March 8th, 2024

Heinrich Delivers $114 Million in Funding for 82 N.M. Local Projects in Final FY24 Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, announced he has secured $114 million in investments for 82 local projects across New Mexico with the Senate’s passage of six appropriations bills to fund the federal government. The bills now head to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have the opportunity to directly advocate for federal resources that deliver for working families in New Mexico — and that’s exactly what this legislation does,” said Heinrich.

Heinrich continued, “The appropriations bills that we passed today deliver major investments that will make a real difference in the lives of families in our state. These bills will support New Mexico’s law enforcement and first responders who keep our communities safe, invest in our military installations to strengthen our national security, improve our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure to keep New Mexicans healthy, better our roads to connect communities, and expand access to affordable housing to ensure every person has a stable place to call home. With this legislation, we will grow New Mexico’s middle class and connect families to careers they can build their families around.”

The six bipartisan Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Appropriations bills that have now passed in both the House and Senate include the Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration bill, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill, the Commerce, Justice, and Science bill, the Interior and Environment bill, and the Energy and Water Development bill. These bills now head to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

A full list of community projects that Heinrich secured in these six appropriations bills is below.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Heinrich authored and led bipartisan negotiations on the Agriculture Appropriations bill, which delivers critical funding to ensure women, infants, and children can get the nutrition they need, supports economic development in rural communities, protects resources farmers and producers count on, and strengthens America’s food and medicine supply.

For a full list of highlights from the Agriculture Appropriations bill, click HERE.

Heinrich successfully secured funding for the following 15 local projects in New Mexico in the Agriculture Appropriations bill:

$2,171,000 for the Town of Red River to construct an operations and maintenance facility for the Fire Department and Town transit busses.
$1,575,000 for the Town of Springer to design and construct a new fire department substation.
$1,500,000 for the Costilla Volunteer Fire Department to construct a new fire station.
$825,000 for City of Anthony Public Safety to build a central administrative building for fire, police, and other administrative departments in the city government.
$749,000 for the Pueblo of Tesuque to construct a new building and update farm equipment to provide members of the community with no-cost access to fresh, organic, native agricultural products.
$605,000 for San Juan County Fire and Rescue to purchase replacement breathing apparatuses that protect firefighters from harmful gases and particulates.
$495,000 for the City of Portales Fire Department to purchase a new rescue engine.
$375,000 for Santa Ana Pueblo to build a garage and vehicle maintenance facility to house Pueblo emergency vehicles, school buses, and other vehicles

$300,000 for Hidalgo County Emergency Medical Services to expand their current building.
$289,000 for the Logan Ambulance Service to purchase a new ambulance that will service Logan, Tucumcari, and Harding Counties.
$275,000 for the Roosevelt County Detention Center to plan, design, and complete necessary electrical and plumbing upgrades.
$234,000 for Taos County Fire and EMS to purchase a wildland fire engine and a utility terrain vehicle that will aid in fire mitigation efforts around the state.
$151,000 for Sunrise Clinics to purchase the property where they operate a dedicated mental health clinic.
$81,000 for the Aztec Public Library to replace the roof of the building.
$49,000 for Hozho Voices of Healing Center to purchase a tractor and equipment to create a native seed bank.

Heinrich and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) also successfully included funding in the bill for three projects at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture:

$200,000 for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to update equipment and provide technical assistance to communities for agricultural emergency planning.
$150,000 for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to purchase veterinary diagnostic services equipment.
$100,000 for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to detect and eradicate invasive toxic plants.

Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) also secured:

$1,000,000 for the Mescalero Apache Tribe to construct a new Head Start Center.

Heinrich and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) also secured:

$84,150 for Casita de Comida to expand the Española Food Bank.

Commerce, Justice, and Science Bill Highlights

The Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill includes a total of $68.5 billion in discretionary funding. Heinrich successfully secured language in the bill to develop a comprehensive fentanyl tracking system, assist New Mexico in identifying and prosecuting crimes involving firearms through ballistic intelligence, remove barriers to access for opioid use disorder medications, and support the implementation of the broadband provisions from the Infrastructure Law.

Find more specific details on programmatic provisions that Heinrich secured in the CJS Appropriations bill HERE.

Heinrich also successfully secured funding for 14 local projects in New Mexico in the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill:

Heinrich secured funding for the following projects:

