Press Releases
Udall Among Senators to Visit Guantánamo Bay Detention Facilities
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), the Ranking Member of the SASC Subcommittee on Seapower, traveled to U.S. Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba (GITMO). The senators toured detention facilities, received an intelligence briefing, and met with commanders of Joint Task Force Guant&aac… Continue Reading
March 19, 2015
Santo Domingo Pueblo Selected To Receive Grant To Deploy Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy Technologies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that Santo Domingo Pueblo was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive a $210,000 grant to accelerate the Tribe's implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. This federal investment will help install a ground-mounted, 115-kilowatt solar array to power the Tribe's community water pump and treatment facility, which has the highest energy demand on the reservation. Expected sa… Continue Reading
March 19, 2015
Udall, Heinrich Commemorate 70th Anniversary Of White Sands Missile Range
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced a resolution to commemorate the 70th anniversary of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in September 2015. The resolution recognizes WSMR's unique place in history and its national security importance. "White Sands Missile Range helped bring the United States and the world into the modern technological age, and remains at the forefront of research and development today," Udall said. "The range serves every … Continue Reading
March 19, 2015
Udall, Heinrich Announce $5.6 Million In Federal Funding For Early Childhood Education
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced $5.6 million in federal grant funding to Eastern Plains Community Action Agency and La Clinica de Familia for early childhood education programs. Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grants are offered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allow new or existing Early Head Start programs to partner with local child care centers and family child care providers serving infants and to… Continue Reading
March 18, 2015
Udall: Congress Must Reform Broken Chemical Safety Law, Protect Our Kids From Dangerous Chemicals
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on his bipartisan bill to protect our families from toxic chemicals. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act protects Americans from toxic chemicals by enacting common-sense and necessary reforms to update the broken and ineffective Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). "Today's hearing showed that Democrats, Rep… Continue Reading
March 18, 2015
Opening Statement of U.S. Senator Tom Udall at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
WASHINGTON - The following are the remarks as prepared for delivery of U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) at today's hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about his bill, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which would reform the broken and ineffective Toxic Substances Control Act. It's nice to be back with you all today. I was proud to serve for many years with you all as a member of this committee. And we all served for a long time with … Continue Reading
March 10, 2015
Udall, Vitter Introduce Landmark Legislation to Protect Our Families from Toxic Chemicals
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and David Vitter (R-La.) introduced major bipartisan legislation to protect Americans from toxic chemicals by enacting common-sense and necessary reforms to update the United States' wholly ineffective, outdated chemical regulatory program. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is the result of nearly two years of deliberations and negotiations with stakeholders, affected communities and a bipartisan group of lawmake… Continue Reading
March 04, 2015
Udall Introduces Bill to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse in New Mexico
WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Senator Tom Udall introduced legislation to combat one of the most serious health and law enforcement issues facing New Mexico communities: prescription drug abuse and misuse. Udall's Increasing the Safety of Prescription Drug Use Act would expand access to treatment options for addicted patients, strengthen training for medical professionals, and increase abuse prevention opportunities. Importantly, the bill would help medical professionals avoid overprescribing med… Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Udall at Commerce Hearing: Investments in Santa Teresa Infrastructure, Innovative Economic Development Crucial to Strengthening N.M. Communities
WASHINGTON - Today during a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee, U.S. Senator Tom Udall pressed U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx about funding for economic development in New Mexico. Udall, who recently joined the committee, discussed the importance of investing in resources to expand trade and commerce at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, his ongoing efforts to support the creation of an Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute i… Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Udall Welcomes Passage of Full Funding for Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to avert a shutdown and fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the end of the fiscal year: "I'm glad the House finally joined the Senate in passing a bill to fund DHS and ensure our communities and our border are protected. Shutting down DHS - as some House Republicans advocated - would have had serious safety and economic consequences for New M… Continue Reading
March 02, 2015
Udall Recruiting Summer Session Interns for Washington, D.C., Office
