U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today at the White House for the signing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by President Joe Biden. Courtesy/BRL 

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, front center, with other officials traveling today to the White House for the signing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by President Joe Biden. Courtesy/BRL

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement applauding President Joe Biden signing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:  

“I was proud to attend today’s signing, which marks the beginning of a brighter future in New Mexico and across the country. A future with cleaner air, newly renovated roads and bridges, expanded broadband affordability, as well as safer roads with the addition of my RIDE Act to prevent drunk and impaired driving,” Luján said. “I was honored to help shape this historic legislation and ensure key New Mexico priorities were included to plug orphaned wells and create jobs, get our country closer to 100% connectivity, and provide a much-needed boost to minority rural small business owners. Now, I look forward to building on this legislation and continuing to work with my colleagues to pass the Build Back Better Act and deliver generational relief to the American people.” 

Sen. Luján secured the following provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

To Improve Access to Affordable Internet

• Senator Luján fought to expand the Affordability Connectivity Benefit which will make internet access more affordable for more than 785,000 New Mexicans.

To Keep New Mexico’s Roads and Highways Safe:

• Senators Luján and Scott (R-Fla.) secured the inclusion of their legislation to prevent drunk driving and help save thousands of lives each year. The legislation promotes the research and development of advanced drunk and impaired driving technology and requires auto manufacturers to implement this technology in new car models.

To Put New Mexicans Back to Work and Safeguard the Environment:

• With the support of the Western Governors Association, Senators Luján and Cramer (R-N.D.) advanced their Revive Economic Growth and Reclaim Orphaned Wells (REGROW) Act to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells, which can leak methane, contaminate groundwater, and create community safety risks.

To Support Small Businesses:

• Senator Luján strengthened an amendment to make the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) permanent by expanding the eligibility of the Rural Business Development Center Program to include all Minority-Serving Institutions.

To Invest in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure:

• Building off legislation introduced by Senators Luján, Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Sinema (Ariz.), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $3.5 billion for Indian Health Service (IHS) Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) water and wastewater projects.