Press Releases
Udall Praises Nomination of New Mexico's Norman C. Bay to Lead Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today welcomed news that Norman C. Bay, a former University of New Mexico law professor and U.S. Attorney, has been nominated to chair the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Bay is currently the Director of the Office of Enforcement at FERC, a position he has held since 2009. "Norman is an outstanding example of excellence in public service. I look forward to working with him on the energy challenges facing New Mexico and the nation. We need a 'do it… Continue Reading
January 28, 2014
Udall Statement on President’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement after attending the State of the Union address: "Like many New Mexicans, I'm frustrated by the tough economic recovery. People in our state are still working to pull themselves out of the recession. Now is a time for bold but practical ideas that will support middle class families and ensure they can afford to buy a house and educate their kids. I was pleased tonight to hear the president pledge to roll up his sleeves to make rea… Continue Reading
January 28, 2014
Udall, Heinrich Welcome PILT Extension in Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich today announced that the Farm Bill conference report, made public last night, includes one year of funding for the critical Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program. The news provides relief for rural counties in New Mexico, which face major budget cuts if PILT is not extended. The senators were among a bipartisan coalition who wrote to Farm Bill negotiators to request an extension of the program, which expired at the end of last year with … Continue Reading
January 27, 2014
Udall Secures Funding for Columbus Port of Entry Expansion
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Columbus Land Port of Entry is set to receive $7.4 million for expansion and modernization that will help improve security and commercial development and create jobs in New Mexico. Udall, chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, is a long-time supporter of the expansion. The new funding will help pay for the design phase of the planned e… Continue Reading
January 23, 2014
Udall Statement on Recommendations of Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall urged support for the recommendations of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, issued as part of a report on the constitutionality of the NSA's spying program. Among other findings, the board, which was created by Congress, concluded that the NSA's bulk telephone surveillance program is illegal and ineffective. In June, Udall led a bipartisan call for an independent review by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on the impact of… Continue Reading
January 20, 2014
Udall Statement in Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Dr. King spoke to the best in us with courage, understanding and compassion. He once said, 'Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?' That question shaped his life and inspires our own. Today, we honor what he stood for, what he fought for and what he died for. We also remember all that remains to be done. On this day, let his memory once again insp… Continue Reading
January 17, 2014
Udall Statement on President's Proposed Intelligence Surveillance Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement responding to the president's proposed reforms of government surveillance programs. "The reforms outlined by President Obama today are a welcome first step in reining in the government's unacceptable infringement on Americans' privacy rights. But I'm not satisfied these reforms go far enough. Congress must pass legislation to comprehensively reform our surveillance programs and the secret courts created under the Foreign Intelli… Continue Reading
January 16, 2014
Udall Secures Support from Senate Appropriations Chair on Critical PILT Funding for N.M. Counties
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall won a commitment from a powerful Senate committee chairwoman to work with him to find reliable funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, a critical source of revenue for local governments throughout New Mexico and the rural West. Udall secured her support after making his case for the program in a speech on the Senate floor. PILT funding expired at the end of last year, and Udall and others are fighting to find full funding. Udall argu… Continue Reading
January 16, 2014
Udall, Heinrich Urge Funding for PILT in Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich today announced that that they have sent a bipartisan letter signed by a coalition of senators to the leadership of the Farm Bill conference committee requesting that funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program be included in the final Farm Bill conference report. PILT provides federal payments to local governments to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal land within their boundaries. These resources ar… Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
N.M. Delegation Announces Federal Drought Assistance Available for Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján, and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that 27 counties in New Mexico will qualify for emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) due to losses caused by the ongoing drought. A full list of counties is included below. The designation makes producers, farmers and ranchers in these counties eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans, provided eligibility re… Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
Udall Statement on Republican Filibuster of Emergency Unemployment Benefit Extension
