Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) has submitted 15 Congressionally funded community projects totaling $158,450,000 for communities across New Mexico in the upcoming 2026 budget process.
As the U.S. House of Representatives begins marking up appropriations bills this week, these proposals aim to address critical needs in public safety, housing, healthcare, education, and environmental protection.
Stansbury’s funding requests include $3.3 million for a project in Estancia that would “protect our cultural heritage and a historic building.
The funding will support planning and capital improvement repairs of the Estancia Community Center, which serves as a vital hub, offering access to essential services, educational programs and support for generations of New Mexicans, according to Stansbury.
Stansbury said Community Project Funding is a tool used to “deliver necessary investments for lasting change in New Mexico.”
“I came to Congress to support the needs of New Mexico using every tool available,” Stansbury said. “As the Administration targets funding and resources our communities depend on, Community Project Funding is one of the most powerful tools we have.”
Since taking office, Rep. Stansbury said she has secured funding for 37 projects focused on addressing the state’s biggest challenges. This year’s submissions are restricted to specific federal programs and eligible entities such as state, local, and Tribal governments.
These projects will now be considered by the House Appropriations Committee as part of the FY 2026 appropriations process. Approval by the committee and passage in both Chambers of Congress are required before the projects can be signed into law, a process expected to extend into the fall, with Fiscal Year 2026 beginning on October 1.
