Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), and the JEC Democrats released a new report calling for full funding of the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) in order to channel new investment for job creation, as well as civil and business infrastructure along the southwest border.

The report lays out how critical infrastructure development will increase regional job opportunities from trade, clean energy and other new industries and provide potential for local business growth and greater regional prosperity.

The SBRC is up for reauthorization this year, and the report makes the case for a fully funded and active commission to support these economic development goals, pointing to the successes of several other regional commissions with similar objectives. To date, the SBRC has received significantly less appropriations than similar regional commissions, especially on a per-person basis, and large-scale public investment is necessary for the SBRC to help the region reach its full economic potential.

“The southwest border region is home to vibrant and resilient communities. With investment, it can also deliver new and growing businesses, more jobs, and increased local prosperity. We have the opportunity to provide the tools and resources that will allow for this growth and benefit the families and communities who live there,” said Chairman Heinrich. “By fully funding the Southwest Border Regional Commission, we can better establish this region as a hub of economic progress. An active SBRC will help increase local access to trade-related jobs, enhance industry diversity, and build up workforce development programs that will benefit our communities in the border region, as well as our nation as a whole.”

The report can be found online in English here and in Spanish here.

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About Chairman Martin Heinrich

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich has served the people of New Mexico in the United States Senate since 2012. In addition to his role as Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, Heinrich also serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and as a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Heinrich served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, four years as an Albuquerque City Councilor, as New Mexico’s Natural Resources Trustee, and in AmeriCorps with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

About the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee

The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee is Congress’s bicameral economic think tank. It was created when Congress passed the Employment Act of 1946. Under this Act, Congress established two advisory panels: the President's Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and the JEC. Their primary tasks are to review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic policy. Chairmanship of the JEC alternates between the Senate and House every Congress.