Press Releases
Udall Statement on EPA's Changes to New Chemicals Review Process
WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall responded to news that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its review of 600 new chemicals that had been waiting on approval to go to market. Udall last year led the effort to pass the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the first major reform of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act. The reform mandates that the EPA evaluate the safety of all new chemicals before they go to market and ensure that their use… Continue Reading
August 05, 2017
Udall Marks Second Anniversary of Gold King Mine Spill with Calls for Action from EPA, Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement marking two years since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) caused the Gold King Mine spill in Southern Colorado and severely contaminated the Animas and San Juan rivers. On August 5, 2015, an EPA-supervised crew released 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater into Cement Creek - which flows into the Animas and San Juan rivers - while working at the Gold King Mine in Colorado. Udall released the following statement: "Two … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
In Letter to EPA Administrator, NM Delegation Urges Equal Treatment for all Gold King Mine Spill Claimants, Including Navajo Nation and State of NM
WASHINGTON -- Today, following the announcement that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has reconsidered an EPA decision and will allow victims of the Gold King Mine spill to file for compensation, all five members of the New Mexico congressional delegation wrote Pruitt a letter, asking him to treat all claimants equally and clearly explain what this announcement means for those who suffered damages. Pruitt's decision, made public this afternoon during a town hall … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Call on FCC to Extend Comment Period on Efforts to Roll Back Net Neutrality
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend the comment period for its proposal to undo the Open Internet Order and 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, ens… Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
As Gold King Mine Spill Anniversary Approaches, Udall, Heinrich, Bennet, Luján Prepare Bill to Prevent Future Hardrock Mine Disasters
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that they are preparing to introduce legislation to reform the nation's antiquated hardrock mining laws and prevent another toxic spill like the Gold King Mine disaster of 2015. Their announcement comes on the eve of the second anniversary of the Aug. 5, 2015, Gold King Mine spill, in which 3 million gallons of polluted wastewater went… Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Udall, Rounds, Heinrich Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Allow All Military Women to Count Maternity Leave Toward Years of Service
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced a bipartisan bill to make certain ?that women serving in the National Guard and Reserves can take maternity leave without worrying about how it will affect their creditable military service. The amendment is also backed by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.). The Mothers of Military Service (MOMS) Leave Act, ensures female service members of the reserve comp… Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Announce Passage Of Bipartisan G.I. Bill Reforms To Help N.M. Veterans And Their Families
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced the passage of bipartisan legislation they introduced with U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) that will modernize and strengthen veterans' education benefits and enhance the post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 further invests in the proven educational success of our veterans and helps propel them toward becoming our nation's civic, business, and p… Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Udall: I Will Hold FCC Chairman Pai Accountable to Protect Free Speech
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement opposing President Trump's nominee to chair the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ajit Pai. Pai's nomination to chair the FCC was advanced by the committee this morning and now must be approved by the full Senate. Udall objects to Pai's proposals to roll back net neutrality. And, in the wake of dangerous threats against the news media by Trump, Udall has repeatedly presse… Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
VIDEO: In Speech, Udall Urges Ban of Dangerous Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Linked to Brain Damage in Children
VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/senatortomudall/videos/10155392847557870/ WASHINGTON - Today in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Tom Udall made the case for why Congress must act to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos, a dangerous neurotoxin linked to brain damage in children. Udall said his Protect Children, Farmers & Farmworkers from Nerve Agent Pesticides Act is urgently needed after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt rejected EPA scientists' deter… Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Cosponsor Bill To Allow Medicare To Negotiate A Better Deal On Prescription Drug Costs
WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined in cosponsoring legislation led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to unleash the bargaining power of seniors for a better deal on prescription drug costs. The legislation would allow for Medicare to negotiate the best possible price of prescription drugs to cut costs for nearly 41 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D. Current law prevents Medicare from directly negotiating for lower drug prices, a practice regul… Continue Reading
August 01, 2017
Udall Statement on Confirmation of Christopher Wray to Head the FBI
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined 92 senators in voting to confirm Christopher Wray to lead the FBI. He gave the following statement: "When we met in my office ahead of this vote, Christopher Wray assured me that his only loyalty was to law, justice and the Constitution. He pledged that he would protect the bureau from any outside political influence or attempts to obstruct its important work. This job is demanding even in the best of circumstances, but Mr. Wray also must str… Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Call On President Trump To Protect Dreamers
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 28, 2017) U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined in sending a letter led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asking President Donald Trump to use his executive authority to the greatest extent possible to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA provides temporary relief from deportation to immigrant students who arrived in the United States as children if they register with the government, pay a fee, and pass crim… Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Oppose Trump Administration's Move to Slash Teen Pregnancy Prevention Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich urged Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price to reconsider the decision by HHS to unilaterally shorten the duration of grant agreements for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program. Since 2015, the TPP Program has served nearly 1.2 million youth in 40 states and territories, supporting teens in adopting sexual health behaviors that help them avoid unintended pregnancy. The program funds a research project at t… Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Support Inclusion & Engagement of Latinos in Conservation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to introduce a bipartisan resolution that supports the commitment of the Latino community to engage in conservation efforts. The resolution recognizes the contributions of the Latino community to conservation and wildlife protection and urges increased access to public lands for all Americans. "New Mexico's Hispanic and Latino communities have played an in… Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
Udall: Time for an Open Debate on Improving Health Care for All Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall gave the following statement after last night's dramatic defeat of the Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which would have canceled health insurance on 16 million Americans and raised premium costs by 20 percent: "Last night proved that the voices of regular people can make all the difference. Over 14,500 New Mexicans and millions of people from across the country have made it clear - they want Washington to stop sabotaging America… Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Udall, Heitkamp, Heinrich Offer Amendment to Protect Health Care for Indian Country
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that they offered an amendment to protect against cuts to health care for Indian Country as a result of the Republican effort to repeal the current health reform law and slash funding for Medicaid. As the Senate continues to debate the Republican repeal effort, Heitkamp, Udall, and Heinrich have heard from Tribal l… Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Udall Advances Measure to Prevent Unjust Firing of Special Counsel Mueller
WASHINGTON - Today, during a markup of the fiscal year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill, U.S. Senator Tom Udall advanced an amendment to prevent the unlawful firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Udall's amendment directs the leadership of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to adhere to the rule of law and fully comply with the department's special counsel regulations which clearly state that the attorney general cannot fire Mueller without cause. … Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Udall, Heinrich Blast GOP Schemes to Slash Health Care Coverage for New Mexicans
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich took to the Senate floor to give back-to-back speeches decrying the latest effort by Republicans and President Trump to try to cancel insurance on hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans and as many as 32 million Americans by repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. Watch both speeches here: https://www.facebook.com/MartinHeinrich/. Text of Udall's speech is available here: https://www.scribd.com/document/354887627/07-27-201… Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Udall to Vote to Protect Medicaid for New Mexico Families
WASHINGTON - Today, as the Senate continues to debate the Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and drastically cut Medicaid, U.S. Senator Tom Udall will vote for a measure to protect Medicaid coverage in New Mexico and across the country. "Medicaid is quite simply a lifeline for New Mexico. Across our state, more than 900,000 New Mexicans are able to see a doctor when they get sick, without the fear of going broke, thanks to the coverage they receive under Medicaid. M… Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Udall Holds Listening Session on Human Trafficking in Indian Country
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, held a stakeholder meeting on ways to more effectively prevent, prosecute, and improve data collection on human trafficking in Indian Country. Federal data on human trafficking in Native communities is limited, but available information suggests human trafficking in the United States frequently targets vulnerable populations, which would include Native Americans who disproportionately face high r… Continue Reading
