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Domenici Obtains Funds For NMSU ARROWHEAD CENTER

CJS Appropriations Bill Will Fund Southern NM Programs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today reported that a bill that funds key economic development initiatives will include $500,000 for the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University, which is focused on translating technological R&D into jobs in the state.

Domenici is a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee that crafted the FY2007 funding bill for CJS agencies, including the Small Business Administration, which will fund the NMSU program.

“The NMSU Arrowhead Center is a successful nonprofit organization dedicated to developing technology transfer programs that will lead to private sector job growth. New Mexico’s greatest strength is the innovation of our people, so I’m pleased to have obtained funds in the Senate bill that will support the economic development work done at Arrowhead,” Domenici said.

In addition to the funding in the CJS Appropriations Bill, Domenici included $1 million for the Arrowhead Center in the FY2007 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which he put together as chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.

The Arrowhead Center, led by former New Mexico Governor Garrey Carruthers, is organized to shepherd the technology process from the idea, to science, to engineering, to commercialization and eventually job creation. (http://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/)

At Domenici’s request, the bill also provides $12 million for the SBA Women’s Business Center program, including language authorizing the SBA to award sustainability grants. This will allow the Albuquerque-based WESST Corp. (Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team), which promotes women- and minority-owned small business formation, to continue to receive support. WESST Corp. has regional offices in Las Cruces, Roswell, Santa Fe and Gallup. (http://www.wesst.org/)

“WESST Corp has helped created almost 3,000 jobs throughout New Mexico by helping women and minority entrepreneurs launch small businesses,” Domenici said.

Domenici supported CJS Subcommittee work to restore Department of Justice funding for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance program, including the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. While the budget requested no funding for these local law enforcement programs, the subcommittee restored $810 million. This includes $555.1 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance program, $125 million for Byrne discretionary grants, and $100 million for the Southwest Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP).

Domenici said he is not satisfied with the funding level for SCAAP, which helps counties in Southwest border states defray costs associated with illegal immigration. Domenici has committed to working to increase the FY2007 level as the appropriations process moves forward. In the past, Albuquerque, and the counties of Valencia, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Taos have received SCAAP funding.

DOMENICI/Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill

Within Justice Department funding, the bill provides $5.0 million to support mental health courts around the country, including the Bernalillo County Mental Health Court. The president’s budget recommended zero funding for the mental health court system, which operates on a separate docket and are specially geared toward the mentally disabled, with personnel trained in understanding mental illnesses. The court includes a training component so that law enforcement is better able to recognize signs of mental illness.

These are items of interest to New Mexico in the FY2007 CJS Appropriations Bill:

National Science Foundation - $5.99 billion, $409 million above FY2006 and $30 million below the budget request. The bill includes language expressing support for the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative. Within this funding:

  • $50.74 million, requested by Domenici, goes to the National Radio Astronomy Observatories (NRAO), including the Very Large Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in Socorro County. This funding is the same as the President’s request for NRAO.
  • $47.89 million for the Atacama Millimeter Array (ALMA) to continue the development and construction of this astronomy facility in Chile. The VLA is involved in this new project.
  • $110 million, requested by Domenici, for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). New Mexico is an EPSCoR state, with a program based at the University of New Mexico. This is a $10 million increase above the President’s request and the current level.

NSF Education and Human Resources - $835.75 million, supported by Domenici, to support a comprehensive set of education programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Of this funding, $30 million is provided specifically for STEM. The New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation, based at New Mexico State University, is a STEM recipient. Domenici cosponsored authorizing legislation for STEM programs.

Small Business Administration (SBA) - $639 million, $15 million above the President’s request. At Domenici’s request, the bill includes:

  • $400,000 - Adelante Development Center, Inc. in Albuquerque, and
  • $500,000 - Arrowhead Center at NMSU.

SBA Women’s Business Centers – At Domenici’s request, $12 million, the same as FY2006, to support women’s business development. The bill authorizes SBA to award sustainability grants under the pilot program and allows not less than 48 percent of these funds for these grants.

SBA Women’s Business Council - $750,000, at Domenici’s request, the same as the budget request.

