Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $13,085,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for health care workforce training in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Maine and states across the country continue to face a shortage of trained health care workers and are struggling to meet the growing demand for medical treatments and services,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would support important programs throughout Maine that are dedicated to filling these gaps in our nation’s health care workforce. 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 Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate.
Funding advanced by Senator Collins is as follows:
CMCC Nursing Education Equipment Enhancement
Recipient: Central Maine Community College (CMCC)
Project Location: Auburn, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To purchase nursing education equipment.
EMCC Nursing and Allied Health Education Simulation Expansion
Recipient: Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC)
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount Requested: $6,510,000
Project Purpose: To construct and equip a nursing and allied health care simulation laboratory and learning center on campus.
Health Care Training Center Renovations
Recipient: University of Maine Farmington
Project Location: Farmington, ME
Amount Requested: $1,900,000
Project Purpose: For facilities and equipment to support a new Health Care Education Center.
Health Care Training Equipment Upgrades
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Presque Isle, ME
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Purpose: To purchase equipment for the health care profession programs at the University of Maine Presque Isle.
NMCC Nursing and Allied Health Education Simulation Expansion
Recipient: Northern Maine Community College (NMCC)
Project Location: Presque Isle, ME
Amount Requested: $650,000
Project Purpose: To purchase labor and delivery simulation equipment.
Growing Maine’s Dental Workforce
Recipient: Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine
Project Location: Statewide
Amount Requested: $525,000
Project Purpose: To purchase equipment to train independent practice dental hygienists.
Maine Statewide CNA Training Program
Recipient: Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education DBA Maine Medical Education Trust
Project Location: Statewide
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To support certified nursing assistant training for long-term care.
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.
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