Press Releases
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 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 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
May 05, 2017
For Small Business Week, Udall Introduces Bill to Increase Federal Contracts for Small Businesses, Prioritize Veteran- and Women-Owned Businesses
WASHINGTON - In honor of National Small Business Week, U.S. Senator Tom Udall recognized the over 150,000 small business owners in New Mexico and introduced legislation to increase the number of small businesses that are granted federal contracts. Small businesses keep New Mexico's economy running and create jobs, making up 99 percent of the state's businesses and 56 percent of employees in New Mexico. Udall's bill, the Assuring Contracting Equity (ACE) Act of 2017 takes several steps to raise … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Secure Vital Funding for NM Priorities in Budget Bill
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations committee, and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich joined the full Senate in voting 79-18 for an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government through September 2017. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill yesterday, and the president is expected to sign it into law. The bill includes funding for several critical New Mexico priorities that Udall and Heinrich fought for, including: New Mexico's na… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
For Small Business Week, Udall, Bonamici, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Increase Federal Contracts for Small Businesses, Prioritize Veteran and Women Owned Businesses
WASHINGTON - Today, in honor of Small Business Week, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) introduced companion bills in the Senate and House to increase the number of small businesses that are granted federal contracts and establish a higher priority for veteran- and women-owned businesses. The Assuring Contracting Equity (ACE) Act of 2017 takes several steps to raise the Small Business Administration (SBA) contracting goals a… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Udall on TrumpCare: ‘An Appalling Display of Broken Promises and Misguided Priorities’
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement on House Republicans' scheduled vote on a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill still has not been analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office to determine how much it would cost or exactly how many Americans would lose coverage as a result of changes to Medicaid and provisions that allow insurers to drop patients with pre-existing conditions, and it could impact those with employer plans as … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Introduce Equality Act To Ban LGBTQ Discrimination Nationwide
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), to introduce comprehensive federal legislation to ban discrimination against LGBTQ Americans. The Equality Act of 2017 would ensure full federal non-discrimination equality by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to other protected classes, such as race or religion, in existing federal laws. "The U.S. is a world leader for LGBTQ rights, b… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Udall Secures $407 Million for Emergency Wildfire Suppression in Bipartisan Budget Agreement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, lead Democrat on the subcommittee overseeing funding for the Department of Interior and Forest Service, announced that an additional $407 million for emergency wildfire suppression will be included as part of a bipartisan budget agreement to fund the government through September. The funding bill - also known as an omnibus appropriations bill - passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 309-118 on Wednesday, and is expected to pass the Senat… Continue Reading
May 03, 2017
Udall Fights for Funding Increase for Arts and Humanities in Budget Agreement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for arts and culture programs, announced that the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities each are on track to receive an additional $1.9 million in funding over last year as part of a bipartisan agreement to fund the government through September 2017. Udall and other supporters on the subcommittee secured the funding despite President Trump… Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Udall: Omnibus Appropriations Bill Includes Key Funding for NM
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and lead Democrat on the subcommittee overseeing funding for the Interior Department, environment and arts and culture programs, issued the following statement on the bipartisan agreement to fund the government through September 2017. "At a time when Washington is more polarized than I've ever seen it, I'm pleased that we were able to reach this agreement for New Mexicans and the American people. This ag… Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Udall Statement on Interior and Environment Funding in Bipartisan Budget Agreement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, released the following statement on the finalized bipartisan budget agreement to fund the government through September. "This bill is a strong, bipartisan agreement, and I thank lawmakers and staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work to achieve a workable compromise. The deal funds key priorities for New Mexico and the nation, whil… Continue Reading
April 28, 2017
Udall Urges GOP Leaders to Increase Funding for Opioid Crisis and Medical Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and a group of 15 other senators calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to include a substantial increase in funds for the fight against the nation's opioid epidemic and additional investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as part of the budget bill that is currently being negotiated in Congress to fund the government and avert a government shutdown. The lette… Continue Reading
