WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, reported Aug. 4 that  all five of the Congressionally Directed Spending requests that she submitted for the Fiscal Year 2022 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill have been approved in committee.

 The bill was passed by the Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 25-5 and will now be considered by the full Senate.  The funding included in the final bill would help support four Maine dredging projects as well as a $ 2 million wood-fiber research project at the University of Maine, according to a news release from the office of Sen. Susan Collins.

During the Appropriations process, Senator Collins submitted a total of 110 Congressionally Directed Spending requests amounting to more than $286 million across nine Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bills.  The funding will support projects by Maine’s state government, municipalities, and non-profits that will promote job creation and economic development, improve infrastructure, expand community resources for Mainers, and protect our environment.  The text of the remaining Appropriations bills will be released over the next several weeks.

“As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I have long championed investments that benefit Maine’s communities and families,” said Sen.Collins.  “These critical dredging projects for Maine harbors and rivers will help address significant safety and navigational concerns for commercial fishermen and cargo vessels as well as recreational boaters.  In addition, the funding for research at UMaine will provide a boost to our forest products industry and increase buildings’ energy efficiency.  I will work hard to champion these projects as the Appropriations process moves forward in order to benefit our state and the people of Maine.”

Details on the four Maine dredging projects Senator Collins requested are below:

Searsport Harbor

Amount: $5,850,000

Project Purpose: To complete maintenance dredging of Searsport Harbor. The Army Corps of Engineers’ initial request for this project was $4,200,000.  Senator Collins helped secure the additional $1,650,000 necessary to meet the revised work plan, complete the dredge, and maintain the navigation channel.

Josias River

Amount: $150,000

Project Purpose: To study and plan for a maintenance dredge of Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine. Perkins Cove supports commercial fishing, charter fleets, and recreational boating.

Isle au Haut Thoroughfare

Amount: $100,000

Project Purpose: To begin the Environmental Assessment and related processes to prepare for a maintenance dredging of a 60-year-old federal navigation channel.

George’s River

Amount: $75,000

Project Purpose: To conduct a survey of the channel and anchorage of the George’s River to prepare for a maintenance dredge.

Details on the UMaine research project Senator Collins requested are below:

Wood-fiber Insulated Panels for Modular Construction and Retrofit Applications

Amount: $2,000,000

Project Purpose: To research and develop a novel manufacturing methodology for structural, environmentally sustainable, and energy efficient roof and wall construction assemblies. This research has the potential to improve the performance and affordability of newly-constructed energy efficient buildings and enhance the energy-efficiency of existing buildings.