Heinrich Unveils Amendment to Affordability Act
Sen. Martin Heinrich released a substitute amendment to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act after tribal opposition to the bill.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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Should federal energy laws prioritize clean power over protecting tribal sacred lands?
Sen. Martin Heinrich announced a substitute amendment to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act on Saturday. The All Pueblo Council of Governors, representing 20 nations, had opposed the bill over its effects on sacred lands and federal protections.
Why it matters
The bill would change the federal environmental review process and limit the scope of the National Historic Preservation Act, which Pueblo nations rely on to have a voice in federal decisions affecting sacred lands. The amendment reflects feedback lawmakers received since the bill's introduction in September.
The bill proposes changes to the federal environmental review process and creates ratepayer protections for large data centers. Heinrich declined to specify which provisions were altered in the substitute amendment.
The players
Martin Heinrich
Martin Heinrich is a United States Senator from New Mexico who has served in the Senate since 2013 and is a member of the Democratic Party.
All Pueblo Council of Governors
The All Pueblo Council of Governors is an organization representing 20 Pueblo nations in New Mexico that advocates on shared tribal interests in federal policy.
The details
Heinrich released the amendment together with a bipartisan panel of lawmakers working on the bill, and said it makes targeted changes based on feedback from Tribes and New Mexicans. Democratic lawmakers compromised with Republicans to pass the bill, though the specific compromises were not identified.
Timeline
September 2026: Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act introduced.
November 7, 2026: Heinrich announced the substitute amendment on Saturday.
Political Context
The bill would narrow the reach of the National Historic Preservation Act, the statute the All Pueblo Council of Governors relies on to have a voice in federal decisions affecting its sacred lands. Tribal opposition centers on whether the proposed federal environmental review changes would weaken that consultation role.
The bill's changes to environmental review and ratepayer rules for large data centers would affect how federal projects and electricity costs are handled in New Mexico. The proposed 20,000 New Mexican jobs are a projection tied to the bill's passage.
The takeaway
Federal bills that touch tribal consultation can carry effects beyond their stated goals, so readers should track amendments that alter existing protections. The substitute amendment's specific text will show how the Act's changes are being revised.
Further reading
For more on how federal bills move through Congress, see Legislative Policy coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KOAT 7.
Live Poll
Should federal energy laws prioritize clean power over protecting tribal sacred lands?
