AUGUSTA – In the face of the recent outbreak of swine flu cases reported in Mexico and several U.S. states, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins stands by her efforts to eliminate $870 million for pandemic flu preparedness from the federal economic stimulus package passed by Congress earlier this year.

The Maine Republican successfully sought the removal of the funding because she didn’t feel it met the criteria laid out for stimulus funds in terms of job creation or providing an immediate lift to the slowing economy, she said previously.

“I want to emphasize that much of this spending is for programs I support, but they don’t belong in an economic stimulus package,” Collins had said. “They should have to go through the scrutiny of the regular appropriations process.”

In December 2008, Collins, along with several of her Republican and Democratic colleagues, signed a letter in support of a $905 million increase for the public health and social service emergency fund, which was sent to Senate leadership.

“These additional funds are needed to enhance the nation’s preparedness against a bioterrorist event or an influenza pandemic,” said the letter.

The omnibus appropriations bill recently signed by President Obama included $156 million for pandemic flu preparedness, an increase in funding from last year, according to Kevin Kelley, Collins’ spokesman.

Collins voted against the omnibus bill because she felt it duplicated funding already provided in the stimulus package in several other areas.

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