Millions for Brownville, Monson fire stations secured by Collins in funding bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins R-Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $29,875,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine fire stations and public safety facilities in the Fiscal Year  2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. The bill, which passed the Senate and was approved by the House of Representatives, has been signed into law.

Among the recipients are the towns of Brownville and Monson. Brownville will receive $2,770,000 to renovate a fire station and Monson will receive $3 million to construct a fire station.

This funding builds on the more than $12 million in Congressionally Directed Spending Collins secured for Maine fire stations and emergency services in the FY 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill, and the more than $14.5 million for Maine law enforcement and public safety projects included in the FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill.

“There is an enormous need to update fire stations throughout the State of Maine to ensure both the safety of our brave first responders and our communities,” Collins said. “This funding will help to improve public safety efforts and emergency response services throughout Maine. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this important funding.”  

In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Collins has secured nearly $1.5 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, FY 2024 and FY 2026. As the chair of the Appropriations Committee, she is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.