WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Collins' Statement on Democrats' Vote Blocking National Defense Funding U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after Democrats voted to block consideration of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill: "Today Senate Democrats blocked the consideration of the Fiscal Ye  more