Christina Castro of Three Sisters Collective drums and sings to conclude the presentations for the first Ingenious Women’s Day Friday at the Capitol Rotunda. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

A 2-year-old girl wearing a shirt that reads ‘We are all the village’ holds the hands of her caretakers Friday at the Capitol during Foster Parent Appreciation, Advocacy and Awareness Day. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

By The New Mexican

Days left in session: 14

Centers of excellence: The House of Representatives voted 50 to 14 to give a “do pass” recommendation to House Bill 7, which charges the Higher Education Department with creating “centers of excellence” at four schools in New Mexico.

Each would focus on researching and developing innovative measures to promote economic growth and jobs in a specific area. The University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center would focus on bioscience, while New Mexico State University would focus on sustainable agriculture, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology on cybersecurity and San Juan College on renewable energy.

Though the bill does not include an appropriation, a fiscal impact report says it would cost the state $2 million, with each of the four requiring $500,000 a year.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced her idea of creating these college-based centers early in her campaign for governor last year.

The bill next goes to the Senate for consideration.

Fostering love: The 70 members of the House cheered and applauded, and some cried, as they supported House Memorial 20, designating Friday as Foster Parent Appreciation, Advocacy and Awareness Day.

Foster parents and children showed up in the House chambers as Reps. Rebecca Dow of Silver City and Kelly Fajardo of Belen, both Republicans who helped co-sponsor the bill, spoke of the sacrifice that foster parents make. “We do it for love,” Dow said of their compassion and commitment.

The memorial says that in fiscal year 2018, 2,531 children were in the state’s foster care program and that hundreds of New Mexican adults serve as foster parents every year. The third co-sponsor of the memorial is Rep. Patricio Ruiloba, D-Albuquerque.

A number of bills benefiting foster children and their families are making their way through this year’s 60-day legislative session.

Quotes of the day: “I’m sorry Representative, I was distracted by a balloon.” –Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, after he fumbled his introduction of a bill during a Friday afternoon floor session. Someone had tied a helium balloon next to Lente’s desk, where Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, sits, because it was her birthday.

“It’s grim. … We’re really up the creek here.” –Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, who heads the House Judiciary Committee, noting that 206 bills had been referred to the committee but just 110 had been heard with only two weeks left in the session. Chasey said her committee may have to start working every day.

Cherone Otero, Miss Eastern Navajo, holds up her niece Malaya Otero, 1, while presentations were made Friday in the Capitol Rotunda during Ingenious Women’s Day. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican