Rep. Luján delivers his farewell speech today in the House and prepares to move to the Senate. Courtesy/Office of BRL

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján:

NAMBÉ – In 2020, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the U.S. House Assistant Speaker, helped lead the passage of 14 pieces of legislation that were signed into law and helped more than 1,000 constituents navigate federal and state agencies.

Video of Luján’s farewell address is available here. Audio is available here. 

This year, Luján introduced 39 bills and co-sponsored 485 bills to serve New Mexicans. Twenty-two bills, amendments, or provisions written by Luján were passed or included in legislation that passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

This includes legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic, bridge the digital divide, preserve Native languages, protect public lands and sacred sites, and ensure federal recognition of New Mexico’s traditional communities.

Luján also announced that he helped secure more than $8.7 million in federal grants for New Mexico’s Third Congressional District and sent 113,922 letters to New Mexicans who contacted him to share their thoughts on policies and legislative priorities.

Additionally, New Mexico’s Third Congressional District received more than $1.4 billion from the CARES Act and related COVID-19 legislation which Congressman Luján helped pass. These funds went toward local, state and Tribal governments, small businesses and individual projects. 

In Luján’s D.C. office, the congressman’s team gave constituents from New Mexico’s Third Congressional District an inside look at Congress with nearly 40 Capitol tours prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and by fulfilling 21 requests for American flags flown over the Capitol.

“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to represent New Mexico’s Third Congressional District in the House of Representatives, and I’m proud of what my office has been able to achieve for the people of New Mexico,” Luján said. “During this pandemic, my office continued to bring much-needed federal resources to our state, help constituents navigate federal and state agencies, and push their priorities to the top of the agenda in Congress. While my time in the House is coming to an end, my team and I will continue serving New Mexicans and fighting for New Mexico values in the U.S. Senate.”

Additionally, the House of Representatives passed nearly 900 bills – including more than 600 bipartisan bills – to bolster the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, tackle climate change, invest in infrastructure, and create new, good-paying jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.