Heinrich, Luján Welcome Senate Confirmation Of New Mexico U.S. Attorney Nominee Alexander M.M. Uballez
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Alexander M.M. Uballez by voice vote to be the next U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico. The nomination was previously reported out of committee on a strong bipartisan vote of 20 to 2.
“Uballez is the lead federal prosecutor we need to uphold the law and effectively take on New Mexico’s public safety challenges. With experience prosecuting both federal and state crimes, he is familiar with the very real impacts of crime on the Read More
LAPS Quorum Notice: Los Alamos High School Graduation
LAPS News:
Members of the Los Alamos School Board (LAPS) may attend the Los Alamos High School Graduation 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 28 at Los Alamos High School.
A quorum may be present; however, no action will be taken.
Melanie Barnes Named BLM New Mexico State Director
New BLM Director Melanie Barnes
BLM News:
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning announced Tuesday that Melanie Barnes has been selected as the new permanent BLM New Mexico State Director.
Barnes has been acting in the position since June of 2021.
As BLM New Mexico State Director, Barnes also will oversee approximately 700 permanent staff and up to 100 seasonal employees who help manage a myriad of public land uses and resources, including energy development, livestock grazing, outdoor recreation and the protection and control of wild horses and burros.
“As we continue Read More
Leger Fernández Statement On Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández spoke on the House Floor recently in support of the Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act.
“Last week, I was approached by someone who was there when the Community Services Block Grants first started. He told me that my father worked tirelessly to secure funds so the state of New Mexico could match this new program. He referred to him as the conscience of the state Senate. My father knew that these funds would make a real impact in the lives of New Mexicans.
And he was right. It has made a difference. Read More
New Mexico Leaders Meet Taipei Officials In Albuquerque
Front row from left, Rep. Joy Garratt, Deputy Director David Chen, Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero and Rep. Debra Sariñana. Back row from left, Sen. Linda Lopez, Sen. Bill Tallman, Officer Jack Jheng, Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, Sen. Harold Pope, Rep. Christine Trujillo, Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego, Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty and Commissioner Walt Benson. Courtesy photo
From left, Rep. Roybal Caballero, Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego, Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, Mayor Tim Keller, Deputy Director David Chen and Officer Jack Jheng. Courtesy/NMDP
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexican Read More
Luján Introduces Legislation To Reduce Animal Testing
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.– This week, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced The Reducing Animal Testing (RAT) Act to remove the requirement for animal studies in the approval specific biosimilar drug applications.
This change reduces unnecessary animal testing, maintains patient safety, and reduces regulatory burdens of bringing lower cost, biosimilar drugs to market.
Robust scientific evidence states that animal models do not provide necessary information in the determination of safety and effectiveness for biosimilar drugs. The legislation would Read More
Rep. Leger Fernández Responds To U.S. Forest Service Decision To Pause Prescribed Fire Operations
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to pause prescribed operations and conduct a 90-day review of protocols:
“In letters and phone calls, I have pushed the USFS and Chief Forester Moore to investigate the (Las Dispensas) prescribed burn fire that later became the Hermit’s Peak wildfire to examine their protocols. This announcement to pause prescribed burns this fire season is a good first step. We don’t want any other communities to suffer the fate of those in New Mexico.”
Rep. Leger Fernández Read More
DFA Offers Housing Assistance To Renters Whose Housing Was Destroyed By The 2022 Wildfire Season Through Rental Assistance Program
DFA News:
SANTA FE — Renters displaced by wildfires may be able to receive aid through the New Mexico Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
ERAP allows New Mexico renters to receive aid for current, temporary, or new rental housing in New Mexico.
ERAP may be available for those affected by wildfires who:
- Are New Mexico renters whose rental unit was destroyed by a 2022 wildfire; and
- The applicant or household makes under 80% of the average median income for each respective county.
Potential assistance includes:
- Temporary hotel/motel cost at a New Mexico establishment; and
- Three
Luján, Padilla Spearhead Bill To Strengthen Federal Wildfire Science During Historic Wildfire Season
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led a coalition of Senators Thursday in introducing the National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act, a comprehensive science authorization bill that will identify and invest in research and development (R&D), set up warning and forecast systems, develop observation and sensing technologies, and standardize data collection efforts to improve the nation’s preparedness, resilience, and response to wildfires.
Senators cosponsoring the bill include Read More
Governor On U.S. Forest Service Announcement To Pause Prescribed Burns For 90 Days In New Mexico
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this afternoon issued a statement following the U.S. Forest Service announcing the initiation of a 90-day pause on prescribed fire operations on National Forest System lands:
“I am glad to hear that, following my conversation with U.S. Department of Agriculture and Forest Service leadership earlier today, the Forest Service will implement a 90-day pause and review of prescribed burns on federal lands.
