{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\" and state = \"NM\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/fact-sheet-heinrich-outlines-how-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act-will-deliver-cheaper-energy-more-jobs-and-responsible-growth", "FACT SHEET: Heinrich Outlines How Bipartisan American Affordability & Jobs Act Will Deliver Cheaper Energy, More Jobs, and Responsible Growth", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a new fact sheet outlining key provisions of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, legislation that he unveiled with U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The landmark legislation will deliver cheaper energy, more jobs, and responsible growth across the United States.\n\nText of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act can be found here.\n\nHeinrich\u2019s press release announcing the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act can be found here.\n\nHeinrich\u2019s fact sheet can be found here and below.\n\nBipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act\n\nThe Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will deliver cheaper energy, good-paying jobs, and responsible growth, while protecting important environmental review and historic preservation processes.\n\nCheaper Energy\n\nAs demand increases, America needs more electricity, and we need it cheaper and faster. This deal will increase supply, expand the grid, and drive costs down for families and businesses.\n\nBuilds more transmission, faster by strengthening the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u2019s (FERC) \u201cbackstop\u201d siting authority \u2014 giving the federal government more authority to approve major interstate power lines \u2013 and allowing transmission applications to be processed simultaneously with state reviews, helping needed projects move through permitting faster.\n\nGets more energy onto the grid by:\n\nRequiring regional and interregional transmission planning that accounts for where new transmission is needed and plans ahead for future electricity demand, helping to get more electricity to the places that need it and putting downward pressure on electricity costs.\n\nRequiring grid-enhancing technologies and automated systems to speed up the process of connecting new energy projects to the grid and making better use of the grid we already have, increasing the supply available to consumers.\n\nRequiring wholesale electricity markets to allow distributed generation sources and virtual power plants to participate, helping meet growing demand with more available supply.\n\nForces data centers pay their fair share by requiring data centers to pay for all of their associated transmission costs, rather than relying on a voluntary structure, preventing costs from being passed on to American families or small businesses.\n\nGood-Paying Jobs\n\nAmerica has enormous energy and infrastructure needs, but we cannot create the jobs that come with building those projects if projects spend decades stuck in the permitting process.\n\nCreates jobs across the energy supply chain by boosting the build out of more transmission, clean energy, supply manufacturing, and other grid infrastructure.\n\nCreates greater certainty for projects permitted and financed across administrations by prohibiting any administration from delaying or blocking permitting of a class of energy projects \u2013 meaning no administration can block all solar, wind, or other class of energy project permits without facing legal action and fines.\n\nResponsible Growth\n\nGetting to a \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d on permitting faster does not mean eliminating environmental protections, Tribal consultation, or the ability to challenge projects in court. This deal keeps important safeguards in place, while creating clear timelines and rules for permitting projects.\n\nSets clear deadlines for environmental reviews \u2014 including a two-year deadline for Environmental Impact Statement reviews and a one-year deadline for Environmental Assessment reviews, with consequences for agencies that miss those deadlines. That means environmental reviews still happen, but not indefinitely.\n\nEstablishes a new National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) consultation process that runs alongside National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews with a defined time limit, securing a statutory role for Tribes in determining how projects affect historic and cultural resources and protecting Tribes\u2019 rights to formally consult during the processes \u2014 two things the Section 106 reforms attempted to eliminate.\n\nLimits the types of impacts that projects are required to mitigate, creating clearer boundaries around which effects a project must mitigate or minimize.\n\nSets clear limitations on when and how a project may be legally challenged.\n\nSets a 150-day deadline for legal challenges under the Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), NEPA, and NHPA.\n\nGenerally limits who can bring a legal challenge to people or groups that participated in the relevant comment period or Tribal consultation process.\n\nLimits when a court can temporarily stop a project from moving forward, while preserving the existing ability to seek that relief under the Administrative Procedures Act.