Press Releases
At Tribal Nations Conference, Udall Urges Better Tribal Consultation for Federal Decisions on Projects Like Dakota Access Pipeline
WASHINGTON - This morning, U.S. Senator Tom Udall attended the White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington to meet with New Mexico's Tribal leaders and administration officials and discuss issues important to New Mexico's Tribes and Pueblos. Udall, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, discussed several issues with the N.M. Tribal leaders in attendance, including his support for securing just compensation in the wake of the Gold King Mine spill and other environmental justice … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Pearce Announce $1.2 Million to Upgrade Dunn Solar Telescope in Sunspot, NM, Transition Operation to NMSU Consortium
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Steve Pearce announced that New Mexico State University (NMSU) will receive $1.2 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to upgrade the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope in Sunspot, N.M. The NSF award - appropriately announced on the fall equinox - will support efforts to transition the operation of the research facility from the National Solar Observatory (NSO) to a university-based consortium led by NMSU.… Continue Reading
September 21, 2016
Udall Commends NM Author Rudolfo Anaya on White House Humanities Honor
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall congratulated celebrated New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya, who will be honored with the National Humanities Medal on Thursday. Udall will be attending the ceremony at the White House. He delivered the following statement: "This is a well-deserved honor for a treasured New Mexico storyteller. Great books captivate our attention and allow us to walk in the shoes of ordinary and extraordinary people, and Rudolfo Anaya's stories have touched the hearts of Ne… Continue Reading
September 21, 2016
Udall Presses FDA to Expedite Alternative Treatments to EpiPen in Wake of ‘Astronomical' Price Hikes
WASHINGTON - Today, at a hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Senator Tom Udall pressed the agency to safely expedite alternative treatments to the EpiPen Auto-Injector, which delivers a life-saving dose of epinephrine in the event of a severe allergic reaction. Mylan, the EpiPen manufacturer, has raised the price to over $600 for a package of two in just the last seven years, causing an outcry among people in New Mexico and across th… Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Luján, Lujan Grisham Call on FDA to Expedite EpiPen Alternatives
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to do everything possible to provide options for families struggling to afford the EpiPen Auto-Injector for the emergency treatment of a life-threatening allergic reaction, including carefully expediting the approval process for alternatives. Many people - including school children - who suffer from severe a… Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Udall, Heinrich: We Must Do More to Provide Debt Relief & Support to Students, Veterans Suffering from Impacts of ITT Tech Closure
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter commending the U.S. Department of Education for its decision to stop additional federal student aid from flowing to ITT Educational Services, Inc. (ITT Tech). Following these restrictions and serious concerns echoed by law enforcement agencies and ITT Tech's accreditor with regard to the company's "deceptive practices, dubious educational quality, and financial integrity," ITT Tech announced that it would halt operations and … Continue Reading
September 16, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Announce NM Winners of Business Accelerator Competition
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that four business accelerators in New Mexico, Native Entrepreneur In Residence, IGNITE Community Accelerator, Creative Startups and ABQid have been selected as winners of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) third annual Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. The four accelerators were among 68 winners selected nationwide, and each will receive a $50,000 prize from the SBA to boost their economic impact and suppor… Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
Udall Statement in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued a statement marking Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and celebrates the tremendous contributions Hispanic Americans have made to New Mexico and America: "New Mexico enjoys a rich and diverse Hispanic heritage going back 400 years. From Spanish colonists to immigrants from Latin America, New Mexico's Hispanic community has played an integral part in shaping our state's history, economy, and culture-and will for generati… Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Pearce Press Case for Moving F-16 Squadrons to Holloman AFB
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Steve Pearce met with Air Force Under Secretary Lisa Disbrow in the U.S. Capitol as part of their joint effort to urge the U.S. Air Force to relocate operational F-16 squadrons to Holloman Air Force Base. The lawmakers pressed their case for expanding Holloman's mission to include new F-16 formal training units. In August, the three wrote a letter to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff… Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Pass Bipartisan Measure to Expedite Gold King Mine Spill Recovery
