U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, addressed the Senate before a procedural vote on legislation to reopen the federal government. The measure includes a clean continuing resolution and three full-year Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills.
The proposed continuing resolution would immediately reopen the government, extend funding through January 30th, and provide back pay to all federal workers. It does not contain additional policy provisions.
The legislation features final FY 2026 appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Legislative Branch agencies. These bills had previously passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support.
Senator Collins said: “Mr. President, today the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced legislation to reopen government immediately, funding vital programs, and resuming pay for federal workers, who for the last 40 days have had to live with the stress of missed paychecks and not knowing when they would be paid.
“Under our legislation, all federal employees, including members of our military and Coast Guard, Capitol Police officers, Border Patrol agents, TSA screeners, air traffic controllers – all will receive their back wages.
“It is significant that this measure also includes three full-year Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills, including the annual Agriculture, FDA bill, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs legislation – very timely given that Veterans Day will soon be upon us – and the Legislative Branch funding bill.
“This three-bill package, which originally passed the Senate on August 1st with overwhelming bipartisan support – 87 votes in two cases and 81 in another – will support our veterans, troops, farmers, and rural communities. Of note, this package will provide full-year funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. One of the most unfortunate and shameful consequences of this shutdown has been that these vital nutrition programs were in jeopardy for our most vulnerable families, including 170,000 Mainers who rely on the SNAP program.
“Other programs will be funded through January 30th while the Senate and House continue work on the remainder of the year-long appropriations bills. For example, funding for important programs like Head Start and low-income heating assistance will now be restored.
“I look forward to voting for this legislation and ending the unnecessary harm to the security of our families and our nation.
“We must begin to act tonight. We must not delay any longer.
“Finally Mr. President I want to thank the many members on both sides of the aisle of the Appropriations Committee and the Senate Leadership who have worked especially hard to bring this package together. And I would be remiss if I did not also thank our staff. My staff missed an entire night’s sleep to get this package together and get the job done.
“Thank you Mr. President Again I want to particularly thank the members of Appropriations Committee including those who serve as Subcommittee Chairs Senator Boozman Senator Hoeven Senator Mullin I want to thank Senator Britt who did an extraordinary amount of work Lisa Murkowski Mike Rounds Jerry Moran Shelley Moore Capito Cindy Hyde-Smith Deb Fischer there’s so many who worked so hard on this package I want to thank each every one them
“Let’s get job done let’s do it fast.”
The measure aims to ensure continued operation of key federal programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants Children), which faced uncertainty during recent government shutdowns affecting thousands of families across states like Maine.
