Police DepartmentProject Location: Lewiston, ME Amount Requested: $2,170,000Project Purpose: To purchase protective gear and other public safety equipment.
Lincoln Police Department Public Safety Equipment Recipient: Lincoln Police DepartmentProject Location: Lincoln, ME Amount Requested: $565,000Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Rumford Police Department Public Safety Equipment Recipient: Rumford Police DepartmentProject Location: Rumford, ME Amount Requested: $1,000,000 Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Equipment Recipient: Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Project Location: Somerset County, ME Amount Requested: $294,000 Project Purpose: To increase evidence storage capacity and purchase public safety equipment.
Veazie Police Department Public Safety Equipment Recipient: Town of Veazie Police DepartmentProject Location: Veazie, ME Amount Requested: $125,000 Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Waldo County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety EquipmentRecipient: Waldo County Sheriff’s OfficeProject Location: Waldo County, MEAmount Requested: $688,000Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment for law enforcement agencies in Waldo County.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety EquipmentRecipient: Washington County Sheriff’s OfficeProject Location: Washington County, MEAmount Requested: $187,000Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment for law enforcement agencies in Washington County.
Wells Police Department Emergency Response VesselRecipient: Wells Police DepartmentProject Location: Wells, MEAmount Requested: $599,000 Project Purpose: To purchase an emergency response vessel and related equipment.
Winthrop Public Safety Communications EquipmentRecipient: Town of WinthropProject Location: Winthrop, ME Amount Requested: $1,162,000Project Purpose: To purchase public safety communications equipment.
This funding builds on the more than $12 million Senator Collins secured for fire stations and emergency services throughout Maine in the FY 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill.
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.