U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd district, voted last week to advance a package of appropriations bills which included more than $5.1 million for projects across the state’s second Congressional district.
One of the three bills would direct $1 million to fund the American Lobster Settlement Index Maine Collector Survey, which would support staffing, equipment and supplies to expand monitoring of the health of juvenile lobster populations in the Gulf of Maine.
“Lobster is central to Maine’s economy and identity, and expanding the Maine Collector Survey into midcoast Maine is essential to understanding its future,” said Chris Cash, director of the University of Maine Lobster Institute, which is based in Walpole. “This funding will support the establishment of a much-needed third monitoring site and extend the survey into deeper waters where young lobsters are increasingly found.”
Also included in the omnibus was close to $3 million to fund three regional law enforcement equipment modernization projects in Maine, designed to help local law enforcement agencies update equipment and technology.
Another bill appropriates $1 million to upgrade the town of Wilton’s water system to meet current demand as well as potential future growth, and to boost fire protection.
If these bills pass the Senate and are signed by the president, six of the 12 appropriations bills needed to fully fund the federal government will have passed, Golden’s office said.
Remaining appropriations include funding for the departments of defense, labor, and health and human services. These need to be passed by Jan. 30 in order to avoid furloughs and other disruptions to the agencies.