Susan Collins

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleague from Virginia Senator Kaine that would reauthorize the only federally funded programs specifically designed to develop a healthcare workforce focused on the care of older Americans. The Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act would reauthorize two programs important to training specialists who care for our older adults: the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program and the Geriatrics Academic Career Awards Program. The number of Americans age 65 and older is growing. In 2020, there were just three States in which senior citizens outnumbered children: Maine, Vermont, and Florida. Today, there are 11 States that have more seniors than children, and Maine has the oldest population in the Nation. The percentage of the U.S. population over age 65 rose by 3 percent, to 18 percent, in just 1 year. The fact is, the United States is facing a shortage of geriatric health professionals and direct service workers to support our aging population. The American Geriatrics Society projects that we will be short some 1,700 geriatricians by the year 2036. Fewer than 7,000 of our Nation's nearly 1 million physicians are board-certified geriatricians. We need to train 1,600 geriatricians per year over the next 9 years to fill that gap. Complicating this shortfall is the fact that as many as 90 percent of our older adults either have or will develop one or more chronic health conditions. So you put together many chronic conditions, an aging population, multiple medications, and changes that naturally occur in aging, and you have a situation making caring for older adults ever more complex and challenging. In any given year, it is expected that 30 percent of older adults will require specialized geriatric care. Today, there are 42 Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Programs in 37 States. I am pleased that since the last reauthorization in 2019, this list has expanded to include such a program in the State of Maine. It is located at the University of New England. For Maine, with an aging population of more than a quarter of a million Mainers over the age of 65 and only 36 geriatricians, there is an acute need to train more geriatric health professionals and direct service providers quickly to meet this growing demand. Maine's program, known as AgingME, has brought much needed support to communities and families throughout the State. For example, AgingME has worked with other training and geriatrics-serving partners to develop a postgraduate credentialing program in geriatrics. Students who participate in the program complete more than 2,000 hours of training in medically underserved communities and rural areas of Maine. AgingME has also worked to increase the number of community-based learning programs, such as falls prevention education programs in rural areas. It has also helped to connect family caregivers with resources for Alzheimer's and related dementias through its website and through partnerships with Maine's Area Agencies on Aging. Nationally, the geriatric workforce program has produced significant outcomes. In 2022, the most recent reported year, Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Programs trained nearly 72,000 students, professionals, patients, caregivers, and faculty. These programs were also able to offer faculty development training programs and activities, provide outreach and education to families and caregivers on care delivery for older adults, and train patients in self-management of their conditions. More than 2.2 million individuals have been trained through these programs, of whom 57 percent were patients and their caregivers. And all of us know the vitally important role that family caregivers play in taking care of their older relatives, often their parents. But we also know that they need help in doing so, including training. Approximately a third of the courses offered focused on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Patients and caregivers also took courses on other topics related to the health needs of older adults, such as geriatric health, emergency response training, and community health. Our legislation would also reauthorize the geriatrics career advancement award program. Established in 1998, this program was created to increase the number of faculty engaged in geriatric education. Transitioning from clinical training and practice into an academic faculty role can be challenging. It requires gaining new skills as an educator, skills not typically taught in clinical training programs. Geriatrics Academic Career Awards support early career development for emerging leaders by providing funding that supports their efforts to develop skills as an educator in geriatrics. The Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act would reauthorize these two vitally important programs at a combined amount of $48.2 million per year over the next 5 years. It really is a modest investment that will help ensure that our older Americans have the expert care that they need, that their caregivers are provided with training, that other support employees and healthcare providers receive the skills that they need as well. Together, these programs will continue to train the current workforce and family caregivers while developing a cadre of emerging leaders in geriatric education in a variety of disciplines. In doing both, we can help to ensure that our aging Americans will be cared for by a healthcare workforce specifically trained to meet their unique and often complex health needs for decades to come. This will lead to improved care for older Americans while saving valuable resources and reducing unnecessary costs. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation to strengthen and extend these two important programs.