Susan Collins: “Members of Congress understand the needs of our constituents far better than any well-intentioned Federal employee…”

“Members of Congress understand the needs of our constituents far better than any well-intentioned Federal employee located here in Washington. The CDS projects provide funding for States, communities, and nonprofit organizations. The process is completely open and transparent. Senators who submit such requests are required to post their requests on their official websites, along with a certification that neither they nor their immediate family members have any financial interest in the items requested. All of the fiscal year 2026 CDS requests submitted to the Appropriations Committee can be found in a searchable table that has been posted on the committee's website.”