Press Releases
Udall Statement on the Anniversary of 9/11
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) today released the following statement on the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: "Today we pause to remember those who lost their lives and honor the brave men and women who were called to duty that fateful day. We commemorate those who sacrificed all to make our country safer, and recognize those who continue to serve in New Mexico and around the world. "As we look back on the last 12 years, we can be thankful that we are now… Continue Reading
September 11, 2013
Udall Welcomes News that FCC will Address Rural Dropped Calls
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) welcomed news that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will take steps to prevent telecommunications operators from dropping calls from rural customers. During a hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Udall, who chairs the subcommittee, secured the promise from FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn that FCC regulators will ensure providers will no longer discriminate against calls coming from… Continue Reading
September 11, 2013
In Case You Missed It: Udall's USA TODAY Op-Ed on Syria
In an op-ed published in USA TODAY, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reaffirmed his opposition to military strikes in Syria and explained his vote against the authorization for use of force during the committee's consideration of the measure last week. Here are some highlights. Read Udall's full op-ed here. "...a limited U.S. strike is unlikely to eliminate chemical weapons or save lives, and it is a dangerous step for the region. "...in punishin… Continue Reading
September 10, 2013
Udall: U.S. Must Keep up Pressure on Russia to Follow Through with Commitment to Secure Syria's Chemical Weapons
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, repeated his call for the United States to use diplomatic, economic and political pressure to ensure Russia and Syria keep their commitment to surrender Syria's chemical weapons to the international community for destruction. He issued the following statement after President Obama's speech: "The single greatest reason Bashar al-Assad has been able to remain in power is that he is rec… Continue Reading
September 09, 2013
Udall: Almost 9,000 NM Households to Gain Broadband Access
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Today U.S. Senator Tom Udall applauded the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) allocation of $5.18 million from the Connect America Fund (CAF) to expand and improve broadband service to nearly 9,000 New Mexico households. This announcement follows Udall's efforts to urge the FCC to free up unused funds that would help close the digital divide between urban areas that have access to high-speed Internet and rural areas that do not. "Reliable high-speed Internet is critica… Continue Reading
September 06, 2013
Udall Visits Pine Hill to Celebrate Rural & Native Economic Development Projects
PINE HILL, N.M. - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall was in rural Western New Mexico to celebrate the grand opening of the Oso Vista Ranch Project office expansion in Pine Hill and discuss the importance of federal support for community farm projects and new initiatives to expand telehealth and broadband access to the Ramah Navajo and Ramah areas. At the event, Udall heard from Oso Vista Ranch Project officials, Native Foods and the El Morro Valley Cooperative on how federal development grants have e… Continue Reading
September 06, 2013
Udall Statement on Firefighter Token Adams
SANTA FE, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement following the news that missing Jemez Ranger District Engine Captain Token Adams has died. "I am thankful for Token Adams's courage as he fought fires to protect all of us, and I am thankful to the crews who worked through difficult conditions to find him. His death is a very sad loss for our community and a reminder of the risks our firefighters and first responders face every day to keep our communities safe. My deepest sy… Continue Reading
September 05, 2013
Udall Seeks Solutions at Water Conference with Sandia Labs
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) moderated a panel discussion and delivered a speech at the "Transformational Solutions for Water in the West" conference to explore ways to address the future demands on our limited water supply. Udall has also long pushed for sustainable solutions to water shortages and drought in New Mexico and the West. Last year, he co-hosted the 57th Annual New Mexico Water Conference at New Mexico State University to address the impact of water sca… Continue Reading
September 04, 2013
Udall Votes Against Proposal to Use Force in Syria
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) voted in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose a resolution authorizing military action in Syria in response to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons. The resolution passed the committee by a vote of 10-7. The full Senate will consider the resolution by next week. Udall said that while he believed Assad must be deterred from attacking his own citizens, Udall opposed the Authorization for Use of Military Force … Continue Reading
September 03, 2013
Udall Expresses Skepticism about Proposed Strikes on Syria
WASHINGTON - Today, during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) said he has grave reservations about further U.S. intervention in Syria and asked tough questions about whether the administration's planned bombing campaign would further pull the United States into the Syrian civil war. "We're being told we're bombing in order to send a message, but what message are we sending?" Udall said during the hearing with Secretary of State John Kerry, … Continue Reading