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to wish the town of Hudson, ME, a very happy 200th birthday. The people of Hudson are proud of their hometown and the generations of hard-working and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families. Hudson's incorporation in 1825 was but one milestone on a long journey of progress. For thousands of years, the region, with its pristine waters and vast forests, was the hunting grounds of the Penobscot Tribe. Early settlers began arriving around 1800 and turned those resources into busy lumber mills, followed by a furniture factory and cooper shops. The wealth produced by the land, and by hard work and determination, was invested in a church and several schools to create a true community. In 1824, the settlement became a plantation--a pre- incorporation designation unique to Maine--called Jackson, in honor of the hero of the War of 1812 who would later become our Nation's seventh President. In 1825, the plantation was fully incorporated as Kirkland, after an early settler. Finally, in 1855, the name was changed to Hudson, recognizing the Massachusetts hometown of many residents. During the Civil War, Maine contributed a higher percentage of its population to abolishing slavery and preserving our Union than any other State, and Hudson played a significant role in contributing soldiers and supporting the war effort. Today, the Veterans Memorial Park stands as an inspiring tribute to all the men and women of Hudson who have defended our freedom throughout history. Little Pushaw Pond, Pushaw Lake, and the lovely connecting stream running through fields and forest give Hudson a refreshing rural feel. At the same time, the nearby city of Bangor and the flagship University of Maine campus at Orono offer the arts and entertainment activities that make life in Hudson truly the best of both worlds. The energy that so many have devoted to this year's exciting bicentennial celebration is but one example of the spirit that has guided Hudson from its founding to today. Thanks to those who came before, Hudson, ME, has a wonderful past. Thanks to those who are there today, it has a bright future.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am about to propound a unanimous consent request that will allow this body to proceed with three appropriations bills that were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support. I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, and at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 121, H.R. 3944, and the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn; that during the consideration of H.R. 3944, the Collins substitute amendment, No. 3411, which is the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill and the Agriculture appropriations bill, be considered an Appropriations Committee amendment for purposes of rule XVI, with no other rule XVI points of order waived by this agreement; that H.R. 3944, as engrossed by the House of Representatives on June 25, 2025, and H.R. 4121, as reported by the House Appropriations Committee on June 25, 2025, serve as the basis for defense of germaneness under rule XVI for any floor amendments and that it be in order for floor amendments to amend the substitute in more than one place; that the following managers' package of amendments be considered and agreed to en bloc to No. 3411: The Paul amendment No. 3070, Shaheen-Grassley No. 3430, Smith No. 3025, Hirono No. 3409, Rounds No. 3081, Rounds No. 3082, Budd-Shaheen No. 3416, Hawley No. 3080, Rosen-Cortez Masto No. 3208, Cornyn No. 3073, Hirono No. 3110, Shaheen No. 3431, Klobuchar No. 3418, Crapo-Rosen No. 3163, Blumenthal No. 3433, Booker-Tuberville No. 3200, Moran No. 3190, Crapo-Merkley No. 3220; and that upon adoption of the managers' package, the only amendments in order be the following amendments, if offered, to No. 3411; that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate vote in relation to these amendments: No. 1, Merkley amendment No. 3114, Blumenthal No. 3432, Murphy No. 3447, Van Hollen No. 3115, Duckworth No. 3466, Tuberville No. 3413, Kennedy No. 3414, Kennedy No. 3415, Scott No. 3113, Johnson No. 3428; further, upon disposition of the amendments listed above, the Senate vote on adoption of the substitute amendment No. 3411, as amended, with a 60-affirmative vote threshold required for adoption; that the bill as amended, if amended, be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended, with a 60-vote affirmative threshold required for passage; finally, notwithstanding passage of H.R. 3944, as amended, if amended, it be in order to consider amendment No. 3412, this is the Legislative Branch appropriations text; the Senate vote on adoption of amendment No. 3412, and if adopted, H.R. 3944 be further amended and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, where applicable, the amendments be called up as modified to reflect that they are drafted to the substitute amendment No. 3411.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that there be 2 minutes of debate equally divided prior to each vote in relation to H.R. 3944.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I just want to thank our colleagues on both sides of the aisle. It has taken a great deal of work, good faith, and negotiation to get to this point. I particularly want to thank the vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray, for her leadership in this area. I want to thank all of these subcommittee leaders on both sides of the aisle and the members of the subcommittee for really doing an exceptional job in drafting the bills that I hope we will pass and send on to the House for negotiation in conference.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, notwithstanding Rule 232, I ask unanimous consent that upon disposition of Calendar No. 121, H.R. 3944, as amended, if amended, the Senate vote on confirmation of the Rinaldi nomination, and following disposition of the nomination, the Senate execute the order in relation to the Woll and Kent nominations.