Politics

Udall Urges Protection Of New Mexicans Right To Due Process, Opposes Civil Asset Forfeiture

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee to protect New Mexicans’ constitutional due process rights by defunding the practice of seizing – without a hearing – property that law enforcement believes is connected to a crime.
 
The practice, known as civil asset forfeiture, violates due process protections outlined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the lawmakers wrote to the leaders of the Senate Appropriations
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Heinrich Questions DOD Nominees On Domestic Violence Reporting Loophole, Other Key Issues

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to consider the nominations of Anthony Kurta to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, James McPherson to be General Counsel of the Department of the Army, and Gregory Maggs to be a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
 
 
During the hearing, Heinrich
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Pearce Votes To Increase Pay For Troops And Modernize Defense Department

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce
 
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday passed the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018:
 
“The NDAA is by far one of the most important pieces of legislation that comes before Congress each year. It authorizes crucial training, equipment, and resources our nation’s military relies upon to complete its mission. This year’s bill places a special
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Udall Leads Indian Affairs Committee Hearing On Safeguarding Tribal Objects Of Patrimony Act

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a legislative hearing to review the Safeguarding Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act, a bill to curb the theft, illegal possession, sale, transfer, and export of Tribal cultural items.
 
Tribal cultural items have immense historical, traditional, and spiritual importance. It is illegal under federal law to own or sell Tribal cultural patrimony domestically, but federal law does not explicitly prohibit
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Luján Introduces Two New Bills To Address Veterans

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
 
CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) has introduced two bills to address the needs of the nation’s veterans.
 
Luján’s bills would raise the minimum wage for veterans attending school through the GI Bill, and reauthorize a program that provides rental assistance to Native American veterans experiencing homelessness.
 
“As we gather this weekend in communities large and small to honor those who have served our country, we must remember that the true measure of how we honor our veterans will be determined
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State Auditor Releases Audit Of UNM Athletics

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State Auditor Tim Keller
 
STATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― State Auditor Tim Keller released a special audit of the University of New Mexico (UNM) Athletics Department Friday and its related institutions including the UNM Foundation and the Lobo Club.
 
The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) initiated the audit in May after receiving multiple complaints from concerned citizens. The audit reviews transactions from July 2014 through June 2017 and finds a structure lacking adequate transparency and accountability for financial decisions; and makes recommendations
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Luján Introduces Legislation To Improve Deployment Of High Speed Internet In New Mexico And Rural Areas

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
 
CONGRESSIONAL  News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) has introduced the Broadband Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (BFIA), a bill that leverages public-private partnerships and uses a fresh approach to spur deployment of high-speed internet in New Mexico and other parts of the country.
 
Lujan’s bill is especially important for rural communities where broadband infrastructure often lags behind urban areas.
 
Luján’s bill will beef up low interest financing opportunities for public-private partnerships,
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Udall, Heinrich Urge USDA To Use Clear, Consumer-Friendly On-Package GMO Labeling

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich have pressed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to clearly label genetically engineered food to ensure all New Mexicans have the right to know what is in their food.
 
In a letter, the senators urged USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize clear, consumer-friendly on-package text labels and discouraged the use of electronic codes and labeling that would require access to a smartphone or broadband internet and would not help the thousands of New Mexicans living in rural
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Luján: Thank Them For All They Do

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By U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján:

Today, we honor the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces, who stood guard for our nation at home and abroad, and who fought to protect our freedom and uphold our democracy. 

On Veterans Day, we thank them. We show gratitude to those who put the good of others ahead of their own. They risked life and limb to protect our country, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

Our freedoms should never be taken for granted and they all rest upon one fundamental truth: the ultimate price was paid innumerable times for our benefit. 

We, Read More