U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján welcomes White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu, right, to New Mexico Friday to highlight historic investments from the Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Courtesy/Lujan Press Office 
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Sen. Martin Heinrich are aomg those gathered Friday with Santo Domingo Pueblo leadership. Courtesy/Lujan Press Office
STATE News:
This week, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) welcomed White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu to New Mexico to highlight historic investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Luján and Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu joined U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller to announce $25 million made available through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to the City of Albuquerque’s Uptown Transit Center. This funding will support the construction of six bus docks with protected waiting areas, signage, security features, lighting, electric charging stations, underground parking, as well as entertainment, affordable housing, and retail uses.
“It was an honor to join White House Senior Advisor Landrieu, Senator Heinrich, and Mayor Keller to highlight $25 million for public transit in Albuquerque. These funds will help improve public safety and ensure that our roads are safe for all New Mexicans,” Luján said.
Senator Luján and Heinrich, Senior Advisor Landrieu, and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) joined Santo Domingo Pueblo leadership to highlight $12.7 million through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The Pueblo is using the funding to address the digital divide and support equitable access to affordable internet, telehealth, telework, and remote learning.
Luján and Senior Advisor Landrieu then joined Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to highlight the $675 million award from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to expand high-speed internet access in New Mexico.
“As Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, it’s been my priority to help New Mexico reach 100% connectivity – especially in our rural and Tribal communities,” Luján said. “This investment of $675 million will make a huge difference for our state, and I won’t stop fighting until all New Mexicans are connected.”
Lastly, Senators Luján and Heinrich joined a panel discussion with Senior Advisor Landrieu to prepare New Mexico local leaders for the rollout of funding to improve their community’s infrastructure.
“Visiting communities, hearing their concerns, and finding solutions is one of the most important parts of my job. That’s why it was an honor to provide updates to ensure local leaders are prepared for the critical funding that’s coming to uplift their communities,” Luján said. “Our work is not over, but these investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will set our communities down a path towards success for generations to come.”
White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Sen. Ben Ray Luján highlight a $675 million award from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to expand high-speed internet access in New Mexico. Courtesy/Lujan Press Office
From left, White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu, Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Sen. Martin Heinrich during a panel discussion to prepare New Mexico local leaders for the rollout of funding to improve their community’s infrastructure. Courtesy/Lujan Press Office