\n\nAllows states to handle endangered species consultations if they have demonstrated staffing, expertise, and resource capacity to do so.\n\nClarifies the limits on state water-quality reviews (under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act) by limiting state certifications to water pollution directly caused by a specific source for gas pipelines and transmission lines and prohibiting use of the process to address unrelated issues.\n\nPrevents the federal government from changing the rules after the fact for certain wetlands and waterwaysby stopping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from preemptively or retroactively removing areas of land from the federal water-quality certification process.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-lee-capito-and-whitehouse-introduce-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act-of-2026", "Heinrich, Lee, Capito, and Whitehouse Introduce Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 to reform the federal environmental review and permitting process. This groundbreaking agreement will deliver cheaper energy, more jobs, and responsible growth across the United States.\n\nThe Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act provides certainty that permitted energy and infrastructure projects will retain their permits absent extraordinary circumstances, violations of law, or court order, as well as targeted reforms for various energy projects. This legislation reflects input from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and from a diverse group of stakeholders. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act also forces data centers to pay their fair share by requiring them to pay for all of their associated transmission costs.\n\n\u201cAmerica is entering a new era of energy demand. We have an enormous opportunity to build big things again to meet this moment \u2013 to build more generation, expand our grid, create more jobs, lower energy costs, and make sure we have the energy we need to compete. It should not take decades to build the infrastructure our country needs,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cOur Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will help us get to \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019 on energy projects faster, while protecting important environmental safeguards and protecting the ability of Tribes to formally consult during these processes. It will mean more energy on the grid, more good-paying jobs, and lower electricity costs for families and businesses. And as data centers drive demand for more power, it will ensure they pay their fair share of the grid upgrades they require \u2013 not leave that bill to American families. Our bill puts teeth behind that principle.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe once built projects like the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Empire State Building in years, not decades,\u201d said Lee. \u201cAmerica still has the resources and the talent, but what too often stands in the way is a permitting system that takes too long and costs too much. After years of work in Congress and many months of negotiations, I\u2019m proud we\u2019ve reached a bipartisan agreement to fix this broken process and get America back to building.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, our broken and outdated federal environmental review and permitting processes have stood in the way of energy reliability, secure jobs, modern infrastructure, and economic growth. The bipartisan reforms we secured in this deal will transform our nation\u2019s ability to power our economy and fuel future growth, while continuing to protect the land, water, and wildlife we all cherish. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate and the House, and President Trump to get this essential legislation signed into law so we can build the infrastructure America needs to grow and thrive,\u201d said Capito.\n\n\u201cThe American people want lower energy bills, and they want more clean energy. Our permitting reform plan gets us a long way toward both of those goals. If we can pass this bill, we will flood the grid with clean, affordable energy and make data centers start paying their fair share,\u201d said Whitehouse. \u201cLike all major pieces of bipartisan legislation, this bill is a compromise. We believe it is a compromise that will result in a brighter, cleaner, more affordable future.\u201d\n\nThe bill text is available here.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-on-vote-against-husted-backed-bill-that-fails-to-make-data-centers-pay-for-grid-upgrades", "Heinrich Statement on Vote Against Husted-Backed Bill that Fails to Make Data Centers Pay for Grid Upgrades", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement after voting against advancing U.S. Senator Jon Husted\u2019s (R-Ohio) Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation that fails to make AI data centers to pay their fair share of the grid upgrades they require \u2013 burdening American families with higher electricity costs.\n\n\u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act is exactly what Congress is known for: all message and no substance. If voluntary pledges and suggestions worked, families and small businesses wouldn\u2019t be staring down rate hikes right now.