Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is releasing over $18.6 million to help provide child care services to working New Mexico families, those seeking employment or receiving job training or education. 

“Quality child care can be very costly and can be an obstacle for parents who work outside the home.  The funding released today will give more New Mexicans the opportunity to provide quality care for their children while they work, look for work or attend school,” Bingaman said.

"New Mexico's working families depend on quality care for their children, and it can be very expensive, especially during difficult economic times," said Udall. "This funding will help ensure that the children of New Mexico's working families get the care they need and deserve."

Funding was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will allow the state to provide vouchers to families for child care or to provide access to care through contracts with child care centers or invest in quality improvements.  Recovery Act dollars will support a wide range of child care providers, including child care centers and home-based programs.

• State of New Mexico: $17.8 million
• Eight Northern Indian Pueblos: $91,365
• Mescalero Apache Tribe: $90,317
• Pueblo of Acoma: $97,063
• Pueblo of Cochiti: $18,077
• Pueblo of Isleta: $53,444
• Pueblo of Jemez: $36,153
• Pueblo of Laguna: $104,922
• Pueblo of Sandia: $10,938
• Pueblo de San Felipe: $53,247
• Pueblo of Tesuque: $9,235
• Pueblo of Zia: $13,688
• Santa Ana Pueblo: $9,824
• Santo Domingo Pueblo: $61,958
• Taos Pueblo: $49,121
• Zuni Tribe: $156,205

Additionally, New Mexico will also receive $1.09 million in ARRA funding to help immunize children against preventable diseases.  Funding can be used for immunization operations and infrastructure necessary to implement a comprehensive immunization program at the federal, state, and local levels.