Press Releases
Udall Pushes for Vote on Ambassador to Mexico, Urges Senators to Fix Dysfunction
VIDEO OF PRESS CONFERENCE: https://youtu.be/N6vNoXH6Rvo WASHINGTON - Today, for the second time this year, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a longtime advocate for Senate reform, made an official request on the Senate floor for a vote on Roberta Jacobson's long-stalled nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) objected on behalf of himself and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), meaning Udall's request was blo… Continue Reading
March 03, 2016
Udall Joins Senate Democrats, Congressional Black Caucus to Call on Senate Republicans to Do Their Job, Give Supreme Court Nominee Full and Fair Consideration
VIDEO - Udall's remarks begin at 5:24: http://www.c-span.org/video/?405973-1/house-senate-democrats-supreme-court-vacancy WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined Senate Democrats and members of the Congressional Black Caucus to urge Senate Republicans to do their job, stop ignoring the Constitution, and commit to meet, hold hearings and vote on the president's U.S. Supreme Court nominee. The Senate Majority Leader has said that the Senate will not consider any nominee by President Obam… Continue Reading
March 02, 2016
Udall Raises Concerns about Gila River Diversion, Pushes for Funding for New Mexico Water Projects
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall raised concerns about a potential Gila River diversion project and pushed for continued funding for several water projects important to New Mexico communities at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. Udall has previously expressed skepticism over the high cost of a Gila River diversion project. He asked Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Estevan R. López for an update and assurances that any proposed… Continue Reading
March 02, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Pearce: Keep German Air Force Presence at Holloman Air Force Base
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Steve Pearce sent a letter to President Obama urging him to advocate for a mutually beneficial arrangement that will allow the German Air Force, "Luftwaffe," to maintain a productive presence in the United States at Holloman Air Force Base. Due to increasing budget constraints, the Chief of Staff of the German Air Force has recommended consolidation of its two operational Tornado wings in Germany and to not rene… Continue Reading
March 02, 2016
Udall Fights for New Mexico Priorities in Interior Department Budget
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, helped lead a hearing on the president's Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Udall welcomed proposals for increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and mandatory funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program. He also pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on several other issues important to N… Continue Reading
March 02, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Announce $10.45 Million to Alamogordo for Flood Prevention, Water Infrastructure Upgrades
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that Alamogordo will receive $10.45 million from the Army Corps of Engineers to complete construction of the McKinley Channel and repairs to the Alamogordo South Diversion Channel. The two important projects will channel water from the Sacramento Mountains during rainstorms and help prevent downstream flooding in Alamogordo and the Tularosa Basin. Udall and Heinrich have encouraged the Army Corps of Engineers to fund these… Continue Reading
March 02, 2016
Udall Statement on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Funding Request
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to lead a hearing on the president's Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Below are Udall's opening remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning. Secretary Jewell, we're very pleased to have you appear before the Subcommittee to discuss the Department of th… Continue Reading
March 01, 2016
On Super Tuesday, Udall Introduces Legislation to Abolish the Federal Election Commission, Create a New Vigilant Watchdog to Enforce Campaign Finance Laws
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall introduced legislation to abolish the broken Federal Election Commission (FEC) and replace it with a new agency empowered to crack down on campaign finance violations. The new Federal Election Administration would be established to avoid the partisan gridlock that currently prevents the FEC from doing its job and enforcing our election laws. Udall is a champion for fair elections that are free of unlimited and undisclosed special interest money, and is … Continue Reading
March 01, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Urge IRS to Expand Office Hours, Make Tax Assistance Available to Rural New Mexicans
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter to the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to express concerns about reduced office hours and cuts to services, particularly for rural and elderly New Mexicans. The letter follows numerous complaints from residents of Fort Sumner, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque, including reports that the Albuquerque IRS field office is closing as early as 10 a.m. and turning away taxpayers who may have traveled hundreds of m… Continue Reading
March 01, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Fight to Extend Overtime Pay to Thousands of New Mexico Workers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged the U.S. Department of Labor to promptly extend overtime pay to millions of Americans who work long hours without fair pay. Last year, the agency proposed an expansion of overtime pay protections that could benefit 5 million Americans, including 20,000 New Mexicans. The proposal would ensure overtime pay for salaried workers earning up to approximately $50,440 per year. Currently, only workers earning $23,660 or… Continue Reading
