New Mexico will receive at least $3.725 billion in formula funding automatically with passage of the new infrastructure bill sent to President Joe Biden late last week, according to an analysis from the office of US Senator Martin Heinrich. In addition, New Mexico has the opportunity to apply for other funds provided through the appropriation.
Here’s the final (now both Senate- and House-passed) Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) Bill: https://www.majorityleader.gov/sites/democraticwhip.house.gov/files/H.R.%203584.pdf And here’s a new White House Fact Sheet on BIF final passage: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/06/fact-sheet-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/
The bill’s national and some of its state-specific provisions include:
- $65 billion for broadband, of which 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. Also, 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.
- $110 billion in additional funding to repair roads and bridges–the single largest investment in repairing and reconstructing the country’s bridges since the construction of the interstate highway system. 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 5 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.
- $66 billion–the largest investment in passenger rail since Amtrak’s creation, 50 years ago will create safe, efficient, and climate-friendly infrastructure for people and freight.
- $7.5 billion for installation of electric charging stations for cars nationwide. New Mexico would expect to receive $38 million over 5 years to support the expansion of an EV charging network here, and will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
- $65 billion to meet the goal of clean energy transmission and improvements to the energy grid–upgrading the power infrastructure by building thousands of miles of new, resilient transmission lines to facilitate the expansion of renewables and clean energy, while lowering costs.
- $21 billion to clean up Superfund sites (according to the White House, 26% of Black Americans and 29% of Hispanic Americans live within 3 miles of a Superfund site), reclaim abandoned mine land, and cap orphaned oil and gas wells.
- $50 billion to protect against drought, heat, floods and wildfires, in addition to a major investment in weatherization. The legislation is the largest investment in the resilience of physical and natural systems in American history. 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 5 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.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/05/house-infrastructure-bill-519796.
See Sen. Heinrich’s priorities in the bill at :
Also, for a review of Sen. Ben Ray Lujan’s appropriations priorities in the bill–including clean-up of orphaned oil and gas wells–visit https://www.lujan.senate.gov/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-house-passage-of-the-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act/
Sen. Martin Heinrich modified legislation to authorize the use of more renewable energy on power grids, securing $500 million for energy storage research to advance battery storage technology for grids, and securing $200 million for the development of clean hydrogen production. Find further details at https://www.lujan.senate.gov/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-house-passage-of-the-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act/