In a July 13 press release, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced the approval of 34 local projects, amounting to nearly $12 million, for enhancing public safety, combating the opioid epidemic, promoting small businesses, and supporting arts and culture in New Mexico. As a Senate Appropriations Committee member, Heinrich expressed pride in being able to advocate for the specific needs of New Mexicans.
“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to have the opportunity to directly advocate for the needs of New Mexicans in our annual government funding legislation,” he said in the release. “These bills make substantial investments in the resources law enforcement officials and medical providers need to protect the safety and well-being of families across our state, including by removing barriers to life-saving opioid use disorder treatments and providing more tools to combat the flow of illicit fentanyl.”
Heinrich commended the committee's bipartisan approval of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. The legislation allocates $11.8 million to support 34 local projects across the state.
The senator's efforts in the FSGG bill contributed to increased funding for Taxpayer Services at the IRS to address backlogs, which over this year resulted in the recovery of $36.9 million in Employee Retention Tax Credits for New Mexico businesses and nonprofits, the release said.
The CJS bill includes directives for a comprehensive fentanyl tracking system to combat the drug epidemic, the expansion of the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) to the Southwest Border region, the removal of barriers in accessing opioid use disorder medications, and the support of broadband implementation in underserved areas across New Mexico; the release said.
“This federal funding will also help promote and nurture the talent and potential we have in New Mexico by supporting our local small businesses, arts organizations, non-profits, and cultural institutions — all vital to strengthening our economy and growing our middle class,” Heinrich said in the release.
The bills are set to be reviewed by the full U.S. Senate.
