Press Releases
Bingaman & Udall: New Mexico Poised to Receive Over $18 Million to Fight Crime
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that New Mexico is set to receive $18.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fight crime. The funding will be used to support a variety of anti-crime initiatives that would otherwise suffer because state and local funding is drying up due to the economic downturn. Grants can be used to upgrade equipment used by law enforcement, for prosecution and court programs, and for drug treatment and prevention pro… Continue Reading
March 02, 2009
Udall Addresses N.M. Legislature About Jobs, Clean Energy and Health Care
WASHINGTION-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today spoke to a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature about plans to address the country's economic crisis, create clean energy jobs and fix America's health care system. Udall has been a leader in the Congress on clean energy and preventive health care. Below are his remarks, as delivered. "Lt. Governor, thank you very much. I know that you're doing a great job back here. I want to thank you and let you know your daughter is also doi… Continue Reading
February 27, 2009
Udall to President: We Must Stop Border Violence
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to include in his budget "the highest levels of funding possible" to reduce violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Udall noted that 5,300 people were killed in Mexico last year from drug-related violence. About 1,500 of those murders occurred in Ciudad Juarez, directly across the border from El Paso, Texas and the New Mexico border. "To ensure that our nation's communities are safe from this o… Continue Reading
February 26, 2009
Udall: Indian Country Youth Suicide Rates Demand Attention, Help
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., participated in a hearing to examine the overwhelming frequency of youth suicide in Indian Country. The rate of suicide among American Indian and Alaskan Native population is 70 percent higher than the general United States population, with the incidence of youth suicides reaching epidemic proportions. New Mexico, which has the fifth highest Native American population in the country, also has the seventh highest rate of suicide for youth from a… Continue Reading
February 24, 2009
Over $28 Million in New Mexico Energy and Water Projects Included in Budget Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today announced that over $28 million energy and water related projects he requested has been included in the Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) Omnibus Appropriations Bill. "This appropriations bill contains vital funding for the people of New Mexico, from helping us fully expand our capacity for renewable energy development and production to protecting the waterways and acequias throughout the state," said Udall. "I am extremely pleased this bill includes… Continue Reading
February 24, 2009
Over $1.1 Million of Udall Projects for Health and Education in New Mexico Included in FY09 Budget
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today announced that an omnibus appropriations bill currently moving through Congress contains more than $1.1 million for New Mexico-specific health care and education projects. Udall worked to ensure that the projects were included in the bill when he served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. "At this time, when New Mexicans are suffering because of economic failures they did nothing to caus… Continue Reading
February 24, 2009
Udall-Backed Initiatives in Bill Protect New Mexico Farmers and Ranchers, Land
WASHINGTION-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today announced that legislation moving through Congress contains more than $5.9 million to help New Mexico farmers and ranchers, and to preserve New Mexico's natural resources. "New Mexico's farmers and ranchers have been struggling with fluctuating costs and steadily declining prices," said Udall. "These resources help support the future of New Mexico's agricultural community." The legislation includes $235,000 for the Clovis-NMSU, Southern… Continue Reading
February 24, 2009
Udall: Projects in Bill Would Spur Economic Development
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today announced legislative projects included in the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill to spur economic development in New Mexico. The projects, which then-Rep. Udall requested for the state through the Appropriations process, include Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Small Business Development: Transportation: North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) Bus Facility $475,000 Funding to construct, equip and furnish … Continue Reading
February 24, 2009
Udall Projects Promote Native American Health, Education and Culture
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today announced that legislation moving through Congress contains almost $5.8 million in funding initiatives to help New Mexico's Native American communities. As a member of the House of Representatives, then-Rep. Udall worked to ensure that the projects were included in the FY09 spending package. The senator currently sits on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. "America has a special responsibility to ensure that our tribes receive the help t… Continue Reading
February 18, 2009
Bingaman, Udall and Teague: Chino Mine Workers Eligible for Federal Assistance
SANTA FE - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, and Representative Harry Teague, today applauded news that the U.S. Department of Labor has determined that workers laid off from the Chino mine are eligible for federal assistance. The New Mexico lawmakers urged then-Labor Secretary Elaine Chao in a December letter to quickly approve any application made for Trade Adjustment Assistance. The Obama Administration has announced that the application made on behalf of Chino miners was approved… Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
