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| Roads, Rails and Energy |
July 29, 2005 |
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Dear Friends,
The last week before the Congress has a recess is always busy. Late nights and lots of legislation as we drive to get stuff done before everyone leaves Washington. This week was no exception.
We passed several health bills including malpractice lawsuit reform and a bill to let small businesses join together to buy their health insurance at the same lower rates that big businesses can get.
We finished and sent to the President two of our appropriations bills, including the Interior bill that has some important help in it for the water systems in Edgewood, Tijeras, and Belen.
Then we did the Energy bill. Six years in the making, the bill will give us a long term balanced energy plan for the country.
And, after lots of wrangling, we got the highway bill done. The highway bill distributes federal gas taxes by a formula to the states. It also prioritizes some projects for funding.
The formula in this bill always pits "donor" states with lots of people and few miles, against "donee" states like New Mexico with lots of miles and fewer people.
Over the next six years, the formula will send about $1.7 billion to the New Mexico Highway Department for our roads.
In addition, the bill designates some funds at my request including $15.6 million for the Coors/I-40 interchange -- the second busiest interchange in the state -- and $2.8 million to upgrade the I-25/Tramway interchange.
Good roads, rails and airports help us attract and keep good jobs in New Mexico.
Wish you were here,
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