\n\n\u201cI want Congress to pass legislation with real teeth that will require data centers to pay their fair share of the grid upgrades they require and doesn\u2019t shift costs onto American families. Husted\u2019s bill fails to do both.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pushing for legislation that will actually hold AI data centers accountable for their energy usage and lower electricity bills for Americans.\u201d\n\nLast week, Heinrich blocked Husted\u2019s attempt to pass the Ratepayer Protection Act via a Unanimous Consent (UC) agreement and urged his Senate colleagues to instead pass his GRID Savings Act, which forces large load customers \u2014 like data centers \u2014 to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-heinrich-kelly-cantwell-call-on-states-to-stop-data-centers-from-passing-rising-costs-on-to-ratepayers/", "Luj\u00e1n, Heinrich, Kelly, Cantwell Call on States to Stop Data Centers from Passing Rising Costs on to Ratepayers", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Luj\u00e1n is one of only two U.S. Senators, and the only Democratic Senator, to have served as a state utility commissioner\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, called on Ann Rendahl and Jehmal Hudson, President and First Vice President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, to protect residential and small-business ratepayers from the cost of serving large data centers. Specifically, the senators urged state utility commissions to adopt a dedicated mechanism that applies to large data centers in its jurisdiction, so that data centers pay the full cost of the generation, transmission, and distribution built to serve them.\n\n\u201cWe write to ask NARUC and its member commissions to act now to protect residential and small business ratepayers from the cost of serving large data centers. Specifically, we ask that every state utility commission adopt a dedicated rate rider \u2014 a separate tariff mechanism \u2014 that applies to every large data center in its jurisdiction, so that data centers pay the full cost of the generation, transmission, and distribution built to serve them, as well as the cost of their use of existing generation, transmission and distribution,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cThe authority to set retail rates was delegated by Congress to the states. That is why we are writing to you. It is clear that unless states implement data center rate riders, consumers and small businesses will experience rate increases,\u201d concluded the senators.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear President Rendahl & First Vice President Hudson:\n\nWe write to ask NARUC and its member commissions to act now to protect residential and small business ratepayers from the cost of serving large data centers. Specifically, we ask that every state utility commission adopt a dedicated rate rider \u2014 a separate tariff mechanism \u2014 that applies to every large data center in its jurisdiction, so that data centers pay the full cost of the generation, transmission, and distribution built to serve them, as well as the cost of their use of existing generation, transmission and distribution. Furthermore, such a tariff should cover \u201cripple\u201d costs borne by all ratepayers, such as increased costs associated with ensuring the planning reserve margin and other grid stability requirements.\n\nData centers are the largest, fastest-growing electric load in the country. A single campus can require as much power as a mid-sized city, and utilities are proposing billions of dollars in new plants and lines to serve them. Under traditional cost-of-service ratemaking, much of that cost is spread across all customer classes. Without clear rules laying out cost responsibility, families, small businesses and other industry customers in New Mexico, Arizona, Washington and every other state will pay for infrastructure they did not ask for and may never use \u2014 including stranded assets if a data center scales back or leaves.\n\nWe ask NARUC and its member commissioners to turn their attention to this issue with the utmost priority and ask that NARUC develop model tariff language, technical support and resolutions to help members adopt data center riders that, at a minimum, include:\n\nFull cost recovery from the data center for any generation, transmission, or distribution investment made to serve it as well as the cost share of existing generation, transmission and distribution serving them;\n\nMinimum-bill or take-or-pay provisions \u2013 provisions that ensure data centers pay for the cost of infrastructure as it is constructed \u2013 with contract terms long enough to cover the life of the assets built for the load;\n\nCollateral, exit fees, and creditworthiness requirements so that other customers are not left with stranded costs;\n\nRules to include transparency, including public reporting of contracted load, energy use, and actual bills paid;\n\nRules that prevent a data center from shifting costs to other customers through selfsupply arrangements, including standby customers, or by contracting around the rider; and\n\nLanguage that requires data centers to, at minimum, comply with state clean energy and climate policies.