Press Releases
Udall, Cantwell to Zinke: Enforce the Methane Rule
WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), in a letter to Secretary Zinke, questioned the Department of the Interior's decision to suspend parts of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Methane and Waste Prevention Rule. On May 10, 2017 the Senate voted against using the Congressional Review Act to repe… Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
VIDEO: Udall and Heinrich Speak Out Against Devastating Impact TrumpCare Would have in New Mexico
Video of Udall's remarks: https://www.facebook.com/senatortomudall/videos/10155245263792870/Video of Heinrich's remarks: https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/statements-and-speeches/heinrich-floor-speech-on-trumpcare WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, gave back-to-back speeches on the Senate floor about the devastating consequences that TrumpCare would have in New Mexico, particularly in rural communities and for women, low-income families, and people with pre-… Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Udall Speaks Out Against TrumpCare
Mr. President, I rise today for the third time this session -- to oppose plans by President Trump and the Republicans to gut our health care system and to throw millions of Americans off their health insurance. On May 4th of this year -- the day the House Republicans narrowly passed their TrumpCare bill -- the president held a celebration in the White House, in the Rose Garden. He pronounced the bill, "a great plan." Well, TrumpCare may be a "great plan" if you are wealthy and healthy. Because… Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Udall: War in Syria Lacks Congressional Authorization, New AUMF with Limits on US Wars Needed Nearly 16 Years After 9/11
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, repeated his call for Congress to debate and vote on an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) to set parameters for the ongoing and escalating U.S. military involvement in Syria and other conflict areas. Udall said this should include a "sunset" -- a clear end date at which point Congress could reconsider whether to extend the authorization. Udall's call comes after an American fighter je… Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Udall, Heinrich, Luján, Lujan Grisham Urge Zinke to Protect NM’s National Monuments
Udall, Heinrich, Luján, Lujan Grisham: administration review of monuments could cause 'irrevocable harm to our treasured places' WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham urged Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to protect New Mexico's national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act. The New Mexico lawmakers wrote to Zinke to express their strong support for the Rio Grande del Norte and Orga… Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Udall Introduces Bill to Prevent Skyrocketing Costs of Prescription Drugs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) in introducing legislation to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for large price increases in prescription drugs. The Stop Price Gouging Act would penalize drug companies that engage in price gouging without cause, leading to price spikes for patients who rely on medication to treat diseases ranging from cancer to opi… Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Udall Statement on Trump Decision to Revert to Cold War Thinking Toward Cuba
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a leading supporter of re-opening relations with Cuba, blasted President Trump's misguided decision to reverse key pieces of President Obama's Cuba-engagement policy. He issued the following statement: "Today, President Trump threw aside three years of historic progress to return to the failed Cold War mentality that allowed Cuba's Communist regime to rule with an iron grip. Yes, we reject the human… Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
NM Delegation Announces that FEMA Approves Grant for Federal Assistance to Deal with El Cajete Fire in Sandoval County
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Congressman Ben Ray Luján announced a that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a request for fire management assistance to assist with "mitigation, management, and control" of fires in Northern New Mexico. The El Cajete fire in Sandoval County has been burning since June 15th, and has scorched more than 600 acres of federal and private land. More than 625 people, including visitors and staff of the… Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Introduce ‘No Hearing, No Vote Act’ to Require Hearing for Secret TrumpCare Bill
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined Senate Democrats in introducing the "No Hearing, No Vote Act" to require a public committee hearing for any legislation that goes through the fast-tracked "budget reconciliation" process - including the TrumpCare legislation. Republicans are currently drafting the bill - which would replace the Affordable Care Act - behind closed doors without plans to hold a hearing. Under the "No Hearing, No Vote Act," TrumpCare would not b… Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
VIDEO: Udall Questions NNSA Administrator on Support for National Labs in NNSA Budget
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/dnMSYx2nyws WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall questioned Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, under secretary for nuclear security and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) administrator, about funding for Los Alamos and Sandia national labs and other New Mexico projects in the NNSA Fiscal Year 2018 budget during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. The subcommittee is in charge of funding for the Department of Energ… Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Udall Introduces Bill to Combat Native American Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to combat homelessness and improve direct support services for Native American veterans. Hoeven and Udall are the chairman and vice-chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Tester and Isakson are the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. The legislation, the Tribal HUD-VASH Act would formally aut… Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Udall Statement on Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement on the shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va.: "Jill and I are praying for Congressman Scalise, my colleagues, their staff, and the heroic Capitol Police officers affected by today's tragic shooting. I want to extend my deepest thanks to the brave first responders on the scene, and I join the entire Congress and country in wishing a speedy recovery for all those injured in this horrific event."… Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
VIDEO: Udall Raises Concerns about Majority-Sponsored Bills on NAHASDA, IHS at Indian Affairs Committee Hearing
VIDEO: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/legislative-hearing-receive-testimony-following-bills-s-1250-s-1275 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, raised concerns about two bills offered by committee Republicans affecting the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) during a legislative hearing. Udall questioned witnesses before the Indian Affairs Committee about how these bil… Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
VIDEO: Udall Presses Agriculture Secretary on Devastating Trump Budget and Job Cuts in NM
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/hXCXR2NKW_A WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall pressed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue about the Trump administration's devastating proposed budget cuts to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that benefit rural New Mexico and America, including deep cuts to rural development, food assistance, conservation, and research. During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration,… Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Tester, Hoeven, Udall, and Isakson Team Up to Combat Native American Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to combat homelessness and improve direct support services for Native American veterans. The Senators' Tribal HUD-VASH Act will formally authorize a joint tribal housing initiative between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program, which provides rental and housing… Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Udall Co-sponsored Bill to expand AMBER Alert System in Indian Country Clears Indian Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, welcomed passage of a bill he cosponsored to expand the AMBER Alert warning system in Indian Country. The AMBER alert in Indian Country Act comes in response to the tragic abduction and murder of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike on the Navajo Nation in 2016 - when authorities did not issue an AMBER Alert until a day after Ashlynne's abduction was reported. The bipartisan legislation led by Senator John… Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
Udall Statement on Secretary Zinke's Interim Recommendations for Bears Ears National Monument
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the Interior Department, called Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's recommendations to reduce the size of Bears Ears National Monument "deeply disrespectful and insulting" to the Native American Tribes who urged protection for the culturally significant region. Udall predicted that if the administration acts on the reco… Continue Reading
June 09, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Announce $13 Million from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Current and Future Flood Control and Water Quality Projects in NM
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich today announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has provided $13 million for flood management, water infrastructure, and environmental restoration projects throughout New Mexico. The funding comes at the request of Udall and Heinrich following passage in May of the Fiscal Year 2017 omnibus appropriations bill, which funds the government through September. The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for designing and building major floo… Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Udall Statement on Comey Testimony
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement on former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee: "James Comey's testimony has painted a truly frightening picture for the American people. Today, Mr. Comey reiterated to the American people that, beyond any shadow of a doubt, a foreign adversary attacked our democracy. Mr. Comey told the American people that they cannot trust their president to tell the truth. Mr. Comey told the A… Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
VIDEO: Udall Calls for Strong Funding to Fight Wildfires, Support New Mexico at Forest Service Budget Hearing
VIDEO: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/review-of-the-fy2018-budget-request-for-the-us-forest-service WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell about President Trump's massive proposed FY 2018 Forest Service budget cuts during a hearing of Udall's subcommittee. Udall said that the president's budget - which proposes cutting near… Continue Reading