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that their bipartisan measure to speed up reimbursements to Tribal, local and state governments for the costs they incurred responding to the Gold King Mine spill has passed the Senate as an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The measure will expedite the process of reimbursing governments, which spent millions of dollars responding to the devastating Aug. 5, 2015, spill. It also emphasizes to the EPA… Continue Reading
September 14, 2016
With GOP's Obstruction of Garland at an Unprecedented 182 Days, Udall Proposes Rules Change to Fix Broken Senate
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced that he will introduce a change to the Senate rules that would prevent senators from blocking votes on judicial nominees who have waited 180 days for confirmation. Today marks an unprecedented 182 days since President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Senate Republicans have refused to hold hearings or a vote on Garland, leaving the Supreme Court unable to adequat… Continue Reading
September 14, 2016
Senators Introduce Legislation to Overhaul Veterans Appeals Process
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced legislation to reform the appeals process for veterans benefits. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for a decision on their appeals. The Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals… Continue Reading
September 14, 2016
NM Delegation Welcomes News That Facebook Will Build New Data Center In Los Lunas
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement welcoming news that Facebook will build its new data center in Los Lunas: "We welcome Facebook to New Mexico and are proud to help secure this new investment in our state's future. Facebook will bring innovative opportunities for our economy and much needed jobs. As a leader in energy development, New Mexico is an ideal… Continue Reading
September 13, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Announce $1.13 Million for Las Cruces ROADRunner Transit System
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the city of Las Cruces will receive more than $1.13 million to fund replacement public transit buses for the ROADRunner Transit system. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Bus and Bus Facilities competitive grant program. ROADRunner Transit is a primary source of public transportation for the citizens of Las Cruces, providing an accessible fixed route system and a Dial-A-Ride … Continue Reading
September 12, 2016
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Measure to Expedite Gold King Mine Spill Recovery
WASHINGTON - Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Tom Udall (D-NM) along with Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and John McCain (R-AZ) today introduced an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to address the response costs associated with the Gold King Mine spill, and direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work with affected States, Indian tribes, and local governments on a long-term water quality monitoring program of the rive… Continue Reading
September 11, 2016
Udall Issues Statement on the Anniversary of 9/11
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement on the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: "Today, we come together as a nation to remember those who lost their lives 15 years ago in senseless terrorist attacks-in New York City, in Shanksville, and in Arlington. We honor the brave first responders who did not hesitate to rush headfirst into unknown danger. And we thank the men and women called to duty in the aftermath of this national tragedy who served t… Continue Reading
September 09, 2016
Udall Statement on Administration Decision to Pause Construction on Dakota Pipeline
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement on the U.S. government's order to pause part of the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and invite Tribes to a formal government-to-government consultation: "After the disturbing use of violence to control protesters in North Dakota, I'm pleased that the administration has halted part of the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and committed to deploy federal resources to ensure Tribal members may exercise their free… Continue Reading
September 09, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Luján Applaud ‘Superfund' Designation for Gold King Mine District
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to add the Bonita Peak Mining District in Colorado's San Juan County - home to the Gold King Mine - to the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites. The lawmakers have pressed the EPA to support designating the Gold King Mine as a Superfund site since a blowout last August released toxic wastewater into the Animas and … Continue Reading
September 08, 2016
Members of NM Delegation Say Escalation of Violence Against Native Protestors in ND 'Deplorable'
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham sent a letter to President Obama calling on the administration to intervene in the recent escalation of violence by private security personnel against Native protestors over the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The New Mexico lawmakers took action in response to the growing concerns in tribal communities across New Mexico about the First Amendment ri… Continue Reading
September 08, 2016
NM Delegation Announces $6.5 Million for Construction and Maintenance at 17 NM Airports
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced more than $6.5 million for maintenance and construction projects at 17 New Mexico airports. The funding was awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, and will fund runway rehabilitations, fencing construction and other safety improvements at airports across the state. "New Mexico's airports help drive the economy in communities ac… Continue Reading
