Nation

New Mexico Congressional Delegation Sends Letter Urging More Safety Measures After Train Derailment

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Congressional News:

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) with U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), called on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to establish an Operating Practices Inspector for New Mexico.

“We are keenly aware that the work that you do is essential to ensuring the safety of our rail workers and communities across the country,” the lawmakers said. “However, the recent derailment in western New Mexico Read More

Seven LAHS Graduating Seniors Headed Off To Military

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US Army recruits were sworn in during a ceremony at Los Alamos High School attended by family and friends, from left, Staff Sergeant Benjamin Yanez, Santa Fe Station Commander; Sergeant First Class Jhampier Inchaustegui; Captain Charles Benson, Albuquerque Recruiting Commander; Lieutenant Colonel Tammy Bogart, Phoenix/New Mexico Battalion Commander; LAHS Principal Renee Dunwoody; Jose Marquez; Jimmy Wilson; Riana Martinez; Staff Sergeant Starling Inirio; Sergeant First Class William Garcia; First Lieutenant Vincent and front row kneeling, Tomas Martinez and Seth Rainey. Courtesy/LAPS Read More

Op-Ed: New Mexico’s Memorial Day Weekend Made More Expensive By Credit Card Swipe Fees

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By BENNY HODGES
Belen

With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, many Americans will be packing up their cars for trips to their favorite destinations. However, as folks fill up with fuel or stock the cooler with hot dogs and beverages, Visa and Mastercard will be right alongside every swipe of a credit card taking their cut. That’s because, unbeknownst to many, every time a credit card transaction is processed, merchants are charged on average between 1.5-3.5 percent of the total purchase amount, known as a swipe fee.

While initially charged to merchants, swipe fees are passed on to consumers Read More

FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office Launches Claimant Experience Survey

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FEMA News:

SANTA FE — As of May 23, 2024, the FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office (Claims Office) has processed 3,697 claims and paid $659.8 million in compensation. Along the way, the Claims Office team has learned a lot of lessons and incorporated the community’s recommendations to improve operations.

As part of an ongoing commitment to improve the claims process, the office is launching comprehensive surveys to gather valuable feedback directly from claimants.

Beginning at the end of May, representatives from FEMA will begin reaching out to claimants via phone calls and mailed Read More

Luján, Wyden, Morrelle Introduce Fair Repair Act

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

          • Legislation would eliminate corporate monopolies that cost consumers billions of dollars per year by finally giving small businesses and everyday Americans the right to repair their own products like cell phones, computers and more

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) introduced the Fair Repair Act, legislation to guarantee consumers and small businesses a right to repair their own products by requiring manufacturers to make diagnostic repair information, parts, Read More

Rep. Vasquez Advances Billions For Military Installations, Families In Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act

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U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez:

          • Vasquez advocated for RECA and prioritized common-sense initiatives that improve the lives of service members and ensure New Mexico’s military installations remain at the forefront of national defense

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  On May 22, 2024, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) secured major wins for New Mexico and voted to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) out of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to the House Floor for consideration.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Read More

Heinrich Presses Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm On Housing Shortages In Los Alamos, Questions Proposal To Build Transmission Line Through Caja Del Rio, Emphasizes Need To Invest In American-Made Grid Components, Highlights New Mexico’s Potential To Lead In Geothermal

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VIDEO: Heinrich questions Secretary Granholm at Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a hearing Wednesday before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to review the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) pressed Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Jill Hruby on a number Read More

Luján Joins Press Conference Calling For House Vote On Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

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Congressional News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Delegate James Moylan (R-Guam) and RECA advocates last Thursday for a press conference calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson to allow a vote on a bill that would strengthen the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

As of May 16, the House will have just two weeks remaining to act on the Senate-passed RECA. The program, which provides health screenings and compensation for people sickened Read More

United States And European Commission Make Joint Statement On Enhancing Radioactive Source Security

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NNSA’s Jeffrey Chamberlin

NNSA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the European Commission (EC) made a Joint Statement on Enhancing Radioactive Source Security this week at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security.

This Joint Statement highlights the importance of the security of radioactive sources, the need to strengthen security to prevent the use of these materials in acts of terrorism, and builds upon existing U.S. and European Union (EU) Read More

AFRL, NASA Unlock Innovation, Propel Universities

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Air Force Research Laboratory staff stand with university students and their professors from a variety of academic institutions across the nation in front of Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Merrit Island, Fla. in May 2023. AFRL and NASA announced their collaboration with eight universities for a new Mission Concept Program that ran from May 15 to July 28, 2023. The program, sponsored by AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate, was held under the University Nanosatellite Program, which started in 1999 and has collaborated with 53 universities since its inception. Courtesy/ Read More