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity, also, to thank Leader Thune for his willingness to bring these appropriations bills before the full Senate. I also thank our Democratic counterparts for working with us to come up with this rather complex time agreement. But it is one that will allow different voices to be heard on both sides of the aisle. I am very pleased that the Senate is proceeding to consideration of these appropriations bills. Congress has responsibility--a constitutional responsibility--under article I for the power of the purse. We are executing that responsibility by proceeding to these bills. These bills all mean a great deal to each of us. I want to give my colleagues just some idea of the amount of input that these subcommittees on the Appropriations Committee have received from our colleagues. To give you an example, on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill, we have had, literally, thousands of requests of support, of suggestions from our colleagues from more than 87 of our colleagues. That is very typical. In fact, this past week, when we reported the Defense appropriations committee bill, I think we reached a record high of 95 Senators weighing in with their suggestions, their requests for funding, their suggestions for programmatic changes or support. Those 95 Senators requested and submitted more than 14,000 different letters or inquiries or suggestions for us. My point is that a great deal of input has gone into the drafting of these bills. That is the way the process should work. We have had a thorough committee process, with hearings and input from noncommittee members. We have marked up these bills at the subcommittee and full committee levels, and that is what we like to see. I am very proud of the fact that Maine, the State of Maine, which I am so proud to represent, has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the entire Nation. That is why the funding that is provided by this bill has a special meaning to me, because I know that my State has more than done its part, and I want to ensure that our veterans have access to the benefits and the healthcare they have earned. My own father was a World War II veteran who was wounded twice in the Battle of the Bulge, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. It was wonderful to go to the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge and to actually talk to a veteran who had been in the same division as my father. It was deeply moving. When you read about the bravery of those in that historic battle, which was a turning point in World War II, you can't help but be filled with a sense of awe and gratitude to those who have sacrificed so much for our Nation. I know that the Presiding Officer has also done his part for our country, and I am grateful that he is presiding today as we take on the Military Construction and Veterans' Administration bill. We also will be taking up the Agriculture appropriations bill--again, a very important bill for the State of Maine. I grew up in Northern Maine, where potatoes are the major crop, along with broccoli. Maine is also known for its great, wild blueberries. The University of Maine is known for its agricultural research program, and there is funding for that in this bill. In short, those two bills, plus the bill for the legislative branch, are the ones we will consider today, and I hope at some point we can return to the Commerce-Justice-Science bill--another very important bill that passed easily from our committee. I would note that the Agriculture appropriations bill was reported by our committee unanimously. Every one of the bills was passed with great bipartisan support. So I just wanted to give that general background. We will shortly begin processing the amendments, and there will be very little time for both sides to speak, but I am hopeful that we can make the kind of progress we want to see and use the August time--I am not going to call it a recess or a work period--to talk with our House counterparts, to do some conferencing and get these bills signed into law before the start of the fiscal year on October 1. That is the way the system should work.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, in a moment, we will begin votes on an appropriations package that includes the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and the Agriculture, FDA, and Rural Development appropriations bills. We will also have the opportunity to consider the fiscal year 2026 Legislative Branch appropriations. These bills were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in overwhelmingly bipartisan votes. I gave a longer floor speech last week on the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs funding bill, so I will focus my comments now on the Agriculture-FDA and Legislative Branch appropriations. The Ag-FDA bill was approved unanimously by the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this month. It is a carefully crafted bill that supports our farmers and rural communities; the safety of our food supply; critical Federal nutrition programs like the WIC Program; and medical research and advancements. The bill invests in agricultural research that is vital to our farmers as they work to improve the quality, safety, and affordability of our food supply. The dollars invested in these programs, like the potato and blueberry research lines that are so important to my home State of Maine, have yielded significant improvements to the industries they support. The bill also invests in research facilities across the country, like the University of Maine Forest Health Lab, to ensure that we can continue to lead in agricultural innovation. This legislation also supports the administration's request in the areas of food safety and rural housing, and it provides much needed investments in animal and plant health programs to protect our agricultural and natural resources. It also maintains support for our rural areas to ensure that communities in Maine, and, indeed, across the country, have accesses to the resources they need to continue to thrive in these challenging times. Turning now to the fiscal year 2026 Legislative Branch bill. This legislation provides funding for Congress and the offices and agencies that support our work. It provides an increase for the Capitol Police to help them meet the expanding mission requirements to keep Members safe and Members' staff and visitors to the Capitol Complex safe. The number of threats against Members of Congress has, unfortunately, increased significantly over the past few years. This bill reflects a bipartisan commitment to address these security concerns. Again, I want to thank the vice chair; Senators Boozman and Ossoff, the chair and ranking members of the MILCON-VA Subcommittee; Senators Hoeven and Shaheen, the chair and ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee; and Senators Mullin and Heinrich, the chair and ranking member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, for their hard work and dedication. Finally, let me note that these are fiscally responsible bipartisan bills, and I urge my colleagues to support them. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to execute the order with respect to Calendar No. 121, H.R. 3944.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 3411 and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, first, let me announce to our colleagues that we are on the verge of an accomplishment that we have not done since 2018, and that is, pass appropriations bills across the Senate floor prior to the August recess. (Applause.) That is exercising our constitutional responsibility for the power of the purse, and it would not have happened without the extraordinarily hard work of the members of the Appropriations Committee. My colleague the vice chair, Patty Murray--Senator Murray has been determined to reach this goal. I also want to commend the leadership of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and I hope Legislative Branch Subcommittees for their work on the fiscal year 2026 bills. Again, I think we can all be pleased that the Senate lived up to its responsibilities tonight. Let me just end by thanking Leader Thune for bringing these bills to the Senate floor.

