Heinrich Announces Nearly $7 Million for 20 Electric School Buses in Albuquerque, Harvests Honey with Albuquerque Sign Language Academy & Highlights Expanded Jobs Training for New Mexicans Living with Disabilities
ALBUQUERQUE — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced nearly $7 million from the Infrastructure Law to purchase 20 new electric school buses for Albuquerque Public Schools (APS). He was joined by APS Superintendent Gabriella Duran-Blakey and Mom’s Clean Air Force. Heinrich also harvested honey with the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy (ASLA) to highlight how federal funding he secured is helping ASLA bolster educational and career opportunities for New Mexicans living with disabilities.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) tours the interior of an electric school bus with Albuquerque Public Schools students and Mom’s Clean Air Force members. August 13, 2024.
View more pictures and videos of Heinrich’s electric school bus event here.
Heinrich joined APS Superintendent Gabriella Duran-Blakey and members of Mom’s Clean Air Force — an organization dedicated to protecting children from air pollution and climate change — to announce nearly $7 million in Infrastructure Law funding to help APS replace older, diesel school buses with 20 new electric school buses. This investment comes from the EPA Clean School Bus Program, which Heinrich helped establish.
“Our kids deserve to grow up in a world free of dangerous diesel fumes. That means less cases of children developing asthma and other serious breathing conditions,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to have secured $6.9 million in Infrastructure Law funding to help Albuquerque Public Schools purchase 20 new electric school buses. This will help us fight climate change and unlock a healthier future for New Mexico’s children.”
The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help address the outsized role of the transportation sector driving climate change. This investment will help Albuquerque Public Schools save money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses.
In the afternoon, Heinrich met with Albuquerque Sign Language Academy to discuss how a $300,000 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grant he secured to develop the Adult Workforce Training Program Hub will bolster educational and career opportunities for deaf, hard of hearing, and students with individual and developmental disabilities. In addition to being briefed on ASLA’s plans to use his funding to refurbish a trolly into a coffee bar where the former students can work, Heinrich harvested honey with the Honey Badger Conservation Crew — ASLA students dedicated to youth conservation and outdoor education — at lavender fields where there are several beehives.
“Helping New Mexico’s young people identify a viable pathway from school to the workforce is essential for their future,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to have secured $300,000 to support Albuquerque Sign Language Academy’s important work in providing young New Mexicans who are deaf, hard of hearing, and students with individual and developmental disabilities with jobs training that will lead to success in careers in conservation, agriculture, retail, and more.”
In addition to serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade, ASLA provides their former students with comprehensive workforce development programming, including for careers in conservation, agriculture, retail, and more.
Photos and videos from Heinrich’s visit to Albuquerque Sign Language Academy can be viewed and downloaded here.
Photos and videos from Heinrich’s electric school bus event can be viewed and downloaded here.
###
