On July 20, during a U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued a press release to applaud the Senate Appropriations Committee's approval of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill, and the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. These bills include $40 million in funding for 25 local projects across New Mexico.
"As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to directly advocate for local projects that deliver for New Mexicans through our annual government funding legislation," U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich.
According to a press release issued on July 20, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich welcomed the Senate Appropriations Committee's approval of the FY24 Energy and Water Development, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bills, securing $40 million for 25 local projects in New Mexico. The next step involves the consideration of these bills by the full Senate according to a press release.
“These three bipartisan bills will deliver substantial and strategic investments to improve New Mexico’s water and wastewater infrastructure, scale our deployment of clean energy and decarbonization technologies, build more efficient and affordable homes, construct safer roads and transportation networks, and fight the fentanyl epidemic," U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich said, according to the press release.
The Energy and Water Development Bill highlights include increased funding for Cooperative Watershed Management to benefit rural, underserved, and Tribal communities in New Mexico. Support for coordinated water management in the Upper Rio Grande Basin and enhanced partnerships with Tribes for water resource projects. The bill includes provisions to ease energy grant access for Tribal communities and allocates funds to enhance the domestic manufacturing supply chain for electric grid components. Furthermore, the efforts also resulted in funding for DOE National Laboratories and programs aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing. Lastly, $8 million for the Southwest Border Regional Commission, fostering economic development in the southern border regions and addressing disparities in energy reliability, infrastructure, and resource access were secured according to a press release.
Senator Heinrich successfully secured increased funding for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance and Project-Based Rental Assistance, benefiting over 12,000 families in New Mexico. The senator also advocated for additional funding for the Indian Housing Block Grant and protected the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program for Native American veterans facing homelessness. Furthermore, $50 million for the Low and No Emission Vehicle Grant Program and continued funding for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investments Program, promoting cleaner transit and safer walking and biking routes were secured according to a press release.
Senator Heinrich's efforts in the State and Foreign Operations Bill include $125 million to combat the global flow of synthetic drugs like fentanyl, the designation of a Counter Fentanyl Coordinator, and funding for the FENTANYL Results Act implementation. He also secured additional funding for climate crisis initiatives, including clean energy programs, and advocated for $9.1 billion in humanitarian assistance to address forced displacement and food insecurity according to a press release.