Senate Advances Funding Bills That Make Important Investments in Veterans Health Care, National Security, and Infrastructure

Statement

By a vote of 86-5, the Senate passed a bipartisan appropriations "minibus" today that includes the fiscal year 2019 Energy and Water, Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch funding bills. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, successfully pushed for a number of provisions that were incorporated into the final bill. The legislation now awaits further consideration by the House of Representatives.

"As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and a Subcommittee chairman, I am pleased that the Senate voted to advance these three funding bills, putting Congress on the path to pass all 12 Appropriations bills through regular order," said Senator Collins. "This appropriations minibus includes a number of important provisions that will support veterans, strengthen our national defense, and improve our infrastructure. The broad support this legislation received reflects the hard work by Committee members to craft bipartisan bills that make smart investments in our nation's priorities."

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