“While we’re clear about the long-term importance of carefully studied and well-managed prescribed burns as Read More
Heinrich, Luján Act Urgently To Address Baby Formula Shortage With Legislation Now Heading To President Biden
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress just passed the Access to Baby Formula Act to make sure families who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have the baby formula they need.
U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are cosponsors of the bipartisan legislation, which swiftly cleared the House and Senate and will now go to President Biden for signature.
“It’s been many years now since my boys were infants, but I remember what it’s like to worry about making Read More
Ryti: Fire Season Continues
By RANDALL RYTI
Chair
Los Alamos County Council
As the risk from the Cerro Pelado Fire eases with less active fire and more containment, it seems like an appropriate time to recognize the people that got us to this point. First. I will begin by thanking the Los Alamos Fire Department and Wildland Fire Division for their early and continued response to the fire. Chief Hughes and Wildland Chief Sterna lead a well-trained and dedicated group of professionals, and they deserve our appreciation.
Also, deployed to the fire were two Type 1 incident management teams (Southern Area Red Team 1 and Great Basin Read More
Leger Fernández Votes To Bring Down Prices At The Pump
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thursday, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández voted for legislation to bring down prices at the pump for Nuevo Mexicanos.
The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act takes critical steps to combat excessive price increases, empowering the federal government to outlaw artificially high fuel prices.
“I know that New Mexicans are hurting at the pump, the cost of living continues to rise, and we must do everything we can to bring down prices. Today, I voted to protect the pockets of working families and reduce prices at the pump,” Read More
U.S. Sen. Heinrich Discusses Effective Federal Safety Coordination Efforts Around Los Alamos With NNSA Administrator During Hearing
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich participating in an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing Wednesday to review the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Submission for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Screenshot/LADP
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) participated in an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing Wednesday to review the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Submission for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
To watch the video, click here. Download link here.
During the hearing, Sen. Heinrich asked Under Read More
Readout Of Governor’s Call With President Biden
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke with President Biden on Tuesday to discuss the wildfires that have burned hundreds of thousands of acres across the state, resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands, and destroyed hundreds of homes.
Gov. Lujan Grisham underscored the impacts of the fires on New Mexico communities and the need for ongoing partnership with the federal government as New Mexico recovers and rebuilds from some of the most devastating wildfires on record in the state.
The President reaffirmed that the people of New Mexico Read More
Chart 642: Los Alamos Returns To Green On CDC Map
Chart: Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its weekly update to the COVID-19 community level map. The CDC framework designates community level based on diagnoses and hospitalization levels (link). Masks are recommended indoors in counties with the highest, red, community level. Masks also are recommended for at-risk (for example, immunocompromised) individuals in counties with the intermediate, yellow, risk level. After spending only one week in yellow, Los Alamos returned to green thanks to a sharp decrease in the number of diagnoses: from 206 weekly Read More
Committee On Education And Labor Passes Leger Fernández’s Campus Prevention And Recovery Services For Students Act
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) announced Wednesday that the House Committee on Education and Labor passed her Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2022 (H.R.6493). The committee passed the bill unanimously.
This legislation will help higher education institutions develop prevention and recovery programs to prevent alcohol and substance use and support students with substance use disorders.
“Overdose and substance use cases continue to grow across our country and we cannot turn a blind eye. I lost two of my brothers to Read More
Heinrich, Luján Call For A White House Formula Coordinator To Lead National Strategy To Address Shortages
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined 30 of their Democratic colleagues in urging President Joe Biden to immediately assign a coordinator within the White House to address the infant formula shortage and implement a national strategy to increase the resiliency of the infant formula supply chain and protect against future contamination and shortages.
In a letter to President Biden, the senators wrote, “We need organized leadership and a clear plan for addressing this crisis. We cannot stop working on this issue until Read More
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Marks Mental Health Awareness Month, Announces Mental Health Consortium
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that his office will convene a Mental Health Consortium to connect individuals from across New Mexico who work, advocate, and care about behavioral health.
The consortium will meet quarterly to network with local behavioral health officials and advocates to discuss federal policy that impacts mental health and to find solutions to address the needs of all New Mexicans.
Since 1949, May has been observed as National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when advocates Read More
County Quorum Notice: Bike To Work Event May 20
COUNTY News:
Members of the Los Alamos County Transportation Board may attend the Bike To Work event Friday, May 20.
This event will take place throughout the day.
A quorum may be present, however, no action will be taken. Read More
