Senator Collins and Colleagues Successfully Secure the Release of Crucial Education Funding for Schools and Afterschool Programs

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced it will officially release critical Fiscal Year 2025 funding to support 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which provide afterschool and summer learning opportunities for students. This announcement comes in response to alettersent this week by Senator Collins and some of her Republican colleagues to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), advocating for the release of anticipated education formula funding. Senator Collins also personally spoke to Education Secretary Linda McMahon to advocate for the release of this frozen funding yesterday.
“21stCentury Community Learning Centers support low-income families and rural communities with after-school programs and summer education that enable students to thrive and parents to continue working. This funding was appropriated by Congress and is relied on by many in our state. I am so glad my colleagues and I were able to work together to effectively urge the Administration to get these funds released. There is more funding that still needs to be disbursed, and I will continue to work to ensure it is delivered swiftly so educators can prepare for the upcoming academic year with certainty and Maine students and families have the resources they need to succeed,”said Senator Collins.
Specifically, the letter, led by Senator Capito (R-WV) and Senator Collins, requests that the Administration faithfully implement theFiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which Congress passed and President Trump signed into law earlier this year. The letter was also signed by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). The complete text of the letter can be readhere.
As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and a founding member of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, Senator Collins has been a strong supporter of 21stCentury Community Learning Centers.
Last week, Senator Collins alsoannouncedthat the Department of Education awarded a total of $4,981,867 in TRIO Student Support Services grants to 11 Maine colleges and universities after herquestioningof Secretary McMahon on the proposed elimination of TRIO programs during an Appropriations hearing.
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