Heinrich Votes to End Stalemate on Nominations
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. Senate News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., issued the following statement after the Senate voted 52-48 to change its rules and end filibusters on presidential executive and judicial nominations, except to the U.S. Supreme Court:
“Opposition and obstructionism rather than accountability and deliberation have become far too common in Washington.
“Today, we put an end to Senate Republicans repeatedly blocking qualified judicial and public service nominees from receiving an up or down vote. But there is Read More
Governor Proposes $2 Million to Boost Water Research
Gov. Susana Martinez
ALBUQUERQUE – Gov. Susana Martinez unveiled a proposal to invest an additional $2 million to boost water research and innovation in New Mexico.
Addressing the 58th Annual New Mexico Water Conference via video, Martinez called on the New Mexico Legislature to allocate $2 million dollars in additional funding to the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NMWRRI) during the upcoming legislative session. NMWRRI works to solve New Mexico’s pressing water problems through supporting research projects at New Mexico’s colleges and universities.
“Earlier this Read More
Governor Proposes $112 Million Capital Investment in Water Infrastructure
Gov. Susana Martinez
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE–Governor Susana Martinez today proposed a $112 million capital investment in New Mexico’s water infrastructure. This investment amounts to approximately 60 percent of the capital outlay funding that will be available when the New Mexico Legislature convenes in January.
Martinez’s proposal prioritizes water investments in communities that are in danger of going dry, or struggling with poor water quality, as well as water projects such as watershed and dam rehabilitation to help communities survive and thrive economically.
“Unprecedented Read More
Bill Reducing Veterans Disability Claims Backlog Clears Committee
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., announced key progress in his continued effort to reduce the veterans disability claims backlog after the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs earlier this week passed by a voice vote, S. 1581, the Veterans Programs Improvements Act of 2013.
The omnibus veterans bill includes language from S. 1148, the Veterans Benefits Claims Faster Filing Act, a proposal Senator Heinrich and Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) introduced in June.
“I’m pleased the committee took Read More
Luján Honors Native American Code Talkers
Members of the Pueblo of Acoma at the National Museum of the American Indian during the presentation of medals to representatives of the Code Talkers. Courtesy photoU.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District joined members of the Pueblo of Acoma – including tribal leaders, veterans, and family members of Code Talkers – at the National Museum of the American Indian Thursday.
Luján released the following statement after Native American Code Talkers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service Read More
Democrat Lawrence Rael Joins Race for Governor
Lawrence Rael
Staff Report
Joined by his wife, Kim, and their three children, Lawrence Rael announced Wednesday his candidacy for governor of New Mexico in 2014 in Santa Fe.
Rael serves as the president of the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce. He has been chief administrative officer of Albuquerque, deputy secretary of Transportation for the State of New Mexico and director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, serving Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance and Sandoval counties.
He issued the following statement to the press:
“My life has been shaped by the goodness and decency of New Mexicans Read More
Heinrich Challenges Effectiveness of Dragnet Surveillance Program in NSA Court Case
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today challenged the effectiveness of the National Security Agency’s bulk phone records collection program.
The senators’ amicus curiae brief, filed in the First Unitarian Church vs. National Security Agency U.S. District Court case, questioned a central premise of the government’s argument. The brief argues that after extensive review, the senators
Ben Lujan Honored Posthumously
NMVC News:
ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico Voices for Children is honoring four exceptional people at its annual Spirit of Hope Awards Ceremony this weekend. Speaker of the House Ben Lujan will be honored posthumously with the Alice King Public Service Award. Frank Sanchez, who is known, among other things, as one of the lead plaintiffs in New Mexico’s first successful Voting Rights Act lawsuit, will receive the Patty Jennings and Polly Arango Citizen Advocacy Award.
“Speaker Lujan really embodied the spirit of what a citizen legislator should be,” said Veronica C. García, Ed.D., Executive Read More
Rep. Garcia Richard Advocates for Veterans
By STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARDAs some of you may know, I am a proud daughter of a World War II Veteran. My father’s service overseas and later back home helped shape my siblings and me. My Dad made sure I understood the value in dedicating one’s life to service, to protect and respect the rights of all Americans. My father and the millions of other men and women who willingly sacrifice for our rights are a driving force behind my determination to be a voice for the people in public office.
