Luján Travels Across Northwestern New Mexico, Meets with Tribal Leaders and Highlights Infrastructure Projects

New Mexico - This week, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, traveled across Northwestern New Mexico to hold meetings with Tribal leaders and highlight federal investments he secured for Tribal Nations and surrounding New Mexico communities.

Luján began by meeting with the new leadership of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe to congratulate the newly elected leaders and listen to the Tribe's priorities. Luján also visited with the Tribal leadership of the Pueblo of the Zuni to meet with the leadership and discuss the Zuni Pueblo's priorities. During both meetings, Luján highlighted his work on behalf of Tribal communities and infrastructure improvements he was able to secure for the Jicarilla Apache Tribe and the Zuni Pueblo. Luján is fighting to pass bills to resolve the water rights of New Mexico's Tribal Nations and has successfully delivered millions of dollars for Tribal communities, including over $1.8 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to boost infrastructure and nearly $7 million to expand broadband for Jicarilla Apache and Zuni Pueblo communities.

"This week, I had the privilege of meeting with the leaders of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe and Zuni Pueblo to hear directly from them about their priorities and how we can continue to work together," said Senator Luján. "I am proud to be fighting for the water resources of our Tribal communities and to have delivered millions to improve infrastructure and expand broadband access. I was grateful to have these conversations with Jicarilla Apache and Zuni leaders and will continue to fight to strengthen the relationship between Tribal communities and the federal government."

On Tuesday, Luján visited a Navajo Nation home to highlight federal funding secured to bring modern electrical systems to homes across the Navajo Nation and New Mexico. Luján fought to pass the American Rescue Plan, which has funded projects like Light Up Navajo and delivered electricity to hundreds of Navajo Nation homes. The federally funded Light Up Navajo project has delivered electricity to nearly 1,000 Navajo Nation households and built almost 250 miles of power lines.

"In 2024, no family should be without electricity," said Senator Luján. "I was honored to visit a Navajo Nation home that now has access to electricity thanks to the American Rescue Plan, which I was proud to have helped pass into law. Although we've helped electrify many homes in our Tribal communities, the job is not done. There are still far too many families across the Navajo Nation that are living without access to electricity. I remain committed to expanding electrical connectivity and will keep fighting to bring electricity to every Navajo Nation home."

Later, Luján toured and received an update on the status of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. The major water infrastructure project is expected to deliver a long-term, sustainable water supply to nearly a quarter million people across the Navajo Nation and surrounding areas. In the Senate, Luján has delivered over $300 million in federal funding to support the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Luján has worked on this project throughout his career in Congress.

"Once completed, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will deliver clean, reliable drinking water to thousands of Navajo Nation homes, including many homes that currently live without running water," said Senator Luján. "I am glad to see the progress that has been made on this monumental water infrastructure project and am proud to have delivered millions of dollars to support it. I will continue to fight to ensure the pipeline is fully funded and completed by 2029."

Finally, Luján visited the Gallup Indian Medical Center to meet with U.S. Indian Health Service officials and view improvements to the facility that were made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Luján fought to pass into law.

"Across the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities, it is paramount that there is convenient access to health care providers and hospitals," said Senator Luján. "Thanks to legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act that I helped get signed into law, we are making it easier to access reliable health care for the people of the Navajo Nation. Facilities like the Gallup Indian Medical Center are making it easier for our Tribal communities to access the health care they deserve, and I will continue to fight for affordable, accessible health care for the Navajo Nation and Tribal communities across our state."

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