Press Releases
Bingaman & Udall: New Mexico to Receive $3.16 Million in Trade Adjustment Assistance
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today applauded news that New Mexico will receive millions of dollars in federal assistance to provide career training, and employment and case management services to workers who have lost their jobs due to outsourcing or international trade. New Mexico is slated to receive a total of $3.16 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. TAA provides aid - such as unemployment insurance, funds for retr… Continue Reading
June 11, 2009
Postponed: Udall Meeting With Judge Sonia Sotomayor
WASHINGTON - The office of U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., said today that the Senator's meeting with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor has been postponed until Tuesday, June 16, to allow her time to begin preparing for upcoming Judiciary hearings. "The Senate Judiciary Committee has set the schedule for Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearings to begin on July 13, and her schedule has been adjusted to allow her time to prepare," said Udall spokeswoman, Marissa Padilla. "Senator Udall… Continue Reading
June 11, 2009
Bingaman, Udall & Teague Announce $2.5 Million for Woody Biomass Project in Lincoln National Forest
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall joined U.S. Representative Harry Teague today to announce that the Mescalero Apache Tribe will receive $2.5 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a Woody Biomass Energy Development project. The project will develop a wood pellet production plant and a 6 mega-watt power plant in conjunction with the Mescalero Apache Tribe's sawmill. The funding will help protect the Lincoln National Forest, which is one of the most th… Continue Reading
June 10, 2009
Udall To Host Portales Town Hall And Celebrate Old Fort Days In Fort Sumner This Weekend
Portales, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall will make stops in Portales and Fort Sumner this weekend. Friday, Udall will host a town hall meeting at Eastern New Mexico University from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. He will discuss and take questions about the challenges and achievements of the first six months of the 111th Congress. In addition, Udall will distribute his new GI Bill Resource and Application Guide to Post-9/11 veterans or their family members who are in attendance. The Veterans' Administratio… Continue Reading
June 09, 2009
Udall: Digital Television Transition Just Three Days Away
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M. today reminded New Mexico TV consumers that this Friday, June 12, is the day the United States will transition to digital television (DTV). On that day, all full power television stations will stop broadcasting in analog signal and begin broadcasting on digital airwaves. Consumers using antennas or "rabbit ears" to watch free, over-the-air television must obtain a digital converter box or risk losing reception after the transition occurs. Consumers w… Continue Reading
June 05, 2009
Udall to Meet With Judge Sonia Sotomayor
WASHINGTON - The office of U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., confirmed today that the Senator will be meeting with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor next Thursday, June 11. "Judge Sotomayor has an extraordinary breadth of legal experience, and I look forward to hearing more about her judicial philosophy and how she views her potential role on the Supreme Court when we meet on Thursday," said Udall. "Additionally, as I have said from the beginning, I hope the continued debate surroundin… Continue Reading
June 05, 2009
New Mexico Delegation Announces Nearly $90 Million in Loan Guarantees for New Mexico Rural Electric
WASHINGTON -New Mexico's Congressional delegation today announced that three rural electric cooperatives that serve New Mexico will be receiving more than $90 million in guaranteed loans to help build and improve electricity distribution lines."The loans approved today will help expand electrical services to more New Mexicans," said Senator Jeff Bingaman. "I am pleased the federal government is making this important investment in our state.""These funds will put New Mexicans to work ensuring tha… Continue Reading
June 04, 2009
Udall Thrilled With Succes of Rail Runner Express
WASHINGTON - New Mexico's Rail Runner Express hit a milestone yesterday; carrying its 2 millionth rider. U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., who is a member of two key committees dealing with transportation issues and would like to see further expansion of the Rail Runner, celebrated the milestone. "This is an exciting achievement for the Rail Runner and New Mexico. The Rail Runner is a good example of how New Mexicans are using public transportation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and h… Continue Reading
June 03, 2009
N.M. Congressional Delegation Announces $3.6 Million to Improve Access to Wilderness Areas in Catron
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, and Representative Harry Teague, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing $3.6 million from the economic recovery package to reconstruct a road that bisects two wilderness areas in Catron County. The lawmakers reported that the funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will reconstruct 48 miles of road bisecting the Gila Wilderness and Aldo Leopold Wilderness. The project will improve safety for t… Continue Reading
