Anita Gonzalez House District 70 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
Today, a coalition of environmental organizations, including New Mexico Wild, commended the New Mexico state legislature for increasing funding for several key agencies. These include the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), and the Office of Outdoor Recreation.
The funding adjustments for fiscal year 2022 were part of a revised House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committee Substitute for House Bills 2 and 3. This proposal is currently awaiting legislative approval and the governor's signature. Additional funds have been allocated to environmental initiatives through SB377, known as "junior money" allocations.
Liliana Castillo from Climate Advocates Voces Unidas remarked on the previous underfunding of these critical agencies, stating that it has left communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. She praised legislative leaders for restoring some necessary long-term funding.
Ben Shelton from Conservation Voters New Mexico noted that while this year's budget represents progress, more work is needed to support a new vision for environmental protection. Jon Goldstein from Environmental Defense Fund emphasized that these increases are vital after years of cuts in previous administrations.
Allyson Siwik from Gila Resources Information Project expressed appreciation for efforts to restore essential funding. Sr. Joan Brown from New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light highlighted ongoing ecological challenges requiring additional resources beyond current appropriations.
Mark Allison of New Mexico Wild underscored the importance of proper funding to protect against harmful industry effects and support recovery initiatives post-COVID-19. Camilla Feibelman from Sierra Club-Rio Grande Chapter stressed that environmental agencies should not have to choose which communities to protect due to resource limitations.
Tammy Fiebelkorn with Southwest Energy Efficiency Project applauded legislative efforts as an important step toward overcoming past agency budget cuts and ensuring adequate resources are available.