Ms. COLLINS. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, it is so disheartening that the Senator from Maryland is not taking to heart the eloquent words of the Senator from Kansas. Let me make a point very clear. The Senator from Maryland is not being denied the opportunity to offer an amendment on this issue. Indeed, the unanimous consent request which the Senator from Kansas put forth specifically recognizes, makes room for, allows the Senator from Maryland to offer his amendment. What we cannot do is guarantee that he will be successful in his amendment. That is the way the legislative process works. But he is not, in any way, being denied the opportunity to offer his amendment, to debate his amendment, to make the case for his amendment. Yet he is opposing this unanimous consent agreement. That is so disappointing because I know that the Senator from Kansas and the Senator from Maryland have worked together to craft an excellent bill and an important bill. The Commerce-Justice-Science bill supports programs that enjoy overwhelming bipartisan support and are critically important to communities in every single one of our States, including the State of Maryland. The State of Maryland, for example, has the Goddard Space Flight Center. It is funded functionally at $200 million above the fiscal year 2025-enacted level. There are many other provisions in this bill that directly benefit the State of Maryland, represented by the Senator. There are programs in this bill that need our support. It includes the National Weather Service. It warns Americans of life-threatening weather events. It includes everything from tornadoes in the Midwest; hurricanes in the gulf and on the Atlantic seaboard; ice and snow storms; blizzards in New England and in the Northeast in general; flooding events such as the tragic flooding that we saw in Texas just recently and, just last night, the risk of catastrophic tsunamis in the Pacific. The American people are counting on us to ensure that the Weather Service is able to execute its safety-of-life mission as well as to deliver a reliable forecast each morning. The legislation funds public safety programs that are so important to our police departments, our sheriffs, law enforcement in general, the FBI. It funds programs that help combat substance abuse and drug trafficking. It also supports pro-growth programs that are so strongly supported by so many Members of this Chamber. These include the overwhelmingly popular economic development assistance programs at the EDA; the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. So many Senators wrote to us about the importance of that program; trade promotion for our smaller businesses provided by the International Trade Administration. There is a program run by the Commerce Department that is particularly important to my State of Maine and to some 30 other States, and that is the Sea Grant program, which helps our fishing and lobstering industries, our seafood and fishing processors, and our coastal communities. It supports American leadership in scientific research. That includes the cutting-edge research supported by the National Science Foundation in critical fields like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. We absolutely cannot cede our dominance in these fields to China. That is why this bill is so important. I would urge my colleagues to call the presidents and the chancellors of your States' public and private universities and ask them for their thoughts on the value of the National Science Foundation's supported research. I can predict that you will be told just how important it is that we fund the NSF, and that is what we have done in this bill. Of course, this legislation supports NASA--one of the jewels of the U.S. Government and our country. I know that the funding for NASA is particularly important in States with a major NASA presence, including Maryland--Maryland--as well as Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, California, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Louisiana. A final note on this bill: The allocation for the Senate version of this legislation, the CJS legislation, is $79.7 billion. This is very close to the amount that the House subcommittee has reported. So this is a bill that we could send to conference with the House and be assured that we could get a product to send to the President's desk to be signed into law to avoid a continuing resolution that just puts these important programs, these vital Agencies, on autopilot. We don't want to do that. We want these important programs, these vital Agencies and Departments, to reflect the deliberation, the debate, and the hearings that we had through the Appropriations Committee. Let's not miss this opportunity. Let's not kick the ball down the road and hope that somehow it can be worked out. Again, let me emphasize what I believe to be the absolutely key point here: No one--no one--is denying the Senator from Maryland the opportunity to offer his amendment on the Senate floor. There are many Members of this body who decided to withhold amendments that they might want in the interest of expediting consideration of this package. But in the case of the Senator from Maryland, we knew that he had this amendment that he cares about, and we have accommodated his ability to offer his amendment as part of the unanimous consent request. So, therefore, I would implore the Senator from Maryland to withdraw his objection and allow us to proceed with this package of four appropriations bills--bills that came out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan support, bills that were carefully drafted, bills that reflect the input from so many Members of this body, and I would urge him to let us get on with the business of the Senate.