From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is welcoming the U.S. Department of Defense’s decision to establish its newest location for the Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration (STARBASE) program at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis.

In January, Heinrich wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in strong support of Cannon becoming a new location for the STARBASE program.

Heinrich wrote, “The Clovis, New Mexico community and Cannon AFB have long shared a close and warm relationship. The dedicated teachers and staff of the surrounding schools and our military families work tirelessly so that our students have as many opportunities afforded to them as possible. I firmly believe that Cannon AFB and the Clovis community will benefit greatly from having a STARBASE program.”

Heinrich’s longtime support of STARBASE:

In 2016, as a then-member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Heinrich successfully passed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act restoring $25 million for the continuation of the STARBASE program after it did not receive funding in the President’s budget request.

STARBASE has benefited more than 1.6 million students from 36 states and territories. With existing locations at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, the STARBASE program stands out as a highly effective program that creates strong bonds between the military, communities, and local school districts.

The STARBASE Program allows kindergarten through 12th grade students to participate in hands-on curriculum with military installations where they solve scientific challenges related to aerospace. Students in the STARBASE program learn the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills in real world situations and develop essential math and science fundamentals, while fostering positive relationships between military bases and their surrounding communities.