Press Releases
Udall: $28 Million Coming to NM for Head Start
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) 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 St… Continue Reading
July 02, 2013
Udall Announces $1 Million for NM to Expand Children's Health Insurance
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Today U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) announced the New Mexico Human Services Department is receiving $1 million in federal grant money to expand health insurance for children in New Mexico through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The funding comes from the Affordable Care Act and will be used to to increase the number of children eligible, but not yet enrolled in, Medicaid and CHIP, and to keep them covered for as long as they qualify. These r… Continue Reading
July 01, 2013
Udall Statement on Firefighter Deaths in Arizona
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today issued the following statement on the news regarding firefighter deaths that occurred in the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona: "Today all Americans are mourning the tragic deaths of 19 firefighters of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who were killed battling a fire outside Yarnell, Arizona. They are heroes who put themselves in harm's way for the safety of others. New Mexicans are especially thankful for their assistance fighting the recent Thompson Ridge Fire… Continue Reading
July 01, 2013
Udall Fighting to Keep Student Loans Affordable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement about the automatic interest rate hike on new subsidized federal undergraduate Stafford loans, which went into effect today, doubling the interest rate on these loans. "I am very disappointed that this increase went into effect. It happened despite efforts to work for a compromise - because Congress was unable to reach agreement to extend the lower rate. For thousands of New Mexico students, grants and loans make the difference b… Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Udall Stands up for N.M. in Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today joined the Senate Appropriations Committee in approving a bill that includes significant support for important New Mexico installations and programs, including Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and New Mexico water projects. The bill includes record-level base funding for waste cleanup at Los Alamos (LANL), and significant funding levels for WIPP operations and maintenance. Udall also included an a… Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Udall Votes for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) issued the following statement after joining the full Senate in passing historic comprehensive immigration reform by a vote of 68-32. "I am proud to come from a state where we celebrate our diversity; Native American, Hispanic and European traditions are folded into our culture and make our state the most special place in the country. We appreciate that immigrant traditions are part of our identity. "As residents of a border state, New Mexicans also un… Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
N.M. Congressional Delegation Seeks to Help New Mexicans with Genetic Brain Disorder
WASHINGTON - The New Mexico Congressional Delegation has introduced legislation to expand needed research, treatment and education efforts related to Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM), a relatively unknown disorder of the brain and spinal cord more common among New Mexico Hispanics than any other group. The Cavernous Angioma Research and Treatment Act would build upon an existing network of clinical and research labs to increase coordination, information sharing and awareness about the dise… Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Udall Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Defense of Marriage Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today issued the following statement the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA): "Today's ruling by the Supreme Court reflects the growing progress made for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals around the country. Striking down the Defense of Marriage Act is a victory for thousands of loving, committed families who have been denied equality under the law for too long and will now be rightly treate… Continue Reading
June 25, 2013
Udall Says Bold Action Needed to Address Climate Change, Applauds President's Speech
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today welcomed President Obama's proposal to renew efforts to address global warming. In New Mexico, rising temperatures have exacerbated the impact of wildfires and severe drought, he said, and the time for action is now. • Temperatures in New Mexico have been rising 50 percent faster than the global average in recent decades; • New Mexico is suffering from the worst drought conditions in the nation; and• The last 10 years have seen the … Continue Reading
June 24, 2013
Udall: Senate Appropriations Passes $148 Million for NM Military Construction Projects, Major Initiatives for Veterans Backlog
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved funding for essential military construction projects for New Mexico's Air Force bases (AFB) and provisions to improve veteran care. "Our nation's military readiness relies on the quality of our people, their equipment, and our facilities. This legislation makes important investments in the future of New Mexico's military bases supporting the people and communities who work there," said Udall… Continue Reading
June 24, 2013
Udall Advances Rural New Mexico Priorities in Agriculture Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall applauded the inclusion of important funding for New Mexico's rural communities approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee late last week. "The rural development and agricultural programs included in this bill are vital to the economy of a large western state like New Mexico," said Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "The bill also funds critical nutrition and research programs, that help to fight child hunger and promote develo… Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Senators Tom Udall, Lee, Murphy, Paul Introduce Bill to Block Military Funds to Syria
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit the President from using any funds on activities that would escalate U.S. involvement in the Syrian civil war. The bill would ban the Department of Defense, the CIA and all other intelligence agencies from funding any military, paramilitary or covert operations in Syria. The legislation would not affect humanitarian aid. All four Senators… Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Udall Introduces Constitutional Amendment on Campaign Finance Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today introduced a constitutional amendment that would restore authority back to Congress, individual states and the American people to regulate campaign finance. The constitutional amendment would reverse dangerous Supreme Court decisions like Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United and rein in the unprecedented flood of secret money in the campaign finance system. It would allow Congress to regulate the raising and spending of money, including so-called "Super … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Valles Caldera Bill Clears Key Senate Committee With Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON - Legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich to transition the Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico to new management to increase public access cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today with bipartisan support. The Senators introduced S. 285, the Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act, on February 12, 2013. The bill would transfer management of the Preserve from the current Board of Trustees to the National Pa… Continue Reading
June 17, 2013
Udall on Syria: Intervening in Another Middle Eastern Civil War is Not in U.S. Interests
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today urged those pushing for military intervention to answer three basic questions before rushing into a Middle Eastern civil war in Syria. To watch video of Udall's speech, click here. Below are Udall's remarks as prepared for delivery: Like many others, I am deeply disturbed by the current situation in Syria. The appalling atrocities. The tragic loss of human life… Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Udall Serving YoU: Our New Eastside Office in Portales
As your U.S. Senator I am working hard to serve constituents in all 33 New Mexico counties. Today I'm proud to announce I have opened a new office in Portales for residents in Eastern New Mexico. If you live in Roosevelt, Curry, Quay, De Baca, Harding or Union Counties, our Portales office is ready to serve you. You don't have to have to travel to Washington, D.C. for help - you can get it right here in Eastern New Mexico. New! Udall Eastside Office in Portales100 South Avenue ASuite 113Porta… Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Udall Opens New Office in Eastern New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Today U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) announced he has opened a Senate office in Portales to serve New Mexico constituents in Roosevelt, Curry, Quay, De Baca, Harding and Union Counties. Located in the Roosevelt County Enterprise Center at 100 South Avenue A, Suite 113 in Portales, the field office will provide Eastern New Mexico residents an opportunity to receive more direct information on a variety of federal services, from helping access rural and small business resources… Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Udall Seeks Extension of Lesser Prairie Listing in Bipartisan Letter to FWS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall has led a bipartisan call to extend a decision whether to list the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act, his office announced today. Udall and senators from the five states affected by a possible listing sent a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), requesting an additional six months in the listing decision process, as allowed by the Endangered Species Act. "With an influx of significant new public input from t… Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
NM Delegation Introduces Bill to Improve Tribal Education
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, along with Reps. Ben Ray Luján, Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Steve Pearce announced they have introduced legislation to improve tribal education and preserve Native American language in schools. Graduation rates for American Indians and Alaska Natives are less than 50 percent - lower than the graduation rates for all other ethnic groups in the United States. The Building Upon Unique Indian Learning and Development (BUILD) Act … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Udall, Heinrich, Luján Express Concern With Increase in HIV Cases on Navajo Nation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján wrote a letter today to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Indian Health Services to express their concern with the rapid increase in HIV cases on the Navajo Nation. The New Mexico members were also joined by Representative Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona. "We are very concerned about the rapid increase in HIV cases on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico and Arizona recently report… Continue Reading
