Politics

Udall: Passage Of Major National Defense Bill Will Strengthen New Mexico and Nation

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON — Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall joined the Senate in voting for final passage of a major national defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to support troops and military families, and to strengthen national defense programs in New Mexico and across the country.
 
The bill, which will now be sent to the president, includes several measures that Udall has championed to benefit the national security mission being carried out at New Mexico’s national laboratories, military bases
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New Mexico Delegation Calls On New Army Secretary To Bring Active Duty Mission To WSMR

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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― In a letter to incoming Secretary of the Army Mark Esper, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) urged him to consider White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) as a garrison host for a Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), which could bring close to 500 Army officers to WSMR.
 
Secretary Esper was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday afternoon.
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NNSA Delivers Annual Reports To Congress On Progress Of Stockpile Stewardship, Nuclear Nonproliferation

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NNSA News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Wednesday, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) released the Fiscal Year 2018 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP) and the Prevent, Counter, and Respond—A Strategic Plan to Reduce Global Nuclear Threats (NPCR).
 
These annual reports to Congress outline the strategic direction for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent and for reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. They are key planning documents for the nuclear security enterprise
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Balderas Announces Sen. Phil Griego Convicted On Five Counts In Corruption Trial

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Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
SANTA FE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Thursday that a Santa Fe jury found former Sen. Phil Griego guilty on five counts in the corruption trial prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General.
 
After a two and half week trial, the jury found Griego guilty of Violation of Ethical Principles of Public Service, Violation of Ethical Principles of Public Service (Requesting or Receiving Thing of Value), Bribery, Fraud (Over $20,000), and Unlawful Interest in a Public Contract (Over $50).
 
The case involves
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Heinrich Statement On DHS Decision To Accept DACA Applications Delayed By Postal Service

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to allow those rejected because of mail delays to resubmit their renewals for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Senator Heinrich led a group of Democratic Senators in sending a letter to DHS calling on the department to take immediate action. 
 
“I’m pleased that Dreamers whose applications were rejected
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Balderas Urges Congress To Repeal Law That Supports Opioid Oversupply & Handcuffs The DEA

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Attorney General Hector Balderas 
 
AG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas sent a letter late Monday to congressional leaders, urging them to repeal a 2016 federal law so registered drug manufacturers and distributors who have willfully contributed to the nation’s oversupply of pain killers (opioids), can be held accountable.
 
The “Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016” (P.L. 114-145) has severely limited the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) response to the opioid crisis. On average,
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Heinrich, Flake, Shaheen Press DOD For Unpublished Domestic Violence Reporting Data

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) today sent a letter to the Defense Department (DOD) raising serious questions about how and where the agency is reporting domestic violence related convictions adjudicated in military court, and the recent FBI’s assertion that it cannot determine how many, if any, of these convictions have been reported to one of three databases used to prevent the sale of firearms to statutorily-barred individuals.
 
As the letter notes, currently
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O’Leary: Council Approves MOU With NCRTD

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By Vice Chair Susan O’Leary

Los Alamos County Council

In our consent agenda during Tuesday’s Council meeting, we approved a request to provide North Central Regional Transit District with $350,000. This transit district serves a number of counties in Northern New Mexico and this funding is in addition to county funding for the county’s Atomic City Bus service.

The Council agreed to this specific action in April as part of our budget process and tonight’s action was merely fulfilling that agreement. Reading tonight’s agenda documents, I was reminded that Los Alamos County has Read More

Ray Powell Ends Bid For Land Commissioner … Endorses Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard

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Ray Powell

POLITICAL News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Former Land Commissioner and current Democratic candidate for Land Commissioner Ray Powell today announced his decision to end his bid for Land Commissioner and endorsed Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of Los Alamos.

Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard

Powell released the following statement:

“New Mexico’s land, animals, and working families are my love and passion. Working to protect their well-being is the reason I decided to run again for New Mexico State Land Commissioner. I want to let you know that I recently learned that I have a rare auto-immune condition Read More

Lujan Grisham Votes To Pass Defense Policy Bill

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
 
CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham voted Tuesday to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes provisions that are important to the large national laboratory and military presence in New Mexico.
 
The defense policy bill includes critical funding for military bases and national laboratories, including 2.4-percent pay increases for service members. The bill also prohibits the Department of Defense from conducting an additional round of BRAC next year, which means there
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