Luján Introduces Legislation to Promote Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
U.S.Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District introduced legislation recently that will promote energy savings through increased efficiency standards and increased investments in renewable energy, such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass.
The American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act, introduced by Luján and Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont – both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, enacts a national renewable energy standard to reduce carbon emissions Read More
GOP Candidates Address the Issues at Thursday Event
Los Alamos County Council candidate James Chrobocinski addresses the audience at a public event to meet GOP candidates hosted Thursday by the Republican Party of Los Alamos at UNM-LA. From left, Council candidates Rick Reiss, Bill McKerley, John Bliss and Chrobocinski at th podium. Local GOP candidates include Geoff Rodgers, State Rep. District 43; Blair Redmond, Magistrate Judge; Alan Kirk, Municipal Judge; Abe Dispennette, County Assessor; Jaret MacDonald, Sheriff and County Council candidates John Bliss, James Chrobocinski, Bill McKerley and Rick Reiss. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
UPDATE: Michelle Lujan Grisham Will NOT Appear On Meet The Press Sunday
NOTE: U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham will no longer be a guest on Meet the Press this Sunday, July 20 as originally announced.
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-01 will appear on Meet the Press this Sunday, July 20.
Rep. Lujan Grisham and other guests will discuss numerous issues facing Congress and the country, including immigration reform, foreign affairs, and the upcoming elections.
Meet the Press airs at 9 a.m. on KOB-TV Ch. 4. Read More
UPDATE: Reception at New Democratic Headquarters and Campaign Kick-off is Private Event
NOTE: This event is not open to the public.
DPLAC News:
The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County (DPLAC) has officially signed a lease for its campaign headquarters for this political season and plans to move in this weekend.
There is a reception at the new headquarters, 170 Central Park Square, next door to Quizno’s, 5-6 p.m., July 25. The evening continues 6-7:30 p.m. with a County Campaign Kick-off event at Fuller Lodge in the patio and lawn area.
Attendance confirmations have been received from most local candidates, Stephanie Garcia Richard, Gary King, Deb Haaland, Maggie Toulouse
ESGR Honors Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez
Sen. Michael Sanchez
ESGR News:
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez received the Seven Seals Award by the New Mexico Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) July 11.
New Mexico ESGR Chair Ray Battaglini said Sanchez was presented with the award for his continuing support of members of the National Guard and Reserve as well as his support of their employers.
Sanchez was given the award and honored at a luncheon held at the Belen National Guard Armory, which was sponsored by ESGR. According to a spokesperson of the New Mexico ESGR, the luncheon was part of a “boss lift” in which employers Read More
Heinrich Addresses Central American Refugee Crisis
Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., delivered a speech on the Senate floor July 16 on the current Central American refugee crisis.
Last week, he joined U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on a tour of the temporary facility for undocumented parents and their children at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center campus in Artesia.
Heinrich has long been a strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, and is a proponent of the president’s emergency supplemental request to address the Read More
Udall Addresses Troubled N.M. VA Hospital
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall meets with Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee Robert McDonald. Courtesy photoHeinrich Video Addresses Wildfire Funding Reform
Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing July 15, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., continued to push to reform federal wildfire policy by funding major wildfires the same way as other natural disasters, while freeing up funding to prevent future fires.
The committee considered the Administration’s wildfire preparedness and forest service 2015 fiscal year budget proposal, which includes a plan based on a bill Heinrich is co-sponsoring, which would treat the largest fires — roughly Read More
Luján Joins Effort to Limit Money in Politics
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District announced July 15 that he has joined in an effort to limit money in politics by introducing an amendment to the United States Constitution.
The constitutional amendment would overturn Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United vs. FEC and McCutcheon vs. FEC in an effort to reduce the growing influence of money in the political system. The constitutional amendment is the companion to the amendment introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and passed out of the Senate Judiciary Read More
Heinrich on Confirmation of Norman Bay to FERC
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released the following statement after voting to confirm Norman C. Bay to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Bay was confirmed by a vote of 52 to 45. The president is expected to designate him to be chairman of FERC next year.
Heinrich spoke on the Senate floor in support of Bay’s nomination:
“Norman Bay is an outstanding public servant with extensive experience to address our energy challenges in New Mexico and around the nation. I am Read More
Udall Expresses Disappointment in GOP Filibuster Over Hobby Lobby Decision
Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., expressed disappointment Wednesday, after Republicans blocked debate on a bill to restore women’s access to contraceptive health care in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 split decision in Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby.
