Press Releases
IN THE NEWS: Pruitt guts EPA science panels, will appoint new members
by Michael Biesecker
October 31, 2017
Udall Statement on Pruitt Actions on Science Advisory Board
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, ranking member on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, released the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced several unprecedented changes to the EPA's Science Advisory Board. "The Trump EPA's continued attack on science will likely be one of the most lasting and damaging legacies of this administration. Administrator Pruitt is purging expert scienti… Continue Reading
October 30, 2017
IN THE NEWS: White House Says Charges Against Campaign Advisers Do Not Touch Trump
by Michael Shear
October 30, 2017
Udall Again Expresses Concern about Lack of Authority for Changing Conflict in Middle East
WASHINGTON - Today, at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Senator Tom Udall once again pressed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis about the need for congressional authority - an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) - if the United States continues to engage in the military conflict in the Middle East. Udall reiterated his longstanding position that Americans are very skeptical of unending war in the Middle East, the longe… Continue Reading
October 30, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Press White House to Extend Critical Lifeline Funding in Future Disaster Aid Request
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined a bipartisan group of Western senators today urging the White House and the White House budget office to fulfill the federal government's promise to rural communities by extending a critical lifeline that funds road repairs, schools and law enforcement in rural communities in any future emergency disaster supplemental funding bill it sends to Congress. Led by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho),… Continue Reading
October 30, 2017
Udall Urges Congress to Protect Special Counsel Investigation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall delivered a statement urging members of Congress in both parties to be prepared to defend Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election and President Trump's campaign. Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, authored an amendment in July to prevent the unlawful firing of Mueller. The amendment was included on a unanimous voice vote in the fiscal year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science and Re… Continue Reading
October 30, 2017
Udall Speaks at NM NAACP State Conference
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall addressed the N.M. NAACP's 66th Annual State Conference. The following are his remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you mayor Ken Miyagishima for that kind introduction. You have been a positive leader who has helped shape Las Cruces into one of New Mexico's best-managed cities with a great quality of life. Thanks for your steady hand. Thank you Dona Ana County NAACP for organizing this year's conference. And for your contributions to social … Continue Reading
October 29, 2017
IN THE NEWS: U.S. Politics Are Rigged. It's Time For a Small-Donor Revolution
by Fred Wertheimer
October 26, 2017
IN THE NEWS: Trump’s opioid plan praised, but some say it’s not enough
by Michael Coleman
October 26, 2017
IN THE NEWS: Democrats condemn proposed fee hikes at national parks
by Matthew Daly
October 26, 2017
IN THE NEWS: Land swap receives bipartisan support
by Laura Paskus
October 26, 2017
Udall, Senators Demand Explanation for $2 Billion Missing from Commerce Secretary's Financial Disclosures
WASHINGTON -- Following a Forbes report revealing that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross may have failed to disclose nearly $2 billion during his confirmation proceedings, six members of the Senate Commerce Committee wrote the Office of Government Ethics today seeking an explanation for how the financial assets could have been hidden from review. During his confirmation proceedings, Ross disclosed approximately $700 million in assets. Forbes has since valued Ross' total net worth at $2.9 b… Continue Reading
October 26, 2017
Senators Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are original cosponsors of the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to the sale or transfer of all firearms by private sellers, with certain reasonable exceptions. Under current law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. The bill was introduced yesterday by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Research indicates that as many as a quarter … Continue Reading
October 26, 2017
Udall Statement on President’s Opioid Announcement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall responded to President Trump's declaration that the opioid crisis is a public health emergency - rather than the much stronger "national emergency" called for by the president's own opioid commission. Trump's announcement does not include any significant new funding to fight the opioid epidemic. Udall is a cosponsor of the Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act, which would invest $45 billion for prevention, detection, surveillance, and treatment of opioid … Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
Udall Urges Public Safety Improvements, Additional Resources for Crime and Victim Services in Indian Country
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, urged improvements to public safety in Indian Country, calling for additional resources to fight crime and provide victim services to Native Americans. In a legislative hearing, Udall led the Indian Affairs Committee in reviewing three bills to promote public safety in Tribal communities: S. 1870, Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment Act 2017, the "SURVIVE Act"S. 1953, Re… Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
IN THE NEWS: Toxins in widespread use excluded from EPA chemical review
by Matthew Brown
October 25, 2017
OP-ED: Chemical industry hired gun would be a big step backward for chemical safety
by Senator Tom Udall
October 25, 2017
VIDEO: Udall Urges Bipartisan Action to Fund CHIP and Health Programs Critical to New Mexico
Funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians expires in 6 weeks VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/senatortomudall/videos/10155611099502870/ WASHINGTON - Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Tom Udall urged Republicans to work with Democrats to fund critical health programs that benefit thousands of N.M. children, low-income families, and Native Americans. Udall also voiced his support for bipartisan efforts in the Senate to stabilize the individual health insurance market… Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
Udall, Leahy, Feinstein, Blumenthal: Trump Administration Must Answer Why Nominees Are Serving Without Senate Confirmation
Dourson and other Trump nominees may be violating the law and circumventing the Constitution WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to Office of Presidential Personnel (OPP) Director John DeStefano in response to reports that the Trump administration is allowing individuals nominated by the president to perform the duties of their appointed positions prior to receiving Senate confir… Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
Udall Statement on EPW Committee Vote for Michael Dourson to Lead EPA’s Toxics Bureau, Urges Full Senate to Reject Him
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, co-author of the landmark Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, released this statement following the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee's party-line vote to advance Dr. Michael Dourson's nomination to serve as assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "Today's party-line vote in the EPW Committee is dangerous for public health an… Continue Reading
