Senator Collins secured more than $127 million for Maine drinking water, wastewater, and PFAS-related water infrastructure, plus additional PFAS research funding for Maine-based institutions.
What Collins secured for Maine’s clean water
- FY 2026 Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Funding: Collins secured $59,063,000 for Maine drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects as part of the FY 2026 Interior-Environment Appropriations Act, which passed Congress in January 2026.
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — Water and PFAS Funding, 2021: Collins was part of the core group of senators who negotiated the BIL. Maine received $68,390,000 through the EPA State Revolving Fund. The law included $10 billion for PFAS and emerging contaminants nationally.
- PFAS Research Funding, FY 2023–2024: Collins secured $8 million in FY 2023 for the University of Maine and $17 million in FY 2024 for the New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory (USDA). Combined: $25 million.
Why does this matter?
More than half of Maine residents get their drinking water from private wells. PFAS contamination has directly affected Maine dairy farms, private wells, and municipal water systems.