The court ruled that closely held corporations may deny coverage for certain forms of birth control if members of the board object on religious grounds.
The filibuster of the Not My Boss’s Business Act, which Udall cosponsored, prevented the Senate from considering a measure Read More
Over 100 People Gather in Los Alamos to Meet With U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Sunday
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., spoke at a gathering of more than 100 people Sunday at the Los Alamos home of Marvel Harrison and Dr. Tom Csanadi. Courtesy photo
Gathered at Sunday’s event from left, Jill Cooper Udall, Sen. Tom Udall, Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, Marvel Harrison and daughter Sopahn Kellogg and Dr. Tom Csanadi and son Alec. Courtesy photo
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall chats with Los Alamos County Sheriff Marco Lucero, left, and his wife Sandra Lucero during a gathering Sunday at the home of Marvel Harrison and Dr. Tom Csanadi. Courtesy photo Read More
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard Goes To Washington
State Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard speaks with U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján at his office in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to meet with New Mexico’s federal delegation and discuss LANL Funding and NNSA procurement policies.
State Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and U.S. Sen. Tom Udall in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo
In her meetings with Senators Tom Udall and Martin Henrich and Representatives Ben Ray Luján, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pierce, Garcia Richard stressed the region’s concerns
Udall: Campaign Finance Reform Momentum Builds With Panel Vote on Constitutional Amendment
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., welcomed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of his proposed constitutional amendment to restore power to regulate campaign finance to the people.
Udall’s amendment would clarify in the Constitution that money does not equal speech, effectively reversing U.S. Supreme Court decisions, which have unraveled campaign finance regulations and handed undue influence over elections to corporations and wealthy donors.
Following the July 10 committee vote, Udall’s amendment is expected to be considered
N.M. Delegation Expresses Serious Concerns With VA’s Handling of Veteran’s Death
STATE News:
Thursday, all five members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the acting director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to express their serious concerns about the New Mexico VA’s handling of the recent tragic death of a veteran at its Medical Center in Albuquerque, as well as its lack of transparency in response to requests for information from the public and their offices.
In the letter, the lawmakers said the lack of transparency is not only eroding the public’s faith in the VA, it is inhibiting their ability to conduct congressional oversight over Read More
Meet Local Republican Candidates July 17
GOP News:
The Republican Party of Los Alamos invites the public to meet local Republican candidates during a gathering at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at UNM-LA, Room 608.
Local GOP candidates include Geoff Rodgers, State Rep. District 43; Blair Redmond, Magistrate Judge; Alan Kirk, Municipal Judge; Abe Dispennette, County Assessor; Jaret MacDonald, Sheriff and County Council candidates John Bliss, James Chrobocinski, Bill McKerley and Rick Reiss. Read More
State Receiving $500,000 Through LWCF
STATE News:
U.S. Senators Tom Udall D-N.M., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., have announced more than $500,000 in funding for the state of New Mexico through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
The designated resources will help fund outdoor recreation and conservation projects as part of a $43 million investment in all 50 states, the territories and the District of Columbia.
“New Mexico is blessed with precious lands that are a part of our culture and way of life,” Luján said. “Ensuring the protection and preservation of our land and Read More
‘New Mexico True’ Proves Powerful Tourism Tool
STATE News:
Gov. Susana Martinez lauded members of the tourism industry for the role they have played in delivering a second straight year of record-breaking tourism growth by putting their support and money behind community-specific “New Mexico True” messages.
“It is gratifying to see so many New Mexico communities working together to create a unified message about our wonderful state,” Martinez said. “The New Mexico True campaign has proven to be a powerful and successful tool in increasing tourism revenue, thanks in a large part to those of you who have come on board and brought to life the Read More
Lujan Grisham Advocates For Federal Labs
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-01, spoke on the floor of the House today to advocate for policy changes needed to support the work of federal laboratories like Sandia National Labs.
Her speech was delivered during debate on the House’s Energy and Water Appropriations bill:
“I thank my colleague for yielding time, and I commend her and the Chairman for their efforts to put together a bipartisan bill and bring it to the floor. But I do have a couple of concerns with the bill that I would like to address today.
“First, it provides additional Read More
Luján Calls for Environmental Cleanup Funding at LANL
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.-03, spoke on the House floor July 9 in an exchange with the chairman of the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.
Luján encouraged appropriate funding for environmental cleanup at Los Alamos National Laboratory and to restore operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The exchange occurred during debate on the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. Below are their remarks.
Lujan: “Mr. Chairman, for Read More
