Heinrich on Confirmed CIA Spying on Senate Panel
CIA Director John Brennan apologized today for the actions of some agents. Courtesy/wikipedia.com
U.S. SENATE News:
“The Senate Intelligence Committee oversees the CIA, not the other way around.” —U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement today after receiving a briefing on the results of a CIA Inspector General investigation, which confirmed that the agency improperly searched computers used by Senate Select Committee on Intelligence staff Read More
Heinrich Calls For Action: Central American Refugee Crisis, Broken Immigration System
Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., delivered remarks on the Senate Floor Wednesday calling for action on the current Central American Refugee Crisis and the bipartisan Senate immigration reform bill that passed more than a year ago.
In his speech, Heinrich emphasized the need to pass the Senate’s Emergency Supplemental Funding Bill, a proposal introduced by Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., that includes $2.73 billion to help stem the current Central American refugee crisis.
Heinrich also called for action on the Read More
Governor Announces Three New Mexico Schools Awarded New Fitness Centers
Gov. Susana Martinez
STATE News:
Gov. Susana Martinez and National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) Chairman Jake Steinfeld announced Thursday that three New Mexico schools will receive new fitness centers through a partnership between the State of New Mexico and NFGFC.
The three New Mexico schools are:
- Jemez Valley Elementary and Middle Schools in Jemez Pueblo;
- East San Jose Elementary School in Albuquerque; and
- Mesa Elementary School in Shiprock.
“Childhood obesity affects 16 percent of our children here in New Mexico,” Martinez said. “These schools have taken the Read More
Councilor Hosts Booth at County Fair Aug. 9
COUNTY NEWS:
Saturday, Aug. 9, members of the public are encouraged to stop by the Los Alamos County Council’s booth at the County Fair and visit with Councilors and County staff about a variety of projects, topics and areas of interest, including pro-code enforcement, property maintenance, and the comprehensive planning efforts getting underway.
Members of the White Rock Master Plan Implementation Committee will be on hand to update the public on current White Rock projects.
Representatives from Los Alamos Airport will have information about commercial air service Read More
Luján on House Republicans Suing President Obama
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Ben Ray Luján D-N.M. released the following statement after House Republicans moved forward with legislation supporting a lawsuit against the President rather than addressing critical issues facing the country.
“Today House Republicans hit a new low with their frivolous lawsuit against President Obama. Rather than spend time bringing legislation to the floor that grows our economy, spurs job creation, makes college more affordable, or fixes our broken immigration system, House Republicans wasted Read More
Udall Disappointed in Filibuster of Bill to Protect New Mexico Jobs
Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement after Republicans blocked the Bring Jobs Home Act, which he supported to protect and create jobs in New Mexico and across the nation by offering incentives for companies that insource jobs and eliminating a tax loophole that benefits companies moving offshore:
“Today, we had an opportunity to do right by workers in New Mexico and across the country by moving forward on legislation to help build up communities and create jobs right here at home. This bill would protect tens of thousands of jobs in New Read More
Heinrich Votes For Highway And Transportation Bill Critical To Keeping New Mexicans On The Job
I-25 map. Courtesy/wikipedia.com
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., voted Tuesday to pass H.R. 5021, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, a bill that will prevent an immediate reduction of nearly $129 million in annual funding for construction on roads, bridges, and transit systems in New Mexico, which will support more than 1,600 jobs in the state.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 79 to 18 and now goes back to the House.
“Investments in public transit, paved roads, and other transportation infrastructure are critical to providing Read More
Momentum Builds For Heinrich’s Bill to Improve Hunting and Fishing Access on Public Lands
Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s, D-N.M., bill to improve hunting and fishing access on public lands received a key hearing Wednesday in the Public Lands, Forests and Mining Subcommittee.
The Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures (HUNT) Act, introduced by Heinrich last September, would unlock countless public lands in New Mexico and grow the outdoor recreation economy. Hunters and anglers alone spend more than $465 million per year in New Mexico, and outdoor recreation as a whole contributes $6.1 billion to the state’s economy. Read More
Heinrich Statement on New VA Secretary
VA Secretary Robert McDonald. Courtesy/Wikipedia
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., released the following statement July 29 after voting to confirm Robert McDonald as the next U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA):
“Robert McDonald’s military and private sector experience will help him provide the leadership and management needed at the VA. I am confident he will contribute to restoring accountability and transparency at the Department of Veterans Affairs and also hire a well-qualified permanent director at the New Mexico VA Medical Center. Read More
New Mexico Majority Whip Tim Keller Selected CSG Toll Fellow
Sen. Tim Keller. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
Sen. Tim Keller, who serves as New Mexico’s majority whip, is one of 48 state policymakers from across the country selected as a Council of State Governments’ Henry Toll Fellow for the Class of 2014.
The 48-person class of 2014 Toll Fellows represent 35 states and Puerto Rico, with 35 serving in the legislative branch, four serving in the judiciary and nine hailing from the executive. A nine-member committee of state leaders, many who are Toll Fellows themselves, reviewed a record number of applications to select the class.