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall expressed his disappointment at yesterday's failed vote to advance a bill to extend Emergency Unemployment Compensation for millions of out-of-work Americans. Emergency unemployment insurance ran out on Dec. 28, leaving nearly 6,000 New Mexicans who are looking for work wondering how they will makes ends meet until Congress can work together to find a solution. Although a majority of the Senate voted to move the bill forward (55-45), it failed to win the 60 vo… Continue Reading
January 14, 2014
Udall Statement on Roswell School Shooting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement, responding to the tragic school shooting at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell: "My heart goes out to the victims of the shooting today at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell. The children, their families, and the entire school community are in my thoughts and prayers. I thank all of the school and emergency personnel who responded urgently to the situation. I talked briefly with the mayor and the sheriff today and conveyed my sym… Continue Reading
January 13, 2014
Udall Secures Funding for N.M. Priorities in Omnibus Bill to Help Support Economy, Jobs
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced funding in a major appropriations bill that will help a number of New Mexico priorities, and support the state's economy and job growth. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Udall fought for New Mexico's national labs, military facilities, water projects and other federally funded programs. He secured significant increases in funding in several cases - for example, cleanup at the labs and WIPP each will receive increases over FY… Continue Reading
January 09, 2014
Udall Pushes to Undo Cut to Military Retirees' COLA
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced he is supporting an amendment to emergency unemployment legislation to protect military retirees from changes to cost of living adjustments (COLA) that were included in a bipartisan budget agreement. The amendment mirrors legislation Udall helped introduce in December, the Military Retirement Restoration Act, which would reverse the 1 percent reduction in the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for working-age military retirees. "The budg… Continue Reading
January 08, 2014
N.M. Delegation Announces $1.6 Million Grant for Highway and Road Repairs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján, and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the New Mexico Department of Transportation will receive a $1.6 million grant for repair and reconstruction of roads around the state damaged in last year's floods. The grant funds will be used to restore major highways and roads on federal lands that were damaged by the severe flooding in September. The record-breaking rain and storms caused damag… Continue Reading
January 08, 2014
The Military Retirement Restoration Act
I'm glad to return to Washington to work for New Mexicans. We're starting the year with a bipartisan budget and the hope that we can come together to meet the challenges before us. The budget deal is important to New Mexico because it replaces the across-the-board sequestration cuts -- which would have been disastrous to our military bases, labs, and other federal installations -- with smarter alternatives that will help our small businesses expand, create jobs, and support our military. However… Continue Reading
January 06, 2014
Udall Praises Confirmation of Janet Yellen
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined the Senate in confirming Janet Yellen to serve as Chairwoman of the Federal Reserve. He issued the following statement: "Today's vote was a historic moment for the Federal Reserve and for our nation. I look forward to seeing Dr. Yellen become the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve Board. As Vice Chair of the Fed, Dr. Yellen has proven herself to be a thoughtful and extremely effective leader. I look forward to her experienced hand and stron… Continue Reading
December 23, 2013
Senators: Congress Should Honor Commitment to Rural Communities Through PILT Funding
WASHINGTON - Where there's federal land, rural and local communities must provide government services despite being unable to obtain property tax revenue from land owned by the federal government. To offset this loss in revenue, Congress should continue annually appropriating Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to offset the cost of providing services related to public safety, housing, social services, transportation and the environment. That was the message of U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.)… Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
Tom Udall Releases New Episode of 'The Udall Update' Television Show
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senator Tom Udall released a new episode of "The Udall Update," a public access television program that provides the public an inside look at what's happening in the U.S. Senate and how it impacts life in New Mexico. The 30-minute episode, which airs on Sen. Udall's YouTube channel and on public access TV throughout the state, includes interviews, in-depth stories and feature segments about the work he is doing in Washington on behalf of New Mexicans. Viewers in Albuquerq… Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
Udall-Sponsored N.M. Priorities Included in Major Defense Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall last night joined the Senate in overwhelmingly approving a major defense bill by a vote of 84-15. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes provisions that will support jobs and strengthen New Mexico's military bases, small businesses and federal defense installations, including Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The NDAA is critical legislation, which sets the fiscal year 2014… Continue Reading
