Press Releases
Udall: Farmington Native Larry Echo Hawk Approved Unanimously for BIA
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today announced that the Senate has unanimously approved Larry Echo Hawk, a Farmington native, to be Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs heads the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Udall had urged support for Echo Hawk in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. "Larry knows the law well enough to understand what is possible," said Udall. "But more importantly, he has… Continue Reading
May 19, 2009
Udall-Backed Credit Card Bill Passes Senate
Click here to see Udall Fighting for the bill's passage. WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today applauded Senate passage of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, by a vote of 90 to 5. The legislation Udall fought to pass seeks to stop several unfair or dishonest practices used by some credit card companies. It also requires greater disclosure of credit card terms and prevents card companies from raising rates unfairly or retroactively. "This legislation is … Continue Reading
May 19, 2009
Udall Statement Supporting the President's Plan for Better Fuel Efficiency Standards
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., released the following statement today commending President Barack Obama on his call for improved federal vehicle efficiency (CAFE) standards. "The President's call to make vehicles more fuel efficient than ever before is the type of bold, aggressive energy initiative our nation needs to save Americans money and boost our energy security by reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. For far too long our fuel efficiency standards have stayed t… Continue Reading
May 14, 2009
Udall Fights to Protect New Mexicans from Predatory Credit Card Practices
WASHINGTON - While President Barack Obama held a town hall meeting in Rio Rancho pushing for credit card reform, U.S. Senator Tom Udall was fighting for the passage of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act in the Senate. This legislation stops unfair or dishonest practices used by some credit card corporations and requires greater disclosure of credit card terms. It also prevents card companies from raising rates unfairly or retroactively. "Credit card debt i… Continue Reading
May 14, 2009
Senators Draw Attention to Mysterious Illness Afflicting New Mexico Hispanics
WASHINGTON-The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed legislation introduced by Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., to take a first step towards boosting research and education efforts related to Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM), a relatively unknown illness more prevalent among New Mexico Hispanics than any other group. Udall's resolution expresses the U.S. Senate's recognition of the critical need to increase research, awareness and education about CCM. Udall was joined by Senator Jeff Bingaman in int… Continue Reading
May 14, 2009
Udall's EPW Committee Approves Boost for States's Clean Water Funds
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today reported that the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) unanimously approved legislation that would boost New Mexico's payments under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Funds. Udall, a member of the committee, advocated for the legislation to provide the state with $24 million for the next fiscal year and $150 million over the next five. The state received $3.5 million in fiscal year 2008. Clean … Continue Reading
May 12, 2009
Udall Reminds Consumers of Digital Television Transition on June 12, 2009
WASHINGTON - One month from today, the United States is scheduled to make the transition to digital television (DTV). This will modernize our airwaves and make part of the analog spectrum available for public safety officers and innovative commercial use. On June 12, full-power television stations across the country will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to digital signals. Consumers using antennas or "rabbit ears" to watch free over-the-air television are at risk of losing their receptio… Continue Reading
May 08, 2009
Udall and Lujan Call for Smart Grid System That Works for New Mexico
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján are asking Energy Secretary Steven Chu to change the guidelines that dictate how funding for Smart Grid initiatives will be allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In a letter to the Secretary, the lawmakers propose changes that would make Smart Grid funding programs more flexible and more accessible to states, like New Mexico, that would like to initiate ambitious and innovative Smart Gr… Continue Reading
May 07, 2009
Udall Backs Farmington Native Larry Echo Hawk to Lead BIA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today spoke on behalf of Larry Echo Hawk-a Farmington native who is President Barack Obama's nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior-at a nomination hearing held by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs heads the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). "BIA needs a leader who combines deep knowledge of Indian issues, a powerful and creative intellect, and compassio… Continue Reading
May 07, 2009
Udall Statement on President's Budget Proposal for NM Labs
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., released the following statement today on the budget for New Mexico's national laboratories under President Barack Obama's Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) proposal: "The President's budget proposal looks towards the future of our nuclear stockpile. Under the proposal, the core missions at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories hold relatively stable in preparation for the completion of the Nuclear Posture Review that will determine his administration's o… Continue Reading
