STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to acknowledge and examine the unmet needs of New Mexicans as a result of the 2022 wildfire disasters.

In their letter, the lawmakers ask HUD for clarity on its approach to assessing the states’ needs and request information on HUD’s efforts in collaborating with other federal agencies on relief.

Last year, following the worst wildfire in state history, the New Mexico Congressional Democrats successfully passed the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act to establish the Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon Fire Claims Office within FEMA to deliver $3.95 billion in direct assistance to communities, families, and businesses impacted by the wildfires. Senator Luján and the New Mexico Congressional Delegation continue to urge all federal agencies to work together to help make New Mexicans whole. 

“We understand that HUD is required to consider the extent of how insurance, disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and assistance from FEMA will meet the needs of the community before it determines whether an affected area should receive CDBG-DR funding in order to avoid duplicating benefits” the lawmakers said. “We fully support this position, however, the impacted communities cannot wait years while FEMA assistance and the Claims Office awards are finalized before CBDG-DR funding is allocated. We would encourage you to partner with FEMA and the Claim’s Office as other federal agencies have done to ensure that funding is distributed in a fair and efficient way.”

“While we are open to looking at waivers to allow the State can use their existing CDBG allocation to address fire damages in unique ways, additional funding dedicated specifically to disaster response will also be necessary to meet the current unmet needs,” the lawmakers continued.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.