Heinrich, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Push For Full Funding Of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Office To Address Airborne National Security Risks
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid heightened focus on airborne national security risks, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and a bipartisan group of senators are calling for full funding of the unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) office, formally known as the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
Heinrich, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, worked with a bipartisan group of colleagues to help establish the AARO, which has access to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community UAP data and is required to provide Congress with briefings Read More
$9.4 Billion Budget Bill Seeks To Turn ‘Now Money’ Into ‘Future Money’
Committee Vice Chair Rep. Meredith Dixon
By DANIEL CHACON
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The state of New Mexico has been enjoying the spoils of record-breaking fossil fuel revenues in the last few years.
But those years may be numbered, and a $9.43 billion spending plan the House Appropriations and Finance Committee endorsed Wednesday is designed to prepare state government for dips in the oil and gas industry and a future when production levels will start to decline.
The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year would increase spending by about $1 billion, or just over 12%, and put reserves at 30%. Read More
House Bill 325 Introduced To Enhance Training, Transparency, And Accountability Of Local School Boards
THINK NEW MEXICO News:
House Bill 325, sponsored by Representatives Natalie Figueroa (D-Albuquerque), Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena), Patty Lundstrom (D-Gallup), and Susan Herrera (D-Española), has been introduced to upgrade the quality of local school boards with enhanced training, transparency and accountability.
The bill was developed by the nonpartisan statewide think tank Think New Mexico, which recommended these reforms in a 2022 policy report.
In that report, titled A Roadmap for Rethinking Public Education in New Mexico, Think New Mexico explained that a growing body of research Read More
Legislative Roundup: 29 Days Remain In 2023 Session
Fire recovery: Two separate spending bills that would support recovery efforts in communities affected by last year’s Black and McBride wildfires sailed through the Senate Conservation Committee on Thursday.
Senate Bill 334 would provide a one-time appropriation of $3 million that would go directly to cities, counties and soil and water conservation districts affected by the Black Fire near Silver City.
“We have 330,000 acres that burned in the fire, but much of the damage was actually a result of the floods that came after the fire, so we have Read More
Vasquez Outlines Priorities For New Mexico In State Legislature Speech
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez
STATE News:
SANTE FE — Monday, Feb. 13, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) outlined his top priorities for improving the state of New Mexico in a joint address with Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Teresa Leger-Fernandez at the State Legislature at the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe. In his speech, Vasquez focused on creating good-paying jobs, supporting local energy choices, prioritizing community safety, and promoting conservation.
WATCH: Vasquez Addresses New Mexico State Legislature
“My goal in serving you in Congress is to bring good-paying jobs to our communities,” Read More
Governor Signs Executive Order To Transform CYFD
CYFD Cabinet Secretary Barbara J. Vigil
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order today that will transform the way New Mexico serves and protects the state’s most vulnerable children and families.
The order requires immediate changes in how the department operates and sets out a long-term vision for how the department will strengthen its practices.
“This is a system that is fundamentally broken, and this executive order sets in motion immediate and meaningful action to transform this system,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We are coming Read More
Senate Republican Pushes ‘Monique’s Law’ To Review Inmate Calls Before Release
Sen. Cliff Pirtle
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require the state Corrections Department to review all phone calls made or received by an inmate in his or her final 90 days in prison — an apparent nod to one of the biggest controversies during last year’s gubernatorial election.
Senate Bill 451 also would require the state Parole Board to audit a prisoner’s earned good-behavior deductions to ensure he or she is eligible to get out of prison early.
A similar proposal was pitched by Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Read More
EM-LA & N3B Forum Focuses On Environmental Management, Cleanup And Chromium Plume
DOE’s Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) and legacy waste contractor N3B hosted an Environmental Management Cleanup Forum Feb. 9 at Cottonwood on the Greens. Speakers, from left, included DOE EM-LA Manager Michael Mikolanis, N3B President and Program Manager Kim Lebak and EM-LA Senior Geologist Tom McCrory. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
EM-LA Senior Geologist Tom McCrory explains how EM-LA monitors and treats water contaminated with hexavalent chromium. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com Read More
AFT NM Praises Funding For Increased Salaries For Educational Assistants
AFT News:
SANTA FE — American Federation of Teachers New Mexico (AFT NM) President Whitney Holland and AFT NM Executive Vice President Kathy Chavez issued the following statements:
“Enacting the provisions of House Bill 127, along with securing necessary funding to implement the legislation, is one of the top priorities of our union this legislative session. House Bill 127 increases the minimum statute-based salary to $25,000 per year for those educators in our schools who are working under an educational assistant license.
