By Sen. Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., stood up for New Mexico families June 5 by voting against Senate Republicans’ budget bill that fails to address the skyrocketing price of gas, groceries, and everyday essentials—while giving away $70 billion in taxpayer dollars to a lawless U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol. These agencies are already sitting on over $103 billion in unspent funds from the last Republican budget bill.
Despite Heinrich’s work to amend the legislation, Republicans blocked every effort to provide needed relief to working families and refused to prohibit President Trump from using taxpayer dollars to fund his billion-dollar ballroom and create a $1.8 billon slush fund for convicted criminals who beat up police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
“Throughout this budget process, I fought for amendments to support working families, ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, and help lower everyday costs,” Heinrich said. “Senate Republicans rejected those efforts at every turn, making clear that they would rather fight harder for Trump’s corrupt vanity projects than deliver relief for the American people.”
As Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich successfully led the effort to block Senate Republicans from using their budget bill to fund Trump’s ballroom with $1 billion in taxpayer dollars. The Senate Parliamentarian sided with Heinrich, who advised that funding for Trump’s gilded ballroom would be subject to a 60-vote Byrd Rule point of order, effectively forcing its elimination from the legislation.
During the budget vote, Heinrich and Senate Democrats attempted to amend the legislation and provide much needed relief for working families.
SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCKED SENATE DEMOCRATS’ EFFORTS TO:
- Prohibit Trump from using taxpayer dollars to create a $1.8 billon slush fund for convicted criminals who attacked the U.S. Capitol and beat up police officers Jan. 6, 2021
- Prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to fund Trump’s billion-dollar gilded ballroom
- Revoke Trump’s unlawful tax audit immunities
- Build seven million new homes for working families nationwide, including 42,000 new homes in New Mexico
- Provide funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which expands the supply of affordable housing and helps more New Mexicans afford to rent or achieve homeownership
- Fund early childhood education for working families
- Establish a task force to conduct investigations into troubling health insurer utilization management practices, including “prior authorizations,” that often restrict or delay patient access to medically necessary healthcare
- Force the public disclosure of the White House’s agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers, which Trump has forced companies to keep confidential. Hire local law enforcement officers to address public safety in local communities
- Require U.S. Department of Homeland officers to wear body cameras while engaging in immigration enforcement activities
- Prohibit an acting Director of National Intelligence who is simultaneously leading any other Federal department or agency
- Process Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications in a timely manner
- Provide behavioral healthcare, counseling, and substance use prevention services to youth at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system
- Limit the influence of Super PACs in federal elections
- Ensure safe, humane conditions at DHS detention centers