\n\nSeveral of your member commissions \u2014 including Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, and Indiana \u2014 have already approved large-load tariffs that are directionally consistent with these principles. Because this is an area that is evolving rapidly and is of great complexity, NARUC is uniquely positioned to ensure that all state commissions have the resources and tools they need to make informed decisions on large load tariff design.\n\nThe authority to set retail rates was delegated by Congress to the states. That is why we are writing to you. It is clear that unless states implement data center rate riders, consumers and small businesses will experience rate increases. There is also precedent for this kind of action from NARUC. Therefore, we ask that NARUC take this up at its Annual Meeting in November and report back to us on the steps you and your members have taken.\n\nThank you for your leadership and for your partnership with the states in protecting the Americans we all serve.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-shares-doj-documents-regarding-dea-fentanyl-practices-whistleblower-reports/", "Luj\u00e1n Shares DOJ Documents Regarding DEA Fentanyl Practices, Whistleblower Reports", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "June AP Report Found that DEA Allowed Mass Amounts of Fentanyl Pills onto New Mexico Streets\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, shared the following documents for New Mexicans to read for themselves regarding the Drug Enforcement Agency\u2019s (DEA) fentanyl practices.\n\nSenator Luj\u00e1n led the N.M. Delegation calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to expand its review of federal fentanyl investigations to examine Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) practices dating back before 2024, with a specific focus on the DEA\u2019s fentanyl practices in New Mexico.\n\nFollowing the Associated Press report that the DEA allowed fentanyl pills onto New Mexico streets, Senator Luj\u00e1n has been briefed by DEA and DOJ officials and continues to press the federal government for more information to be released to the public.\n\nThe following documents are available through the U.S. Department of Justice website:\n\nNovember 2023: New Mexico DEA agent files complaint\n\nA New Mexico DEA agent filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that federal prosecutors had discouraged or prevented agents from stopping suspected fentanyl shipments during investigations, allowing large quantities of fentanyl to reach New Mexico communities.\n\nDecember 22, 2023: Office of Special Counsel (OSC) refers allegations to DOJ\n\nThe OSC found the allegations serious enough to require a DOJ investigation. OSC said there was a \u201csubstantial likelihood\u201d that the alleged conduct could involve violations of rules, abuse of authority, or a danger to the public.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-referral_redacted.pdf\n\nSeptember 3, 2024: DOJ investigation rejects allegations\n\nDOJ\u2019s Office of Professional Responsibility found no misconduct, finding that prosecutors and agents have discretion to let suspected drugs move rather than immediately seize them. It found the specific decisions it reviewed were reasonable under DOJ policy.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-agency-report.pdf\n\nSeptember 17, 2024: Whistleblower disputes DOJ\u2019s findings\n\nThe New Mexico whistleblower rejected the conclusions by the DOJ, arguing that important evidence was omitted from the report and that the authorities could have stopped the drugs without compromising larger investigations. He said that hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills were allowed to be distributed.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-whistleblower-comments_redacted.pdf\n\nSeptember 4, 2025: OSC closes review\n\nAfter reviewing DOJ\u2019s investigations and the whistleblower\u2019s objections, OSC told President Trump that DOJ\u2019s report met the legal requirements and that its findings \u201cappear reasonable.\u201d OSC accepted DOJ\u2019s conclusion that the allegations were not substantiated.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-letter-to-the-president-redacted.pdf\n\nJanuary 2026: DOJ Inspector General flags broader fentanyl challenge\n\nDOJ\u2019s Inspector General warned that chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl remain a major enforcement problem. While fentanyl-related substances have been scheduled, precursors, pre-precursors, and \u201cpre-pre-precursors\u201d remain unregulated, and the Inspector General said DOJ should pursue additional legislation and enforcement resources.\n\nLink: https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/TMPC-2025.pdf\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-senate-passage-of-the-taxpayer-assistance-and-service-act/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Senate Passage of the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Several Luj\u00e1n Authored Provisions Included in Bipartisan Tax Package\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, which included several provisions authored by Senator Luj\u00e1n:\n\n\u201cThe Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act is a commonsense bipartisan legislative package that will strengthen taxpayer rights, reduce unnecessary burdens, and make our tax system fairer. I\u2019m proud to have authored several provisions in this package to improve transparency, strengthen taxpayer protections, and help ensure the IRS works more efficiently for the American people.