VIDEO: Heinrich Urges Top Military Officials to Prioritize Continued Investment in New Mexico’s Military Installations, Affordable Housing

Heinrich additionally questioned officials on how DoD is ensuring service members have access to affordable housing support.

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich Urges Military Leaders to Prioritize Continued Investment in New Mexico's Military Installations, Affordable Housing, May 1, 2024.

Heinrich directed his first question to U.S. Space Force Associate Chief Operations Officer Bruce Hollywood and U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Tom Miller, highlighting how New Mexico is home to many of the nation's core space assets: "Mr. Hollywood and General Miller, as you both know, New Mexico is home to many of the nation's core space assets. We have Air Force Research Lab, Space Systems Command, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, the incoming Space Force Delta 11 Training Mission. Secretary Kendall and General Saltzman recently revealed plans to build up a new Space Force Futures Command, and how the Space Force will look to leverage existing MILCON, capabilities, and industry when considering where to house a new Futures Command. So, would you both talk to me about how the Air Force and Space Force are thinking about that sort of existing ecosystem and infrastructure in the decision-making process for that?

In his response to Heinrich, Hollywood laid out the process the Space Force will use to make future basing decisions, and informed Heinrich that he would keep him updated on any future plans to house new missions or projects: "We'll test and exercise concepts, future mission, and equipment, and then we'll put some real analysis behind it so that we can best spend the dollars to put the maximum capability in as we do our force design. Right now, sir, there are no plans for MilCon. We haven't made plans or request. We're working through the design of what this needs to look like, and what things we need to put together to be effective. Once we do, sir, I will make sure that we get back with you when we're ready to go through a basing decision and start putting the structure together."

Heinrich additionally questioned leaders on the actions being done to strengthen housing support, particularly for rural installations in New Mexico: "On-base and privatized housing continue to be one of the top issues facing rural installations in my state, and I suspect, across the country. Service members and their families at Cannon Air Force Base, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands Missile Range are consistently facing challenges in finding housing, which disrupts mission readiness and recruiting and retention. For each service represented here, can you walk me through what specifically you are doing to ensure rural installations are receiving the housing support, planning, and capacity that they need?"

Along with several other military leaders, United States Navy Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Jablon thanked Heinrich for his question, noting the importance of housing for service members for recruitment and retention: "Obviously, if we don't have the housing available, the right housing that meet our standards, then that will affect retention and recruiting."

In March, following the President's signature on the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill, Heinrich announced that he had secured a total of $1.5 billion in military construction funding for New Mexico's military installations during his tenure in Congress. That includes:

• $668.16 million in military construction funding for Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, N.M.,
• $358.71 million in military construction funding for Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, N.M.,
• $268.24 million in military construction funding for Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M.,
• $178.51 million in military construction funding for White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces, N.M., and
• $64.4 million in military construction funding for New Mexico National Guard facilities around New Mexico.

In addition, Heinrich has secured more than $275.49 million in funding for the Eastern New Mexico Water Supply Project, which directly benefits Cannon and the surrounding community in eastern New Mexico.

A detailed breakdown of all of the military construction projects that Heinrich has delivered during his tenure in Congress can be foundHERE.

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