On Monday, April 2, 2018, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) was in Gallup, New Mexico, to launch his "Degrees Not Debt" initiative and tour the site for the new Gallup Veterans Cemetery.
Heinrich met with students and faculty at Gallup Middle College High School, launching Senator Heinrich’s Degrees Not Debt initiative to ensure higher education is accessible and affordable to all New Mexicans. Senator Heinrich recently helped secure an increase to the Pell Grant award and the ability for students to utilize them year round.
Senator Heinrich also joined Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney and the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services to tour the construction site for the new Gallup Veterans Cemetery. Currently, the nearest national cemetery to Gallup is located in Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, approximately 199 miles away. The new cemetery will provide more convenient access and service to over 19,000 veterans and their families. Senator Heinrich supported the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant of $6.7 million to provide funding for the new cemetery.