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall invites New Mexico college students interested in gaining legislative or press relations experience to apply for summer internships in his Washington, D.C., office. For more information and to apply for an internship, please visit http://www.tomudall.senate.gov/internships. During the upcoming summer internship program, Udall's office in Washington, D.C., will host two summer sessions: May 26 - June 26, and June 29 - July 31. There is limited availability for… Continue Reading
February 27, 2015
Udall Votes for Critical Bill to Fund Homeland Security, Urges House Republicans not to Put Nation at Risk by Shutting Down DHS
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) joined a majority of the Senate in voting 68-31 to avert a shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Senate bill would fund DHS through the end of the fiscal year and leave questions about President Obama's immigration initiatives for a separate debate. The bill now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives where Republicans are threatening to block funding for the entire agency over disagreement with the president about imm… Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Udall, Portman, Burr and Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Promote Conservation and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), announced that they have introduced the Tropical Forest Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TFCA). This legislation reauthorizes a program that has saved over 67 million acres of tropical forest by allowing developing countries that meet certain criteria to be relieved of debt owed to the United States in exchange for their conservation efforts. Additionally, this legislat… Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Udall, Heinrich Champion Plan to Permanently Fund the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that they have joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce legislation that will ensure rural New Mexico communities continue to get the services they need by restoring mandatory funding to the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Last year, all but one of New Mexico's counties received funding through the PILT program - a total of $37 million. The bill would also roll back cuts to Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and ex… Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Udall Statement on FCC's Adoption of New Net Neutrality Rules
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall welcomed a vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve updated open Internet rules. The new rules prevent broadband providers from blocking or throttling lawful online content and ban agreements between broadband providers and online companies that create Internet "toll lanes." Udall has been outspoken in his support for a free and open Internet for all Americans. In November, he visited Albuquerque's Levitated Toy Factory and met wit… Continue Reading
February 25, 2015
Udall Leads Push to Ensure Homeland Security Employees Are Paid Despite Potential GOP Shutdown
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced that he has joined several of his Democratic colleagues in introducing legislation that would ensure Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees are paid if congressional Republicans refuse to fund DHS by the end of this week. Out of anger at President Obama's immigration policies, Republicans have proposed legislation with harsh anti-immigrant penalties and threatened to block DHS funding - including programs that are critical for New Mex… Continue Reading
February 24, 2015
Udall Statement on President’s Veto of Keystone Pipeline Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement after President Obama vetoed a bill mandating approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline: "I support the president's veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline bill and will vote to uphold it. It is unprecedented for Congress to mandate a pipeline for a private, foreign corporation. This is a decision that must be made considering critical environmental and foreign policy impacts, not party politics. I believe enough information should be availa… Continue Reading
February 20, 2015
Child Well-Being
SANTA FE, N.M. - Today, in his address to a Joint Session of the New Mexico Legislature, U.S. Senator Tom Udall called on state lawmakers to work together and focus on improving the well-being of New Mexico's children. More than one-third of children in New Mexico live below the poverty line. "Our state is dead last in overall child well-being," Udall said. "And next to last in education, in children's health and economic well-being. This troubles all of us. It has to change. The future of our s… Continue Reading
February 20, 2015
Udall Calls on N.M. Legislature to Prioritize Child Well-Being
SANTA FE, N.M. - Today, in his address to a Joint Session of the New Mexico Legislature, U.S. Senator Tom Udall called on state lawmakers to work together and focus on improving the well-being of New Mexico's children. More than one-third of children in New Mexico live below the poverty line. "Our state is dead last in overall child well-being," Udall said. "And next to last in education, in children's health and economic well-being. This troubles all of us. It has to change. The future of our s… Continue Reading
February 13, 2015
Udall, Luján, Lujan Grisham Lead Bipartisan Coalition to Protect States' Mineral Royalties
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced bipartisan legislation this week that would allow states to collect their own mineral royalties, protecting money that is rightfully owed to the states. The bill would effectively eliminate a collection fee charged by the federal government, which amounts to around $40 million per year. The Mineral Leasing Act provides that the continental states be paid 50 percent of the revenues resulting… Continue Reading
