On July 11, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich welcomed the Senate Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan, unanimous passage of the Fiscal Year 25 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill. This legislation includes over $15 million in investments for 18 projects across New Mexico.
“We maintained our full support for vital nutrition programs like WIC that ensure women, infants, and children can keep healthy food on the table. We also included continued funding for the Southwest Border Regional Commission, to further grow the region’s economy,” said Heinrich during a meeting of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Heinrich said WIC is one of the most successful programs in reducing childhood hunger and that it was one of his proudest accomplishments in the bill.
A few of the bill’s highlights for Sandoval County include $61,000 for Meals on Wheels New Mexico to provide medically tailored meal delivery to support homebound seniors in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties. There is a one-time funding request for $1,200,000 for the Town of Bernalillo to assist in planning, designing, and constructing a new fire station, which was included the House bill.
It also includes $110,000 for the National Indian Youth Leadership Project to purchase a property near the Zuni Mountains to hold year-round, intensive weekend outdoor programming and traditional Navajo activities.
The bill will go on to the full Senate for passage before heading to the president’s desk.