Press Releases
Udall and Heinrich: Students Deserve Immediate Debt Relief After Attending Schools Engaged In Deceptive and Predatory Practices
"When colleges break the rules, student loan borrowers should not be left to dig themselves out from under a mountain of debt they cannot repay" WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich and 33 Senate Democrats sent a letter to President Obama urging his Administration to protect students who attended colleges or universities that engaged in unlawful, unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices. In 2015, Corinthian Colleges filed for bankruptcy and shut down all of its locations after f… Continue Reading
March 10, 2016
Udall Votes for Senate Bill to Fight Drug Abuse Epidemic, Urges Congress to Make Investments to Combat Addiction Head-On
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall voted in favor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a bipartisan bill he cosponsors to help tackle the drug abuse epidemic in New Mexico communities and across the nation. The bill passed 94-1 and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Udall said that the legislation is a step forward, but Congress also needs to commit additional funding to address the drug abuse epidemic head-on. Last week, Senate Republicans blo… Continue Reading
March 09, 2016
Udall Fights for New Mexico Priorities in Energy Budget
WASHINGTON - At a hearing today on the president's fiscal year 2017 budget request for the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Senator Tom Udall pressed Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz about contract changes at Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories, and support for technology transfer to move innovations from the New Mexico's labs and universities into the marketplace to create jobs. He also questioned Moniz about the timeline for safely reopening the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsb… Continue Reading
March 09, 2016
Udall Pushes to Strengthen Indian Health Service Facilities, Improve Care for Tribes in NM and Across Nation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, discussed several steps to improve care at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities in New Mexico and nationwide at a hearing on the agency's fiscal year 2017 budget. Udall focused on efforts to address alcohol and substance abuse. "Indian Country needs better access to clinical services. This is especially true for preventive care and also for mental h… Continue Reading
March 08, 2016
Udall Urges Congress to Take Action to Combat Drug Abuse Epidemic, Save Lives
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall spoke on the Senate floor about the need to tackle the drug abuse epidemic in New Mexico communities and across the nation. The Senate is currently debating the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a bill Udall cosponsors that would direct resources to prevent prescription opioid and heroin abuse, provide training and increased access to law enforcement officials for the lifesaving overdose-reversal drug naloxone, improve treatmen… Continue Reading
March 08, 2016
Udall Introduces CREATE Act to Support Arts Businesses, Jobs in the Creative Economy
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall introduced a measure to support the development of arts businesses, jobs and the growth of the creative economy in New Mexico and across the nation. The arts and cultural tourism industries are significant drivers of the economy in New Mexico and many other states, and Udall's bill would help artists, entrepreneurs, and workers employed in cultural education and tourism better access federal programs and resources to grow their businesses and share thei… Continue Reading
March 07, 2016
NM Delegation Urges EPA to Address Compensation Delays for Gold King Mine Spill Victims, Work with State to Monitor Water Quality
WASHINGTON - In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed concerns with delays in compensation for costs and damages in New Mexico caused by the EPA's Gold King Mine spill in Colorado six months ago. They urged the EPA to process reimbursement claims submitted by the state and the Navajo Nation and to set up an Office of… Continue Reading
March 04, 2016
Udall, Heinrich Announce $8.2 Million to Construct Rio Grande Water Project, Fund Watershed Assessment and Environmental Management
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing $7 million for construction of the Rio Grande Floodway project near Socorro, $1 million for watershed assessment in the Rio Grande Basin, and $200,000 to fund the Rio Grande Environmental Management Program for the first time. These projects will prevent flooding between San Acacia and the Bosque del Apache, study salinity management issues, and begin to develop a data-dri… Continue Reading
March 03, 2016
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