$1,150,000 for the Office of the New Mexico Attorney General's Crime Gun Intelligence Center to purchase four ballistic imaging machines to be placed in Farmington, Gallup, Las Cruces, and Roswell. This project will assist state and local law enforcement agencies in analyzing ballistic casings, prosecuting crimes involving firearms, and mapping crimes involving firearms across the state.
$675,000 for the Trauma Informed Youth Diversion Program at Family and Youth Innovation Plus to provide support, resources, skills coaching, social emotional learning, and psychoeducational programming to youth in Doña Ana County.
$364,000 for the Albuquerque Police Department to purchase equipment to safely identify fentanyl and other illicit substances to increase apprehensions and improve prosecutions.
$360,000 for the Las Cumbres Community Services Survivors of Torture program to increase access to supportive services, temporary housing, and community integration initiatives.
$300,000 for the City of Santa Fe’s Mobile Integrated Health Office to provide a team of trauma-informed responders and providers to administer care and navigation services to those experiencing a crisis or behavioral health emergency.
$295,000 for Hidalgo, Catron, and Grant Counties to purchase equipment for use by local law enforcement to safely detect fentanyl and other illicit drugs and improve officer and community safety.
$194,000 for the Las Cruces Police Department to Purchase equipment to safely analyze fentanyl and other illicit narcotics and create a community engagement effort to educate youth on the dangers of illicit drugs.
$172,000 for the Silver City Police Department to purchase equipment to safely identify fentanyl and other illicit substances and fund associated training for officers.
$150,000 for the New Mexico Child Advocacy Network to improve and expand services to prevent and address child abuse and neglect, and support youth in or exiting the foster care system.
$56,000 for La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services to open a satellite office in Sierra County to provide forensic interview services to children who have been a witness or survivor of a crime, as well as other services families may need.

Heinrich and Luján secured:

$1,550,000 for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to fund the Highway Offender Safety project and purchase equipment that will minimize risks and allow law enforcement to more easily locate offenders and stolen vehicles.
$840,000 for the University of New Mexico’s Artemis 3D Challenge program to create a community virtual reality (VR) lab and offer relevant trainings for high-wage tech jobs.

Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) secured:

$500,000 for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to expedite contracted forensic DNA analysis for cases that are currently awaiting analysis at the Santa Fe Forensic Laboratory.

Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) secured:

$800,000 for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to fund mobile connectivity solutions on emergency vehicles for use in remote locations and during emergency and disaster events.

Energy and Water Development Bill Highlights

The fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill for Energy and Water Development totals $58.2 billion in funding. Heinrich successfully secured language in the bill to make federal watershed conservation programs more accessible to New Mexico communities, improve coordinated water management in the Rio Grande Basin, increase funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tribal Partnership Program, make it easier for Tribes to receive federal grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, support innovative research and development at our national labs, and foster economic development in southern border communities.

Find more specific details on programmatic provisions that Heinrich secured in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill HERE.

Heinrich also successfully secured funding for 9 local projects in New Mexico in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill.

Heinrich secured funding for the following projects:

$6,750,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and construct irrigation infrastructure that is part of acequia systems in New Mexico. Acequias are vital to the agricultural heritage and economy of New Mexico and help keep critically valuable groundwater and surface water resources in balance.
$1,200,000 for New Mexico State University to develop a cybersecurity training and testing center to analyze the security of energy infrastructure and technologies.
$644,000 for the University of New Mexico to develop and demonstrate novel cybersecurity controls and a workforce training program for community microgrid applications.
$260,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to plan for the removal of jetty jacks in the Albuquerque area of the Rio Grande.
$200,000 for New Mexico State University to partner with Jemez Pueblo to study the processing of wood wastes from forest fire burn scar sites and lumber mills to produce biochar, which can be used as feedstock for district heating, soil additives for carbon sequestration, and adsorbents for water treatment.
$128,000 for Mesalands Community College to develop and demonstrate a renewable heating technology to decarbonize high-temperature industrial foundry processes.
$80,000 for the Jicarilla Apache Nation to study opportunities to support the Tribe’s economic development, energy transition, and decarbonization goals.

Additionally, Heinrich and Luján secured:

$1,720,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection projects in communities around New Mexico, which may include projects related to wastewater treatment, water supply, environmental restoration, and surface water resource protection and development.
$500,000 for the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative to transform the Chevron Mine Facility into a green hydrogen production site, providing reliable nighttime renewable energy for members and creating jobs for the Village of Questa.

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill Highlights

The Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill provides $41.2 billion in total funding. Heinrich successfully secured l;anguage in the bill to reclaim abandoned hardrock mines, support rural and small communities with repairing water and wastewater systems, and support National Conservation Lands.

Find more specific details on programmatic provisions that Heinrich secured in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill HERE.

Heinrich successfully secured funding for 12 local projects in New Mexico in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.

Heinrich secured funding for the following projects:

$1,450,000 for the Village of Questa to plan, design, and construct a drinking water storage tank.
$1,200,000 for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority to construct a comprehensive sewer collection system in Carnuel to reduce community reliance on failing septic systems and improve groundwater quality.
$1,000,000 for the City of Gallup to replace critically aged cast iron waterlines that have joints containing lead, improving drinking water quality, efficiency, capacity, and sustainability.
$850,000 for the Rio Lucio Mutual Domestic Water Consumer Association to replace old and undersized water lines and install new meters, which will reduce water line leaks and associated outages.
$430,000 for the City of Portales to complete planning and design for needed sewer line and manhole upgrades.
$400,000 for the Pueblo of Santa Clara to upgrade the air relief valves within the community’s water system, improving system performance.
$150,000 for the Bureau of Land Management to purchase and place remote observation equipment to protect the wildlife habitat and cultural resources of the Caja del Rio Plateau in consultation with tribal governments.