June 03, 2009
Udall Calls on Senate to Protect Kids from Tobacco
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today urged his Senate colleagues to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which would allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. Below is Udall's statement from the Senate floor. Click here to see video of Udall's speech. "Madam President, I rise today to support the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. I want to start by thanking Senator Kennedy and all of those who have fought for l… Continue Reading
June 01, 2009
N.M. Senators Encourage New Mexico Communities to Apply for Limited Opportunity Fire Station Grants
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today encouraged New Mexico communities to take advantage of a limited opportunity to apply for fire station construction grants. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is funding a new $210 million grant program aimed at helping communities build or renovate fire stations. All non-federal fire departments and state and local governments that fund or operate fire stations are eligible to apply for the funds through the D… Continue Reading
May 26, 2009
Udall Reponds to Nomination of Sotomayor for Supreme Court
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today released the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court: "In many respects Judge Sonia Sotomayor's credentials to ascend to the United States Supreme Court are reminiscent of many other Justices who have followed the same path. "A high school valedictorian, Sotomayor attended Princeton University before entering Yale Law School, then becoming a respected prosecutor and … Continue Reading
May 22, 2009
NM Senators: New Mexico to Recieve Funding to Help Protect Children
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the New Mexico Attorney General's Office is set to receive $488,527 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help prevent and investigate crimes against children. "New Mexico will put this funding to good use to help keep kids safe," Bingaman said. "I am glad to see the Department of Justice is sending recovery dollars to our state to help keep New Mexico's Children safe from online predators. Children … Continue Reading
May 22, 2009
Sen. Udall's Memorial Day Weekend Schedule
Santa Fe, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall will participate in four public events in Farmington and Santa Fe this Memorial Day weekend. All events are open to the media.On Saturday, May 23rd, Senator Udall will help dedicate a new fountain at the 23rd annual River Fest in Farmington, N.M. The River Fest is an annual event to celebrate the joining of Farmington's three rivers - San Juan, Animas and La Plata. The fountain will be interactive and made of 45 water jets shaped like a river. Later that d… Continue Reading
May 22, 2009
Bingaman & Udall Introduce Legislation to Settle Aamodt Water Dispute
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall on Wednesday introduced legislation aimed at settling a decades old water dispute over water rights claims in the Rio Pojoaque. The legislation authorizes a settlement of the claims being pursued by the Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos in the Rio Pojoaque basin north of Santa Fe. It is based on years of extensive negotiations between many parties, including Indian, local, state and federal parties. The bill, called t… Continue Reading
May 22, 2009
On Memorial Day, Udall Honors America's Fallen Soldiers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today released the following statement honoring Memorial Day: "Memorial Day is different from the many other occasions we use to honor America's soldiers and veterans. Today is-first and foremost-a day of mourning. Today we remember and honor those who have been taken from us while defending us-those who gave the last full measure of devotion for a country and a cause. "When we remember the stories of our fallen soldiers, it is often with bittersweet … Continue Reading
May 21, 2009
Bingaman & Udall Introduce Resolution Requiring Public Health Care Choice
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today joined 26 of their colleagues in introducing a resolution that would require a public health insurance option in any piece of health care reform legislation. The resolution would help ensure a choice of affordable health plans for Americans who are unemployed, or who live in rural and other traditionally underserved areas."President Obama has made health care reform a top priority for the country. Our goal now is to provide meaningful … Continue Reading
May 20, 2009
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 20, 2009
Bingaman & Udall: Recovery Package Brings Additional $5.6 Million to New Mexico Airports
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that New Mexico will receive $5.6 million from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for projects at airports in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe and Conchas Lake. DOT had previously provided $16.5 million for New Mexico airports under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.The City of Albuquerque will receive $2.5 million to reconstruct a runway at the Double Eagle II airport. The Las Cruces International Airport will re… 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
