Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that prices measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3% in April, lower than the March reading. Data also show that annual prices grew 3.4% over the last year, slightly lower than the 3.5% reading in March.
“Our economy remains strong, with inflation down nearly two thirds since its peak two years ago. Thanks to the smart economic policies promoted by President Biden and Congressional Democrats, we’re continuing to make progress in lowering prices for working people.
“One of the biggest cost burdens for families is housing. Every family deserves a safe and secure place to call home, which is why I’m working to make housing more affordable in New Mexico and across the country. This week we welcomed nearly $12 million in federal funding for local housing authorities in New Mexico to help make sure our public housing is safe and livable, and I recently introduced legislation to support homeownership for lower- and middle-income families and help our nation’s educators afford the down-payment on a house. I’ll continue to push for this legislation and other policy solutions that will help expand access to affordable housing and ease that financial burden on American families.”
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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.
