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Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

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Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

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Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

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Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

May 06, 2022

Gillibrand Helped Secure $700K in Federal Funding to Close the Loop on Stalled Community Project Connecting Dryden to Ithaca

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stood at the Dryden Rail Trail to announce the $700,000 in federal funding she secured to complete the Dryden Rail Trail Bridge project. The $2.9 million project was initially stalled due to lack of funds. Senator Gillibrand secured this significant federal investment to close the funding gap and put the stalled Dryden Rail Trail Bridge project back on track. Senator Gillibrand was joined by Assembly Member Anna Kelles, Town of Dryden Supervisor Jason Leifer, Town of Dryden Deputy Supervisor Dan Lamb, and the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Director Fernando de Aragón.

“The Dryden Rail Trail Bridge project will bring invaluable recreational and economic opportunities to the Tompkins County, and I am so proud to have helped the stalled project get back on track,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The $700,000 in federal funding needed to help finally complete the trail and bridge will bring Dryden and Ithaca together, and provide the communities with new opportunities for safe, sustainable transportation, and a beautiful way to get around.”

“More and more people are recognizing the tremendous natural beauty of places like Dryden and the gorges trails of Tompkins County. I am proud to deliver this $700,000 in federal funding to keep the Dryden Rail Trail on track and help complete this long desired community project,” said Senator Schumer. “This funding will boost tourism, increase green infrastructure by making our communities more walkable, and blow a breath of fresh air into our local economies.”

“This is a game changer for the Town of Dryden,” said Assembly Member Anna Kelles. “The Dryden Rail Trail will connect the village of Dryden to Freeville, Etna, Cornell and the city of Ithaca. Not only will this create many miles of trails to support sustainable transportation and connectivity in our region, this outdoor recreation resource will also support local tourism and public health.”

 “For decades, the story has been that the Dryden Rail Trail can’t be completed due to the challenge of crossing a busy state highway,” stated Deputy Town Supervisor Dan Lamb.  “Today, with the help of US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, we are rewriting that script.”  

“Tompkins County envisions having a world class multiuse trail system. The Dryden Rail Trail is a key component and the trail bridge over route 13 will be the ‘golden spike’ link, connecting the east and west trail systems in the county,” said Fernando de Aragón, Director of the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council.

When completed, the Dryden Rail Trail Bridge will help connect the Town of Dryden and the City of Ithaca and will give the community sustainable transportation options to get to work, school, community centers, stores, and parks. Sitting on the 14-mile, multi-use Dryden Rail Trail, the newly constructed bridge will be accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and will be made available to pedestrians, bicycles, and dogs.

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Tomorrow, Thursday, May 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MT the staff of U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan’s (D-N.M.) will hold Mobile Office Hours at the Glorieta Conference Center to provide direct assistance to New Mexicans who have been impacted by fires. 

Senators Heinrich and Luján’s staff will be on hand with information on accessing federal disaster assistance and recovery of federal documents.

Glorieta Mobile Office Hours – Thursday, May 12, 2022

WHO: 

• U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s Staff
• U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján’s Staff

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. MT

WHERE: Glorieta Conference Center, 11 NM-50, Glorieta, N.M. 87535

Constituents who are not able to attend Mobile Office Hours can visit the Helping You section of Senator Heinrich’s online office at www.Heinrich.Senate.Gov, or Senator Luján’s online office at www.Luján.Senate.Gov. For additional information, please contact Senator Heinrich’s Albuquerque Office at (505) 346-6601 or Senator Luján’s Washington, D.C. office at (202)-224-6621.

With the President’s Major Disaster Declaration, critical help is now available for New Mexicans who have been impacted by wildfires. Individuals in Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel, and Valencia Counties who have experienced losses from these wildfires can begin applying today with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the following ways:

• Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Call the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. MT.

When you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
• Your Social Security number, if available
• A general list of damage and losses
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

Listen for instructions from local officials to tell you it’s safe to return home. If it is safe to do so, start cleaning up now. Take photos to document damage and begin cleanup and repairs to prevent further damage. Remember to keep receipts from all purchases related to cleanup and repair.

Disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs along with other programs to assist families recovering from effects of the event.

