Politics

Udall Staff Hold Los Alamos Office Hours March 1

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SENATE News:
 
Tuesday, March 1, a representative from the office of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall will hold office hours for Los Alamos residents who need help with issues related to federal agencies.
 
The office hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Residents of Los Alamos and the surrounding communities are encouraged to stop by.
 
“If you need assistance with a federal agency, my staff will guide you through the process and do whatever they can to help,” Udall said. “I encourage you to meet with them during our Udall Serving You community office
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Council Votes To Express Opposition To SJR 16A And SJR 23

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Council Chair Rick Reiss calls for a vote of the Council. Screen Shot/LADP

Staff Report:

Council voted 6-1 to express its opposition to Senate Joint Resolution 16A – a floor amendment to extend term limits for the office of sheriff.

Councilor Kristin Henderson joined the meeting by telephone. Councilor Pete Sheehey voted against the measure.

Council also voted to oppose SJR 23, which would require specific law enforcement qualifications for individuals wishing to run for the office of sheriff. Councilor James Chrobocinski and Councilor Pete Sheehey voted against the measure. Read More

Luján Introduces Bill To Create Jobs By Increasing Partnerships Between Businesses And National Labs

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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, introduced legislation Friday Feb. 12, to increase partnerships between businesses and national laboratories that spur economic growth and create new jobs. 
 
Luján’s legislation authorizes a dedicated fund to provide for the government’s share of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) that support maturing lab technology and transferring it to the private sector. 
 
Cooperative Research
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DOE Makes Up To $7 Million Available For Assistance To Indian Tribes; Releases Alaska Solar Prospecting Report

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DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz
 
DOE News:
 
BETHEL, AK ― U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz yesterday announced the availability of up to $7 million to establish a technical assistance regional energy providers’ network to Indian tribes and Alaska Native communities.
 
Participants will be chosen through a competitive process and will receive five weeks of intensive training through the Department of Energy, DOE’s national labs and other entities, giving tribal communities and Alaska Native villages the knowledge, skills
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House Honors Rep. Luciano ‘Lucky’ Varela

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Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela (D-Santa Fe), after 30 years of representing House District 48, in the New Mexico House of Representatives was honored Friday, Feb. 13, for his years of public service.
 
Varela was inaugurated to the state House in 1987 becoming the third longest serving representative. Remembered for his incredible knowledge of state government, especially on financial matters and the budget, Varela was a factual database long before the regular use of computers.
 
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Senate Passes Bill To Protect Young Athletes From Brain Injuries

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STATE News:
 
The State Senate passed a bill Saturday that expands guidelines for treating head injuries suffered by student athletes by lengthening the rest period after a suspected concussion, and calls for these procedures to cover non-school related youth athletic programs.
 
Senate Bill 137 (SB 137), Student Athlete Brain Injury Protocols, which passed the Senate on a 35-4 vote, amends the protocols that were enacted in 2010.
 
“As our understanding of brain injuries increases, we learn the importance of allowing the young athlete sufficient time to recover,”
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Senate Rules Oks Measure To Raise Minimum Wage

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Sen. Bill Soules
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The Senate Rules Committee voted a do-pass Saturday on Senate Joint Resolution 18 (SJR 18) that would let voters decide in the November general election whether to raise the statewide minimum wage.
 
SJR 18, sponsored by Sen. Bill Soules (D-37- Doña Ana), would base the wage increase on the annual rate of inflation and each increase could not exceed 4%. The minimum wage in New Mexico hasn’t changed since 2009 when it increased to $7.50 an hour, despite price increases across the board for housing,
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Udall Reiterates Concerns About Lack Of An Ambassador To Mexico, Urges Senate To Confirm Roberta Jacobson

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. ― Thursday Feb. 11, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a longtime advocate for Senate reform, pushed for a Senate vote on Roberta Jacobson’s nomination to serve as ambassador to Mexico.
 
Although Jacobson has been called one of the most qualified nominees for the position ever, her nomination has been on hold for almost six months in large part due to a few senators’ objections to her role in the Obama administration’s Cuba policy.
 
In a speech on the Senate floor,
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Victory For New Mexico Home School Speech And Debate Team

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Members of the Jemez Mountain Home School Speech and Debate Team with their younger siblings celebrate news of their victory to continue their participation in speech and debate competitions and activities in New Mexico. Courtesy photo

EDUCATION News:

SANTA FE — Jemez Mountain Home School speech and debate students are back on track this week preparing for the final tournaments of the regular season. On Wednesday, the Team received news that New Mexico Secretary of Education, Hanna Skandera, issued a decision on its appeal. The Secretary’s order overturned the decision of the New Read More

Civil and Human Rights Coalition Endorses John King Nomination For Secretary Of Education

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Wade Henderson
 
CHR News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. ― Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (CHR), issued the following statement in support of the nomination of Acting Secretary of Education John King to be Secretary of Education:
 
“We applaud the President for nominating Acting Secretary King to fill out the remainder of his term as the permanent Secretary of Education. Acting Secretary King is a reliable steward of this administration’s legacy of strong civil rights enforcement and for ensuring that the
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