Nation

USPS Releases Top Dog Attack Rankings By City

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Courtesy/WYFF

USPS News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — To kick-off next week as National Dog Bite Prevention Week, the U.S. Postal Service released its top 30 dog attack city rankings and offered tips to reduce dog attacks to letter carriers.

Nationwide, 5,767 postal employees were attacked last year.

At this morning’s event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., letter carriers who were attacked by dogs recounted their experiences. The event also featured pit bull therapy dog Elle, the American Humane Association’s 2013 Hero Dog of the Year. Veterinarians and representatives of the Read More

Udall, Heinrich Unveil Renewable Electricity Standard

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich introduced a bill to create jobs, save consumers money and reduce pollution by creating a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES).
 
The legislation, which would help the United States diversify its energy sources while establishing our leadership in clean energy production, would require utilities to generate 30 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.
 
The bill would create the first national threshold for utilities to provide a certain
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Udall Bill To Help Veterans Through Claims Process

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall this week joined several senators to introduce a bill to help improve the quality and consistency of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims appeals and help address the VA’s oldest pending claims.
 
Specifically, the bill would improve and expand pro bono legal services for veterans during their appeals process, and provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with additional authority to expedite consideration of unreasonably delayed claims.  
 
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Bill Introduced For Tech-Transfer Maturation Program

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Michael Bennet, D-Colo. introduced legislation to launch a new National Laboratory Technology Maturation Program (NLTMP) at DOE to facilitate successful commercialization of laboratory-developed technologies and boost regional, technology-driven economic impacts.

The bill, S.1259, the National Laboratory Technology Maturation Act, will be considered June 4 during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Under the National Laboratory Technology Maturation Program, Read More

Report Changes In Circumstances To The Marketplace That Could Affect Your 2015 Premium Tax Credit

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IRS NEWS:

If you – or anyone in your household –  have enrolled for 2015 health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and advance payments of the premium tax credit are paid to your insurance company, it is important that you report changes in circumstances, such as changes in your income or family size, to your Marketplace.

Advance payments of the premium tax credit provide financial assistance to help you pay for the insurance you buy through the Marketplace. Having at least some of your credit paid in advance directly to your insurance company will reduce the out-of-pocket Read More

Udall, Boosman, Lujan Grisham Introduce Bill To Cut Small Business Red Tape

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

CONGRESSSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During National Small Business Week, U.S. Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M. and John Boozman, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., announced legislation to help business owners who operate primarily out of their homes deal with the often-complicated process of filing income taxes.

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

The bipartisan Helping Our Middle Class Entrepreneurs (HOME) Act is the result of conversations with small business owners about ways the federal government can reduce unnecessary red tape.

The HOME Act Read More

Luján: 134,000 New Mexicans With Student Loans Would Benefit From Bill To Allow Refinancing

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

SANTA FE ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District highlighted the impact of legislation that would allow New Mexican’s with student loan debt to refinance their loans to take advantage of low interest rates. 

Luján is a cosponsor of the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, which according to the Department of Education, would help 134,000 New Mexicans with student loan debt.

“Whether it’s buying that first home, raising a child, or saving for a dignified retirement, student loan debt is making it difficult

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Heinrich, Udall Introduce Bill To Establish Wilderness Areas In Río Grande Del Norte National Monument

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Tom Udall, D-N.M. have introduced a bill to establish two wilderness areas, the Cerro del Yuta Wilderness and Rio San Antonio Wilderness, within the Río Grande del Norte National Monument northwest of Taos.

In 2013, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved a previous version of the legislation.

U.S. Sen.Tom Udall

“For many years now, a broad coalition of northern New Mexicans has worked to conserve these two very special areas within

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NMED Approves Transuranic Waste Storage Extension

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WIPP News:

On May 1, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) approved a request from the Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) and Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) for an extension of storage in the Waste Handling Building at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant until June 30, 2016.

Waste placement operations at the WIPP site have been suspended since the February 2014 fire and radiological events. Waste containers that were on the surface at the time of the events have been safely stored in the on-site Waste Handling Building.

The WIPP Hazardous Waste Facility Permit limits storage in the Waste Handling Read More

Udall Votes For Congressional Review Of Iran Nuclear Deal

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U.S. SENATE News:

Bipartisan agreement would enable congressional oversight without jeopardizing negotiations

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze_bYse-krA&feature=youtu.be            

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, joined a majority of senators in voting 98-1 Thursday for legislation that would allow Congress 30 days to review a proposed nuclear deal with Iran. He issued the following statement:

“A nuclear armed Iran is a serious threat, and any nuclear nonproliferation Read More