AUGUSTA, Maine - The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has unanimously recommended the $56.5 billion measure to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the next budget year.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins chairs the subcommittee that crafted the bill.
"This bill makes vital investments in our nation's infrastructure, helps meets the housing needs for the most vulnerable among us and provides funding for economic development projects in our communities that provide much-needed jobs," Collins says.
Among the provisions Collins believes will help Maine is an increase from $500 million to $525 million for the so-called TIGER grant program that helps build large projects in states.
The measure also provides funding to continue federal housing subsidies for the poor and the community development block grant program. The Senate and House have differing funding levels and those differences will need to be worked out before a final bill is passed.