August 31, 2013
Udall Statement on Situation in Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) today issued the following statement on the president's announcement that he will not take military action in Syria without congressional approval: "The President's decision to seek congressional approval for military action in Syria is the right call and one I have consistently advocated in accordance with our Constitution and the War Powers Act. "The use of chemical weapons by Assad and his regime is deplorable and deserves our condemnation, but … Continue Reading
August 28, 2013
Udall Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement on the 50th anniversary of the march on Washington: "Today I join the people of New Mexico, American civil rights leaders and all who are watching around the world in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the march on Washington. Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. offered a moral vision of what our nation could be, with a dream that inspired us to move mountains toward the promised land of equality. "Dr. King also re… Continue Reading
August 26, 2013
N.M. Delegation: $26 Million in Mineral Royalty Payments Returning to State
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pearce announced the U.S. Department of the Interior will return $26 million in mineral royalty payments to the state of New Mexico as a result of the N.M. lawmakers' call for the state to be rightfully paid under the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA). In fiscal year 2013, administration officials unilaterally made the decision that state's share of royalties under the M… Continue Reading
August 23, 2013
Udall: N.M. Receives $10 Million in Homeland Security Grants
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) announced today that the state of New Mexico and five counties will receive a combined $10 million in border security and emergency preparedness funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna and Otero counties will share $3,146,501 through a program called Operation Stonegarden, while the state of New Mexico will receive $3,459,364 through the State Hom… Continue Reading
August 23, 2013
Udall Offices Recruit Fall Interns
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall is inviting New Mexico college students interested in gaining experience in a congressional field office to apply for fall internships in his Santa Fe, Portales, Carlsbad, Las Cruces and Washington, D.C., offices. To apply online or download an application, please click here or visit http://www.tomudall.senate.gov/internships. Students or individuals looking for more information on internships in the New Mexico offices can also call (505) 346-6791. "Congressio… Continue Reading
August 19, 2013
Udall: Over $27 million for NM Head Start
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today announced that the Mid-West New Mexico Community Action Program (NMCAP) will receive $5,494,451 a year for the next five years, totaling more than $27 million to continue their Head Start projects helping children in Valencia, Socorro, Cibola and McKinley counties. In 2012, Mid-West NMCAP helped nearly 1,000 children, with almost 75 percent living in households with income below the federal poverty line. "New Mexico's future relies on the success of its … Continue Reading
August 14, 2013
Members of NM Delegation Request Public Forum on Disruptions to Behavioral Health Services
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, along with Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham, are calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to hold a public forum in New Mexico to give constituents the opportunity to provide detailed input and feedback about their access to quality behavioral health services as a result of recent changes in Medicaid service providers. The letter comes after payments to 15 providers that deliver 87% of Medicaid-cove… Continue Reading
August 14, 2013
Udall and Corker: DoD Shuts Down Burn Pits at Camp Leatherneck
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has ceased burn pit operations at one of two camp sites supporting Operating Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Its closure follows Udall and Corker's recent call for immediate action to halt the use of open-air burn pits after findings by Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) that found the burn pits were utilized without need and at great danger… Continue Reading
August 12, 2013
Udall Unveils Bill to Help Turn Innovative Ideas into Successful Businesses
SANTA FE, N.M. - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) announced legislation to help create high-tech jobs and industries in New Mexico by streamlining the process for getting cutting-edge research and development from our state's universities and national labs to the marketplace. Udall unveiled the bill during a half-day conference and workshop he organized at Santa Fe Community College called, "Technology Transfer: Key to New Mexico's Future." The event brought together some of New Mexico's s… Continue Reading
August 08, 2013
Udall, Heinrich Call For Emergency Help To Support Food Banks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich called on Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to make emergency purchases for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to ensure food banks in New Mexico and across the country are able to help families in need. TEFAP buys food and makes it available to agencies, such as New Mexico's Human Services Department, which work with the state's major food banks to distribute to food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. In a letter… Continue Reading
