In Appropriations Hearing, Heinrich Highlights Need For Investments In Infrastructure, Electrification, Climate Action In American Jobs Plan

WASHINGTON – Today, in his first full hearing as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)highlighted the need for critical investments in infrastructure, electrification, and climate action in President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan.

VIDEO: Heinrich Highlights Need For Investments In Infrastructure, Electrification, Climate Action In American Jobs Plan [HD DOWNLOAD LINK HERE] 

In the hearing, Senator Heinrich expressed that “fixing methane leaks and capturing wasted emissions from oil and gas infrastructure is a big potential win-win for the economy and for the climate.” Michael Regan, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reaffirmed that the American Jobs Plan positions the U.S. to work with oil and gas industry leaders to implement methane emission solutions that reduce emissions and create jobs. 

Senator Heinrich recently introduced a resolution of disapproval, under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), to reinstate Obama-era regulations of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Many oil and gas companies have announced public support for restoring these common-sense requirements - support that continues to grow. 

Senator Heinrich has also been leading efforts in the Senate to modernize infrastructure through wide-scale electrification. Senator Heinrich is calling for investments and job-creating initiatives like deploying electric heat pumps for residential heating and commercial buildings. Administrator Regan confirmed that the American Jobs Plan “sets up an excellent opportunity” for the EPA and Department of Energy to deploy these technologies and put Americans to work. 

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also backed Senator Heinrich’s request to prioritize rural electrification, saying that “it’s often in rural and more spread out states where Americans would have the most to gain from the fuel savings associated with electric vehicles.”

Senator Heinrich is also fighting to make sure that proposals like the American Jobs Plan includes provisions that recognize that New Mexico’s energy veterans are central to the continued rapid growth of America’s zero-carbon economy. Senator Heinrich is preparing to introduce legislation to help offset the reduction of fossil fuel revenues as efforts continue to curb the industry’s impact on the climate.

Senator Heinrich also supports language in the American Jobs Plan that bridges the digital divide for New Mexicans living in rural and Tribal communities by investing in universal broadband internet infrastructure. In the hearing, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo confirmed that broadband should be considered infrastructure.

For the full hearing and list of witnesses, click here.