Politics

Udall Statement on Historic Gridlock in Washington

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Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON–U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, issued the following statement on the need to end gridlock in Washington:

“I have said for a long time: the Senate is a graveyard for good ideas. Gridlock, hyper-partisanship, delay, obstruction – it all adds up to one thing: broken.

“I have been calling for changes in the Senate rules since I was elected to the Senate – for a simple reason: the Senate is not serving the American people. It’s not serving the people of my home state of New Mexico.

“What we’re seeing is historic abuse of the filibuster and Read More

Luján and Lujan Grisham Highlight Importance of LDRD Program at National Labs

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CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New Mexico Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke on the House floor last night on the importance of the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program at the national laboratories. 

The members engaged in a colloquy with Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) and Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) to highlight the need to work together to prevent cuts to this program that supports research and development at the labs.

Click here to watch their remarks. Read More

$2.2 Million to Increase NM’s Health Insurance Enrollment

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Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., announced Wednesday that 15 community health centers across New Mexico will receive more than $2.2 million in grants to help enroll uninsured individuals into new affordable health coverage options that will go into effect Oct. 1.

Approximately 20 percent of New Mexico residents are uninsured.

The awards are issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and will allow the health centers to hire an additional 47 workers who will assist New Read More

TODAY: Udall to Speak on the Floor About Keeping Student Loans Affordable

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U.S. SENATE News:
            
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico will deliver remarks on the Senate floor about the need to find a comprehensive solution to keep loans affordable for college students in New Mexico and across the country.
 
The Senate is voting today on the Keep Student Loans Affordable Act of 2013. On July 1, because of Senate inaction, a temporary measure to keep interest rates low expired. As a result, the interest rates on new federal Stafford loans doubled from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.
 
Udall is a cosponsor
Read More

Upcoming Legislative Interim Committee Meetings

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STATE News:

Upcoming Legislative Interim Committee Meetings

SANTA FE—The following legislative interim committees are meeting this week:

July 10 at 9 a.m. – Investments and Pensions Oversight Committee

  • Room 307, State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • Chair: Representative Jim Trujillo (D–Santa Fe–45)
  • Vice Chair: Senator George Muñoz (D–Cibola, McKinley, San Juan–4)

July 10-12 at 9 a.m. – Legislative Education Study Committee

  • Ruidoso High School
  • 125 Warrior Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345
  • Chair: Senator John M. Sapien (D–Bernalillo, Sandoval–9)
  • Vice Chair: Representative Rick
Read More

GOP Hosts Picnic at Posse Lodge July 13

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GOP News:

The Annual Republican Summer Picnic will be hosted by the Los Alamos Republican Party along with the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women.

The event is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at the Posse Lodge. Hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided for all. Besides lunch, there will be games for children of all ages. There will be ample time for conversations and discussions.

All Republicans and friends are invited to come and participate. There is no charge for lunch and the activities. 

For more information, contact Donna McDonald at Read More

Udall: $28 Million Coming to NM for Head Start

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Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., announced today that a New Mexico non-profit organization and the City of Albuquerque are receiving a combined $28 million in federal grant money for children’s Head Start education in the state.
 
This comes as New Mexico was recently ranked 50th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book.
 
HELP-New Mexico, Inc., a community-based organization with 40 offices and/or Head Start and Pre-K Centers throughout
Read More

Tom Udall’s Statement on Cousin’s Death

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James “Randy” Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement on the death of his cousin, James “Randy” Udall:
 
“My family and I are moved by the overwhelming support and condolences for my cousin Randy Udall. He was an extraordinary person who touched so many lives with his spirit, his intelligence and his example. His death is a tremendous loss, and we will miss him more than I can express. There was no one like him.
 
“Randy and I were especially close. We shared a love of the mountains
Read More

NM Governor Orders Flags Flown at Half Staff to Honor Arizona’s Fallen Firefighters

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STATE News:

 

Gov. Susana Martinez has ordered that all flags in New Mexico be flown at half-staff from sunrise July 2 to sundown July 5 in honor and mourning of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Firefighters.

 

The thoughts and prayers of all New Mexicans go out to the families and friends of these fallen heroes and we honor them for their courageous service, she said.

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2013-026:

 

WHEREAS, nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew, part of the Prescott Fire Department, lost their lives Sunday, June 30th, 2013, while Read More

Luján Addresses Doubling of Student Loan Rates

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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 on the doubling of interest rates on federal student loans.

“As of today, the interest rates on all new federal student loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, adding thousands of dollars to the cost of a college education for millions of young adults. It is deeply disappointing that Congress has yet to find a solution to this problem that makes college more affordable and does not make it harder for New Mexico’s Read More