N.M. Congressional Delegation Welcomes Extension, Expansion Of Wildfire Disaster Assistance

The lawmakers continue to call on Biden administration to waive 100% of total eligible costs, include Los Alamos and Sandoval counties as designated disaster areas

WASHINGTON – Today, in response to calls from U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted an extension of the duration of New Mexico’s disaster declaration that will include flooding impacts. FEMA has also approved direct temporary housing assistance for eligible residents displaced by the disaster.

The New Mexico Congressional Delegation sent a letter on July 25, requesting that the Biden administration approve the request from Governor Lujan Grisham. The lawmakers continue to request that FEMA and the Biden administration approve the state’s request to:

• waive 100% of total eligible costs for the entire disaster period under DR-4652-NM; and
• amend the major disaster declaration to include Los Alamos and Sandoval counties as designated disaster areas.

The New Mexico Congressional Delegation was successful in their previous call for FEMA to cover 100% of costs for emergency protective work and debris removal under the declaration. This request goes further by urging FEMA to cover 100% of the total eligible costs under the declaration for the entire disaster period.

###