Heinrich Provisions For N.M. Military Installations, National Labs, and Artificial Intelligence Clear The Senate

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, and co-founder of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, voted for the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that supports New Mexico's men and women in uniform, military installations, national laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Artificial Intelligence, and job-creating initiatives throughout the state.

The bill passed the Senate Armed Services Committee in June and passed the full Senate today by a vote of 86-14.

"The people of New Mexico make tremendous contributions to our national security and work at the forefront of cutting-edge research and development," said Heinrich. "This bipartisan bill supports our servicemembers and their families, and includes provisions I fought for to strengthen New Mexico's military installations, national laboratories, WIPP, Spaceport America, and leadership in the future of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, directed energy, and space."

"This bill makes major investments to ensure our Armed Forces are equipped with the state-of-the-art technology needed to stay ahead of our adversaries. New Mexico is the center of excellence for small satellites and for directed energy weapons, and this bill increases funding and streamlines authorities to bolster those missions. I am also proud to have incorporated language that will advance the Department of Defense's Artificial Intelligence capabilities, and ensure that America stays at the cutting edge of technological advancement. I will continue fighting to include language to maintain the independence of Kirtland Air Force Base's Space Rapid Capabilities Office and placing a Space Training and Readiness command program in New Mexico," Heinrich added.

The NDAA sets the Department of Defense spending levels and policies for the upcoming fiscal year and authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Energy's nuclear weapons programs at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, as well as the Department of Energy's environmental cleanup programs including the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

Heinrich continued, "I am also proud to have authorized funding to support infrastructure improvements at White Sands Missile Range and language that encourages the Air Force to continue investments at Holloman Air Force Base. Holloman trains the nation's best and brightest and I will continue fighting for improvements to the MQ-9 training facility after funds were diverted from the FY20 NDAA to the president's border wall. These provisions, among many others, benefit New Mexico's economy, and advance New Mexico's steadfast position as a leader in national security for years to come."

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