Heinrich To Travel To Santa Fe
SANTA FE, N.M. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will travel to Santa Fe on Tuesday, August 26, to discuss water management, wildfire prevention, veterans care, and growing the local economy.
In the morning, Senator Heinrich will by joined by Mayor Javier Gonzales on a tour of the Santa Fe Watershed to discuss drought, water management, and wildfire prevention with city and U.S. Forest Service officials. The Santa Fe Watershed is composed of two reservoirs that provide Santa Fe residents and businesses with water. Senator Heinrich, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has been pushing to reform federal wildfire policy by funding major wildfires the same way as other natural disasters, while freeing up funding to prevent future fires. During a recent committee hearing, he recognized important catastrophic wildfire prevention programs in New Mexico, including hazardous fuel reduction, stewardship contracting, and watershed restoration.
After the tour of the Santa Fe Watershed, the Senator will travel to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) for a tour and to highlight the work the institute does to advance higher education among Native American youth. The IAIA's 15,000 square-foot Welcome Center was completed in 2014 using funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Tribal College Initiative Community Facility grants. In 2013, Senator Heinrich introduced the Building Upon Unique Indian Learning and Development Act, which creates incentives to encourage educational success throughout Indian Country.
In the afternoon, Senator Heinrich will visit the new Santa Fe VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic where he will get a firsthand look at the clinic, which is more than double the size of the old clinic, and will provide better access to veterans with disabilities, offer more parking, and provide improved primary care and mental health services. Senator Heinrich has advocated for much-needed improvements to the quality of care and chronic infrastructure problems at VA clinics across New Mexico. He recently met with VA Secretary Robert McDonald to discuss the unique challenges veterans in a rural state like New Mexico face, and the need for Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
Senator Heinrich, a member of the Congressional Dietary Supplements Caucus, will then tour the Herbs, Etc. manufacturing facility. Herbs, Etc. is a small, certified organic retail store based in Santa Fe that serves as a research and development center in addition to offering vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies, and essential oils to the community.
Finally, Senator Heinrich will tour the Santa Fe Brewing Company where he will receive a briefing on the microbrewery industry's impact on New Mexico's economy. Senator Heinrich is a cosponsor of the Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce Act of 2013, a bill aimed at promoting small breweries through a series of tax incentives. The craft brewing industry is one of the fastest growing industries in New Mexico employing 3,600 people and generating $61 million in state and local taxes. The Santa Fe Brewing Company has been an innovator in New Mexico's brewing industry and recently utilized U.S. Department of Agriculture grants to install solar panels for energy efficiency, and jump-start a small hops farm in Riconada to use in its products.
Media planning to attend must RSVP to press@heinrich.senate.gov or 202-228-578 by 2 p.m. MT on Monday, August 25, 2014.
Santa Fe - Tuesday, August 26, 2014
WHAT: Santa Fe Watershed Press Availability & Photo Opportunity
WHEN: From 12:15 to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Randall Davey Audubon Center (Parking Lot, Weather Permitting), 1800 Upper Canyon Road, Santa Fe, N.M. 87505
WHAT: Institute of American Indian Arts
WHEN: From 1:30 to 2 p.m.
WHERE: 83 Avan Nu Po Road, Santa Fe, N.M. 87508
WHAT: Santa Fe VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic
WHEN: From 2:15 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: 5152 Buckner Road, Santa Fe N.M. 87507
WHAT: Herbs, Etc. Manufacturing Facility
WHEN: From 3:15 to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: 1340 Rufina Circle, Santa Fe, N.M. 87507
WHAT: Santa Fe Brewing Company
WHEN: From 4:45 to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: 35 Fire Place Santa Fe, N.M. 87508