“This increase is a necessary and long overdue acknowledgement Read More
Sen. Heinrich Welcomes Nomination Of Xochitl Torres Small To Serve As Deputy Secretary Of Agriculture
Xochitl Torres Small
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the new Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, released the following statement on President Joe Biden nominating Xochitl Torres Small to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at the U.S Department of Agriculture:
“President Biden could not have picked a better nominee for this important leadership role at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During her time leading USDA Rural Development, Read More
Heinrich Named Chair Of Senate Appropriations Subcommittee On Agriculture, Rural Development, Food And Drug Administration, And Related Agencies
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will serve as the new Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the 118th Congress.
Heinrich released the following statement:
“Rural America deserves our attention and investment. Our kids deserve to have the food they need to succeed in school and life. Our farmers deserve the tools to be resilient in a changing climate. And our families deserve to know that the medicines they take and the food they eat are safe. I’m looking forward Read More
Legislative Roundup: 30 Days Remain In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican
No state park fee hike — yet:An effort to raise daily fees for state parks by $1 per vehicle stalled in the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee in a unanimous vote to table it.
It’s not as if lawmakers felt House Bill 265 did not have merit — the $1 hike would go toward infrastructure needs, such as roadway repairs.
Rather, they were not happy with how the bill would address the issue.
HB 265 would create a “state park adjacent municipality fund” within the State Treasury so cities and towns surrounding parks could access the money Read More
County Council Seeks Letters Of Interest For New Nuisance Code Implementation Review Task Force
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council is seeking Letters of Interest to fill the newly chartered Nuisance Code Implementation Review (NCIR) Task Force.
Note: Letters are to be submitted by 5 p.m. March 16 and may be submitted by any County resident.
Adopted at the Feb. 7, Council meeting, the charter for the NCIR Task Force requires appointed members to:
- Review the implementation and interpretation of the new code;
- Review data and reports for one year;
- Engage affected members of the public and county staff;
- Assess the effectiveness of the program’s communications; and
- Prepare and present
U.S. Senators Luján, Murphy Reintroduce Legislation To Combat Public Health Misinformation
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), both members of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Wednesday announced reintroduction of legislation to counter the threat that misinformation and disinformation pose to public health.
The Promoting Public Health Information Act would support efforts across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and with outside stakeholders to communicate effectively during a public health emergency and address Read More
Canceled: Tonight’s Public Open House For Managing Short-term Rentals Program
COUNTY News:
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- Meeting Rescheduled to Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Council Chambers
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The public open house on the County’s Short-term Rental Program, originally scheduled for this evening at the Los Alamos Fire Department #3 in White Rock, has been canceled due to anticipated extreme weather conditions, according to the Los Alamos County Community Development Department.
The open house is now scheduled to be held in one week, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, at the County Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave. in Los Alamos.
The public is encouraged to attend this in-person meeting, including a project Read More
County: Tonight’s Public Hearing Still On Despite Snow
COUNTY News:
The public hearing on proposed changes to the natural gas ordinance will be held as scheduled at 5:30 p.m. today in a hybrid fashion.
Because of the weather, citizens wishing to attend are encouraged to join remotely on Zoom using the link ladpu.com/RateHearing. For anyone attending in person, the live portion will be held in Council Chambers at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building. While county operations are on a limited schedule due to snow today, the parking lot is expected to be plowed by then.
The public hearing is on the agenda for the regular monthly meeting of the Board Read More
Legislative Roundup: 31 Days Remain In 2023 Session
Legislative Roundup|The Santa Fe New Mexican
Human services overhaul: Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics of Cerrillos and Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson of Albuquerque, both Democrats, introduced legislation this week that would revamp and rename the Human Services Department with a goal of expanding state residents’ access to affordable health care.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday touted Senate Bill 16, which calls for establishing the Health Care Authority Department.
“My priority continues to be to deliver high quality health care for New Mexicans at an affordable price,” Read More
Rep. Stansbury Delivers Valentine Cards To Veterans
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury meets with veterans as she delivers handmade valentines Monday at the Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) delivered handmade Valentines from local elementary school students to veterans receiving treatment Monday at the Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Students from Kirtland and Wherry Elementary Schools contributed their handmade valentines for delivery.
Monday’s event marks the second year that Read More
Legislation To Expand New Mexico Teacher Loan Repayment Program Passes First Committee
Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez
NMHED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Higher Education Department applauded the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 325 from Senate Education Monday to expand the state’s Teacher Loan Repayment Program to include social workers and counselors working in public K-12 schools.
Senate Bill 325 – School Counselor Teacher Loan Repayment, sponsored by Sen. Bill Soules and Rep. Debra Sariñana, expands eligibility for the Teacher Loan Repayment Program to licensed social workers and counselors employed in high-need public schools in New Mexico. Read More
Luján, Stansbury Welcome First-Ever DOE Foundation For Energy Security And Innovation
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) welcomed Monday the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) first-ever agency-related Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI).
During the 117th Congress, Luján and Stansbury introduced the Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, bipartisan legislation to establish a nonprofit foundation for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that would channel private-sector investments to support DOE’s mission and to accelerate the commercialization of innovative Read More
