Press Releases
Udall, Heinrich Join Introduction of Bill to Block Trump Administration From Eliminating Critical Protections for Federal Employees
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and 40 senators to introduce legislation that would block the implementation of an October 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new classification for federal employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the administration to facilitate politically-motivated hiring and firing practices against non-partisan civil servants with policy exper… Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Vice Chairman Udall to GSA Administrator Murphy: Delay in Presidential Transition Endangers Tribal Health and Safety
WASHINGTON-Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, directly called on Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) Emily Murphy to follow the law and begin the official presidential transition process, citing the threat to uninterrupted delivery of essential federally-administered health programs to Tribes and Native communities across the United States, especially during a pandemic. Udall underscored that any disruptions t… Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Udall Congratulates New Mexico Nominees to United States Service Academies
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) announced the names of the 45 New Mexico students who have received his nomination to attend a United States service academy beginning in 2021. A congressional, vice-presidential, or service-connected nomination is required for admission to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Students receiving Udall's nomination completed a competitive application proc… Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Udall and Heinrich to GSA: Stop Playing Politics with Presidential Transition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) sent a letter along with 38 other senators to General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy, calling on her to end the unprecedented delay in recognizing the American people's decision to elect Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris as the next president and vice president. Administrator Murphy was nominated to her position by President Donald Trump. Murphy's decision denies the incoming B… Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
NM Delegation Announces Albuquerque is Finalist to Host U.S. Space Command and Urges Air Force to Utilize New Mexico’s Unique Space Assets for New Headquarters
WASHINGTON-Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the Department of the Air Force is naming Albuquerque as a finalist for the location of the new U.S. Space Command headquarters. The delegation continued their advocacy for New Mexico's growing space economy. Space Command was reestablished as the 11th combatant command in August 2019 and is… Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Udall Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Conservation Legislation to Protect Tropical Forests & Coral Reef Ecosystems
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing their bipartisan Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020. U.S. Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) led the companion legislation in the House. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the debt-for-nature-swap program that encourages developing coun… Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Udall Leads Committee Passage of Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, joined committee chairman John Hoeven (R-N.D.) to convene a business meeting. Udall's S.3264, the Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act passed the committee, a bill to improve the deployment of broadband in Indian Country by establishing and strengthening broadband activities at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bet… Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Udall, Heinrich, Torres Small Applaud Over $300,000 in Federal Funding for Homeownership Assistance Programs
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $318,694 in rural development grants for home construction and rehabilitation, and home repair preservation to three housing organizations in Las Cruces, Deming and Bernalillo. The Tierra Del Sol rural development investment will provide technical assistance to Mutual Self Help Applicants to assist 1… Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Senate Passes Udall, Hoeven Resolution to Recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, the Senate passed a resolution from U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, to recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month. "During Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the resilience, history and contributions of Native Americans in New Mexico and around the country," said Udall."This month is a call to r… Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Senator Tom Udall: A Climate, Clean Energy and Environmental Leader
WASHINGTON-Today, the office of U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, released the following comprehensive document outlining Udall's trailblazing leadership in the fight against climate change, bipartisan success protecting American families from toxic pollution, and long track record making the U.S. a leader in clean energy production. In 2019, Udall announced that he would not seek a third term … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Udall Statement on Closure of Critical Health Services at ACL Hospital
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, made the following statement in response to the Indian Health Service (IHS) decision to shut down emergency room and in-patient services at the Acoma, Laguna, Canoncito (ACL) hospital, located on Acoma Tribal lands: "This pandemic has strained Native health systems, disrupted Tribal economies, and taken a disproportionate toll on Native families. Tribes across the country have met this … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Udall, Heinrich, Democratic Senators Urge Armed Services Leaders To Retain Bipartisan, Bicameral Measure To Rename Military Bases And Other Assets Honoring The Confederacy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have joined 35 Senate colleagues in a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees urging that they reconcile and retain the bicameral, bipartisan measure to require military installations and assets that honor the Confederacy and Confederate officers be renamed within the next three years. Senate and House Armed Services leade… Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Senator Tom Udall: A Conservation Champion
WASHINGTON-Today, the office of U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, released the following comprehensive document outlining Udall's accomplishments that have advanced a bold conservation vision throughout his Senate career. In 2019, Udall announced that he would not seek a third term in the U.S. Senate. READ HERE: SENATOR TOM UDALL - A CONSERVATION CHAMPION "Conservation is a winner: for the ec… Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
NM Delegation Announces Over $15.5 Million in DHS Grants to Expand COVID-19 Treatment, Medical Supplies
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded over $15.5 million in COVID-19 emergency response reimbursements to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). The grants provide over $10.7 million in federal cost-share reimbursements for the NMDOH to purchase and distribute Personal P… Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Senator Tom Udall’s Legislative Actions to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic
To download and print this information, please click HERE. Funding Federal Pandemic Response ♦ Senator Udall voted to pass H.R. 266, a $484 billion bipartisan COVID-19 response package with key funding for New Mexico and Indian Country, including: − Senator Udall and Senate Democrats fought to increase the amount of loans that small community lenders receive by $120 billion, a key provision that will help finance the loans for many small businesses in New Mexico and Indian Coun… Continue Reading
November 11, 2020
Udall Statement on Veterans Day
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) released the following statement honoring the contributions and sacrifice of veterans in New Mexico and across the country. Udall also celebrated the completion of the National Museum of the American Indians' National Native American Veterans Memorial. "Veterans Day represents the opportunity to reflect, acknowledge and honor the brave women and men who have served and sacrificed to protect our families, our freedoms, our democracy, and our way of life… Continue Reading
November 10, 2020
Senator Tom Udall: Advancing Priorities for Indian Country
WASHINGTON - Today, the office of U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released a comprehensive document highlighting Udall's accomplishments advancing the priorities of Native communities and Indian Country during his Senate career. In 2019, Udall announced that he would not seek a third term in the U.S. Senate. READ HERE: SENATOR TOM UDALL - ADVANCING PRIORITIES FOR INDIAN COUNTRY "It has been my honor to represent New Mexico's 23 Tribes a… Continue Reading
November 10, 2020
Udall Statement on FY2021 Interior Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, issued the following statement on the FY2021 Interior Appropriations Bill: "I very much appreciate Chairman Murkowski putting together a bill under difficult funding constraints, and I thank her for accommodating a number of important priorities in this draft. I fully support the Appropriations Committee's efforts to enact an omnibus by the … Continue Reading
November 07, 2020
Udall Congratulates President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after state vote counts became clear that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be elected president and vice president: "The American people have spoken, and they have made the wise decision to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president. This is a win not only for the Biden-Harris ticket, but also a win for New Mexico's working families, for decency, for unity, for our health, for our… Continue Reading
November 04, 2020
Udall Statement Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
SANTA FE, N.M.-Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement marking November as Native American Heritage Month: "During Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the resilience, history and contributions of Native Americans in New Mexico and around the country. But it is also a time to reckon with the painful legacy of our history and reflect on how we can better stand with Tribes and Native communities to … Continue Reading