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, the information required by rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate related to congressionally directed spending items is included in the Committee reports (Senate Reports 119-37 and 119-43) that are referenced in Senate amendment No. 3411 to H.R. 3944. I hereby incorporate that information into this disclosure by reference.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, the information required by rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate related to congressionally directed spending items is included in the committee reports (Senate Reports 119-37, 119-43, and 119-44) that are referenced in Senate amendment No. 3038 to H.R. 3944. I hereby incorporate that information into this disclosure by reference.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill with my colleague Senator King that will help the hard-working loggers across this country affected by severe storms and natural disasters. This legislation would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide payments to eligible logging businesses that have experienced at least a 10 percent loss as a result of a federally declared disaster. In Maine alone, logging has a roughly $582 million annual economic impact and is the backbone of the forest products economy. In Maine and in many places across the country, the logging industry has felt the effects of severe weather events and warmer than normal winters. Each winter, Maine experiences many storms. Two particularly bad storms, in December 2023 and January 2024, were designated Federal disasters. These storms were detrimental to many industries, but especially logging, as the winter months are usually the best months for loggers to harvest timber when the frozen ground makes access easier. The rainstorms saturated the ground, and the mud made it much more difficult to operate and transport heavy logging equipment without disturbing the soil underneath. These storms also closed bridges and roads on important trucking routes, hindering the movement of equipment and employees to logging sites. For example, the December 18 storm washed out a bridge on a vital trucking route that forced an 80-mile detour for wood being distributed to both northern and southern markets. According to the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, this December wind and rainstorm in Maine resulted in more than $2.5 million in losses. Despite these documented losses, there is currently no Federal program to assist loggers who have been affected by federally declared disasters. That is why I am introducing the Logger Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would authorize income replacement for logging contractors equal to 10 percent of eligible gross lost revenue from the previous calendar year. Funds received under this program can only be used for operating expenses. Our legislation is modeled off of the successful Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program, which I created during the COVID pandemic to provide much needed aid to our timber harvesters. I am grateful for the Professional Logging Council of the Northeast and the American Logging Council's support of our legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join in this effort to support one of our country's core economic drivers in times of natural disasters.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill with my colleague Senator King that will help the hard-working loggers across this country affected by severe storms and natural disasters. This legislation would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide payments to eligible logging businesses that have experienced at least a 10 percent loss as a result of a federally declared disaster. In Maine alone, logging has a roughly $582 million annual economic impact and is the backbone of the forest products economy. In Maine and in many places across the country, the logging industry has felt the effects of severe weather events and warmer than normal winters. Each winter, Maine experiences many storms. Two particularly bad storms, in December 2023 and January 2024, were designated Federal disasters. These storms were detrimental to many industries, but especially logging, as the winter months are usually the best months for loggers to harvest timber when the frozen ground makes access easier. The rainstorms saturated the ground, and the mud made it much more difficult to operate and transport heavy logging equipment without disturbing the soil underneath. These storms also closed bridges and roads on important trucking routes, hindering the movement of equipment and employees to logging sites. For example, the December 18 storm washed out a bridge on a vital trucking route that forced an 80-mile detour for wood being distributed to both northern and southern markets. According to the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, this December wind and rainstorm in Maine resulted in more than $2.5 million in losses. Despite these documented losses, there is currently no Federal program to assist loggers who have been affected by federally declared disasters. That is why I am introducing the Logger Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would authorize income replacement for logging contractors equal to 10 percent of eligible gross lost revenue from the previous calendar year. Funds received under this program can only be used for operating expenses. Our legislation is modeled off of the successful Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program, which I created during the COVID pandemic to provide much needed aid to our timber harvesters. I am grateful for the Professional Logging Council of the Northeast and the American Logging Council's support of our legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join in this effort to support one of our country's core economic drivers in times of natural disasters.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to complete my remarks before we proceed to the vote.