Nation

Luján Highlights Impact of Climate Change on Minority Communities

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District and a member of the Safe Climate Caucus spoke on the House floor Wednesday on the need to address climate change.

With Hispanic Heritage Month beginning Sept. 15, Luján highlighted the importance of this issue within the Latino community. During his remarks, Luján also highlighted his opposition to a House Republican plan to make steep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“Mr. Speaker, it’s time for Congress to work together on a Read More

Free Flow of Information Act Advances to Senate Floor

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NNA News:

The National Newspaper Association welcomes progress in the Senate on the Free Flow of Information Act, S 987, said NNA’s president, Robert M. Williams Jr., chair and publisher of the SouthFire Newspaper Group in Blackshear, GA.

The journalists’ first federal protection against having to reveal confidential sources, except in national security or similarly compelling circumstances, advances to the Senate floor. Similar protections are already afforded by the states.

“Community newspapers stand with our larger journalistic brethren in calling for Congress to recognize Read More

NM K-12 Funding Cuts Among Deepest in Nation

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NMVC News:

ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico ranks fifth worst in the nation in how deep it has cut spending on K-12 education on a per-student, inflation-adjusted basis since the start of the recession. These cuts deepened the recession, slowed the recovery, and will make New Mexico less prosperous in the future.

 A new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) shows that New Mexico cut $874 per student in inflation-adjusted spending between fiscal years 2008 and 2014. Only four states made larger cuts. Although New Mexico increased K-12 spending between FY13 and FY14 by 1.1 percent, Read More

FCC Will Address Rural Dropped Calls

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., welcomed news that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will take steps to prevent telecommunications operators from dropping calls from rural customers.

During a hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Udall, who chairs the subcommittee, secured the promise from FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn that FCC regulators will ensure providers will no longer discriminate against calls coming from rural areas.

“I am very pleased that the FCC will take action,” Udall said. Read More

Luján on 12th Anniversary of 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

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Courtesy photo

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today on the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks:

“Today we mourn the lives that were cut short when our country was attacked by terrorists 12 years ago. While we were shaken to our core by the horrifying attacks, a resilient nation pulled together to show the bravery and heroism that are hallmarks of the United States of America.

“We saw first responders risk their lives to save others. Strangers on the street Read More

Udall: U.S. Must Keep up Pressure on Russia to Follow Through with Commitment to Secure Syria’s Chemical Weapons

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, repeated his call Tuesday for the United States to use diplomatic, economic and political pressure to ensure Russia and Syria keep their commitment to surrender Syria’s chemical weapons to the international community for destruction.

He issued the following statement after President Obama’s speech:

“The single greatest reason Bashar al-Assad has been able to remain in power is that he is receiving support from outside governments, including Russia. I have consistently Read More

Udall Explains his Opposition to Limited Military Strike on Syria to NM Press

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Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

Staff Report

In a telephone press conference with New Mexico media this morning, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., explained his position opposing a limited military strike on Syria.

“The United States has not yet exhausted all political, economic and diplomatic options,” Udall said. “The administration hasn’t made a case that a limited military strike will deter the use of chemical weapons. If our goal is to save lives, a military strike is not the best response.”

The American people and the international community are not behind the President’s proposed military action, he Read More

Upgrade to Mars Rover Could Aid Discovery on More Distant Worlds

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Mars Rover. Courtesy/NASA

AGU News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Smart as the Mars Curiosity mission has been about landing and finding its own way on a distant world, the rover is pretty brainless when it comes to doing the science that it was sent 567 million kilometers to carry out.

That has to change if future rover missions are to make discoveries further out in the solar system, scientists say.

 The change has now begun with the development of a new camera that can do more than just take pictures of alien rocks – it also thinks about what the pictures signify so the rover can decide on its own whether Read More

Nearly 9,000 NM Homes to Gain Broadband Access

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FCC News:

ALBUQUERQUE ─ Monday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall applauded the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) allocation of $5.18 million from the Connect America Fund (CAF) to expand and improve broadband service to nearly 9,000 New Mexico households.

This announcement follows Udall’s efforts to urge the FCC to free up unused funds that would help close the digital divide between urban areas that have access to high-speed Internet and rural areas that do not.

“Reliable high-speed Internet is critical to leveling the playing field between rural and urban communities,” Udall said. “Broadband Read More