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for Military Construction, secured the approval of over $15 million for the Cibola National Forest Air Tanker Base (ATB) on Kirtland Air Force Base to upgrade facilitates to allow the use of Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) to fight wildfires. Senator Heinrich secured this funding after engaging with Air Force leadership and the U.S. Forest Service. 

“After working directly with both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Forest Service, I’m proud to secure this funding that will strengthen federal responses to combat wildfires in New Mexico. As the climate crisis continues to elevate the severity of wildfire risks, these federal investments will be key in keeping our communities safer and our forests more resilient. I will continue to do everything possible to support our firefighters and local, state, and federal teams who are fighting the wildfires burning today. Together, we will rebuild in the aftermath of these fires and work to mitigate future devastation,” said Heinrich. 

“Kirtland Air Force Base is pleased to work with the U.S. Forest Service to host this project. Our team members are proud to be a part of the community and have a personal interest in keeping them safe. Most especially in the current wildfire climate, Kirtland Air Force Base will remain a strong partner and contributor to the well-being of all communities of New Mexico and our neighboring states,” said Col. Jason Vattioni, 377 Air Base Wing and Kirtland Installation Commander.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Nancy J. Balkus alerted Senator Heinrich of the funding for repairs that will consist of a full depth replacement of Apron A and taxi-lane, with three inches of asphalt concrete surface, three inches of asphalt concrete base and eight inches of aggregate base on compacted sub-grade.

Additional resources:

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after debate was blocked on the Women’s Health Protection Act. This legislation would codify Roe v. Wade into law by establishing a statutory right for a provider to perform abortion services, and would prohibit laws that impose burdensome requirements on access to reproductive health services. 

“A woman has a right to make her own health care decisions without the government getting between her and her medical providers. That right should not depend on what state she lives in,” said Heinrich. “I am extremely disappointed that debate on the Women’s Health Protection Act was blocked today, especially in the midst of imminent, Republican-led efforts to ban abortion services across the country. I trust the women of New Mexico to make their own decisions, and the federal government should, too. ”

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

Heinrich, Grijalva legislation would modernize the nation’s severely antiquated hardrock mining law

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, on the 150th anniversary of President Ulysses S. Grant signing the General Mining Act of 1872 into law, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) held a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol calling for the modernization of this antiquated mining law.

Grijalva, Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Heinrich, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced their House and Senate mining reform bills, both titled the Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act, on April 26, 2022. At the press conference, lawmakers along with organizations supportive of the legislation discussed their legislation and the importance of reforming the nation’s 150-year-old mining law, especially given the increasing demand for critical minerals necessary for a clean energy transition.

WATCH: Press Conference on Mining Reform, May 10, 2022

“It’s time that we had a 21st century approach to mining in this country. Especially at a moment when we’re seeing increased efforts to create more domestic supply for many of these minerals, now is the right time to reform the oversight and statutory process under which we mine on our public lands,” said Heinrich. 

“The transition to a clean energy future will inevitably involve mining, there’s no question, but that doesn’t mean we should risk permanent damage to our sacred places, our wilderness, and our health. I don’t believe we can build a 21st century clean energy economy using a 19th century law. … That’s why I think it’s important as ever to put the [Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act] into law,” said Grijalva. 

“[The Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act] will help us fix the broken mining system on our public lands and it will also help us build a more sustainable, clean energy supply chain. … [Domestic mining] must be done in a way that meets the highest environmental standards, provides a fair return to American taxpayers, and—let me say clearly and loudly—respects tribal sovereignty,” said U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif). 

More information about Heinrich’s Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act is available hereand a fact sheet on the bill is available here. More information about Grijalva’s Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act is available here and a fact sheet on the bill is available here. 

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, during a key Appropriations hearing, U.S. Senator Martin (D-N.M.) requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to reduce cost-share requirements for disaster recovery programs and to send additional personnel and resources to New Mexico to help communities affected by wildfires access federal assistance.

WATCH: Heinrich Secures Wildfire Disaster Recovery Assistance Commitments From USDA Secretary During Key Hearing [HD DOWNLOAD LINK HERE] 

Today’s hearing in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies was a review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request for the USDA. Secretary Vilsack was the witness. 

