Senate Passes Heinrich Resolution Recognizing Journeyman Lineworkers Day

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that a bipartisan resolution he cosponsored designating July 10, 2026, as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day, passed the Senate.

This resolution honors the men and women who dedicate their lives to ensure communities in New Mexico and nationwide have access to safe, affordable, and reliable electricity.

"As the son of an IBEW lineman, I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing Journeyman Lineworkers Day," said Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Lineworkers keep the lights on and power nearly every aspect of our daily lives, often working long hours in dangerous conditions to ensure our homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure have safe, reliable electricity. They're not just maintaining today's grid - they're building America's energy future. We owe it to these workers to make sure they have the tools, training, and jobs they can build their families around and thrive."

The resolution is led by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). Alongside Heinrich, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

The resolution is endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

The full text of the resolution is here.

Heinrich is a champion of New Mexico's skilled trades workers and has consistently fought to create good-paying, union jobs.

Heinrich recently announced that after nearly two decades of his advocacy to complete one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in the Western Hemisphere, the SunZia Project has become fully operational. SunZia includes a 550-mile transmission line spanning New Mexico's Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel Counties. It will deliver up to 3,650 megawatts (MW) of energy and generate an estimated $20.5 billion in economic benefits for New Mexico and the Southwest. The project supported more than 2,000 construction jobs and will create more than 100 permanent jobs as it begins full operations. For a detailed timeline of Heinrich's actions to build and bring SunZia online, click here.

In February 2025, Heinrich introduced his Apprenticeship Pathways Act, legislation to create pathways to high-demand careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeships and technical education.

Heinrich, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, also announced $1,350,000 in federal funding that he secured through the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process for the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 412 (U.A. Local 412). The funding will support specialized journeyman training focused on filling jobs created by the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, including needs specific to semiconductor plants, hospitals, and heat pump installation, service, repair, and maintenance. In the same Fiscal Year Appropriations bills, Heinrich secured $1,200,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the SMART Local Union No. 49 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee to enhance and expand specialized HVAC apprenticeship training.

In October 2024, Heinrich visited U.A. 412's mobile training unit, which is creating more pathways to in-demand careers in the skilled trades and has already trained dozens of New Mexicans in Española, Taos, Las Vegas, Mora, Raton, and Santa Fe. Heinrich also participated in a training demonstration with U.A. Local 412 leadership and apprentices who are learning skills in the plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC trades.

The U.A. Local 412 Mobile Training Unit was initially paid for by an Economic Development Administration (EDA) Good Jobs Challenge Grant, as part of a $6.4 million award to the Northern N.M. Workforce Integration Network. The Good Jobs Challenge funds were authorized by the American Rescue Plan, the critical economic recovery legislation that Heinrich was proud to pass in 2021.

In August 2024, Heinrich announced the Senate Appropriations Committee passage of bills that included anadditional $870,000 CDS award that he secured to sustain the U.A. Local 412's mobile training unit's operations past the original EDA funding, and to expand its reach to new communities including Grants, Gallup, Silver City, and Zuni Pueblo.

In October 2024, Heinrich hosted a "Pro-Worker, Pro-Business Opportunities" roundtable to talk directly with New Mexicans about how federal legislation he helped pass into law, like the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Law, is creating careers in high-demand sectors and strengthening New Mexico's health care, early childhood education, and skilled trades workforce.

In the last Congress, Heinrich introduced the bipartisan Apprenticeship Pathways Act, legislation to create pathways to careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeship programs for occupations with high need, including the building trades, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, and early childhood education. Additionally, Heinrich introduced the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act, legislation to strengthen the pipeline for careers in New Mexico, address rising workforce shortages, and grow the state's economy through quality pre-apprenticeship programs.

Heinrich also convened a hearing, as then-Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC), on "Job Training for the Clean Energy Transition." Courtenay Eichhorst, Business Manager of U.A. Local 412 and President of New Mexico Building Trades, testified at the hearing about the importance of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.

In 2021, Heinrich and Moran introduced the Championing Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in Technology (CHANCE in Tech) Act, bipartisan legislation to create earlier pathways to high-paying careers in the information technology (IT) industry. Heinrich previously introduced the bipartisan legislation in 2019 with former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.).

In 2021 and 2022, Heinrich helped pass the Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which helped bring manufacturing to Central New Mexico, including companies like Arcosa Wind Towers. Later in 2022, Heinrich alsohelped pass the CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan legislation to lower costs, boost domestic manufacturing, strengthen domestic supply chains, and invest in skilled trades and workforce training programs.

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