Heinrich Says Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act Will Deliver More Than $3.7 Billion To New Mexico

WASHINGTON (Nov. 6, 2021) – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives voting to pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This legislation, which was previously passed by the U.S. Senate, will now go to President Biden to be signed into law. The bill includes a number of provisions championed by Senator Heinrich and is the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for New Mexico, including billions of dollars to invest in transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. The Build Back Better Act, which lowers costs, creates jobs, and cuts taxes, while tackling the climate crisis, is also advancing in Congress. It is estimated that the two bills combined will add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years.

“For decades, New Mexico has been held back by a systemic lack of investment in infrastructure. That’s about to change,” said Heinrich. “The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will mean hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs and ensure that our nation’s infrastructure meets 21st century needs. I’m proud to have secured substantial investments in transmission, clean energy, water infrastructure, wildfire mitigation, hydrogen, and establishing the first-ever abandoned hardrock mine reclamation program. We now need to move quickly to pass the Build Back Better Act to boost the United States’ ability to confront the climate crisis. By making these smart, long-term investments we can increase opportunities for every New Mexican and change the very course of our nation’s future.”

A list of some of the programs and provisions Senator Heinrich secured in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are available here.

Specifically for New Mexico, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will:

Repair and rebuild our roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians. Based on formula funding alone, New Mexico would expect to receive $2.5 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five years. New Mexico can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities.

Build a network of EV chargers to facilitate long-distance travel and provide convenient charging options. The U.S. market share of plug-in electric vehicle (EV) sales is only one-third the size of the Chinese EV market. The bill invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV chargers in the United States and is a critical element to accelerate the adoption of EVs to address the climate crisis and support domestic manufacturing jobs. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, New Mexico would expect to receive $38 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state. New Mexico will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.

Help connect every American to reliable high-speed internet. 10.7% of New Mexicans live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there is no broadband infrastructure. Even where infrastructure is available, broadband may be too expensive to be within reach. 21% of New Mexico households do not have an internet subscription. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, New Mexico will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 223,941 New Mexicans who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 785,000 or 38.1% of people in New Mexico will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.

Prepare more of our infrastructure for the impacts of climate change, cyberattacks, and extreme weather events. From 2010 to 2020, New Mexico has experienced 14 extreme weather events, costing the state up to $5 billion in damages. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on historical formula funding levels, New Mexico will expect to receive $38 million over five years to protect against wildfires and $13 million to protect against cyberattacks. New Mexicans will also benefit from the bill’s historic $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization which will reduce energy costs for families.

Deliver clean drinking water to every American and eliminate the nation’s lead service lines and pipes. Currently, up to 10 million American households and 400,000 schools and child care centers lack safe drinking water. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, New Mexico will expect to receive $355 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.

Improve our nation’s airports. The United States built modern aviation, but our airports lag far behind our competitors. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in New Mexico would receive approximately $90 million for infrastructure development for airports over five years.