Press Releases
Udall Questions GAO, Administration Witnesses on ‘High Risk’ Designation for Indian Programs
Committee also passes Udall-cosponsored bill to support Native educators, including Udall amendment to improve early childhood education WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, joined Chairman John Hoeven (R-N.D.) in leading an oversight hearing on the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) recent "High Risk" designation of programs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and Indian Health Service. Noting th… Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Udall Bill Would Repeal Congressional Review Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing a bill to repeal the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a law that Republicans have exploited this year to overturn public health, environmental, and consumer protections while advancing special interests. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The CRA allows Congress to quickly overturn recently issued agency rules - many of which were years or dec… Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
VIDEO: On Senate Floor, Udall Says Trump’s ‘Dangerous’ Behavior Demands Bipartisan Congressional Oversight
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to call for real, bipartisan oversight of the Trump administration in light of the president's "dangerous" behavior with classified information in a recent Oval Office meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador. Udall said that President Trump's firing of FBI director James Comey - who was overseeing the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. election… Continue Reading
May 15, 2017
Udall Statement on Reports of President Trump Revealing Highly Classified Information to Russians
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on reports that President Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian diplomats during a meeting in the Oval Office: "If true, the president's reported actions are deeply disturbing and demand a bipartisan Congressional response. President Trump's recklessness with highly classified information could endanger our national security, erode the trust of our all… Continue Reading
May 15, 2017
'No one believes we do this to kids': Will Congress end school lunch shaming?
by Heather Long
May 12, 2017
Udall Celebrates New Mexico Teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement for National Teacher Appreciation Week in recognition of the hard work and dedication of teachers across New Mexico: "Our children are our most precious resource, and we entrust our teachers with an incredible responsibility-inspiring kids to achieve their dreams. "So many teachers treat their work as a mission, not a job. They wake up early to prepare class events and lesson plans, and they stay at school late to help with hom… Continue Reading
May 12, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Urge Department of the Interior to Lift Sudden Suspension of Public Land Advisory Groups
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined a coalition of Western Democratic senators in urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to lift its sudden suspension of long-standing local committees and advisory boards that provide essential community input on public land management. In response to reports that the Department of the Interior postponed all meetings for public resource advisory councils and committees (RACs) until September, the senators wrote to Interior Secre… Continue Reading
May 11, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Call On FCC To Protect Net Neutrality
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined in sending a letter led by U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass) to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai expressing strong opposition to the Chairman's plans to gut net neutrality protections. In 2015, the FCC adopted the Open Internet Order which reclassified broadband as a telecommunication service and prohibited internet service providers from setting up internet fast and slow lanes, ensuring all online traff… Continue Reading
May 11, 2017
Udall Secures Commitment from Veterans Affairs Secretary Shulkin Not to Close Facilities that Provide Care for Veterans
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/H2n-sscqLvI WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall questioned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin on the steps he is taking to ensure veterans are getting the health care and coverage they have earned. At the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies hearing, "Reducing Burden & Increasing Access to Healthcare: Improving VA Community Care," Udall asked Secretary Shulkin for clarificat… Continue Reading
May 11, 2017
Udall Votes to Confirm U.S. Trade Representative, Citing his Commitment to Protect NM Companies that Depend on NAFTA Trade
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall voted to confirm Robert Lighthizer as United States Trade Representative after Udall secured a commitment from Lighthizer to oppose unilateral withdrawal from NAFTA by the Trump administration. Earlier this week, Udall wrote to Lighthizer seeking assurances that he would be a voice of reason to help protect the thousands of New Mexicans who rely on trade made possible by NAFTA, given President Trump's reckless rhetoric and dangerous policy proposals tha… Continue Reading
May 10, 2017
Udall: Senate Rejects Repeal of Commonsense Natural Gas Waste Prevention Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement after the Senate voted 49-51, defeating a measure to repeal the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) natural gas waste prevention rule through the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Udall helped lead the fight against the repeal. "This is a victory for taxpayers and school children in New Mexico - because we were able to fend off this dangerous repeal, New Mexico will continue to benefit from the BLM's commonsense steps to prevent the… Continue Reading
May 10, 2017
Senate rejects repeal of Obama drilling rule
by Timothy Cama and Devin Henry
May 10, 2017
Methane rule endures, leaving New Mexico opinions divided
by Rebecca Moss and Bruce Krasnow
May 10, 2017
Senate unexpectedly rejects bid to repeal a key Obama-era environmental regulation
by Juliet Eilperin and Chelsea Harvey
May 09, 2017
Udall: Comey Firing Makes Independent Investigation into Trump, Russia More Important than Ever
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement on President Trump's abrupt decision to fire FBI Director James Comey: "This decision is chilling. It defies logic to believe that President Trump fired Director Comey -- who is investigating both Russia's interference in our election and the president's campaign for its ties to that attack on our democracy -- for any other reason than to interfere with the investigation. The Department of Justice must appoint a special counsel… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
N.M. Delegation Urges EPA To Prioritize Gold King Mine Cleanup
WASHINGTON - In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham urged the EPA to fulfill the directive in the omnibus bill passed last week for Gold King Mine cleanup efforts. The bill provides the EPA $4 million to implement a long-term water monitoring plan for areas impacted by the Gold King Mine spill. The delegation asked that the … Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Udall: CRA to Repeal Natural Gas Waste Prevention Rule is a Giveaway to Big Polluters; Urges Senate to Let CRA Expire
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement on the Republican effort to repeal the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s natural gas waste prevention rule through the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This is the last week the CRA can be used to repeal the rule: "We've been able to fend off this unnecessary giveaway to big oil companies because senators in both parties know that the BLM's natural gas waste prevention rule is good for taxpayers and for our states. The rule makes… Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
New Mexico Democrats Introduce Federal Legislation to Prohibit School 'Lunch Shaming'
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall and U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham, along with Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Ben Ray Luján, introduced bipartisan companion bills in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to prohibit schools from discriminating against or stigmatizing children who have outstanding credit or don't have enough money to pay for meals at school. The legislation, the Anti-Lunch Shaming Act, would ban schools from singling out children - such as… Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Lawmakers unveil bill to ban school lunch shaming
by Lydia Wheeler
May 05, 2017
Ahead of Kentucky Derby, Udall Demands an End to Doping of Race Horses
WASHINGTON - Ahead of Saturday's Kentucky Derby, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement reiterating his persistent calls for the horse racing industry to end its widespread abuse of performance-enhancing drugs and painkillers used on horses. Udall called for reform or the repeal of the federal law that makes horse racing the only sport specially permitted to offer online gambling and interstate betting: "As long as we continue to reward the horse racing industry for its inhuman… Continue Reading