Senators Applaud Inclusion of State Revolving Fund in Economic Recovery Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond from Missouri, Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall from New Mexico and Chuck Schumer from New York applauded a measure included in the final economic recovery package that will allow states more flexibility in providing grants to communities for water, waste water or drinking water projects through the State Revolving Fund (SRF). After attempting to add a similar provision to the version of the bill crafted in the Senate, the senato… Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
Bingaman & Udall: N.M. Set to Receive $1.108 Billion to Create Jobs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today said New Mexico will receive $1.108 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create 22,000 jobs throughout the state. Additional provisions in the bill will provide tax breaks to thousands of New Mexico families. The measure passed today 60-38; it can now be sent to President Obama for signature. "New Mexicans are suffering from this terrible economic downturn. With the passage of this bill, help is on… Continue Reading
February 12, 2009
Tom Udall Introduces Renewable Electricity Measure
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., continued his fight to enact a federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) into law today by introducing legislation that would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources by 2025. The bill, Udall's first since being elected to the Senate, would set the first national threshold for utilities to provide 6 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2012, and gradually i… Continue Reading
February 11, 2009
Udall Selected Helsinki Commissioner
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today announced that he has been selected as a member of the commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the United States Helsinki Commission. The commission is an independent U.S. Government agency established in 1976 to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as security and economic advancement. As a commissioner, Udall will have the opportunity to work with parliamentarians, government officials and non-go… Continue Reading
February 10, 2009
Bingaman & Udall: Bill Would Direct at Least $953 Million into New Mexico's Economy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today said there is at least $953 million for New Mexico in the Senate's version of the economic recovery package, which will be used to create good jobs in the state. The measure passed today 61-37, and must now be finalized with the version the House of Representatives passed. "Nearly 600,000 Americans lost their jobs in January, offering further evidence that we are facing the most serious economic crisis in decades. We need to in… Continue Reading
February 10, 2009
Bingaman & Udall: Intel to Make Major Investment in New Mexico
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall joined Intel CEO Paul Otellini in Washington, D.C., today to announce the corporation will be investing $2.5 billion in its Fab 11x factory, located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The new capital is part of Intel's 32 nanometer (nm) technology initiative. It is expected to protect thousands of jobs with Intel and to create 1,000 to 1,500 jobs constructing new facilities. "This is a great day for Intel in New Mexico and a sign that investment in… Continue Reading
February 06, 2009
Udall Statement on NNSA Labs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today issued the following statement vehemently opposing an Office of Management and Budget memo suggesting that NNSA controlled laboratories should be moved from within the Department of Energy to the Department of Defense: "I strongly disagree with the proposal to move Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories from the Department of Energy to the Department of Defense. I have expressed my opposition directly to OMB Director Peter Orszag. For de… Continue Reading
February 06, 2009
Senate Unanimously Adopts Udall Amendment to Help Unemployed Vets Find Work
WASHINGTON - An amendment authored by U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., to expand tax incentives to employers who hire veterans who have served since September 2001 has been unanimously adopted by the Senate. The initiative, which will apply to veterans who are discharged from the Armed Services from September 2001 through December 2010, and includes veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, is now a part of the economic recovery package. When offering his amendme… Continue Reading
February 04, 2009
Senators Announce State Revolving Fund Amendment to Economic Recovery Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond from Missouri and Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall from New Mexico filed an amendment to the economic recovery package that will make it easier for states to administer the funds allocated to the State Revolving Funds (SRF). The amendment would provide the states with the flexibility to choose to provide grants to municipalities for their water, waste water or drinking water projects. Currently, the economic recovery package onl… Continue Reading
February 02, 2009
Tom Udall Calls for Clean Energy Jobs in Maiden Floor Speech
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today delivered his first speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Udall spoke about the need for an ambitious national strategy to create American jobs in the industries of the future. Below are his remarks, as prepared for delivery. "As I rise to give this maiden speech in our chamber, we all know that we are living in very difficult times. Our current economic crisis has only accelerated problems that have been growing for years. America's manuf… Continue Reading
