ICYMI: Rep. Stansbury Celebrates Accomplishments in End of the Year Op-Ed in Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE—Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) released a report on her accomplishments since being sworn into Congress, and wrote an end of the year op-ed in the Albuquerque Journal.
“Each and every day, I am proud to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District in the People’s House. Together, we have fought for New Mexicans at every turn, no matter what has come our way, we have worked to improve the lives of our communities, rebuild our economy, and protect our precious lands and waters.
“This year has presented some of our nation’s most significant domestic and international challenges. Partisan politics drove our government to the brink of shutdown — not just once, but twice. Political extremism immobilized the House, ousted a speaker, and threatened the U.S. economy and international standing, with GOP infighting paralyzing our institutions.
“While Congress remains divided, I am proud to continue working across the aisle for New Mexico — teaming up with Republican colleagues this year to introduce 16 bipartisan bills to tackle our biggest challenges from rural development, health care, and behavioral health to wildfires and climate resilience.”
These achievements include:
140,000+ constituent letters answered
77 Town Halls and roundtables
$940,292,757 in grant money secured
1,300+ constituent cases worked on
5,300+ meetings with constituents
7 bills or amendments passed
18 bills or amendments introduced
730+ bills cosponsored
You can view the accomplishments graphic here.
You can view the op-ed here and below.
This year has presented challenges for New Mexico, and we've stepped up
By Melanie Stansbury
As 2023 comes to a close, I want to celebrate the incredible work we have accomplished together on behalf of New Mexico this year.
Each and every day, I am proud to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District in the People’s House. Together, we have fought for New Mexicans at every turn, no matter what has come our way, we have worked to improve the lives of our communities, rebuild our economy, and protect our precious lands and waters.
This year has presented some of our nation’s most significant domestic and international challenges. Partisan politics drove our government to the brink of shutdown — not just once, but twice. Political extremism immobilized the House, ousted a speaker, and threatened the U.S. economy and international standing, with GOP infighting paralyzing our institutions.
While Congress remains divided, I am proud to continue working across the aisle for New Mexico — teaming up with Republican colleagues this year to introduce 16 bipartisan bills to tackle our biggest challenges from rural development, health care, and behavioral health to wildfires and climate resilience.
In New Mexico, we know that water is life. It is part and parcel of who we are and our ways of life. Yet, across our tribal and rural communities, many still do not have access to clean, reliable water — including communities across the state in dire need of essential infrastructure.
Water is also the lifeline our farmers, ranchers, and acequias depend on to survive. That is why I am proud to have introduced the largest number of water bills in Congress. From legislation to protect clean water across the state, to securing tribal water rights, to investments in drought and infrastructure — I am working every day to ensure our communities have access to clean water for generations to come.
Alongside this work to secure our most precious resources, I am also working every day to address the biggest challenges that impact the ability of our communities to thrive. As a native New Mexican who grew up in a working family, this work is personal for me. That is why I have introduced and cosponsored countless bills to revitalize local economies, support our veterans, invest in youth and workforce development, improve access to health care, protect our sacred lands, and tackle the opioid crisis, behavioral health, homelessness, and public safety issues.
In so doing, this work has been deeply rooted in our communities. Since taking office, my office has held more than 5,300 meetings with constituents, worked on over 1,300 constituent cases, and held 77 community town halls and roundtables. We have traveled and listened to every corner of our district — from towns and cities, to land grants, to pueblo and tribal communities, and to rural and mountain towns.
These conversations have driven real and tangible impacts, including our work to secure nearly a billion dollars in federal funding for the district. This includes our work to secure over $90 million to replace the To’Hajiilee Community School at the To’Hajiilee Chapter of the Navajo Nation and the state-of-the-art fire station we dedicated in Moriarty in the East Mountains just last week.
This year, we also helped secure millions for broadband, water, and other infrastructure projects alongside the delegation, including $7 million for the Albuquerque Sunport, $169 million for water settlements, $18.9 million to address PFAS, $17.5 million for clean energy, and millions more.
Through countless constituent cases, our office has helped thousands of New Mexicans with Social Security and veterans’ benefits, tax refunds, and visa issues. Our casework team has helped to reunite families, helped New Mexicans in their most dire times of need, and brought millions back to our communities. Through our work on the PACT Act, we have helped countless veterans across the state. And, through our work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, we have helped deliver funding for our national labs, New Mexico manufacturing, and millions in infrastructure dollars and jobs.
None of this work would be possible without you. Since day one, our work has been guided by our communities and the New Mexicans who have come to share your dreams, hopes, and priorities for our state. Because, at the end of this day, this work is about you. It’s about our collective future as New Mexicans — and our work to build a brighter future for our state.
That future is now, and our work to improve the lives of every New Mexican is just beginning. As we look to the next year, we know a difficult but hopeful road lies ahead. As always, our work for a more just, equitable, and resilient world continues and remains focused day in and day out on our work for New Mexico.
As we look to 2024, I cannot wait to fight and work alongside you in the New Year.
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