Press Releases

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) released the following statement on the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the advancement of the Build Back Better Act.  The infrastructure bill includes $550 billion in new federal investments in our roads and bridges, water infrastructure, and broadband. 

“The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a win for every community in New Mexico.

“Us Nuevo Mexicanos know the devastation brought on by climate change. This bill is the first step toward a clean energy transition with necessary investments to create good paying jobs. I’m proud to have helped secure $4.7 billion to plug orphaned wells to reduce methane pollution. I also advocated for investments in water infrastructure including the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project. I pushed for broadband because we know that connectivity is essential for our families to work, learn, and stay healthy. The bill includes $65 billion for broadband so every New Mexican has access to reliable broadband, especially rural and low-income families.

“While this bill is important for New Mexicans, we’re not done yet. Tonight we held the first vote to advance the Build Back Better Act. This transformational legislation will reduce the cost of prescription drugs because we cannot let big pharma make excessive profits off of people’s pain. It extends the expanded Child Tax Credit, provides paid family leave, free pre-k for all 3 and 4-year-olds, and tax cuts for families and workers. BBB makes the largest investment to combat the climate crisis in our nation’s history to protect our beloved communities from the extensive droughts, wildfires, and flooding. It also includes $10 billion for first-time first-generation homebuyers, which I helped secure. 

“Our communities need us to invest in the values and heart of our Nation- our women, children, workers, immigrants, and beautiful Mother Earth. The Build Back Better Act es para la gente, for our community, and we need it now.”

As Chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples, Congresswoman Leger Fernández held hearings about the infrastructure, climate and health needs in Indian Country to spur action for major investments included in both the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Build Back Better Act. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act also includes: 

• Provisions from the Orphaned Wells Cleanup and Jobs Act: $4.7 billion to plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells on Federal, state, private, and Tribal lands.
• Historic investments towards infrastructure in Indian Country: Approximately $12 billion towards water projects, broadband grant funding to Tribes over 5 years, improvement and construction for Indian Health Service sanitation facilities, and tribal climate resilience. 
• Funding for broadband infrastructure deployment: $65 billion in grants to states for broadband deployment to make broadband access more affordable for low-income families. 
• Largest investment in clean drinking water in American history: $55 billion in funding to replace lead pipes and service lines, replace lead service lines and the dangerous chemical PFAS. Invests in communities that need it most such as Tribal nations and includes funding for the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project.
• Repair and rebuild our roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation and safety: $110 billion in funding, including the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act and Surface Transportation Investment Act to replace and repair bridges, highways, and major roads.  
• Single largest investment in clean energy transmission: $73 billion towards upgrading our power infrastructure, including building thousands of miles of new, resilient transmission lines to facilitate the expansion of renewable energy and creating the new Grid Deployment Authority. 

The Build Back Better Act will cut the deficit by more than $36 billion over the first 10 years and at least $2 trillion over the second ten years.

The Build Back Better Act includes: 

• Tax cuts for families and workers: Up to $1,500 in tax cuts for 132,000 low-wage workers in New Mexico by extending the American Rescue Plan’s Earner Income Tax Credit expansion.
• Housing cost reduction and expanded housing options: $10 billion for first-time first-generation homebuyers, plus expanded rental assistance, and increasing the supply of high-quality housing through the construction and rehabilitation of over 1 million affordable housing units nationwide. 
• Historic investment in Indian Country: Approximately $14 billion in funding for tribal climate resilience, energy electrification program, improvement of Indian Health Services and tribal health care facilities, housing, and more.
• Largest investment to combat the climate crisis in history: Invests $555 billion in clean energy and climate, creating new high paying jobs, saving American families money on their energy bill, and ensuring clean technologies like wind turbine blades and solar panels are made here at home.
• Protections for federal lands: Includes provision to protect certain federal lands from future fossil fuel development, including Chaco Canyon. 

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