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, today, the Senate has the opportunity to begin the consideration of an appropriations bill that is vital to those now serving in our military as well as those who have served--our veterans. I urge my colleagues to support cloture on the motion to proceed to the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill when we vote this afternoon. This bill addresses key military infrastructure needs, including housing improvements for military families, and it takes care of our Nation's veterans, to whom we owe an enormous debt--a debt that can never be fully repaid. I am the daughter of a World War II veteran, who was wounded twice in the Battle of the Bulge and who earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. I know, from my father's service and from his example, how deep our gratitude should be to our veterans. I want to commend the subcommittee chairman Senator Boozman and the ranking member Senator Ossoff for their cooperative work on this important bill. In a moment, I will describe some of the major aspects of this appropriations bill, but, first, I would like to share a few thoughts on how we have arrived at this point. When Vice Chair Murray and I took the helm of the Appropriations Committee last Congress, we committed to working together to get our committee back to the business of writing bills and advancing them through regular order so that each and every Senator could have a voice on the Senate floor in offering amendments, debating the bills, and voting on them. This is a fundamental responsibility of Congress. I want to express my gratitude to the Senate majority leader Senator Thune for giving us the opportunity to bring the first of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills to the Senate floor. I would note that this is something that did not happen last year under Democratic control of the Senate despite our Appropriations Committee working so hard and reporting 11 of the 12 fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills; but not a single one was brought to the Senate floor by the Democratic leader. Now, there is no doubt that this is a challenging legislative environment. We are currently operating under a yearlong continuing resolution. The delays in completing the fiscal year 2025 process and the fact that we are in the first year of a new administration has contributed to a late and incomplete budget request from OMB. In the face of these challenges, the members of the Appropriations Committee have worked so hard--for months--in analyzing the President's budget request, holding dozens of hearings, reviewing the enormous number of requests and inputs from other Senators, getting input from outside groups that were affected, and drafting legislation. So far, our committee has reported 4 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, and we have another two on the agenda for this Thursday. I would point out to the Presiding Officer and to everyone who is listening that each of these bills reported to date has been approved by overwhelming bipartisan support, reflecting the collaborative approach taken by the Appropriations Committee. Turning now to the bill at hand, last week, our committee reported, by a vote of 26 to 3, the House-passed Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill with a Senate substitute amendment. The Senate's version includes vital resources to support our servicemembers. It also invests in critical military infrastructure. For example, it includes funding for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME--a pillar of our defense infrastructure that maintains and modernizes our Navy's submarine fleet. It invests in the Air National Guard's air refueling wing in Bangor, ME, known as the MAINEiacs, which delivers essential aerial refueling support to military operations around the globe. These are just two of the many examples of how this bill helps to sustain key defense installations in Maine and across the country. The bill also includes funding to ensure that our veterans receive the care and the benefits that they have earned through their service to our country. Millions of Americans wear the honorable title of ``veteran,'' and I am proud that our great State of Maine has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the entire country. This bill includes funding for the VA healthcare system, including Maine's only VA hospital, Togus. It includes investments to improve mental health care, such as veterans' suicide and homelessness prevention programs. It includes support for family caregivers--something that former Senator Elizabeth Dole has worked so hard on--and it expands care for rural veterans. I am also proud that my hometown of Caribou, ME, was the location of the VA's very first community-based outpatient clinic, known as a CBOC, allowing veterans to receive care much closer to their homes. This model was so successful that today the VA operates more than 750 of these CBOCs across the country. The Senate measure also funds important veterans' benefits, such as disability pensions, the GI bill, and employment training programs. I know from my colleagues that the Senate's substitute amendment was put together with input from 89 Senators who submitted a total of 989 requests. I see my colleague the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee on the Senate floor. I am sure he can relate to these numbers. My point is, this is not a bill that simply reflects the views of the members of the Appropriations Committee. The members of this committee went through 989 requests from 89 Senators in drafting this legislation. So it clearly reflects the input of our colleagues, just as it should. Before I close, I would like to thank Vice Chair Murray for her leadership and commitment to an appropriations process that works. I am hopeful that cloture will be invoked today to allow us to proceed to consideration of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill. Discussions are underway on whether to add to this vehicle the Legislative Branch appropriations bill, which was approved with only one dissenting vote, and the Agriculture, FDA, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which received unanimous support when our committee reported those bills earlier this month. I will have comments on those other bills at a later time. Another possible addition is the Commerce-Justice-Science bill, which was also reported last week from our committee. Finally, I would note that the responsibility of the purse is vested in Congress through article I, section 9, clause 7 of our great Constitution. That clause dictates that ``no Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.'' The appropriations process is one of the key ways--it is the key way that Congress carries out this significant constitutional responsibility. We must not abdicate our constitutional responsibility for the purse. I ask my colleagues for their support. I yield the floor.