\n\n\u201cNow, with Senate passage, we are one step closer to delivering a tax system that better serves taxpayers with fairness, transparency, and accountability.\u201d\n\nIn July, Senator Luj\u00e1n introduced the Strengthening Taxpayer Advocacy Act, bipartisan legislation to empower the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) to better serve Americans navigating challenges with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Senator Luj\u00e1n also introduced a bipartisan package of three bills to improve transparency, fairness, and simplicity in the federal tax system. These pieces of legislation, led by Senator Luj\u00e1n, were included as provisions in the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-secures-senate-passage-of-legislation-to-transfer-a-portion-of-the-former-albuquerque-indian-school-campus-to-pueblos-for-the-indian-pueblo-cultural-center", "Heinrich Secures Senate Passage of Legislation to Transfer a Portion of the Former Albuquerque Indian School Campus to Pueblos for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced Senate passage of his Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2026, legislation that places portions of the former Albuquerque Indian School campus, currently managed by the General Services Administration, into trust for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.\n\n\u201cOur legislation will help the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center expand its reach, create new economic opportunities, foster entrepreneurship, and help local small businesses grow. Now that our bill has passed the Senate, I urge Speaker Mike Johnson and House Leadership to take it up and pass it without delay. This legislation will deliver an important win for the 19 Pueblos and for everyone who calls New Mexico home,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\nIn the Senate, the legislation is led by Heinrich and cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. In the House, it is led by U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and cosponsored by U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.) in the House.\n\n\u201cExpanding economic development and cultural education opportunities for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is critical for the 19 New Mexico Pueblos it serves. I cosponsored the Albuquerque Indian School Act because it will help the center grow, support job creation, and generate new revenue for New Mexico\u2019s Pueblos and our communities,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. \u201cHaving this bill pass the Senate is a vital step toward getting this bill across the finish line and signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe Albuquerque Indian School Act now heads to the House for final passage.\n\nThe Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2026 builds upon a longstanding, bipartisan effort to transfer the former Albuquerque Indian School campus and surrounding buildings to the 19 Pueblos in New Mexico for the development and growth of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a nationally recognized museum and cultural institution owned and operated by the Pueblos, dedicated to both preserving and perpetuating Pueblo history, culture, and art, while facilitating their future economic growth and long-term economic sustainability.\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\nLast month, Heinrich and Luj\u00e1n announced the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs passage of their Albuquerque Indian School Act.\n\nEarlier this summer, Heinrich testified in support of the bill and urged his colleagues to advance the legislation out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Watch the full video of Heinrich\u2019s testimony here.\n\nIn 2015, Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n, and the rest of the N.M. Delegation successfully passed into law the Albuquerque Indian School Land Transfer Act, legislation to place four tracts of land from the former Albuquerque Indian School into trust for the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, consolidating the last parcels of the old school property into the Albuquerque Indian School campus. This followed several prior bipartisan efforts, from 1969 to 2008, led by former U.S. Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), and former U.S. Representative Manuel Luj\u00e1n Jr. (R-N.M.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-nm-delegation-secure-key-funding-to-rebuild-roads-outside-of-wipp-in-carlsbad/", "Luj\u00e1n, NM Delegation Secure Key Funding to Rebuild Roads Outside of WIPP in Carlsbad", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "$10 million in federal funding will help improve driver safety and nuclear waste containment\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) secured $10 million in federal funding to repair the US 285 Relief Route, a critical road for freight trucks transporting nuclear materials to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad.