Yearly Archives: 2015

U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich joined the full Senate in voting 65-33 for a so-called "omnibus" appropriations bill to fund the government through September 2016. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill earlier today and the president signed it into law this afternoon.

U.S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor will host a listening session on March 3, 2016, at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to hear directly from tribal leaders and individual landowners on the progress of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program). Deputy Secretary Connor will be joined by Special Trustee for American Indians Vince Logan.

In honor of the 74th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Office will host a “Warrior’s Workshop” on Monday for all Veterans to receive assistance with disability claims, the VA Medical Center, Choice Program, GI Bill, VA home loan and any other assistance that can be provided.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made the following statement today after the U.S. Department of the Interior signed an agreement with the New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity (CAP Entity) that initiates a process to thoroughly evaluate the full range of proposed water management alternatives for the upper region of the Gila River and examine their impacts and costs.

La Luz Mutual Domestic Water Consumers and Mutual Sewer Works Association will receive a $1,787,100 grant and a $414,000 loan to fund upgrades to their distribution system, including replacing aging water lines and building a new surface water treatment plant to treat additional runoff from La Luz Creek. The upgrades will help improve services for roughly 700 accounts and provide a reliable and safe water delivery system for the community at reasonable rates.

With the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) set to expire at midnight, U.S. Senator Tom Udall called on Congress to immediately pass a 60-day extension and continue working to permanently authorize and fully fund the nation's premier conservation program. Udall's father, former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, helped secure passage of the LWCF in 1965 and the program has since helped boost the economy in local communities and supported outdoor recreation throughout the nation

U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced more than $23.2 million in grants to support air transportation infrastructure at the airports in Taos, Artesia and Albuquerque. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the grants to fund airport construction and rehabilitation, and reduce pollution.

With the expiration of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) fast approaching, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined a bipartisan coalition of 51 other senators to call on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid to permanently reauthorize and adequately fund the nation's premier federal conservation program, now in its 50th year. The LWCF has helped create and protect parks and open spaces that enhance recreation and outdoor opportunities in urban and rural communities alike, such as the Valle de Oro in Bernalillo County and Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that two New Mexico tribes have won AmeriCorps grants to meet critical needs in their communities. The Shiprock Chapter of the Navajo Nation, Navajo AmeriCorps in Nenahnezad and Santo Domingo Pueblo will receive funding totaling $180,387.

Based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) surface water data collected following the August 5, 2015 Gold King Mine release, San Juan River water quality in Navajo Nation has returned to pre-event conditions. This determination is based on a review of water quality data collected from August 7-15, 2015 at EPA’s sampling point near Hogback, N.M

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced more than $3.3 million in grants to support runway expansion, rehabilitation and other improvements at nine airports across New Mexico. Clovis, Grants, Alamogordo, Colfax County, Lea County, Questa, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Farmington and Santa Rosa will all receive funding from the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants

U.S. Senator Tom Udall praised the plan by the president and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce global warming-causing pollution from power plants. Udall issued the following statement

Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) this week introduced legislation that creates a national renewable energy and energy efficiency standard that will reduce carbon emissions and drive the deployment of clean energy resources around the country

the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a federal Clean Air Act settlement with several Arizona and New Mexico-based utility companies to install pollution control technology to reduce harmful air pollution from the Four Corners Power Plant located on the Navajo Nation near Shiprock, New Mexico.

U.S. Senator Tom Udall welcomed news that National Park Service has decided to re-open to the public the historic Old Santa Fe Trails Building in Santa Fe. The Park Service announced this week that the building will be staffed by volunteers who will be able to provide information about the building as well as about parks and trails in the area.

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce issued the following statement on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, H.R. 2577, which passed the House late yesterday

Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement after voting last night against House Republicans’ Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.

U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments has received a $250,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to promote entrepreneurship and business development in Luna, Grant, Hidalgo and Catron counties. Udall and Heinrich helped lead a task force — initially convened by former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman in 2010 — that led to this grant award, which will fund an innovative initiative to promote job creation by expanding energy efficiency and renewable energy in Southwest New Mexico

U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have introduced legislation to prevent the return of damaging across-the-board budget cuts that significantly impacted health care, education, public safety, and housing throughout Indian Country

$8 million grant will build new treatment center, helping border area resolve ongoing wastewater issues.