Help is here
Dear Friend,
I am grateful to all of the New Mexico health care heroes and other essential workers throughout our state who have stepped up over this past year to help our communities weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, I had the privilege of personally thanking members of the New Mexico National Guard who are on the front lines of ramping up our state's vaccine distribution.
PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich thanks members of the New Mexico National Guard at a vaccine site in Albuquerque, April 6, 2021.
As part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that Democrats in Congress and President Biden passed last month, I helped secure $20 billion to supercharge nationwide vaccine distribution and $50 billion for testing, genomic sequencing to stay ahead of the curve on new variants of the virus, and contact tracing efforts so we can finally put an end to this pandemic.
PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich speaks with Slate Street Cafe owner Myra Ghattas in Albuquerque, April 6, 2021.
While I was in Albuquerque, I stopped by for lunch at Slate Street Cafe and talked with owner Myra Ghattas about how the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program has helped her keep her employees on payroll and keep her business afloat. I fought to pass additional support for small business owners in the American Rescue Plan, including a new $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund that is specifically targeted toward small local restaurants that are the cornerstones in our communities to help them keep their doors open.
PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich meets with members of the New Mexico School Boards Association, April 6, 2021.
The American Rescue Plan also included $170 billion to help our educators address students' needs and help all of our schools safely reopen for in-person instruction. I met virtually with school board members from communities across New Mexico to discuss how they plan to use the $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan funds that will soon be on its way to local school districts in our state to create safe and healthy learning environments.
PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland join the All Pueblo Council of Governors at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to highlight how the American Rescue Plan will help Tribes recover and rebuild from the pandemic, April 6, 2021.
Finally, I was honored to join with the All Pueblo Council of Governors to welcome our newly confirmed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland back to New Mexico to discuss how Tribal nations will be able to use the $31 billion included in the American Rescue Plan for Indian Country to recover from the pandemic and rebuild thriving communities. I also highlighted the opportunity in President Biden's recently announced American Jobs Plan to finally fund long-running critical infrastructure needs in Tribal communities, including affordable housing, broadband internet service, electrification, and clean water and sewer projects.
I am committed to doing everything I can to provide the help and resources New Mexicans need to get back on their feet after all we have been through during this past year. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance to you or your family, please don't hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely,
MARTIN HEINRICH
United States Senator
