8/10/2019 Udall-Heinrich.pdf

1/5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2014

Udall, Heinrich Welcome Passage of Bill to Fund N.M. PrioritiesAppropriations bill funds PILT, lab programs including B61, N.M. military

bases, WIPP recovery, technology transfer, water projects and other programs

WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee,

and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrichjoined the full Senate in voting 56-40 for a so-called omnibusappropriations bill to fund the government, including critical New Mexico programs, through September2015, the end of the Fiscal Year.

The bill includes full funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which helps pay for lawenforcement, schools, roads and other local government services New Mexicans rely on. It also providesover $100 million in additional funding to continue recovery from the radiation leak at the Waste IsolationPilot Plant (WIPP), as well as continued work on the B61 Life Extension Project (LEP) at Los Alamos andSandia national labs; construction and projects at Kirtland and Cannon Air Force bases; technologytransfer to help stimulate job growth; rural water projects; and public lands programs.

Udall said:This bill includes critical funding for New Mexico, to sustain our national labs and militarybases, continue recovery at WIPP, and ensure New Mexicans can count on basic government services like

schools, public safety, roads and so many other needs. I"m extremely disappointed that this bill alsocontains measures that weaken campaign finance laws and roll back Wall Street reforms. Our duty is tothe American peoplenot Wall Street billionaires and bankers. But at the end of the day, I could not risk agovernment shutdown. I will continue to do everything I can as a member of the Appropriations Committeeto get Congress back to working for New Mexico and the American people. The American people deservebetter than this broken process. They deserve a Congress that worksthat is open and deliberatenotlast-minute deals and gimmicks for special interests. We cannot keep getting in just under the wire.

Heinrich said:"After careful consideration of this bill, I've decided that the good outweighs the bad. NewMexico relies heavily on these federal investments. Home to military bases, national laboratories, andWIPP, our state serves the nation in many ways. Federal dollars help fund critical education initiatives,infrastructure projects, and other vitally important economic drivers. This appropriations bill also includesfunding for our nation's response to the Ebola epidemic and to combat the threat presented by the terrorist

organization ISIL.

It is very unfortunate that the bill includes policy riders that I don't support and which don't belong there -including ones that would open the floodgates to special interest money influencing our elections and undoreforms to protect hardworking taxpayers from having to again bailout Wall Street bankers. I'm alsoopposed to an amendment that could compromise the retirement security of hardworking families. WhileI'm pleased that PILT funding was included in the final package, I will continue to push for full anddedicated funding for Secure Rural Schools to give our counties the budget certainty they need. Oureconomy desperately needs long-term stability. It doesn't need another government shutdown. We mustcontinue to work together and be willing to compromise in order to get things done for the American

8/10/2019 Udall-Heinrich.pdf

2/5

people and New Mexico."

New Mexico funding in the bill includes:

PILT:with $70 million included in a defense bill, which passed Congress last week, and $372 million in theomnibus, the PILT program is funded at $442 million. The total will be divided according to a formula

determined by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Last year, New Mexico counties received $37 million.WIPP, LOS ALAMOS AND SANDIA NATIONAL LABS

-WIPP:The bill provides $324 million for WIPP, including the administration"s original funding request of$220 million. The additional $104 million is designated for recovery from the radiological accident.

-B61 Life Extension Project:$643 million. Both Los Alamos and Sandia national labs are instrumental incarrying out this program, which maintains our nation"s nuclear weapons stockpile while allowing for theeventual elimination of the nation"s largest warhead, the B83. The bill fully funds the B61 LEP for FY15 andsupports recent job increases at Sandia. The funding is a direct result of Udall"s successful fight against anattempt in FY14 to cut the program.

-LANL Cleanup:$190 million.

-LANL Recapitalization:$22.7 million for 10 projects plus $23 million for TA-55 Reinvestment ProjectPhase II and III LANL

-Sandia National Laboratory Recapitalization:$30.8 million for seven projects.

-Technology Transfer:$4.8 million for technology transfer at the Department of Defense, $2.1 millionabove the president"s request, plus an additional $10 million for a regionally focused technology transferinnovation pilot program, requested by Senator Udall. The pilot will facilitate public-private venturesbetween the Department of Defense research and development centers and regionally focused technologyincubators.

MILITARY/DOD

-Cannon Air Force Base: $23.3 million for a Squadron Operations Facility

-Kirtland Air Force Base High Energy Laser: $14 million for high energy laser research initiatives, $1.0million more than the president"s request for work that will partially be done at KAFB.

-Kirtland Air Force Base Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office:$20 million. The ORS Officeis responsible for responsive space capabilities that enable rapid deployment of military resources allaround the world. Senator Udall secured this funding, not included in the president "s request, to completethe development, launch, and operations of the ORS mission and to support the integration of ORSapproaches across the space capabilities in the Air Force.

