Education

Students in New Mexico represent a bright future for our state. We must ensure that every student has access to a quality education, regardless of their background or zip code, their ethnicity or religion, or their gender or sexual orientation.

As a father of two public school students, I believe that all children deserve an opportunity to benefit from a great public education. We must ensure that every student has access to an education that will put them on the path to success—from early childhood through higher education. I was proud to support the Every Student Succeeds Act, which puts education decisions back in the hands of districts, school boards, and states, while maintaining important federal civil rights protections.

Earning a college degree shouldn't be a luxury, but something that every family can afford. In the Senate, I have cosponsored legislation to keep federal student loan interest rates low and make community college free for two years. We must make sure New Mexicans can learn skills they need to succeed in the workforce without having to take on crippling debt. I introduced the Degrees Not Debt Act to increase the Federal Pell Grant and hold states and universities accountable for reducing costs and improving student outcomes.

As one of the few engineers in Congress, I’ve always had a special commitment to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. Building the STEM pipeline will help us develop a strong, skilled workforce in New Mexico for the jobs of the future. Many companies in high-tech fields have demand for skilled workers that exceeds the available workforce. I have introduced the bipartisan Championing Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in Technology (CHANCE in Tech) Act to provide workers from all backgrounds with apprenticeships in computer science and information technology, where they can learn the skills and knowledge they need to fill good-paying tech jobs.

I will continue to work to ensure higher education is affordable and within reach for every student in New Mexico, and that educators have the resources, training, and support they need to help students succeed.

Latest

• Heinrich, Luján Deliver Over $18 Million In Direct Investments To Support New Mexico Higher Education

  Posted on 03/23/22

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) have secured over $18 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for New Mexico colleges and universities in the historic bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Agreement for Fiscal Year 2022. The new law also makes a number of investments in college access, affordability, and completion, including the largest increase in the maximum Pell grant award in more than a decade. Read More

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• Heinrich Leads Effort To Extend USDA Support For School Meal Programs As Schools Transition Back To Normal Operations

  Posted on 03/03/22

  WASHINGTON - As schools across the nation continue transitioning back to normal operations, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, is leading a group of 29 Senate colleagues, including Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), in an effort to make sure school administrators, staff, and industry partners that supply food to child nutrition programs have continued support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Read More

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• VIDEO: Heinrich Discusses American Rescue Plan Relief For Tribal Schools With National Indian Education Association

  Posted on 03/18/21

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined members of the National Indian Education Association in a virtual discussion on how the Bureau of Indian Education and Tribally-controlled schools have been impacted by the pandemic. Read More

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• Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Welcome Almost $1 Million For Broadband And Telehealth Projects In New Mexico

  Posted on 03/10/21

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are welcoming announcements from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development that several projects in New Mexico will receive a combined $927,966 through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program. Read More

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• Heinrich, Luján Seek $130B Funding Boost for Public School Infrastructure

  Posted on 01/29/21

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA), the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor Committee, to introduce the bicameral Reopen and Rebuild America's School Act of 2021. The bill would invest $130 billion in modernizing K-12 classrooms across the country and would help schools upgrade their physical and digital infrastructure. Read More

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• Udall, Heinrich Secure Major Investments in New Mexico’s Economy, Environment, and Rural Communities in Final Bipartisan Spending Bill

  Posted on 12/22/20

  WASHINGTON-Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined the full Senate to pass government funding bills for Fiscal Year 2021. Udall and Heinrich secured critical investments for New Mexico and Indian Country in economic development, environmental protection and rural development. Read More

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• Heinrich Lauds Inclusion Of Ventilation System Improvements For Elementary, Secondary Schools In End-of-Year Package

  Posted on 12/21/20

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• Heinrich Announces Nominees To The United States Service Academies

  Posted on 12/01/20

  WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced his nominees to the United States Service Academies. A nomination is required to attend the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination. Being nominated is a significant honor. The application process is rigorous, and only the most qualified and meritorious candidates receive a nomination. Read More

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• After Pressure From Heinrich, Alexander, And Groups, Department Of Interior Extends Every Kid Outdoors Passes To Fifth Graders

  Posted on 10/29/20

  WASHINGTON - Following a request from U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) last month, the U.S. Department of the Interior has agreed to extend the 2019-2020 Every Kid Outdoors pass into the 2020-2021 school year given the hurdles the pandemic has presented for students and families to accessing America's public lands, waters, and historic sites. Read More

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• NM Delegation Hails Over $2.6 Million to Boost Online Education and Career Training for Public High School Students

  Posted on 10/09/20

  WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) applauded over $2.6 million in federal funding awarded to the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) to help provide online career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for high school students. Read More

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