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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D.N.M., Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has secured more than $2.5 million through the National Association of Plumbers appropriations process. He emphasized that he had secured it. Pipefitters Local 412 (UA Local 412) operates a mobile training unit that provides pre-apprenticeship training to New Mexicans living in rural and tribal communities.
The mobile training unit is further developing pathways to in-demand careers in the skilled trades and has already trained dozens of New Mexicans in Española, Taos, Las Vegas, Mora, Raton and Santa Fe. Heinrich also participated in training demonstrations with UA Local 412 instructors and apprentices learning skills in plumbing, plumbing and HVAC jobs.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D.N.M., participates in a training demonstration for the American Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 412 (UA Local 412), October 21, 2024.
“Thanks to the Inflation Control Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, New Mexico is experiencing a renaissance in manufacturing and clean energy, creating new high-quality careers where new Mexicans can build families. ” said Heinrich. “I am focused on expanding pathways to skills training and apprenticeships that connect New Mexicans to careers in their communities, which will address the workforce shortage, grow the middle class, and strengthen the economy. It’s a way to strengthen it.”
Federal investment in mobile training units secured by Heinrich:
The UA Local 412 Mobile Training Unit was initially paid for by the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Good Jobs Challenge Grant as part of a $6.4 million award to the Northern New Mexico Workforce Integration Network. The Good Jobs Challenge Fund was authorized by the American Rescue Plan, a major economic recovery bill that Mr. Heinrich was proud to pass in 2021.
Through his work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Mr. Heinrich advanced UA Local 412’s workforce development efforts by securing more than $2.5 million in Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) in the fiscal year 2023 and 2024 appropriations bills. We have provided further support. These awards will help unions prepare New Mexicans for skilled trades, including the specialized training needed to fill the many new high-paying jobs created by CHIPS and the Science and Inflation Control Act. This helped secure the necessary equipment and personnel to train. .
Mr. Heinrich is currently working to pass a fiscal year 2025 spending bill. The bill includes an additional $870,000 in CDS incentives secured in the Labor, Health, Welfare, and Education appropriations bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee to maintain the operation of UA Local 412’s Mobile Training Unit. Included. Beyond the original EDA funding, we expanded our reach to new communities such as Grants, Gallup, Silver City, and Zuni Pueblo.
Heinrich’s longstanding support for employee training and apprenticeships:
Mr. Heinrich has long been a proponent of proven workforce training programs like UA Local 412’s apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. This continues New Mexico’s leadership role by growing the middle class and creating and connecting New Mexicans with accessible, high-quality careers in their communities. The transition to clean energy is being built by union workers in skilled trades.
Last week, Mr. Heinrich hosted a “Pro-Worker, Pro-Business Opportunities” roundtable, discussing how the passage of federal laws he helped pass, including the Anti-Inflation Act and the Infrastructure Act, has led to careers in high-demand fields. We spoke directly to New Mexicans about what they are producing. Strengthening New Mexico’s health care, early childhood education, and skilled trade workforce.
Last year, Mr. Heinrich launched a bipartisan initiative that creates pathways to careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeship programs in high-need jobs such as construction, health care, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, and early childhood education. Introduced the apprenticeship method. . Earlier this year, Mr. Heinrich announced the adoption of the Hard Helmet Act, a law designed to strengthen the pipeline to careers in New Mexico, address a growing workforce shortage, and grow the state’s economy through high-quality pre-apprenticeship programs. Introduced the Pre-Apprenticeship (PATH) Act.
Last year, Courtenay Eichhorst, business manager for UA Local 412 and president of the New Mexico Construction Industry, spoke at a public hearing Heinrich convened as chairman of the Joint Economic Committee on “Job Training for the People.” He testified about the importance of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. Transition to clean energy. ”
Mr. Eichorst said at the JEC hearing: “In addition to our ‘gold standard’ apprenticeship program, the UA and other building unions are also investing in pre-apprenticeship programs designed to help high school students and individuals prepare for underrepresented situations. A community for building a career in an industry that’s on the rise. These programs help fill the role once held by “shop classes” in high schools, but have become increasingly rare. The pre-apprenticeship program also focuses on the “soft skills” needed to succeed in any industry, such as punctuality and other work etiquette. ”
Earlier this year, also in the FY 2024 appropriations bill, Mr. Heinrich provided Congressional-directed spending of $1.2 million to the SMART Local Union No. 49 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee to enhance and expand professional HVAC apprenticeship training. secured the dollar.
In March, Mr. Heinrich introduced the Providing Resources and Opportunities for Health Education and Learning (PRO-HEAL) Act. This is a bill that will address the health care worker shortage in New Mexico and across the nation by expanding pathways to high-quality, in-demand health care jobs. Medical professionals will be accessible within the community. Specifically, the PRO-HEAL Act would improve health care delivery by encouraging states and institutions of higher education to expand or create provider pipeline programs, especially in underserved and rural areas. We are dealing with a shortage of people. This legislation is inspired by the success of the University of New Mexico’s combined BA/MD degree program, with more than 65 percent of students graduating from the program practicing medicine in New Mexico.
Last year, Mr. Heinrich reauthorized and modernized the Health Workforce Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program to address health care shortages in New Mexico and across the nation and create pathways to high-quality, in-demand health care jobs. introduced the Pathway to Medical Career Act. Career in Healthcare. HPOG programs have a proven track record of success in preparing employees for jobs in the healthcare industry while providing a combination of career coaching, job placement, and other support services. The Pathways to Health Care Careers Act provides $425 million to restart and expand the HPOG program and make HPOG available nationwide from FY 2024 to FY 2028, and provides additional funding to tribes and U.S. territories. Contingency funds are also included.
In 2021, Mr. Heinrich will be supporting the CHANCE in Tech Career and Employee Apprenticeships Act (CHANCE in Tech ) was introduced. Heinrich previously introduced a similar bipartisan bill in 2019 with former Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.).
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