Press Releases
Udall, Heinrich Announce $1.1 Million LWCF Grant for New Mexico Parks and Outdoor Recreation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall, top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, and Martin Heinrich, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that the Department of the Interior (DOI) is providing more than $1.1 million in grants to the state of New Mexico for outdoor recreation and conservation projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The funds are awarded through a federal ma… Continue Reading
September 25, 2017
Udall Statement on Senate Republicans’ Plan to Vote on TrumpCare without Full CBO Score
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement on Senate Republicans' plan to vote on their last-ditch Graham-Cassidy TrumpCare bill without a full "score" from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO released today an extremely limited score of an outdated version of Graham-Cassidy, and the CBO has said it will not be able to provide coverage loss estimates before Republicans plan to vote on the bill. "It is beyond irresponsible that Senate Repub… Continue Reading
September 25, 2017
Udall, Heinrich, Pearce, Luján Announce Federal Funds for Economic Development Projects in New Mexico
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce and Ben Ray Luján announced federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce for economic development projects at the Village of Questa and New Mexico State University. The Village of Questa will receive $1.2 million in matching funds to expand the Business Park and improve the roadways, drainage system, water and sanitary sewer, signage, parking, roadway lighting, and utilities conn… Continue Reading
September 22, 2017
Udall, Heinrich, Luján Announce $6.7 million for Gallup Veterans’ Cemetery
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a grant, totaling $6.69 million, to fund the construction of a veterans' cemetery in Gallup, New Mexico.… Continue Reading
September 22, 2017
Udall: Graham-Cassidy TrumpCare Bill Disastrous for Indian Health Care
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement on the Graham-Cassidy TrumpCare bill's effects on health care in Indian Country: "Senate Republicans are trying to force through the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill -- another version of TrumpCare that would be truly disastrous for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The bill's massive cuts to the Medicaid program would devastate access to life-saving health care across… Continue Reading
September 21, 2017
New Mexico Delegation Encourages Boeing to Conduct Phantom Express Development Contract at SPA, WSMR
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján, and Michelle Lujan Grisham encouraged Boeing to conduct the Phantom Express development contract at Spaceport America (SPA) with support of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). "New Mexico's restricted airspace, technical workforce, decades of experience working with NASA, and the inland location of the Spaceport make it the ideal location for Boeing to conduct the Phantom Express… Continue Reading
September 20, 2017
Udall Statement on Senate Republicans’ Plan to Vote on Radical Graham-Cassidy TrumpCare Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement after Senate Republicans announced that they intend to vote on the dangerous, last-ditch Graham-Cassidy TrumpCare bill next week: "Senate Republicans are barreling forward with the cruelest and most devastating version of TrumpCare yet. This disastrous bill would strip health care from hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans and tens of millions of Americans by eviscerating Medicaid and causing premiums to soar. Graham-Cassidy, … Continue Reading
September 20, 2017
Udall Applauds $1 Million in Federal Funding for Innovate ABQ Bioscience Lab Incubator
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Commerce and Appropriations committees, applauded the announcement that the Innovate ABQ will receive $1 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce to establish a bioscience business incubator. The funding, which was supported by Udall and the rest of the N.M. congressional delegation, will pay for renovation of an existing building to house labs with corresponding office space in Albuquerque, and is expected to create 155 jobs… Continue Reading
September 19, 2017
Udall, Peters, Warren Introduce Bill Barring Taxpayer-Funded Travel at Properties Owned by President, Executive Branch Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Gary Peters (D- Mich.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight & Emergency Management, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced Heightened Oversight of Travel, Eating, and Lodging (HOTEL) Act to prohibit executive branch employee travel expenses paid by tax dollars from being spent at properties owned by the president, vice president, cabinet secretaries or their family members. The legislation aims to prevent potentia… Continue Reading
September 19, 2017
Senators Introduce Bill to Reform Antiquated Hardrock Mining Laws
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2017, legislation to modernize the nation's antiquated hardrock mining laws. The bill requires companies to pay royalties for the first time for the ability to extract mineral resources like gold, silver, and copper from public lands, helps ensure that taxpayers aren't on the hook for clea… Continue Reading
September 19, 2017
Udall Opposes Last-Ditch TrumpCare Plan
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement in response to Republicans' latest attempt to rush legislation repealing the Affordable Care Act through Congress: "Once again, New Mexicans find themselves on the wrong end of a disastrous Trump/Republican health care bill. Written behind closed doors and negotiated in secret, the latest TrumpCare bill will eviscerate Medicaid, strip health care away from millions, and eliminate protections for people with pre-existing… Continue Reading