May 06, 2009
Congressional Delegation Announces $87 Million in Recovery Funds for New Mexico's Seniors & Vets
Washington, DC-Wednesday, the New Mexico Congressional delegation announced that approximately $87.12 million in funding from the Economic Recovery Package will go to seniors, veterans and railroad retirees in New Mexico. The Economic Recovery Package provides for a $250 economic recovery payment to be made to Social Security, Railroad Retirement, Veterans Disability, and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. "Providing a $250 boost to nearly 300,000 New Mexicans will enable them to pa… Continue Reading
May 05, 2009
Senator Udall Congratulates New Mexico's Top Youth Volunteers in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall congratulated two New Mexico students, Melissa Redman, 16, of Silver City and Jennifer Sanchez, 14, of La Luz, on Capitol Hill today for being named the top two youth volunteers in New Mexico for 2009 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. The two young people - along with top youth volunteers from every other state - were in Washington this week for a gala award ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they receiv… Continue Reading
May 04, 2009
Nearly $42 Million in Rural Recovery Funding Headed to New Mexico
Washington, DC- Monday, the New Mexico Congressional Delegation announced that $41,625,000 in the form of both grants and loans is headed to rural communities throughout the state for water and environmental projects. The funding, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will be directed toward projects that will improve public health and safety in rural communities. "Adequate infrastructure is essential for a community's wellbeing, yet it is extremely costly… Continue Reading
April 30, 2009
Udall Fights to Relieve Struggling Homeowners
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today urged the Senate to support a provision to allow homeowners struggling with excessive mortgages due to the economic downturn to get relief through bankruptcy proceedings. The legislation would have put pressure on bankers who purchased unsound loans to voluntarily restructure mortgages and allow families to stay in their primary residences. Udall noted that current law allows real estate speculators and wealthy Americans to receive mortgage mod… Continue Reading
April 30, 2009
Congressional Delegation Receives State Briefing on Status of H1N1 in New Mexico
WASHINGTON - Members of New Mexico's Congressional Delegation today received a comprehensive briefing on the status of the H1N1 and state preparedness by officials from the New Mexico Department of Health and Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The delegation members, who have also been briefed on the virus by federal officials, offered continued support for the state's efforts. Topics covered in the briefing included updates on the identified possible cases of H1N1 in the state and pr… Continue Reading
April 29, 2009
Udall Marks 100 Days of Progress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today released the following statement marking 100 days since President Barack Obama took office. "The Obama Administration and the 111th Congress have hit the ground running. We have begun making unprecedented investments in alternative sources of energy and conservation. On health care, we have begun the effort to cover every American man, woman and child. We have made significant progress to create or save millions of jobs across the country. An… Continue Reading
April 28, 2009
$10.7 Million Slated for White Sands Missile Range, National Guard Training Complex Through Recovery
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall joined U.S. Representatives Harry Teague and Ben Ray Luján to announce that $10.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding will be heading to White Sands Missile Range and the N.M. Army National Guard's Oñate Training Complex. Nearly $9.7 million is targeted for investments at White Sands for projects including infrastructure, maintenance and other missile range repairs. An additional $1 million will b… Continue Reading
April 25, 2009
Udall Statement on 150th Air National Guard 'Tacos'
Albuquerque, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today released the following statement on New Mexico's 150th Air National Guard Unit, fondly known as the 'Tacos': "For over 60 years, Kirtland's 150th Tacos have made New Mexico and our nation proud. In an effort to keep the Tacos flying from Kirtland, our delegation has been working to find them a new mission to continue supporting the defense of our great nation. The Tacos are an important part of New Mexico's National Guard history and ou… Continue Reading
April 20, 2009
Bingaman, Udall & Teague Announce $15 Million for Antelope Wells Port of Entry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, and Representative Harry Teague, today announced that the Antelope Wells Port of Entry will receive $15.16 million to rebuild its facilities. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Department of Homeland Security earlier this month it was awarding funding to Antelope Wells, but it did not release the exact amount at that time. "This is another great example of how the economic recovery package is helping … Continue Reading
April 03, 2009
Udall: Budget Makes Key Investments to Jumpstart U.S. Economy
WASHINGTION-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today released the following statement regarding the Senate's passage of a budget for Fiscal Year 2010: "The Senate's budget moves America towards a future with more clean energy jobs, a quality education for all of our children and a health care system that works for all of us. It also contains key investments that are crucial to New Mexico, including additional funding that I fought for to protect New Mexicans from the ongoing violence along … Continue Reading
