On the two-year anniversary of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez, all New Mexico Democrats, are highlighting how the landmark legislation has delivered billions of dollars in historic infrastructure investments to the state.
President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law in 2021, a once-in-a-generation investment in America’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The new law aimed to rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure more Americans have access to high-speed internet and invest in communities. The law also strove to make improvements to the nation’s ports and airports and drove the creation of union jobs and grew the economy.
“In the two years since President Biden signed this historic legislation into law, we’ve delivered major investments to rebuild and strengthen New Mexico’s roads and bridges, water and energy infrastructure, expand high-speed internet, and so much more,” Heinrich said. “These investments mean good-paying jobs and ensure that New Mexico’s infrastructure meets 21st century needs. Now, matched with the successes of the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Democrats are truly making smart, long-term investments that will help New Mexicans stay safe and healthy, grow the economy, invest in the middle class, and support careers that every person in our state can build their families around.”
The Infrastructure Law will invest $4.3 billion in formula funding alone for at least 337 vital projects in New Mexico.
“Two years ago, Congress passed the transformative Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deliver billions of federal dollars to New Mexico to bring our infrastructure into the 21st century, from making our roadways safer to connecting every single household to high-speed internet. This once-in-a-generation investment is not only revitalizing our transportation and communications systems, but also safeguarding our environment by plugging orphaned wells and improving wastewater systems for Native communities,” Luján said. “I’m honored to stand with my New Mexico colleagues to highlight the anniversary of this landmark legislation that is continuing to make a difference for communities in New Mexico and across the nation.”
Some of the projects and priorities that have already received federal funding from the Infrastructure Law include:
- $1.8 billion for New Mexico’s roads and bridges.
- $379 million over five years, based on formula funding, for New Mexico’s public transit. To date, New Mexico has been allocated $147.2 million to improve public transportation options across the state in fiscal year 2022.
- $710 million for clean drinking water in New Mexico.
- $362.3 million for infrastructure resilience, including $23.4 million through the Army Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation in New Mexico.
- $160 million, the first installment of funding from the Infrastructure Law to support the completion of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System pipeline in eastern New Mexico.
- $3 billion to help tribes deploy broadband infrastructure.
- $52.4 million for capping orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaiming abandoned mine lands, and $20.7 million has been allocated to cleaning up Superfund and brownfield sites across New Mexico.
- $38 million over five years, based on formula funding, to support the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network in the state.
- $74.9 million for clean energy, energy efficiency and power in New Mexico.
- $50 million for airports across New Mexico.
- $33 million for clean school buses and low-emission buses in New Mexico.
- 173,000 New Mexico households saving on broadband.
“Two years ago, we made the biggest investment in our infrastructure in generations. So far, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has already provided more than $4.4 billion for 338 announced projects in New Mexico,” Leger Fernández said. “These funds are fixing our highways, providing internet to rural communities, and protecting our precious water resources. I championed important provisions in the bill to grow the middle class, increase paychecks, and strengthen our enchanted economy. I’m especially proud of the fact that we invested in rural America and in rural New Mexico at levels not seen since the New Deal. The orphaned well provisions based on my and Senator Lujan’s bills are cleaning up polluting wells, the clean water provisions are helping the water flow to thirsty communities, and we are finally building twenty-first century broadband infrastructure and a renewable electric grid.”
For more information, click here to see a map of funding and announced projects in New Mexico through the Infrastructure Law.
“In two years, the Bipartisan Infrastructure law has invested more than $2.4 billion in countless projects across our state to restore our roads, water infrastructure, broadband, and strengthen our economy,” Stansbury said. “I’m grateful that this Administration continues to meet the moment and deliver for the American people.”
Find a fact sheet of the investments New Mexico has received through the Infrastructure Law here.
“New Mexico’s Democratic members worked across the aisle and delivered historic investments for New Mexico’s infrastructure, and we are seeing the benefits of those investments,” Vasquez said. “Today, I am working to ensure those funds are delivered to my district and to continue working across the aisle to ensure my constituents receive their fair share.”