-DOD Starbase Funding:$25 million increase in funding for STARBASE, a Science, Technology,Engineering, and Math (STEM) education program for fifth graders. Senator Udall succeeded in pushing

for this civilian program that provides 25 hours of engaging STEM instruction. The technology-rich militaryenvironment allows students to experience first-hand real-world application of STEM skills. The DoDSTARBASE Program creates an unequaled bridge between the U.S. Military and STEM education withlocal school students that is achieved through strong civilian/military leadership involvement, state of theart curriculum and technology, nationwide program standardization, a complete understanding of militaryculture, and assured access to military installations.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)

8/10/2019 Udall-Heinrich.pdf

3/5

The legislation includes a total of $159.1 billion, $1.8 billion above the enacted fiscal year 2014 level.-VA Medical Services:$45.2 billion providing care and treatment for approximately 6.7 million veterans.This includes: $7.2 billion in mental health care services; $133 million in suicide prevention activities; $229million for traumatic brain injury treatment; $7.4 billion in homeless veterans treatment, services, housing,and job training; and $250 million in rural health initiatives.-Rural health:$209 million to help address new costs related to the Veterans Access, Choice, and

Accountability Act of 2014 including hiring medical staff, expanding facility capacity, and allowing ruralveterans to seek care outside the VA system.-Oversight: To help address issues related to the wait list scandal at the VA in New Mexico andelsewhere, Senator Udall pushed for additional funding for the VA Office of Inspector General. Theagreement increases funding by $5 million over the fiscal year 2014 level to provide the resourcesnecessary to continue the Office"s audits of hospital appointment scheduling and lapses in patient care.The legislation also includes language directing the VA Office of the Medical Inspector to report onproblems or deficiencies in the implementation of its recommendations, and on any violations of law by VAemployees.-Advance Funding for Veterans Medical Programs:$58.7 billion in advance fiscal year 2016 funding forthe VA. This funding will provide for medical services, medical support and compliance, and medicalfacilities, and ensure that our veterans have continued, full access to their medical care.

WATER PROJECTS

-Navajo-Gallup Project:The bill provides $81 million for the construction of the Navajo-Gallup WaterSupply Project and the historic 2010 Navajo Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement. The project willsupply water to the eastern portion of the Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla ApacheNation and the city of Gallup, serving the future water needs of approximately 250,000 people.

Other Water Settlements

-Aamodt: $3 million-Taos Pueblo:$4 million-Middle Rio Grande: The bill includes a provision encouraging development and implementation of theWater Acquisition Program along the Middle Rio Grande and San Juan Chama Projects and the PhysicalHabitat Restoration and Management efforts along the San Acacia Reach consistent with fiscal year 2014activities.

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

-Westwide Drought Response: $50 million for drought response in Western states.

-Reauthorization of Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 (a provision fromUdall"s drought bill, the New Mexico Drought Relief Act of 2014)

-Secure Water Act:The bill increases the authorization from $200 million to $300 million (also a provisionfrom Udall"s New Mexico Drought Relief Act of 2014).

-Rural Water Projects:$31 million in discretionary funds for rural water projects, which may be used tofund projects like the Eastern New Mexico-Ute Pipeline.

The bill also includes specific funding for the following Bureau of Reclamation projects in NewMexico:

-Carlsbad Project: $4,139,000-Middle Rio Grande Project: $22,735,000-Rio Grande Project: $5,406,000-Rio Grande Pueblos Project: $650,000-Tucumcari Project: $34,000-Navajo Indian Irrigation Project: $3.4 million

8/10/2019 Udall-Heinrich.pdf

4/5

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

-Tribal Partnership Program: $2.5M-Espanola Valley, Rio Grande & Tributaries: $300,000-Rio Grande Basin, NM, CO, and TX (Sec. 729): $300,000-Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection, Bernalillo to Belen: $276,000

-Abiquiu Dam: $2,794,000-Cochiti Lake: $3,587,000-Conchas Lake: $2,794,000-Galisteo Dam: $1,150,000-Inspection of Completed Environmental Projects: $30,000-Inspection of Completed Works: $654,000-Jemez Canyon Dam: $1,392,000-Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program: $2,492,000-Santa Rosa Dam and Lake: $1,594,000-Scheduling Reservoir Operations: $330,000-Two Rivers Dam: $797,000-Upper Rio Grande Water Operations Model Study: $1,289,000

WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AND PREVENTION (nationwide)

-Hazardous fuels reduction activities:$526 million

-Wildfire suppression: $1.394 billion total for the Forest Service and Department of the Interior torespond to forest fires.

-Aircraft acquisition to enhance firefighting capacity, effectiveness:$65 million

-Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund:$40 million for ecological restoration treatments offorests. This helps prevent fires and make healthy watersheds. Two projects in New Mexico are ongoing(Zuni Mountain and Jemez Mountains)

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT (nationwide)-Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB):$7.5 million for the PCLOB to help ensure thatfederal laws and policies related to terrorism appropriately consider privacy and civil liberties. Theseresources, $4.4 million more than the fiscal year 2014 enacted level, will enable the PCLOB to pursue itsmission without delay.

LAW ENFORCEMENT (nationwide)

-10 temporary federal judgeships extended for one year, including one in New Mexico.

-Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP): $375 million, $8 million above the fiscal year 2014enacted level. This includes $245 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Programand $93.5 million for the Drug-Free Communities program.

-State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement:$2.3 billion to support state and local law enforcement withthe tools they need to fight violent crime and gangs. This amount is $55 million more than the fiscal year2014 level and includes funding for key grant programs, such as $376 million for Byrne Justice AssistanceGrants, $180 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring grants, $430 million forViolence Against Women Act programs and $252 million for juvenile justice and mentoring grants.

-Heroin Crisis:$7 million to fund a new program within the COPS Office for anti-heroin task forces.Competitive grants will be awarded for drug enforcement, including investigations and activities related to

8/10/2019 Udall-Heinrich.pdf

5/5

the distribution of heroin or unlawful diversion and distribution of prescription opioids. The agreement callson the DOJ to take the lead in convening experts in the law enforcement, medical, public health andeducational fields to develop a comprehensive government-wide solution for this crisis. The bill alsoprovides funding for OJP grant programs available to state and local governments for residential drugtreatment ($10 million), prescription drug monitoring ($11 million), and drug courts ($41 million).

-Funding for 35 new Immigration Judge Teams allowing Executive Office for Immigration Reviewto adjudicate up to 39,000 more cases annually.

###