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to vote for cloture on the motion to proceed on the bipartisan fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I want to thank the majority leader for bringing this important legislation to the Senate floor. This bill would address key military infrastructure needs, including housing improvements for military families, and would provide the funding to ensure that veterans receive the care and benefits they have earned through their service to our country. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported this measure in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 26 to 3. I ask my colleagues to support the motion to allow the Senate to begin to work its will on this important funding bill and to fulfill our constitutional responsibility. I yield the floor.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I certify that the information required by Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate related to congressionally directed spending items for H.R. 3944, as reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee, has been available on a publicly accessible congressional website since approximately 10 am Eastern Time on July 18, 2025.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague from Minnesota Senator Smith to introduce the Kay Hagan Tick Act Reauthorization. I would also like to recognize Senator King, who is joining as an original cosponsor. Our bill is named after our colleague, former Senator Kay Hagan, who passed away in October 2019 due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize Federal programs that provide local communities and States with resources for prevention, early detection, and treatment of tick-borne and other vector-borne diseases. Tick-borne diseases like Lyme have become a significant public health concern, with the incidence exploding over the past 20 years. The number of Americans with tick-borne diseases has been rising at an alarming rate. In 2003, Lyme disease infected around 30,000 Americans. Last year, there were an estimated 500,000 cases, an increase of 1,400 percent. In my Sate of Maine, we recorded a record 3,200 cases of Lyme disease in 2024, and experts predict a increase in tick populations this year after a winter that was not consistently cold enough to reduce their numbers. Far too many Americans with Lyme disease experience a complex diagnostic odyssey that takes months or even years. One of my constituents, Adina Bercowicz from Yarmouth, shared with me her harrowing journey of diagnosis and treatment after a tick bite during her pregnancy. Prior to getting sick, Adina was working full-time and regularly attended yoga and martial arts classes, had an active social life, and traveled frequently for work. She then began to experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, sharp joint pain, memory loss, cognitive decline, and migraines. It took several doctors and dozens of tests for Adina to be diagnosed with late-stage, chronic Lyme disease, but at this point, her symptoms were debilitating. She still struggles with daily symptoms, but along with her husband Yan, has worked to found LymeTV, a nonprofit in Maine that seeks to raise awareness about Lyme disease. In addition to the physical and emotional toll that Lyme disease can impose, it also can be expensive. Medical costs of Lyme disease are estimated at $2 billion per year. When accounting for indirect medical costs, including inability to work, in some cases, the annual costs balloon to $75 billion per year. A correct and early diagnosis can reduce costs and improve the prognosis. We have a long way to go, but I am encouraged that we have made progress since the original Kay Hagan Tick Act was signed into law in 2019. For example, a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine for people is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research. Reauthorizing the Tick Act would allow crucial developments such as these to continue. The Tick Act uses a three-pronged approach to address Lyme and other tick and vector-borne diseases. First, it would require HHS to continue to implement and update as appropriate its National Strategy for Vector-Borne Disease. This strategy was required by the original legislation and released in 2024. I look forward to working with the Department to achieve its target of reducing the number of Lyme disease cases by 25 percent by 2035. Second, the Tick Act would reauthorize the Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease, which Congress established in 2017 in response to Zika. Since then, tick-borne diseases have accounted for three in four vector-borne diseases in the U.S., and these centers have led the scientific response. Our legislation would reauthorize funding for these centers for another 5 years. Finally, the bill would reauthorize funding for CDC grants, awarded to State Health Departments, to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness for vector-borne diseases. The Kay Hagan Tick Act takes a comprehensive approach to address tick-borne diseases. I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague from Minnesota Senator Smith to introduce the Kay Hagan Tick Act Reauthorization. I would also like to recognize Senator King, who is joining as an original cosponsor. Our bill is named after our colleague, former Senator Kay Hagan, who passed away in October 2019 due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize Federal programs that provide local communities and States with resources for prevention, early detection, and treatment of tick-borne and other vector-borne diseases. Tick-borne diseases like Lyme have become a significant public health concern, with the incidence exploding over the past 20 years. The number of Americans with tick-borne diseases has been rising at an alarming rate. In 2003, Lyme disease infected around 30,000 Americans. Last