{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-vasquez-presses-administration-immediate-release-56-billion-education", "ICYMI: Vasquez Presses the Administration for the Immediate Release of $5.6 Billion in Education Funds", "2025-07-28", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last week, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) alongside the New Mexico Delegation sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding the immediate release of nearly $5.6 billion in federal education funding withheld from New Mexico\u2019s students, educators, and schools.\n\nIn mid-July, the New Mexico Delegation secured $1.3 billion in funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. This vital program supports afterschool programs that strengthen literacy, STEM skills, mental health, and violence prevention. Funding like this is critical to ensuring students and their families have access to learning programs and education resources during the summer. While releasing this funding is critical, the NM Delegation stressed that the administration must release the remainder of the funding.\n\n\u201cWe write to demand the immediate release of the nearly $7 billion in federal education funding your Administration is unlawfully withholding. Your actions jeopardize New Mexico\u2019s students, educators, and schools, and directly violate the U.S. Constitution\u2019s Appropriations Clause, which grants Congress the power to control public funds,\u201d the lawmakers began.\n\n\u201cYou personally signed these funds into law as part of the FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act on March 15, 2025. Then, on June 30th, you informed state and local education agencies that you are withholding these critical funds indefinitely. Withholding these funds beyond the end of the fiscal year would violate the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Further, the law mandates that the president submit a formal message to Congress justifying any deferral of funds,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nFor New Mexico, the funding freeze would be devastating. It would impact programs that provide after-school care, English language instruction, and adult literacy classes, to name a few. Without these funds, schools cannot pay for teacher training, afterschool programs, adult literacy classes, or support multilingual learners. These dollars are not luxuries; they are essential investments in our children\u2019s futures.\n\nShould the funds remain frozen, New Mexico also stood to lose $5.8 million in funding for English Language Acquisition programs that support multilingual learners. These programs help English learners attain English proficiency, achieve high levels of academic success, and strengthen family engagement. The funding also improves educator training and provides essential resources to support students both inside and outside the classroom. In a state where so many students come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, this funding is vital to helping students thrive and supporting their families.\n\nAdditionally, the funding freeze jeopardizes critical adult education programs in New Mexico, which stand to lose more than $4.7 million in support. These funds are essential for GED programs, English language proficiency classes, literacy and math instruction, and workplace readiness training. By providing adults with opportunities to join the workforce, continue their education, and improve their quality of life, these programs strengthen entire communities. Just last year, Do\u00f1a Ana Community College enrolled 1,431 students in its adult education program, and last month alone, nearly 100 students graduated with their GED. Cutting these investments threatens to set back thousands of New Mexicans who are working to build a better future for themselves and their families.\n\nCiting these devastating consequences to the education and well-being of New Mexico students, the lawmakers concluded, \u201cYour illegal freeze threatens to force staff layoffs, increase class sizes, and cut student services at schools across New Mexico. Every teacher let go, every tutor lost, and every child left behind is a direct consequence of this reckless decision. New Mexico\u2019s educators and students have always done more with less. Diverting funds meant for our children is unconscionable and schools deserve better. We call on you to do your constitutional duty and release these funds without delay.\u201d\n\nPublic officials across the country have raised strong concerns about the freeze in funding. Earlier this month, New Mexico Attorney General Ra\u00fal Torrez joined 21 states across the country to sue the Trump Administration for withholding the education funds.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nPresident Trump:\n\nWe write to demand the immediate release of the nearly $7 billion in federal education funding your administration is unlawfully withholding. Your actions jeopardize New Mexico\u2019s students, educators, and schools, and directly violate the U.S. Constitution\u2019s Appropriations Clause, which grants Congress the power to control public funds.\n\nYou personally signed these funds into law as part of the FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act on March 15, 2025. Then, on June 30th, you informed state and local education agencies that you are withholding these critical funds indefinitely. Withholding these funds beyond the end of the fiscal year would violate the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Further, the law mandates that the president submit a formal message to Congress justifying any deferral of funds.\n\nFor New Mexico, the funding freeze is devastating. It impacts programs that provide after-school care, English language instruction, and adult literacy classes, to name a few. Without these funds, schools cannot pay for teacher training, afterschool programs, adult literacy classes, or support multilingual learners. These dollars are not luxuries; they are essential investments in our children\u2019s futures.\n\nThe Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program supports afterschool programs that strengthen literacy, STEM skills, mental health, and violence prevention. New Mexico was set to receive more than $9 million this year and now more than 10,000 children in New Mexico risk losing access entirely. In 2021, almost 90 percent of students who participated in a 21st Century Community Learning program saw better homework completion rates, increased classroom participation, and improved in-class behavior.\n\nNew Mexico will also lose $5.8 million in funding for English Language Acquisition programs that support multilingual learners. These programs help English learners attain English proficiency, achieve high levels of academic success, and strengthen family engagement. The funding also improves educator training and provides essential resources to support students both inside and outside the classroom. In a state where so many students come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, this funding is vital to helping students thrive and supporting their families.\n\nAdditionally, the funding freeze jeopardizes critical adult education programs in New Mexico, which stand to lose more than $4.7 million in support. These funds are essential for GED programs, English language proficiency classes, literacy and math instruction, and workplace readiness training. By providing adults with opportunities to join the workforce, continue their education, and improve their quality of life, these programs strengthen entire communities. Just last year, Do\u00f1a Ana Community College enrolled 1,431 students in its adult education program, and last month alone, nearly 100 students graduated with their GED. Cutting these investments threatens to set back thousands of New Mexicans who are working to build a better future for themselves and their families.\n\nYour illegal freeze threatens to force staff layoffs, increase class sizes, and cut student services at schools across New Mexico. Every teacher let go, every tutor lost, and every child left behind is a direct consequence of this reckless decision. New Mexico\u2019s educators and students have always done more with less. Diverting funds meant for our children is unconscionable and schools deserve better.\n\nWe call on you to do your constitutional duty and release these funds without delay.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-vasquez-presses-administration-immediate-release-56-billion-education"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5164702199399471, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}