“The Henry Toll Fellowship Read More
GOP’s Star Parker to Speak in Santa Fe Aug. 9
Star Parker. Courtesy photo
SFFRW News:
Star Parker is the honored guest speaker for the Santa Fe Federated Republican Women’s (SFFRW) Gala 6-10 p.m., Aug. 9 at the La Fonda Ballroom.
Parker is founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), a regular commentator on CNN, TBN, CSPAN and CBN.
When she commands the stage, it is hard to believe that for seven years she participated in robbery at gunpoint, defrauding the government welfare system, habitual drug use, and had multiple abortions.
Parker is currently sought-after as a social policy consultant on Capitol Read More
Lujan Grisham Says No Session Break Without VA Reform
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M. and 115 other members of Congress called on House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to not let either the House or Senate go out of session until it passes vital legislation to boost veterans’ access to health care.
In a letter to both leaders, Lujan Grisham and others said that the House and Senate must agree to and pass the Veterans’ Access to Care Act, which would allow many veterans to receive some healthcare from non-VA facilities. The legislation Read More
Los Alamos Democrats Launch Headquarters & Kick Off Campaign Season With Friday Events
Los Alamos County Councilor David Izraelevits, center standing, introduced Attorney General Gary King, with mic, who is running for governor of New Mexico as well as other candidates gathered Friday on the lawn at Fuller Lodge for the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County Campaign Kick-off event. Free Barbecue was served, hosted by Izaelevitz’s County Council Campaign. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
New Mexico’s Attorney General/gubernatorial candidate Gary King with Lt. Gov. candidate Deb Haaland address the crowd gathered on the lawn at Fuller Lodge Read More
Study Shows Film Industry Tax Incentives Reap Big Pay-Off For New Mexico’s Economy
STATE News:
The New Mexico Film Office reports that a recent state-commissioned study shows that film production spending in New Mexico has created nearly 15,900 well-paying jobs and generated more than $1 billion in economic impact, thus resulting in a positive outcome of film production tax credits.
In 2011 Senate Majority Whip, Tim Keller, D-Bernalillo successfully sponsored Senate Bill 44 (SB44), as part of a ‘cap and study’ compromise to avoid the administration’s proposed cuts to the film incentive program and allowed for the continuation of tax credit rates to the film industry. Read More
Luján On Human Trafficking And Humanitarian Crisis At Border
U.S. Rep Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District spoke on the House floor Thursday evening during the debate on a number of bills aimed at combating human and sex trafficking.
Luján highlighted the importance of protecting children from violence and the need to do the same for children who are fleeing extreme violence in Central America.
O’Neill Reintroducing Bill Protecting Homeless From Hate Crimes
Sen. Bill O’Neill
STATE News:
Sen. Bill O’Neill, D-Bernalillo, is planning to once again introduce a bill that was unanimously endorsed by the bi-partisan Courts Corrections and Justice Committee in the 2013 regular legislative session that protects homeless individuals from being targeted for harm.
“Senate Bill 124 from our 2013 session enjoyed strong bi-partisan support, and made it to the Senate Floor. But time ran out before it could be moved into the House for further consideration,” O’Neill said. “Many of my legislative colleagues did not realize that homeless men and women are often Read More
Luján Amendment to Examine New Broadcasting Markets Passes House
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM, highlighted the passage of legislation July 23 that included an amendment he offered as part of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) reauthorization.
Luján’s amendment explores how new broadcasting markets could be created if they are based upon the potential of current and future technologies instead of the limitations of aging broadcasting antennas. The STELA bill reauthorizes the nation’s satellite television law, ensuring that 1.5 million subscribers Read More
Udall On Report That U.S. Military’s Burn Pits May Have Broken Federal Law
Open-Air Burn Pit, Feb. 14, 2014, at Shindand Airbase, with unused Afghan-operated incinerators in background. Courtesy/SIGAR
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall responded to a new report that the U.S. military’s use of open-air burn pits at Shindand Air Base in Afghanistan may have violated federal law.
According to the report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), made public today, most of the solid waste at Shindand Air Base was disposed of for years in open burn pits rather than incinerators. Despite the potential health
Madelyn Creedon Confirmed as NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator
Madelyn Creedon
NNSA News:
WASHINGTON – Madelyn Creedon was confirmed by the Senate this morning as the Department of Energy’s (DOE) principal deputy administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
“Madelyn Creedon’s confirmation comes at a critical point for the National Nuclear Security Administration,” DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “She is well-prepared for her new role at the Department as it follows a long career of public service in national security, including at the Department of Defense, with the Senate Armed Services Committee, and, previously, Read More
Udall, Heinrich: New Leadership Needed at N.M. VA Medical Center
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 21, as the acting Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary visits New Mexico, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich urged the VA to move quickly to hire a qualified permanent director for New Mexico’s VA hospital to help it immediately begin the work to regain the trust of veterans and address serious problems with scheduling, emergency response, care for rural veterans and other challenges.
Numerous vacancies at the VA, including the New Mexico VA Medical Center (VAMC) director, have made it extremely difficult to Read More
