Rep. Stansbury Fights to Secure Millions for New Mexico

WASHINGTON D.C. — As the U.S. House of Representatives begins marking up appropriations bills in the House this week, Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) submitted 15 Congressionally funded community projects, totaling $158,450,000 for communities across New Mexico in the upcoming 2026 budget process. Since coming to office, Rep. Stansbury has secured CPF funding for 37 projects focused on tackling New Mexico’s biggest challenges in public safety, housing, healthcare, education, protecting our lands and waters, and investing in our future.   

“I came to Congress to support the needs of New Mexico using every tool available,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “As the Administration targets funding and resources our communities depend on, Community Project Funding is one of the most powerful tools we have to deliver investments necessary to support lasting and generational change for communities across our state. These 15 projects will help deliver vital healthcare and behavioral health services in rural communities, help seniors and families experiencing homelessness, help tackle the fentanyl crisis and public safety issues, protect our cultural heritage, and deliver water to communities across the state.  I am proud to work with the state, local, and tribal leaders who are working every day to address these needs on the ground.” 

After more than a decade, Congress resumed congressionally directed spending for community projects four years ago.  Since then, Rep. Stansbury has secured millions in funding for fire, emergency, and public safety services, housing and food assistance, healthcare and behavioral health programs, economic development, and youth and education programs across the state.  Past submissions for Fiscal Year 2022,Fiscal Year 2023, and Fiscal Year 2024 budgets are available online. Last year, Rep. Stansbury submitted $104 million in CPF requests to support New Mexico, but Republicans stripped FY25 Community Project Funding from their Continuing Resolution.

This year Rep. Stansbury submitted 15 projects to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration, pending approval through the Congressional budget and appropriations process. Projects this year were restricted to a limited number of federal programs, and only state, local, and Tribal governments and eligible entities are permitted to receive funding. The House Appropriations Committee will consider these requests alongside other submissions as part of the FY 2026 appropriations process, which begins with Appropriations Committee markups this week.

Once the Appropriations Committee approves projects, they will be subject to passage in both Chambers of Congress before being signed into law. This process will likely extend into fall, with the Fiscal Year 2016 beginning on October 1. 

A summary of the 15 projects submitted by Rep Stansbury is provided below: 

Investing in Public Safety Across the State 

Lincoln County, Regional Wildfire Mitigation Public Safety and Training Complex - $3,000,000 
Funding will support building a new Regional Public Safety and Training Center to help address wildfires and boost the region's ability to hire, train, certify, and retain firefighters.

Fort Sumner, Fire and Rescue Fire Station - $ 1,300,000  
Funding will support building a new fire station in Fort Sumner to serve the community on the West side of the Pecos River, allowing timely emergency response and a new community hub in the Sunny Side subdivision.

State Police Department, Technical Capabilities Improvements - $1,650,000  
Funding will enable NM State Police to improve wireless and other technical capabilities statewide. This includes improving 5G technologies, cellular routers, and Automated License Plate Readers, increasing real-time situational awareness and allowing for more informed and rapid decision-making for first responders. 

Albuquerque Police Department, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Mobile Lab Vehicle - $800,000  
Funding will enable the City of Albuquerque to add a new CSI Mobile Lab vehicle to update its current fleet and help meet expanded public safety needs across the Albuquerque metro area. 

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety Vehicles - $1,000,000  
Funding will support BCSO's replacement of an aging fleet of vehicles to enhance operations and reduce maintenance costs to meet public safety needs across the Bernalillo County area.   

Addressing Rural Healthcare and Behavioral Health Needs 

Valencia County, Acute Care Hospital - $8,000,000  
Funding will support construction of a state-of-the-art acute care hospital in Los Lunas, designed to meet the healthcare needs of the growing rural communities of Valencia County. This hospital will be a critical lifeline for local residents increasing access to both emergency and inpatient care.  

Sandoval County, Behavioral Health Clinic - $8,000,000  
Funding will support the construction of a comprehensive behavioral health and resource center in the Town of Bernalillo, in partnership with a broad set of local, tribal, and county stakeholders to address community needs related to addiction, housing, mental health and family services. This center will serve a large number of rural and remote communities across Sandoval County, providing a first-of-its-kind regional hub for urgent and ongoing medical and behavioral health needs.  

Addressing Homelessness, Housing Insecurity, and Supporting Vulnerable Families 

Bernalillo County, Affordable Housing - $2,000,000  
Funding will provide housing for low- and moderate-income families in Downtown Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. This project will provide safe and stable temporary housing for seniors and families in need of housing support.   

Albuquerque, Transitional Housing for Families - $1,000,000  
Funding will support the purchase and rehabilitation of transitional housing for vulnerable families experiencing crisis. This project will help families grow out of emergency and short-term shelters and into longer term housing while they continue to get back on their feet. 

Albuquerque, Senior Stability Shelter - $1,700,000  
Funding will support building a new permanent shelter for seniors who are experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in Albuquerque. This project will provide safe and stable permanent housing in a vulnerable part of the city.   

Protecting Our Water Infrastructure

Middle Rio Grande Pueblos, Rio Grande Pueblo Irrigation Infrastructure - $82,700,000   
Funding will provide long-overdue support for improving acequia and irrigation infrastructure for the six middle Rio Grande Pueblos and addressing deferred maintenance, repairs, and upgrades needed for improvements in agricultural irrigation on Pueblo lands.

City of Santa Rosa, Drinking Water Pipelines Project - $4,000,000  
Funding will support construction of a major project for improving drinking water supplies in the City of Santa Rosa and replacing aging infrastructure impacting drinking water pipelines.  

Town of Bernalillo, Wastewater Project - $20,000,000  
Funding will support the rehabilitation of the Town of Bernalillo’s aging wastewater treatment plant, extending the service life of its infrastructure and future growth in the community to protect water supplies.   

Village of Corrales, Wastewater Treatment Facility - $20,000,000  
Funding will help install a treatment facility and expand wastewater collection across the Village of Corrales to protect local groundwater from septic system contamination, conserve water resources by recycling treated wastewater, and supporting long-term sustainability.  

Protecting our Cultural Heritage and Historic Buildings 

Estancia and East Mountains, Estancia Town Hall Renovation - $3,300,000 
Funding will support planning and capital improvement repairs of the historic Estancia Community Center. The community center serves as a vital hub, offering access to essential services, educational programs, and support for generations of New Mexicans. 

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