One of the things I enjoy most about being a State Representative are the opportunities
Bill Expanding White Sands Missile Range Clears Key Committee
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday, a bill sponsored by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tom Udall, D-N.M., and John Cornyn, R-TX, to strengthen the missions at White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss cleared the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Earlier this year Heinrich, a member of the committee, along with Senators Udall and Cornyn, introduced the bipartisan proposal that represents a three-party agreement between the two military installations and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
“This expansion to White Sands Missile Range is critical Read More
Udall Introduces Bill to Prevent Stormwater Pollution
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced that he has introduced a bill to reduce the leading cause of water pollution nationwide, while creating jobs and supporting infrastructure and neighborhood redevelopment.
Polluted stormwater runoff is caused when rain or snow flows over roads, roofs, parking lots and other surfaces, picking up toxic chemicals and sediment and carrying them to rivers and streams. The Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2013 would encourage the use of Read More
GOP State Chairman to Visit Los Alamos
GOP State Chairman John Billingsley
GOP News:
State Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) John Billingsley will be in Los Alamos to speak to all Republicans, Independent and conservative voters.
He will be the guest speaker at the party’s Central Committee meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 in the Jeanette Wallace Room on the UNM-Los Alamos Campus.
Billingsley is known as a fine, articulate speaker as well as a spirited, effective leader. He loves working with people and has brought great organizational and people skills to his chairmanship of the party, a Republican Party spokesman Read More
Governor to Propose Streamlining Licensure for Nurses Relocating to New Mexico
STATE News:
Santa Fe – Gov. Susana Martinez will announce at 10 a.m. today a proposal to make New Mexico more competitive for nursing professionals by streamlining the process for nurses licensed in other states to become licensed in New Mexico.
Martinez also will talk about her efforts to recruit more nurse practitioners to New Mexico from states like Texas, Oklahoma and Utah, where restrictions on nurse practitioners are higher than they are in our state. Read More
American Legion Hosts Boys/Girls State Dinner
American Legion Post 90 Cmdr. Bill Cooper congratulates Boys State Delegate Daniel Ahrens. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com
County Council Chair Geoff Rodgers, left, introduced by Post 90 Cmdr. Bill Cooper. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
A Boys and Girls State dinner was hosted Saturday by the American Legion Post 90 at 1325 Trinity Dr., in Los Alamos. The 2013 Delegation to Boys State including Daniel Ahrens, Jeremy Goettee and Esteban Summers and Girls State delegates Marie Trujillo and Rachel Barthel and their parents were honored during the special event. Read More
Rep. Garcia Richard Announces 2014 Campaign to Packed House
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard announces her 2014 campaign kickoff Saturday at the Pajarito Brewpub & Grill in Los Alamos. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com 
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard speaks with Lew Agnew of Los Alamos at the launch of her 2014 campaign Saturday. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard announced her re-election campaign to a packed house Saturday at the Pajarito Brewpub & Grill in Los Alamos.
House Majority Whip Antonio “Moe” Maestas welcomed the
Udall and Luján Announce Federal Assistance for Santa Clara Pueblo
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján announced that more than $2.8 million in federal assistance relief is being made available to Santa Clara Pueblo through the Public Assistance Grant Program to assist with the installation of debris collection structures. As a result of a disaster declaration in August of 2012 in response to severe flooding from June 22 to July 12, 2012, the pueblo was made eligible for funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Sen. Udall, then-Senator Jeff Bingaman, and Rep. Luján wrote letters Read More
Heinrich Introduces Bill to Strengthen Film Industry and DOD Partnerships
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. Senate News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., along with Sen. David Vitter, R-LA, introduced the Military Equitable Reimbursement Act, a bipartisan bill that would allow the Department of Defense (DOD) to retain payments for costs incurred during support of non-governmental film productions.
Currently, DOD units can accept reimbursement for expenses associated with the use of military assets for production. However, due to ambiguity in existing law, there is uncertainty about whether DOD components, Read More
Udall to Honor Veterans Monday
U.S. SENATE News:
Monday, Nov. 11, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., will honor and celebrate New Mexico’s veterans during the 28th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences.
Udall will offer the keynote address at the ceremony. Afterward, he will visit with residents and join Lori Montgomery, director of the State Veterans’ Home, to discuss the facility’s expansion project.
Udall, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, is the author or cosponsor of a number Read More
Heinrich Secures Comprehensive Sportsmen’s Package
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, cosponsored the Sportsmen’s and Public Outdoor Recreation Traditions (SPORT) Act, a comprehensive sportsmen’s legislative package that includes two of Senator Heinrich’s sponsored bills: the Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures (HUNT) Act and a bill to reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA). Sen. Kay Hagan, Read More
Republican Women Meet Nov. 14
LAFRW News:
