WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, released a video statement on investing in early childhood education in New Mexico after final passage of the bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).

The omnibus agreement, which passed the Senate and House and now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law, includes language that Sen. Heinrich helped secure to unlock major investments in early childhood and K-12 education in New Mexico.

VIDEO: Heinrich on Final Passage of Early Childhood Education Bill

“There is nothing I’ve worked on in my entire career that will have more impact than making this sustainable investment in early childhood education,” Heinrich said. “This is an opportunity to really change the trajectory of our state in a positive way.”

Heinrich continued: “I want to thank everyone who worked for over a decade; all of the advocates, the entire coalition, all of the leaders in our State Legislature, our Governor’s office, and all of my colleagues who helped us get this across the finish line in Washington, D.C. Thank you all for making this happen. This is a powerful statement regarding the future of New Mexico and making it brighter than it is today.”

Background:

• Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury introduced the New Mexico Education Enhancement Act in December 2021 to provide congressional approval for the State of New Mexico’s new law to invest Land Grant Permanent Fund dollars into early childhood education. The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández.

• Heinrich passed the New Mexico Education Enhancement Act unanimously out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in July with bipartisan support.