U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement on the President’s budget proposal that was recently released:
“It is disappointing that the President is proposing to slash funding for many vital programs such as homeland security grants, funding to help low-income families and seniors heat their homes, and funding for Medicaid and Medicare.
“Particularly troubling is that despite the clear need for additional funding for the LIHEAP program, the President is proposing to cut the program by 22 percent. With home heating costs this winter forcing people to choose between medicine and heat, the President should have included much more than $2 billion in his request. I will continue to seek additional funds to help meet the needs of low-income families and seniors this winter.
“I am concerned that the President is proposing to double the capacity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). At a time when energy prices are at record highs, it simply does not make sense for the Department of Energy to purchase more oil for the SPR. As I recently explained in a letter to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, for the federal government to be taking oil off the market and thus further driving up prices at a time when consumers are struggling to pay their fuel bills simply defies the laws of supply and demand. It is also a bad deal for taxpayers for the Department to be purchasing oil when prices are sky high. In addition, this is contrary to requirements that I coauthored with Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), that were included in the 2005 energy act.
“The President’s proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid spending over the next five years would be devastating to many of our nation’s low-income families and seniors. While the President did propose a modest increase for the SCHIP program, it is essential that we fully fund this program to help ensure that low-income children have access to health care.
“The President’s budget includes $16.9 billion for shipbuilding, an increase of $2.5 billion over last year’s request. These funds will help to achieve the Chief of Naval Operations goal of 313 ships by providing funding for one DDG-1000, the Navy’s next generation surface combatant; two littoral combat ships; two joint high speed vessels, all of which Bath Iron Works is helping to design and build. It is also appropriate that the President has proposed a pay increase of 3.4 percent for all of our brave men and women in the military.
“The budget also calls for major cuts to homeland security grant funding, which is unacceptable. Although the President proposes to increase the Department of Homeland Security’s overall budget by $3.5 billion, he slashes the grant programs that provide vital resources to our first responders and protect our nation’s critical infrastructure. These grant programs have been chronically underfunded since 2004.
“This year’s budget proposes only $200 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, a reduction of almost $600 million from the current level. Moreover, the proposed funding for FIRE Act grants is cut in half, and the targeted interoperability grants, which Senator Lieberman and I authorized last year, are not funded at all. All states, including Maine, rely on these grant dollars for first responder activities such as emergency planning, risk assessments, equipment, and training exercises. A funding reduction of this magnitude will be a severe blow to states’ abilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to terrorist attacks and other emergencies.
“It is positive news that the budget would provide $2 billion for climate change research, including funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to restore some satellite sensors important to climate change research. In addition, the Administration has made it a priority to provide funding for Maine’s
Forest Legacy Program, ranking the Machias River project as its top environmental conservation project.
“The President has proposed an increase in funding for the Pell Grant program, which I have long supported. And the budget continues to fund the rural education program, REAP, a program I authored.
“This is only the first step in the budget process. I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve the proposed budget.”