\n\n\u201cWIPP is critical to our national security, and it is vital that we have the infrastructure needed to support its operations and safely manage the disposal of nuclear waste,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have worked to bring this $10 million in federal funding home to rebuild the roads around WIPP that workers and the Carlsbad community rely on. I look forward to continuing my work to deliver for communities in every corner of New Mexico.\u201d\n\n\u201cWIPP serves a critical role for nuclear waste storage in our state and for our nation,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cThis funding is much needed to ensure the safety and improvement of transportation of volatile materials to the facility. We cannot accept any shortcuts or funding shortfalls with a mission this sensitive, and this important. I am proud to have secured this funding working with Senator Heinrich despite the ongoing challenges releasing these funds from the Department of Energy.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast appropriations cycle, I fought like hell to secure this funding \u2013 to get New Mexico more of the funding we deserve for our role in maintaining the nation\u2019s only deep geologic repository for radioactive defense waste. I am extremely proud to have succeeded in delivering this $10 million to help rebuild the roads to, from, and around WIPP and strengthen the infrastructure that workers and the Carlsbad community rely on every day,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cBut our work isn\u2019t done. I\u2019ll keep fighting to increase the federal government\u2019s support of road and infrastructure improvements in New Mexico, including through my WIPP Economic Assistance Assurance Act.\u201d\n\nWIPP, located near Carlsbad, New Mexico, is the nation\u2019s only deep geologic repository for the disposal of transuranic waste generated by the United States\u2019 nuclear weapons program. Since opening in 1999, WIPP has played a critical role in supporting the national defense mission by managing legacy nuclear materials and supporting national security-related cleanup efforts across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-vasquez-announce-10-million-to-rebuild-roads-outside-of-wipp-in-carlsbad", "Heinrich, Vasquez Announce $10 Million to Rebuild Roads Outside of WIPP in Carlsbad", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.) announced $10 million in federal funding to repair the US 285 Relief Route, a critical road for freight trucks transporting nuclear materials to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad.\n\nIn January, Heinrich announced he had successfully included $10 million in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Appropriations to improve roads leading to and from WIPP, through recommended payments from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to the State of New Mexico. Since joining the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich has been a steadfast advocate for appropriating these funds. This will be the first time that funds have been appropriated for this purpose since 2014. These repairs will improve safety for WIPP workers, shipments, and the surrounding communities.\n\nEarlier this year, Heinrich also introduced the WIPP Economic Assistance Assurance Act to amend the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act to ensure sustained, inflation-adjusted funding for New Mexico communities to maintain vital infrastructure projects, such as road maintenance and repairs for the duration of WIPP\u2019s operation.\n\n\u201cLast appropriations cycle, I fought like hell to secure this funding \u2013 to get New Mexico more of the funding we deserve for our role in maintaining the nation\u2019s only deep geologic repository for radioactive defense waste. I am extremely proud to have succeeded in delivering this $10 million to help rebuild the roads to, from, and around WIPP and strengthen the infrastructure that workers and the Carlsbad community rely on every day,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cBut our work isn\u2019t done. I\u2019ll keep fighting to increase the federal government\u2019s support of road and infrastructure improvements in New Mexico, including through my WIPP Economic Assistance Assurance Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cNew Mexico and WIPP are the backbone of our nation\u2019s nuclear program,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cThe hardworking New Mexicans who run WIPP provide a critical service to the entire country \u2013 and the least the DOE can do is hold up their end of the bargain and meet their safety needs. I\u2019m proud to have worked with Senator Heinrich to deliver this funding, and I\u2019ll continue to deliver for the needs of our district.\u201d\n\nWIPP, located near Carlsbad, New Mexico, is the nation\u2019s only deep geologic repository for the disposal of transuranic waste generated by the United States\u2019 nuclear weapons program. Since opening in 1999, WIPP has played a critical role in supporting the national defense mission by managing legacy nuclear materials and supporting national security-related cleanup efforts across the U.S. Department of Energy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-calls-on-senate-leadership-to-establish-bipartisan-select-committee-on-ai/", "Luj\u00e1n Calls on Senate Leadership to Establish Bipartisan Select Committee on AI", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to establish a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure that Congress can meet the unprecedented pace, scale, and rapidly advancing challenges associated with AI.