Additionally, Heinrich and Luján successfully included funding in the bill for the following five projects:

$1,200,000 for New Mexico State University to acquire equipment and conduct research to improve the viability of seeds and seedlings used for reforestation in a post-wildfire environment.
$1,200,000 for the New Mexico State Forestry Division to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk in the Rio Chama Watershed.
$600,000 for the Village of Chama to replace aging water and sewer distribution lines, which will resolve significant ongoing issues caused by pipe leaks, improve water pressure, and remove health risks from water line contamination.

Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) secured:

$959,752 for the Pueblo of Tesuque to plan for the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant.

Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) secured:

$959,752 for City of Carlsbad to replace the Double Eagle Water Line to improve water pressure and eliminate wasted water and health risks from water line leaks and breaks.

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Committees Bill

As a member and former Chair of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations subcommittee, Heinrich helped to secure substantial investments in the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. Heinrich successfully advocated for major increases in funding to programs that support veterans and secured key language to protect access to health care for veterans in New Mexico.

Heinrich successfully secured funding for the following New Mexico projects in the bill:

$8,200,000 to construct a headquarters fire station at White Sands Missile Range
$5,600,000 to renovate and expand the Guided Missile Building at White Sands Missile Range
$4,450,000 to construct a High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility fire station at White Sands Missile Range

Heinrich and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) also successfully included funding for the following projects:

$11,000,000 for the Rio Rancho National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop, in addition to the planning and design funding that Heinrich and Luján secured for this project in the FY23 Appropriations Funding Agreement.
$4,300,000 to refurbish a health facility in Roswell, N.M., for statewide collective training, soldier combat-readiness, and combat-fitness test requirements for the New Mexico National Guard
$3,600,000 for the planning and development of a new Access Control Point to replace the current El Paso Gate Access Control Point for White Sands Missile Range
$3,060,000 to plan and design a new laboratory, operations, and administration facility at the Joint Directed Energy Test Center on White Sands Missile Range
$2,000,000 to plan and design a new fire station and emergency communications center on Cannon Air Force Base

Heinrich also successfully advocated for major increases in funding to programs that support veterans in New Mexico and throughout the United States. He also successfully included key language to protect access to health care for veterans in New Mexico and nationally.

Find more specific information about investments Heinrich secured for veterans HERE.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill

The fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) provides $97.484 billion in funding. Heinrich successfully secured language in the bill to support key affordable housing programs that help working families and improve the safety and reliability of the air, road, and rail transportation systems New Mexicans rely on.

Find more specific details on programmatic provisions that Heinrich secured in the THUD Appropriations bill HERE.

Heinrich successfully secured funding for 19 local projects in New Mexico in the THUD bill.

Heinrich secured funding for the following projects:

$4,300,000 for the City of Truth or Consequences to replace aged and damaged waterlines, valves, and hydrants.
$3,000,000 for the City of Las Cruces to design, construct, and furnish a response station to house both its Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Project LIGHT (Lessen the Incidence of Grief, Harm, and Trauma) programs.
$2,500,000 for the City of Albuquerque to develop a police substation in southwest Albuquerque to improve public safety service delivery in the area.
$2,000,000 for Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington to develop a Community Wellness and Cultural Complex to support academics, extracurricular activities like sports, language, and culture for students, faculty, staff, and communities on the Navajo Nation.
$1,800,000 for the Town of Taos to complete the buildout of 72 vacant lots in the Chamisa Verde Housing Project to provide below-market housing options to working families.
$1,200,000 for the City of Farmington to create the first fully inclusive, accessible, and adaptive park in the Four Corners region.
$1,100,000 for Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity to develop land into a mixed-income development focused on 25 to 30 affordable housing units for low-income families.
$1,000,000 for the Jemez Pueblo to complete removal of condemned and hazardous buildings to enable new and expanded community development projects and programs.
$200,000 for the Southwest Regional Housing and Community Development Corporation to complete the construction of five homes for very low-income families located in a Department of Housing and Urban Development-Designated Colonia.
$180,000 for the North Central Regional Transit District to purchase a bus for public transportation between Mora and Las Vegas.

Additionally, Heinrich and Luján secured:

$2,000,000 for Santo Domingo Pueblo to plan, design, repair, and construct over 200 Tribal houses within the traditional village.

$1,600,000 for Union and Colfax Counties to plan for the improvement of U.S. Route 87/64 to increase economic development in the area following the route’s designation as a future interstate highway, as part of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
$338,000 for the Town of Silver City to develop lots and infrastructure in the Vistas de Plata subdivision to ensure affordable housing availability in Silver City.
$283,000 for the Family YMCA to enhance youth substance use prevention services and programming at the teen center in Española.

Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) secured:

$850,000 NM Red Rock Park Improvements in McKinley County

Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) secured:

$500,000 for the I-10 Improvement Project

Heinrich and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) secured:

$3,000,000 for the City of Albuquerque to continue development of a Homeless Youth Center to provide a safe, transitional environment for homeless and unstably housed youth.
$994,950 for Saranam to build transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness

Heinrich and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) secured:

$4,000,000 for Bernalillo County to reconstruct Atrisco Vista Boulevard on the West Side of Albuquerque, helping to expand job and housing options for residents.