SBA Native American Outreach - $1.0 million, the same as FY2006. This program was not funded in the budget request.

SBA Microloan Technical Assistance - $10 million for microloan assistance. This program was not funded in the budget request.

Economic Development Administration (EDA) - $250.74 million, $29.7 million below FY2006. At Domenici’s request, the Senate report contains language recommending consideration of grant funding for:

  • UNM Manufacturing Training and Technology Center clean room ($1.0 million requested);
  • Mescalero Apache Tribe fish hatchery rehabilitation project ($1.5 million requested); and
  • Sandoval County Broadband Initiative ($1.8 million requested).

Department of Justice (DOJ) - At Domenici’s request, the bill contains language directing DOJ to give Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding consideration to the following New Mexico projects:

  • City of Albuquerque Public Safety Comprehensive Information System ($1.0 million requested);
  • Torrance County Sheriff’s Department Technology Upgrades for Children’s Identification and Location (CHILD) database ($100,000 requested); and,
  • New Mexico Department of Public Safety Methamphetamine Enforcement ($100,000 requested).

DOMENICI/Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill

DOJ Juvenile Justice - At Domenici’s request, the bill contains language directing DOJ to give Juvenile Justice Initiatives funding consideration to the following New Mexico projects:

  • New Mexico Police Athletic League ($600,000 requested); and,
  • VIVA Hispanic Adult Leadership Outreach Program through Girl Scouts in New Mexico and Texas ($1.0 million requested).

DOJ Grant Considerations – Other New Mexico projects included in the Senate bill for consideration of DOJ grants in FY2007 include:

  • La Plazita Institute Center on Latino Youth Development in Albuquerque;
  • Luna County Sheriff’s Department/ Southwest Border Law Enforcement Alliance; and,
  • hird Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Doña Ana County for the Rural Domestic Violence Initiative.

Southwest Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) – At Domenici’s request, $100 million is provided, $300 million below the current funding level. The budget request sought to eliminate this funding. Luna, Eddy, Doña Ana, San Miguel, Hildalgo, Quay, Valencia, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Taos counties have received SCAAP funds in recent years.

  • Southwest Border Prosecutors Program – At Domenici’s request, $29 million, the same as FY2006, to continue this program. This funding derives from SCAAP.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) – At Domenici’s request, $390 million for VAWA programs, $4 million above FY2006 and $9 million above the budget request.

Boys and Girls Clubs – At Domenici’s request, $85 million, the same as FY2006 and $25 million above the budget request, to support juvenile delinquency prevention programs.

Indian Justice Assistance Programs - $31.06 million for tribal law assistance through the COPS program; $10 million for tribal youth initiatives through Juvenile Justice Assistance.

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) - The Senate rejects a proposal to move the HIDTA program from the Treasury Department to DOJ. The program will remain under the White House Office of Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which is beneficial to New Mexico as part of the Southwest Border HIDTA.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration - $16.76 billion, an increase of $139 million above the current level and $30 million below the budget request, including:

  • NASA’s Space Grant College and Fellowship Program – At Domenici’s request, $28.76 million for this program. New Mexico participates in this program through a NMSU-led consortium that includes New Mexico Tech, UNM, San Juan College and Doña Ana Community College.
  • Southern New Mexico Science, Engineering, Math and Aerospace Academy – At Domenici’s request, the bill includes language directing NASA to give funding consideration to a $200,000 NMSU proposal for this academy that promotes math and science education.

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) – Requested by Domenici, $110 million, $60 million over the budget request and the same as FY2006. New Mexico MEP participates with its affiliated partners, including Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico Tech, UNM, New Mexico Economic Development Department, Quality New Mexico, and others.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) – At Domenici’s request, $327 million, $17 million above the budget request and the same as FY2006 to support legal aid to low-income individuals.

Mental Health Courts Program – At Domenici’s request, $5 million to continue this program, which benefits the Bernalillo County Mental Health Court. The budget request recommended no funding for this program.

Program for Investments in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) – At Domenici’s request, $1.0 million, $4 million below FY2006. ACCION New Mexico advocates microentrepreneur initiatives.