\n\n\u201cAI is accelerating faster than our existing legislative processes, committee structures, and technical capacity can consistently evaluate and respond. The recent news of increasing incidents makes it clear that this is no longer a theoretical concern,\u201d wrote Senator Luj\u00e1n.\n\n\u201cA bipartisan Select Committee on AI would complement, not displace, the work of existing committees. This approach would dedicate a platform to develop novel AI policy recommendations, hold hearings, and help coordinate across existing committees,\u201d continued Senator Luj\u00e1n.\n\n\u201cEstablishing this bipartisan Committee gives Congress the institutional capacity to pull in expertise to understand this technology, drive its benefits, anticipate its consequences, and act with the urgency and responsibility that is demanded of us in our elected roles,\u201d concluded Senator Luj\u00e1n.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Leader Thune and Leader Schumer:\n\nI respectfully write today to urge the establishment of a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure that Congress can meet the unprecedented pace, scale, and breadth of challenges presented by a rapidly advancing artificial intelligence landscape.\n\nAI is accelerating faster than our existing legislative processes, committee structures, and technical capacity can consistently evaluate and respond. The recent news of increasing incidents makes it clear that this is no longer a theoretical concern. In July, AI agents operating during cybersecurity evaluations were not properly maintained within their intended environments, allowing them unauthorized access to external systems. In independent testing by the United Kingdom\u2019s AI Security Institute, frontier models repeatedly took unsanctioned actions against real people and organizations, including deceptive attempts to inject malicious code into external projects.\n\nAt the same time, leading AI researchers and developers are publicly warning that this technology is advancing beyond our ability to reliably understand or control it. Over 1,300 employees from frontier AI companies recently called for the United States to develop the technical and governance tools necessary to deliberately pace frontier AI development. Researchers and leaders at top AI laboratories have also publicly raised the possibility of catastrophic outcomes, suggesting there\u2019s a 10% to 20% chance of existential risks associated with these platforms. These warnings, going back as far as the early 2000s, deserve our full attention and serious examination\u2014not because Congress should assume any prediction to be correct, but because we should listen to the developers when they say our existing governing structure, safeguards, and defenses are not sufficient.\n\nWe are seeing this threat landscape continue to broaden. Just last week, Anthropic shared their threat intelligence report documenting AI-enabled cyber operations, influence operations, surveillance, biological misuse, conventional weapons development, and increasingly autonomous attacks. In some cases, AI systems have been used to automate reconnaissance, exploitation, and data theft simultaneously against multiple victims. These developments touch nearly every major area of policy: national security, economic competitiveness, cybersecurity, biotechnology, energy, communications, financial markets, workforce development, and more.\n\nOur challenge is not a lack of congressional interest; it is that AI does not fit neatly within a single policy lane. As delineated above, each committee has an essential role to play, but the results become fragmented and competitive rather than working together to develop a common technical understanding and comprehensive legislative framework. Task forces, caucuses, and working groups have helped educate and build consensus, but they are not a substitute for a standing institution with the capacity to develop broad and deep expertise, conduct sustained oversight, and translate findings into durable and bipartisan legislation.\n\nA bipartisan Select Committee on AI would complement, not displace, the work of existing committees. This approach would dedicate a platform to develop novel AI policy recommendations, hold hearings, and help coordinate across existing committees. We have the responsibility to understand and safely guide these technologies that are reshaping our economy, innovation, and national security before events force us to only react. Establishing this bipartisan Committee gives Congress the institutional capacity to pull in expertise to understand this technology, drive its benefits, anticipate its consequences, and act with the urgency and responsibility that is demanded of us in our elected roles.\n\nI respectfully urge your prompt consideration of this request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-commemorating-national-public-lands-day", "Heinrich Statement Commemorating National Public Lands Day", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on National Public Lands Day:\n\n\u201cOur public lands are part of our shared identity \u2013 they are a physical manifestation of our Jeffersonian democracy and belong to all of us, no matter where you come from or how much money you have.