Heinrich Votes to Keep Government Open, Secures Additional $1.5 Billion for Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Recovery
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to pass a continuing resolution that will keep federal agencies funded through March 14, 2025.
In addition to avoiding a disastrous Republican-caused government shutdown, the Continuing Resolution funds critically needed disaster assistance for communities across New Mexico and the country, delivers an additional $1.5 billion for New Mexicans recovering and rebuilding from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, extends the period that victims may start claims with the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, delivers necessary disaster relief for farmers, and extends the 2018 Farm Bill for one more year while Congress continues work to pass a new farm bill that best supports working families, the farmers that produce our food and fiber, and our rural communities.
“Despite Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s best efforts, Democrats came together to avert a government shutdown that would’ve devastated our economy, hurt working families, and thrust our government into chaos right before Christmas.
“I’m pleased we secured a number of my top priorities, including $1.5 billion aimed at helping New Mexicans recover and rebuild from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. While we got this done on behalf of working families, this was far from a success.
“If the last two days proved anything, it’s that Republicans are willing to use working people as pawns, bending to the whims of an unelected billionaire and his puppet — even if it means risking YOUR paycheck, YOUR health care, and YOUR family’s well-being.
“My North Star has and continues to be passing serious appropriations bills and delivering for New Mexico and the American people. That’s who I fight for.”
Heinrich will continue pressing House and Senate leadership to take up and pass full-year appropriations bills that the Senate Appropriations Committee passed on a bipartisan vote. In total, those bills contain over $300 million for New Mexico and more than $124 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for 138 local projects across the state.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich helped secure the following in the Continuing Resolution passed today:
$1.5 billion for Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Relief
Heinrich, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) successfully secured an additional $1.5 billion to help New Mexicans recover from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
The Continuing Resolution also extends the period that victims may file claims with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office to March 14, 2025. The lawmakers are continuing to call for the passage of their Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Extension Act, legislation they introduced last year to extend the period a victim can file a claim with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office through the end of 2027.
The New Mexico Congressional Delegation has now secured a total of $5.45 billion in federal resources to help New Mexicans recover and rebuild since the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire started in April 2022.
Last month, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández announced that President Biden’s disaster supplemental request included transfer authority for $1.5 billion to help New Mexicans recover from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández also sent a letter urging the FEMA Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office and the FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office to address concerns from New Mexicans about the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office and help families get the relief and compensation needed to recover.
Additional information on Heinrich’s leadership on Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Response and Recovery can be found here.
Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Extension
Heinrich successfully ensured that construction of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply project will continue by extending the authorization of construction for one year and increasing the cap on the amount of funding that can be appropriated by Congress for this project in the future.
To’Hajiilee School Construction
Heinrich successfully secured $153 million to support the construction of a replacement for the To’hajiilee Community School by the Bureau of Indian Education. The current school was heavily damaged by flooding in 2022 and is being relocated outside the floodplain.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Disaster Programs
As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Heinrich successfully secured $33.5 billion in funding to help farmers and rural communities recover from disasters, including:
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$31 billion in assistance to farmers for natural disaster and market losses over the past two crop years;
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$920 million for the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program;
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$828 million for the USDA Emergency Conservation Program;
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$356 million for the USDA Emergency Forest Restoration Program; and
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$362 million for the USDA Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund
Heinrich secured $29 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund to help local communities recover from natural disasters, including the devastating fires and flooding New Mexicans experienced this year.
Small Business Administration Disaster Loans
Heinrich secured $2.25 billion for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans to help businesses and families repair and rebuild from fires and flooding in New Mexico and across the country this year.
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Grants
Heinrich secured $12 billion for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery grants (CDBG-DR) that are awarded to State governments to help provide crucial seed money to start the long-term recovery process in disaster-impacted communities. New Mexico has a plan to apply for several hundred million dollars in CDBG-DR grants.
Key Public Health Extensions
Among other health provisions, Heinrich secured an extension of the special diabetes program for Type I diabetes, including an extension of funding for special diabetes programs for Native Americans. Critical flexibilities for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics providing telehealth in health shortage areas — including mental health and substance use disorder treatment — will now be extended. This will allow for continued patient care without the hurdle of the Medicare in-person requirements for treatment maintenance.
Additionally, there will be a delay to hospital payment cuts in New Mexico for disproportionate share hospitals. These vital hospitals continue to serve predominantly uninsured and underinsured New Mexicans.
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