year, there were an estimated 500,000 cases, an increase of 1,400 percent. In my Sate of Maine, we recorded a record 3,200 cases of Lyme disease in 2024, and experts predict a increase in tick populations this year after a winter that was not consistently cold enough to reduce their numbers. Far too many Americans with Lyme disease experience a complex diagnostic odyssey that takes months or even years. One of my constituents, Adina Bercowicz from Yarmouth, shared with me her harrowing journey of diagnosis and treatment after a tick bite during her pregnancy. Prior to getting sick, Adina was working full-time and regularly attended yoga and martial arts classes, had an active social life, and traveled frequently for work. She then began to experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, sharp joint pain, memory loss, cognitive decline, and migraines. It took several doctors and dozens of tests for Adina to be diagnosed with late-stage, chronic Lyme disease, but at this point, her symptoms were debilitating. She still struggles with daily symptoms, but along with her husband Yan, has worked to found LymeTV, a nonprofit in Maine that seeks to raise awareness about Lyme disease. In addition to the physical and emotional toll that Lyme disease can impose, it also can be expensive. Medical costs of Lyme disease are estimated at $2 billion per year. When accounting for indirect medical costs, including inability to work, in some cases, the annual costs balloon to $75 billion per year. A correct and early diagnosis can reduce costs and improve the prognosis. We have a long way to go, but I am encouraged that we have made progress since the original Kay Hagan Tick Act was signed into law in 2019. For example, a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine for people is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research. Reauthorizing the Tick Act would allow crucial developments such as these to continue. The Tick Act uses a three-pronged approach to address Lyme and other tick and vector-borne diseases. First, it would require HHS to continue to implement and update as appropriate its National Strategy for Vector-Borne Disease. This strategy was required by the original legislation and released in 2024. I look forward to working with the Department to achieve its target of reducing the number of Lyme disease cases by 25 percent by 2035. Second, the Tick Act would reauthorize the Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease, which Congress established in 2017 in response to Zika. Since then, tick-borne diseases have accounted for three in four vector-borne diseases in the U.S., and these centers have led the scientific response. Our legislation would reauthorize funding for these centers for another 5 years. Finally, the bill would reauthorize funding for CDC grants, awarded to State Health Departments, to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness for vector-borne diseases. The Kay Hagan Tick Act takes a comprehensive approach to address tick-borne diseases. I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, the Town of Whiting, ME, observes its bicentennial this July with a 3-day celebration that includes a Revolutionary War reenactment, displays of antique farm and lumbering tools, historical presentations, quilts and other local crafts, great food, and good friendship. This long-planned event demonstrates why Whiting prides itself on being a small town with a big spirit. The Revolutionary War reenactment is especially significant as one of the early settlers of the wilderness of far Downeast Maine after America won its independence was a hero of that conflict, General John Crane. A Massachusetts carpenter, Crane was a leader of the Sons of Liberty and was the only rebel injured during the Boston Tea Party. Crane recovered and was commissioned as a Continental Army artillery officer who distinguished himself at Bunker Hill. Despite losing part of a foot to a cannon shot in 1776, he continued to serve and became the top commander of the U.S. Corps of Artillery. After the war, a grateful new nation granted the remarkable patriot a land grant on the coast of Maine. With vast forest lands and fast-moving rivers, General Crane's settlement soon became a bustling lumber center with two sawmills. The fertile soil produced productive farms of crops and livestock, and pristine lakes, ponds, and streams supported abundant wildlife. When the general died in 1805, he was laid to rest with honors in the village cemetery. Originally called Orangetown, after the river that powered the sawmills, the town was renamed Whiting upon its incorporation in 1825 after Timothy Whiting, an early settler and the town's first representative to the Maine Legislature. Today, Whiting is a nature lover's paradise of gorgeous scenery and year-round outdoor recreation. The beautifully maintained Union Meeting House, built nearly two centuries ago, is a wonderful example of traditional New England church architecture and a worthy addition to the National Register of Historic Places. Another major landmark is the Mill Pond Dam, built in 1830 where the Orange River meets Whiting Bay. In addition to creating a place of scenic beauty, the pond created by the stone dam has long been a crucial source of water for firefighters. Many residents recall how that precious water saved the town from destruction during a massive forest fire in 1985. In addition to structural repairs, the dam needed a new fish passage. The Orange River is designated as Critical Habitat for Atlantic Salmon and supports herring and other important fish species and wildlife important to the economy and the ecosystem. The people of Whiting stepped forward with investments of more than $1 million for the watershed restoration project, and I was pleased to join the effort by securing $2.9 million in Federal funds. During the legislative process, many students at Whiting Village School wrote letters supporting the Mill Pond Dam project. When I discussed this funding with my Senate colleagues, those letters made a difference. It was impressive to see young people getting involved in the future of their community. This 200th anniversary is not just the passing of years. It is about the people who for more than two centuries have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a community. My congratulations to the people of Whiting, ME, and my best wishes for the future.