September 19, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Honor Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic-Serving Institutions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, members of the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force, have cosponsored a Senate resolution to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 and recognizes the culture, heritage, history and contributions of the Hispanic community in New Mexico and across the nation. Udall and Heinrich also cosponsored a Senate resolution designating the week of Sept. 18 as National Hispanic-Serving Institution Week, in honor of New M… Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
Udall and Moran’s Bipartisan MGT Act Clears the Senate in FY18 National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) applauded the inclusion of their Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act as part of the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2018 (FY18). Their bipartisan legislation was introduced as an amendment (#1006) to the FY18 NDAA to modernize government information technology (IT), eliminate wasteful spending and strengthen cybersecurity. "The MGT Act is a perfect example of what we can accompl… Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
Udall Votes for Major National Defense Bill to Benefit New Mexico & Nation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined the Senate in voting 89-8 for a major national defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to support troops and military families, and to strengthen national defense programs in New Mexico and across the country. The bill, which will now be sent to the president, includes several measures that Udall has championed to benefit the national security mission being carried out at New Mexico's national laboratories, military bases and… Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Urge President Trump to Reject Secretary Zinke’s Recommended Changes to National Monuments
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich released the following joint statement on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's report on national monuments, which was leaked to the media late Sunday: "During Secretary Zinke's review process, almost 3 million Americans - including thousands of New Mexicans - made their opinions clear. They believe our existing national monuments are vitally important to our economy, community and culture, and they don't want them changed. "The Depart… Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Urge USTR Lighthizer to Support New Mexico's Pecan Farmers and Lower Tariffs on Pecan Exports
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined a bipartisan group of six other senators in urging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to help New Mexico's pecan farmers increase exports by taking action to lower the tariffs on pecan exports to India. India's current high tariffs on pecans are impacting New Mexico and American pecan farmers, and have created a trade barrier not imposed on other tree nut producers. In a letter to Lighthizer, the senators note that … Continue Reading
September 14, 2017
Udall Joins Democrats in Introducing Bill to Expand Access to Affordable, High Quality Child Care for New Mexico Families
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined a number of Democrats in introducing major legislation to ensure working families throughout New Mexico and across the country have access to affordable, high-quality child care. The Child Care for Working Families Act is a comprehensive early learning and child care bill to ensure working families can afford high-quality child care and preschool programs. The Child Care for Working Families Act would create a partnership between the federal and… Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
Udall Leads Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing on High Risk Indian Health, Education, and Energy Programs
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, presided over an oversight hearing entitled "High Risk Indian Programs: Progress and Efforts in Addressing GAO's Recommendations" to assess progress and efforts to address the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) designation of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and Indian Health Service (IHS) programs as "high risk." Udall led the hearing as part of a series to ex… Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
Udall Proposes Amendments to Benefit New Mexico & Nation in Major Defense Bill
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced that he is proposing several amendments to a major defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to benefit New Mexico's national labs and military families, modernize outdated and wasteful government IT systems and save taxpayers money. The bill, which sets defense policy for the nation, is being debated on the Senate floor this week. "The annual National Defense Authorization Act is always an important bill for New Mex… Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
Indian Affairs Committee Advances Bipartisan Bill to Combat Native American Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tom Udall (D-NM), chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Jon Tester (D-MT), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, welcomed the passage of their bipartisan legislation to address Native American veteran homelessness. The Tribal HUD-VASH Act, introduced by Senator Tester, will renew a joint tribal housing initiative between the U.S. Department of Housing… Continue Reading
