"This bill is a bipartisan compromise, something that's become far too rare in Washington these days," said Michaud. "While this bill wasn't perfect, it contained funding for Maine shipbuilding, an increase in veterans funding, and language I pushed for that prioritizes offshore wind energy development."

The final bill also included an amendment that Michaud authored that provides a funding boost to research into Gulf War Illnesses, which continue to afflict an estimated 250,000 veterans of the first Gulf War. The new $10 million budget made possible through the amendment for the Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Research Program will help the Department of Defense improve research into treatments and live up to the recommendations of a new landmark report of the Institute of Medicine that called for a major national research effort to identify treatments.

"These veterans put their lives on the line for our country and now they are suffering a lifetime of pain and a potentially shortened life," said Michaud, who worked with Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio to pass the amendment. "I'm hopeful these additional resources will help us find new treatments that will provide some relief to our veterans who continue to struggle."

While the LIHEAP funding contained in the bill was significantly higher than what the president requested and an increase from the previously passed House funding level, Michaud still thinks more must be provided. He will continue to fight for an increase by advocating for the passage of a bill he's cosponsored to restore LIHEAP's funding.

"This bill is an improvement over the House bill, and it represents the last chance this year to increase LIHEAP funding. But it's clearly not enough," said Michaud. "I'll continue to work with the Maine and New England delegations to do whatever we can to restore this funding."

A list of priorities Michaud advocated for and that were included in the final bill can be found below.

Veterans: $124.2 billion was provided to the VA, which represents a 3% increase in funding. The bill also includes $52.5 billion in advanced appropriations for the VA. This advanced appropriation is a result of a bill that Michaud worked to previously pass into law to ensure timely funding for veterans' health care.

Shipbuilding:

Provides $453.7 million for the DDG-1000 program This is a significant increase from the $77.5 million included in the Fiscal Year 2011 bill.

Provides $2.08 billion for the DDG-51 Destroyer.

These funding levels are critical to the work at Bath Iron Works.

Deepwater Offshore Wind: The final bill includes: "Wind Energy - The conferees support the Department's efforts to develop advanced offshore wind energy technologies, including freshwater, deepwater, shallow water, and transitional depth installations." The energy and water appropriations bill passed by the House included similar language that Michaud requested.

Wind Program: The bill includes $94 million for the Wind Power Program, which is a higher level than the original House-passed bill, which provided $76 million.

Workforce training programs: The original House bill reduced workforce training programs to $962 million. The final bill restored funding to $3.195 billion.

Northern Border Regional Commission: It is funded at $1.5 million. The NBRC is a multi-state economic development commission that includes Maine.

Gulf War Veterans Illness Research: Includes $10 million in Gulf War Veterans Illness Research program. Michaud was a coauthor of an amendment to include this funding in the House bill.

Firefighter grants: The bill funds these grants at $675 million, up $325 million from the House bill.