NM Voices in the News
To schedule an interview with one of our policy team members, or be added to or removed from our press release list, please contact Mikayla Ortega
Heinrich, Fellow Senators Introduce Legislation to Help New Mexico Continue to Provide Free School Meals
Rio Rancho Observer--“This year, New Mexico became one of the first states to provide healthy school meals to every student in part by leveraging federal meal reimbursements through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program,” said Emily Wildau, director of New Mexico Kids Count at New Mexico Voices for Children. “But current meal reimbursement rates don’t cover the full cost of school meal programs."
Yes to funding sustainable, affordable housing
Santa Fe New Mexican--We support the proposed 3% tax because it’s a fair solution that asks those with plenty to help ensure all Santa Fe families and children have opportunities to thrive in the community they call home. The proposed 3% tax will generate an estimated $6 million per year to support working families in finding homes in Santa Fe, building wealth and raising their children here.
Child Poverty Rates Are Soaring, Forcing States to Step In With Tax Credits
Bloomberg--“Facing the reality of so many families still struggling due to the economic and health impacts of the pandemic, states had to step forward in big ways,” said Amber Wallin, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, an advocacy organization.
Some States Are Fighting Rising Child Poverty With Tax Credits
Capital & Main--“It was so positive for families in New Mexico,” said Amber Wallin, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children. “It helped them pay bills, buy groceries and face the economic challenges of the pandemic. Seeing how much of a difference it made, state lawmakers shifted into gear and passed the credit.”
Child care providers worry about coming loss of federal funds
Santa Fe New Mexican--“Overall, New Mexico has the potential to weather that decrease in federal funding more than other states, but that means the state will really have to step forward in the 2024 legislative session to fill the gap and ensure parents and providers and kids don’t see disruptions in services,” Wallin said.
Our State Must Continue Its Historic Investments In Families And Kids
Rio Rancho Observer--New Mexico’s children deserve every opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. With the critical funding our Legislature appropriated, these programs will reduce childhood poverty and improve educational outcomes for children. They will also expand economic opportunities for families across New Mexico. And we know that kids do better when families have the resources they need.
As Pandemic Funds Expire, Child-Care Centers Struggle to Survive
Wall Street Journal--In New Mexico, voters approved the first constitutional amendment guaranteeing funding for early childhood education last November. While the impending loss of Covid-relief funding wasn’t the reason for the amendment’s success, it did increase urgency around its passage, said Amber Wallin, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children.
Study shows $1 billion potential bill for oil and gas clean up without BLM rule change
KRWG--For far too long, antiquated policies under the current leasing system have left our families on the hook to pay to clean up messes left behind by bankrupt oil and gas companies – messes involving orphaned wells with decaying and leaking infrastructure that can pollute our air and water. This has robbed our communities of tax dollars that could have been put to use improving our children’s classrooms, and our hospitals and roadways.
Report emphasizes impacts of climate change on children’s health
NM Political Report--Shiv said the harm of climate change comes in the fact that all the issues are interrelated. “Having conditions for drought, we’re more likely to see more wildfires. That worsens air quality; we see poor air quality and that connects to extreme heat. It’s hard to pick out one issue. It’s all linked to climate change,” she said.
Kids are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, new report says
Albuquerque Journal--“Rising temperatures, droughts and floods have huge impacts on food chains — which then impact the amount of food, the quality of food and increases the prices of food,” Shiv said. “All of that makes it harder to access healthy, nutritious food … in a state where 21% of children already have limited access to food.”