Politics

Udall Statement on NSA Phone Surveillance Program

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Monday, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M, responded to the D.C. District Court ruling regarding the National Security Agency’s phone surveillance program.

Udall has long pushed for reforms that would balance national security with Americans’ constitutional rights, including the USA FREEDOM Act to end the bulk collection of phone records, and two bills to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) courts.

He has also led a bipartisan push to ask for an independent investigation of these programs by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Read More

Republican Women Hold Christmas Luncheon

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Pictured are Frances Fernandes (SFFRW President), Donna Macdonald, Crystal Dufresne (Treasurer), Mary Wilhoit (LAFRW President), Fran Berting, Mary Brooks, Terry Marzili, Cathy Walters (Secretary), Lisa Shin & daughter, Ellie Giovanielli, Jane Gordon and Margaret Harrach. (Not pictured, Alice Mann and Adeline M. Lundin.) Courtesy photo

GOP News:

The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women held an end of the year Christmas luncheon Dec. 12 at the home of Lawry and Alice Mann. 

Included in the agenda were a 2013 Year-in-Review, and a collection of gifts for the Adopt-a-Family Read More

Volunteers Place Wreaths at Santa Fe National Cemetery

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 Military personnel gather at Saturday’s Wreaths Across America ceremony at Snata Fe National Cemetery to honor fallen soldiers. Photo by Diane Swan

 U.S. Sen. Tom Udall honors fallen military personnel during Saturday’s ceremony at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Photo by Diane Swan

 Photo by Diane Swan

Staff Report

Remembering fallen military, one wreath at a time, volunteers from across the area including Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Security, SOC Los Alamos and local community partners, sponsored holiday wreaths for a military Read More

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Bill

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Organ Mountains scenery. Courtesy/Henrich’s Office

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich introduced legislation to preserve some of Doña Ana County’s most iconic landscapes, while boosting the region’s tourism and outdoor economy, creating jobs and improving hunting and hiking opportunities. The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act would designate the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument to conserve, protect and enhance scenic, recreational and culturally significant land. 

The new monument Read More

White Sands Expansion Provision Included in Defense Authorization Act

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Tom Udall, D-N.M. made the following statements in response to a provision included in the compromise language of the fiscal year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), released yesterday. The provision is part of a bill the New Mexico senators introduced earlier this year, which passed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to strengthen the missions at White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss.

“I am pleased that both the House and Senate came together to support this important Read More

Luján Addresses Budget Vote

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today after voting for a compromise budget plan that reduces sequester cuts over the next two years.

“While this budget plan is not perfect, and neither side got everything they would have liked, it represents a compromise that takes important steps to chip away at the devastating cuts of the sequester. It rejects the calls of the extreme Tea Party elements that have demanded even deeper cuts that would harm New Mexico. Read More

Governor’s Proposal Would Raise Starting Teacher Salaries

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STATE News:

Wednesday, Gov. Susana Martinez announced proposals to better recruit, retain, and compensate new teachers, as well as reward teachers and school leaders whose students are achieving strong academic growth in the classroom.

Martinez’s plan would increase the minimum base starting salary for teachers in New Mexico by 10 percent and allow every school district to propose a plan to utilize new state funding to provide significant financial rewards to its high-performing teachers and school leaders.

“Teaching Read More

Udall: Filibuster Rule Change Reducing Senate Gridlock

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Sen Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON —Tuesday, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. praised the confirmation of Patricia Millett to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She is the first nominee to be confirmed by the Senate since changing its rules to prohibit filibusters of executive branch and judicial nominees, other than those to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Since 2009, Udall has led the fight in the Senate to cut through gridlock, and he said Millett’s confirmation by a vote of 56-38 is evidence that the Senate is finally working again when it comes to these important Read More

Affordable Care Act to Increase Access to Mental Health Benefits

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Rep. Ben Ray Luján

WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District highlighted recent data that shows the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expanding mental health and substance use disorder benefits for approximately 60 million Americans – including approximately 403,000 New Mexicans. This expansion of coverage for mental health and substance use disorders is one of the largest in a generation.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies in the individual and small group market are required for the first time to cover mental health and substance use Read More

Governor Launches Heroes to Highways Program to Help Returning Veterans

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STATE News:

  • Governor’s Program Eases Transition to Civilian Workforce for Qualified Veterans

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez announces that the new Heroes to Highways Program, helping returning veterans obtain New Mexico commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) more easily, will officially start today, Wednesday Dec. 11. Heroes to Highways will recognize military transportation credentials to help veterans, as well as Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel, obtain employment in the civilian workforce. Qualified applicants will need only to take the CDL knowledge Read More