Nation

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced he will assume the role of the lead Democrat (ranking member) on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.

The U.S. Department of the Interior manages America’s vast natural and cultural resources, and holds important jurisdiction in New Mexico through its leadership of the Bureaus of Land Management, Indian Affairs and Reclamation; the National Park Service; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As ranking member, Udall will hold a key position Read More

U.S. SENATE News:

• “Guaranteeing equal protection under the law is right and just.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., cosponsored S. 29, the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill to ensure all legally-married, same-sex couples are treated equally under federal law.

The bill seeks to fully implement the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.

“All couples who have solidified their life-long commitment to each other through marriage deserve the same rights and responsibilities regardless of where they live,” Read More

Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement Tuesday after being sworn in as a member of the 114th Congress.

“As we start the new Congress it is a tremendous honor to serve the people of New Mexico and to have the opportunity to again represent our great state. In New Mexico we are a family, and to solve the challenges we face we need to work together, from every level of government to the private sector. We all have a role to play and I will be working hard in Washington and in the district Read More

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

• The Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act would protect consumers, prevent a two-tiered Internet system

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is cosponsoring net neutrality legislation that would help prevent the creation of a two-tiered Internet system by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ban so-called “paid prioritization” agreements between a broadband provider and a content provider. 

Introduction of the legislation, the Online Competition and Consumer Choice Read More

Vice President Joe Biden administers the oath of office to U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico Tuesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C., as his wife Jill Cooper Udall  holds the Bible. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At just after noon Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall was sworn in for his second term in the U.S. Senate. He issued the following statement: 

“Public service is a true honor, and I’m humbled to be able to work on behalf of New Mexicans for another term in the U.S. Senate. I look forward to continuing to fight for our state’s priorities – for funding Read More

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON, DC – Tuesday,  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., joined U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., to introduce the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act.

The bipartisan legislation will speed up the approval process for exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have free trade agreements with the United States. It specifically requires the Secretary of Energy to make a decision on any LNG export application within 45 days after the environmental review document for the project is published.

“Natural gas has significant Read More