Recently, President Joe Biden announced a major disaster declaration for New Mexico. Senator Heinrich, along with the entire New Mexico Congressional Delegation, called for the administration to waive the federal cost-share for FEMA assistance. 

During the hearing, Senator Heinrich asked Secretary Vilsack if he would also work with him on reducing cost-share requirements for limited-resource communities seeking USDA disaster program assistance. Secretary Vilsack responded that he and the department would be “happy to work with [Senator Heinrich]” on what he referred to as an “appropriate request.”

Secretary Vilsack also committed to strengthening resources and increasing staffing at Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state offices, which help local communities access the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. Senator Heinrich noted the importance of EWP conducting assessments and implementation of recovery projects ahead of the monsoon season. He flagged that the Village of Ruidoso, which was subject to a wildfire that caused several fatalities and destroyed over 200 homes, has already requested EWP assistance, and many other communities in northern New Mexico will do so soon.

Senator Heinrich also expressed that other disaster programs within the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will be crucial to help farmers and ranchers in New Mexico recover from wildfire losses. Senator Heinrich asked Secretary Vilsack to “look closely at FSA and really meet people in these communities [so that they] understand what they need to do to access [FSA programs].” Secretary Vilsack committed to putting surge teams in place at New Mexico FSA offices, if staffing is not adequate, to help communities access FSA programs, such as the Livestock Indemnity Program, and be on the ground for community engagement.

Full witness testimony and an archived video of today’s hearing can be found here.

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced two pieces of bipartisan legislation originally cosponsored by U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), also a member of the committee.

The Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act would increase broadband supply chain transparency in order to ensure an on-time rollout of the broadband programs managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

“As we begin to deploy more broadband from the bipartisan infrastructure law, it’s critical we keep these projects as insulated as possible from the negative impacts of the supply chain crisis,” Senator Capito said. “I’m pleased our committee advanced this bipartisan legislation because connecting West Virginians with reliable, high-speed internet remains our priority, and the NET Act would provide us with another tool to monitor the supply chain so these crucial projects can be executed in a timely manner.”

Broadband infrastructure projects have been affected by supply chain woes in the past. A lack of transparency into the health of the telecommunications supply chain may contribute to future equipment shortages as federal broadband programs prioritize high-speed, reliable, and accessible networks. The Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act would identify these supply chain issues earlier so they can be addressed.

Specifically, the bill would require the FCC’s Annual Broadband Deployment Report to describe to Congress the impact of supply chain disruptions on the deployment of broadband service.

The Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable (FAIR) Contributions Act would direct the FCC to conduct a study into the feasibility of collecting Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions from internet edge providers such as YouTube, Netflix, and Google.

“As we all know, building out our internet infrastructure is expensive, especially in hard-to-serve areas like West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “For some time now, Big Tech has profited off of the critical infrastructure used for common day-to-day activities while not helping at a sufficient level to improve those capabilities with broadband investment in states like West Virginia. This important, bipartisan legislation we passed would explore ways that Big Tech can step up and help close the digital divide and bring universal service to West Virginia’s families, schools, and communities.”

The FAIR Contributions Act would:

• Direct the FCC to issue a Notice of Inquiry seeking public comment on the feasibility of collecting USF contributions from internet edge providers, and issue a final report on the matter within 180 days.

• Require the FCC to consider:

• Possible sources of Big Tech revenue, such as digital advertising and user fees.

• The fairness of the current system and a system under which contributions could be assessed on Big Tech firms.

• The feasibility of assessing contributions on such a broad category of firms that do not currently register with the FCC.

• The effects such a change would have on Tribal, low-income, and elderly consumers.

• The changes to current law necessary to implement this system.

Through the USF, the FCC disburses approximately $10 billion per year to fund broadband deployment to high-cost rural areas, schools and libraries, rural health care facilities, telehealth services, and broadband subsidies for low-income Americans. The USF collects money from telecommunications carriers, set at a percentage of their interstate and international revenues, which carriers usually pass onto consumers in their monthly bills.

Both pieces of legislation may now be considered on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

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