Three major laws, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the American Rescue Plan, passed during President Biden’s first two years in office, make game-changing investments in our community, tackle the pressing challenges that New Mexicans face, and build economic prosperity for all.  
IN DOÑA ANA COUNTY
Watch this space for more local news about the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
AIRPORTS
New Mexico’s 46 airports are key economic drivers for our state
~Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
Las Cruces Int’l Airport; see details here and here.  
  • New LED Lighting 
  • Perimeter fence and new parking lot
  • Resurfaced runways and taxiways; one new runway 
  • Landscaping to create an initial positive view of Las Cruces
I’m really excited about our future.”
​~Andy Hume, Las Cruces Int’l Airport Administrator
Hatch Municipal Airport
  • $96,525 to update the master plan and layout a plan to address key issues, objectives, and goals pertinent to the airport’s future development
  • '21 and '22 funding = $223,000 for improvements to the airport. The funds can be invested in runways, taxiways, terminals, and roadway projects. 
ROADS & BRIDGES
NM 404 “Anthony Gap." 
New Mexico State Road 404 (NM 404) is a 9.7-mile-long paved, two-lane state-maintained road in Doña Ana County that runs east–west across a gap between the northern edge of the Franklin Mountains and the southern edge of the North Franklin Mountains. 
 
Why fix the “Anthony Gap?” Two serious head-on crashes happened in the Anthony Gap in February, 2023. “For years, you know, that area has been scary, since I can remember,” said Maryann Parga, who drives through the Anthony Gap every day for work. More here.
  • The “Anthony Gap” road project will be the largest in New Mexico, costing $25.3 million in 2022, and providing lots of good-paying jobs.
  • NM 404 from I-10 to NM 213 will be widened from two lanes to four lanes; lighting will be added. 
NM 404 Bridge over 1-10 Demolition … and Replacement 
  • Demolished in January, 2022, the bridge over 1-10 near Anthony was too narrow and didn’t meet bridge height clearance standards, nor could it sustain its traffic growth.
  • The new bridge will have five lanes, bike lanes in both directions, and sidewalks. 
  • Reconstructed ramps, new signals, lighting, and connection to multi-use path will be added. 
  • Art on the new bridge: a cotton plant, representing the City of Anthony’s agricultural roots and an endangered Sneed Pincushion Cactus, native to the region.
Santa Teresa Port of entry will be connected to NM 273 in Sunland Park 
  • This roadwork will provide a direct route to El Paso and I-10 in southwest Texas
  • The 6-mile roadway road project will cost $45 million, providing lots of good-paying jobs
Bike and pedestrian path improvements throughout the city of Las Cruces, plus multiuse trail work; See more here.
Other road projects in Doña Ana County funded through the Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration include:
  •  I-25 Capacity Study, see more here
  •  US 70 Corridor Phase V, see more here

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Clean Transit Buses for the City of Las Cruces
  • 12 buses by 2024
  • A new transit maintenance and operations facility
  • More here. 
 
Clean Buses for Las Cruces Public Schools
  • Up to five low- and zero-emission school buses. The buses will promote cleaner air (meaning better health for kids with respiratory illnesses), reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save money on gasoline for the district.
  • More here and here.
BROADBAND
​A state program, Connect New Mexico, will pair state and federal funds from the Infrastructure Bill to bring broadband to nine communities and colonias in southern Doña Ana County: First, Anthony, Berino, Chamberino, La Mesa and Vado, followed by Chaparral, La Union, Santa Teresa and Sunland Park.
It’s a game changer for New Mexico. It’s a game changer for agriculture, it’s a game changer for anybody in rural areas, because they can live the way that urban America has.” –John Diamond, Beaverhead Ranch Group
COMMUNITY SAFETY
​$10 million to modernize gas pipelines in Las Cruces to protect residents from dangerous leaks. Aging pipelines have been involved in fatal explosions and massive spills in other states. These repairs will help reduce methane emissions by roughly 212 metric tons a year.
Emergency Planning:  An All-Hazard Safety Plan for the City of Las Cruces, Elephant Butte Irrigation District, Village of Hatch, Town of Mesilla, NMSU, and City of Sunland
 
