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| Wilson Highlights Job-Creating NM Projects in Major Funding Bill |
November 18, 2005 |
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| House Passes Support for Senior Housing & $5 million for Paseo del Volcan Interchange
Washington — Congresswoman Heather Wilson today welcomed House passage 392-31 of the $69.9 billion Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3058) which includes five specific Wilson requests for New Mexico, including $5 million in construction funds for the Paseo del Volcan intersection.
“Through this construction, we’re directly creating jobs and building better roads that support economic growth,” Wilson said.
“This bill makes vital assistance possible for many lower-income New Mexicans, particularly housing for seniors and the disabled.”
Funding for four other specific programs Wilson advocated:
$500,000 for the planned commuter rail link from Albuquerque to Santa Fe as a Capital Investment Grant. The project is a partnership between the state, Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments, Santa Fe and several Pueblos.
$350,000 in funding for library construction for the city of Placitas. The library is currently located in a former auto-repair garage.
$20,000 for the East Central Ministries Program of Albuquerque for their job training program, a grant funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
$500,000 for construction of an Albuquerque YMCA on the growing West Side of the city.
Wilson welcomed the emphasis in the bill on public and Indian housing programs, which are funded at $6.8 billion, an increase of $1.6 billion over last year. This includes $630 million for Native American Housing Block Grants, and $4.2 billion for the Community Development Block Grant, $3.75 billion of which is specified for communities and states, and blocking an earlier proposal to consolidate and transfer this effort to the Department of Commerce.
Homeless programs are supported at $1.35 billion, an increase of $110 million over last year, while $285 million is set aside for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), $742 million for Elderly Housing, and $239 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
The legislation also includes support for anti-drug efforts through the Office of National Drug Control Policy, including $227 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, $120 million for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, and $80 million for the Drug-Free Communities program.
Additional New Mexico Highlights:
$200,000, Alliance for Transportation Research, UNM
$775,000, I-25 & Tramway north
$3 million for Edith Blvd Improvements
$1.13 million for Head Start facility, Presbyterian Medical Services
$750,000 for Albuquerque Mental Health Housing Coalition, Inc. for renovation of Sunport Plaza Apartments.
$350,000 for Community Center Construction in Sunland Park.
$250,000 for Community Health Alliance in Sandoval County.
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