February 29, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Welcome Trade Adjustment Assistance for Grant County Miners
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers laid off from Freeport-McMoRan's Tyrone copper mine. More than 200 employees lost their jobs when the mine reduced production last year, severely impacting the local economy. Trade Adjustment Assistance will help former employees transition to new jobs by providing career training, employment services and other support. Udall and H… Continue Reading
February 26, 2016
US Department of Homeland Security Grants NM Extension of REAL ID Compliance
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted New Mexico an immediate extension of REAL ID compliance deadlines to allow the state to implement a law passed last week by the legislature. In a letter sent last week, the lawmakers urged DHS to grant the extension to ensure New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports. "REAL … Continue Reading
February 26, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Luján Welcome $2.55 Million for New Mexico Acequias
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $2.55 million for New Mexico acequias, including design of the Chamisal y Ojito acequia and other acequia projects if funds remain. Acequias, or community irrigation ditch systems, have provided irrigation water to thousands of small family sustenance farms for centuries. The lawmakers had pressed the Army Corps of Engineers to i… Continue Reading
February 25, 2016
Udall Urges Republicans to Stop Obstructing Justice, Do Their Job on President's Supreme Court Nominee
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall delivered a speech on the Senate floor urging Republicans to quit playing political games, agree to hold hearings and vote on the president's nominee to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy left by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia. Udall cited the Senate's constitutional duty as described in Article II, Section 2, to advise and consent on the president's nominees to the Court. The Senate Majority Leader has said that the Senate will not consider any… Continue Reading
February 24, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Flake, McCain Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Navajo Nation’s Diné College
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) to introduce the bipartisan Diné College Act. This bill modernizes prior legislation relating to Diné College and reauthorizes the college through 2020. Diné College was established in 1968 as the first Tribally controlled college in the United States, and it became the first Tribally controlled institution to be accredited as a two-year college in 19… Continue Reading
February 23, 2016
Udall Statement on the President’s Plan to Close Guantánamo Bay Prison
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on President Obama's plan to close the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay: "I'm pleased to see President Obama moving forward with a proposal to close the Guantánamo Bay prison, and I urge Congress to consider the plan seriously. I've long called for permanently shutting down the facility, which is a stain on our nation's his… Continue Reading
February 19, 2016
Delegation Calls for Federal Investigation Into NM Human Services Department Suspending Medicaid Payments to Behavioral Health Providers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell calling for a thorough investigation of the findings in the Attorney General's report on the New Mexico Human Services Department's suspension of Medicaid payments to 15 nonprofit behavioral health providers. The letter also calls for Secretary Burwell to provide a response detailing which overs… Continue Reading
February 18, 2016
Udall Statement on President Obama’s Upcoming Trip to Cuba
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on President Obama's announcement that he will be the first sitting president in almost 90 years to visit Cuba: "President Obama's decision to visit Cuba will be remembered in history as an emphatic move to end the outdated Cold War policies of the last century. It marks a sea change in our decades-long relationship with one of our closest neighbors and is something th… Continue Reading
February 16, 2016
Udall Introduces Legislation to Ensure Migrant Children Receive Due Process
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced that he has introduced legislation to ensure that unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum in the United States receive legal representation and a fair hearing. The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act will address concerns that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is improperly rushing recently arrived asylum seekers from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras through the immigration court process. Many of those individuals are children… Continue Reading
February 16, 2016
Udall, Heinrich, Luján Announce $2 Million for Eastern NM Rural Water Supply Project
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján welcomed a Bureau of Reclamation investment of $2 million for the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Project to help deliver clean, reliable water to rural communities. The grant will fund continued construction of a pipeline to transport a new source of groundwater to Cannon Air Force Base and the surrounding communities that make up the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority: Clo… Continue Reading