Hatch Flood Control Study
The community of Hatch has been flooded three times in the last 15 years, most recently in 2006. Flooding originates from two sources, Spring Canyon and Placitas Arroyo.  Initial investigations determined that there is a likely federal interest in constructing flood control projects in the area. A $6.5 million feasibility study of Hatch (Sec 205) by the Corps of Engineers will determine federal interest and optimize a flood damage reduction plan for Hatch.  See more here.
It really is our infrastructure moment for a generation. 
​~Sen. Martin Heinrich   
You can save $$ by electrifying at home thanks to the
​Inflation Reduction Act 
​Learn more here!  
FAMILIES BENEFIT
New ACA subsidies: 10,000 more New Mexicans can pay their health care bills, which will reduce their debt, and help them avoid bankruptcies and evictions.
SENIORS/MEDICARE RECIPIENTS BENEFIT
  • Peace of mind: out-of-pocket drug costs capped; insulin costs capped at $35/month and vaccines are free
  • Drug companies finally have to negotiate the price of some drugs, can’t raise prices faster than inflation
RURAL COMMUNITIES BENEFIT
BUSINESSES BENEFIT
The Inflation Reduction Act will provide a historic investment in a clean energy economy. 
~Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
You lived through the fastest recovery in three decades!
​All because of the
American Rescue Plan
NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY RESCUED
  • New Mexico’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in December 2022 from 8.2% in January 2021
  • New Mexico added 70,000 jobs due to the American Rescue Plan
  • New Mexicans applied for 51,000 new Small Business Applications, the highest 2-year total on record.
  • Hispanic unemployment saw its fastest 1-year drop and reached its lowest annual rate ever in 2022 nationwide.
  • Don’t forget restaurants! 602 New Mexico restaurants received vital relief through the American Rescue Plan's Restaurant
FAMILIES & YOUNG PEOPLE RESCUED
  • 265 child care programs in Doña Ana County received money to help keep their doors open
  • Working families got tax relief: 252,000 families with 420,000 children In New Mexico benefited from the ARP’s Child Tax Credit.
  • 56,000 New Mexico students received 145,000 Internet-connected devices (including hotspots) to close the homework gap
  • Emergency Rental Assistance was provided to thousands of hard-pressed renters in New Mexico
    • 73,000 payments to help families meet their ongoing rent and utility costs
    • 60,000 payments to help families address past due rent and utility bills
  • 93,000 New Mexico college students received direct financial relief through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Program in 2021 to help them stay enrolled and cover their bills in 2021.
PEOPLE RESCUED
  • An expanded Earned Income Tax Credit provided up to $1,500 of tax relief to an estimated 134,000 New Mexico workers without dependent children
  • 41,000 more New Mexico homes and businesses will receive affordable, high-speed internet through the American Rescue Plan's Capital Project Fund
  • Over 230 million Americans are fully vaccinated, up from 3.5 million when President Biden took office.
  • 46,000 New Mexicans saved hundreds of dollars on their health premiums from the American Rescue Plan. With the Inflation Reduction Act's extension of these savings, 41,000 New Mexicans signed up for quality, affordable care in the 2023 ACA open enrollment period.
COUNTIES, CITIES & TRIBES RESCUED
Direct pandemic recovery funds were provided to the county, cities, municipalities, and tribes to avoid cuts and to invest in public safety, housing and the workforce, e.g., 
  • Doña Ana County, $42 million
  • Las Cruces, $25 million
  • Sunland Park, $4 million
  • Anthony, $2 million
  • Mesilla, $454,000
  • Hatch, $403,000
SCHOOL DISTRICTS RESCUED
Las Cruces Public Schools, Hatch Valley Public Schools, and other school systems received recovery funds for academic recovery, student mental health and to reopen schools safely.
ALL OF US RESCUED
  • An expanded Earned Income Tax Credit provided up to $1,500 of tax relief to an estimated 134,000 New Mexico workers without dependent children
  • 41,000 more New Mexico homes and businesses will receive affordable, high-speed internet through the American Rescue Plan's Capital Project Fund
  • Over 230 million Americans are fully vaccinated, up from 3.5 million when President Biden took office.
  • 46,000 New Mexicans saved hundreds of dollars on their health premiums from the American Rescue Plan. With the Inflation Reduction Act's extension of these savings, 41,000 New Mexicans signed up for quality, affordable care in the 2023 ACA open enrollment period.
 
More jobs have been created in one year than in our nation’s history.
~ Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-NM
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