Opinion: Legislation will help build up state's infrastructure

After two challenging years, the economy is growing faster than it has since 1984. The American Rescue Plan and the landmark Infrastructure Law that I helped pass last year are creating the foundation for an incredibly robust economic recovery. As your senator, I have done everything in my power to steer resources to our state so we can come back from the challenges of the last two years stronger than ever before.

The American Rescue Plan that we passed in March delivered over $1 billion to reopen New Mexico’s schools for in-person instruction. It included $1,400 in direct payments to eligible New Mexicans, millions of dollars in critical economic relief for local restaurant and small business owners all across our state, and a historic working class tax cut. Nearly every child in New Mexico benefited from the expanded Child Tax Credit and its new monthly payments that helped families keep food on the table and cover the costs of raising children.

New Mexico has long been held back by a systemic lack of investment in our infrastructure. That’s why I worked to pass the historic new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that will deliver more than $3.7 billion in funding to New Mexico over the next five years to rebuild our roads and bridges, improve our clean water infrastructure, install a new electric vehicle charging network, and connect many more New Mexicans to affordable, high-speed internet.

As part of this funding, the Clovis Regional Airport will receive nearly $300,000 per year, and the Portales Municipal Airport will receive $159,000 annually over the next five years. We will also be able to complete critical roads and bridges projects on the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Statewide Improvement Plan — including major reconstruction of roads in downtown Clovis and re-pavement and repairs to U.S. 60 and U.S. 70 in Curry, Roosevelt, and DeBaca Counties.

Importantly for this region, the Infrastructure Law will also deliver more than $17 million — or the entire remaining federal funding share — to complete the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Supply Project. This critical project will deliver water from Ute Reservoir on the Canadian River to communities like Clovis and Portales and to Cannon Air Force Base. I have worked for more than a decade to increase federal funding for this project so we can provide a sustainable, long-term source of clean water for communities that have long relied on the rapidly declining Ogallala Aquifer.

We have not seen this level of concentrated infrastructure investment in our state since the construction of I-10, I-25, and I-40. All of the new projects that will break ground soon will create many good-paying jobs in every corner of our state. They will also help us build a strong foundation for New Mexico’s long-term economic competitiveness and success.

Through my new leadership role as the chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, I have continued my work to support all of New Mexico’s military installations and national security missions. I worked hard to secure critical investments for New Mexico in the annual National Defense Authorization Act that we passed in December.

That includes $11 million to speed the construction of a new dormitory facility for unaccompanied airmen and a new Deployment Processing Center on the grounds of Cannon Air Force Base. We also authorized $517 million to clean up military communities impacted by PFAS contamination — including $175 million specifically for the Air Force to address contamination stemming from bases like Cannon and Holloman.

My office also continues to help constituents on a one-on-one basis with federal agencies, including keeping our promise to our veterans and service members so they can access their VA benefits, helping small business owners navigate economic relief programs, and assisting seniors with their Social Security benefits. This past year, my staff processed over 3,000 individual cases that resulted in over $870,000 recovered for New Mexicans.

Martin Heinrich is a U.S. senator representing New Mexico. Contact his staff at:

575-622-7113 or online at Heinrich.Senate.Gov