\n\n\u201cBut over the past two years, our public lands have been under relentless attacks. President Trump is trying to rip public lands from public hands, negotiating behind closed doors to sell off our national treasures to private equity firms and foreign mining companies, leaving our public lands behind a for sale sign.\n\n\u201cTo rub even more salt in the wound: our national parks are facing billions of dollars in deferred maintenance and severe staff shortages, while $1.8 billion of your taxpayer dollars are being spent on President Trump\u2019s D.C. vanity projects. That\u2019s bullshit.\n\n\u201cOn this National Public Lands Day, go out and enjoy our public lands. Then share why they matter to you and continue to fight to protect these lands for future generations.\u201d\n\nAs Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich is leading the fight in Congress to protect our public lands, expand access to national parks, and hold the Trump administration accountable for its attacks on our treasured places \u2014 from efforts to erase history in our national parks to diverting funding to Trump\u2019s vanity projects.\n\nThis month, Heinrich joined a bipartisan group of 153 lawmakers in urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch. During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Heinrich criticized the Trump administration for its plan to exchange public land in Yosemite National Park for private development.\n\nThis month, Heinrich led his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum demanding that the Trump administration stop work on President Trump\u2019s commemorative arch on federal property, which federal officials have admitted will harm historic sites on public lands, including Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.\n\nThis month, Heinrich spoke in support of the Roadless Rule at a New Mexico Wild community event, encouraging New Mexicans to submit public comment in support of preserving the Roadless Rule. The public has until October 6, 2026 to submit comments on the Trump administration\u2019s repeal of the Roadless Rule, which is the last chance for Americans to voice their opposition and help keep millions of acres of public lands in public hands. You can read more about Heinrich\u2019s actions to protect the Roadless Rule here.\n\nLast month, Heinrich led his colleagues in opposing the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) proposal to overturn the 2024 Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule (the 2024 Waste Prevention Rule). The move will increase pollution on public lands, reduce domestic energy supply, expose nearby communities to avoidable health risks, and waste publicly owned natural gas, costing Americans tens of millions in foregone revenue.\n\nLast month, Heinrich joined top Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown to audit and assess the full scope and cost of the White House ballroom project.\n\nLast month, Heinrich sent a letter requesting that the DOI Deputy Inspector General Caryl Brzymialkiewicz investigate what Department officials knew \u2013 and when they knew it \u2013 about engineering failures at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and whether Department employees withheld evidence from federal prosecutors.\n\nIn July, Heinrich criticized legislation that removes protections for public lands, emphasizing the need for bipartisan collaboration within the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Heinrich additionally fact-checked Trump administration actions that undo protections for the Chaco Canyon Cultural Protection Zone. You can read about Heinrich\u2019s actions to protect Chaco Canyon here and here.\n\nIn July, Heinrich sent a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S Park Chief of Police Scott Brecht demanding answers and transparency about the U.S. Park Police\u2019s new vehicle pursuit policy following news reports that an innocent bystander, Nolberto Armando Sanabria Meza, a 46-year-old food delivery driver, was hit and tragically killed in D.C. by a driver being chased by U.S. Park Police.\n\nIn June, Heinrich helped advance the America the Beautiful Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Angus King (I-Maine) to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, out of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\n\nIn June, Heinrich sent a letter demanding answers from DOI Secretary Doug Burgum about the Trump administration redirecting tens of millions of dollars from fees paid to the NPS to fund President Trump\u2019s vanity projects in Washington, D.C. \u2013 including redirecting funds collected at New Mexico sites such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Bandelier National Monument.\n\nIn April, during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine the Trump administration\u2019s Budget Request for the DOI Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), Heinrich grilled DOI Secretary Doug Burgum about the Department\u2019s draconian staff cuts at the NPS.\n\nIn March, Heinrich joined lawmakers in filing an amicus brief that would put a stop to President Trump\u2019s plan to construct a commemorative arch on federal property. The amicus brief argues that the President\u2019s plan is illegal unless Congress authorizes it.\n\nIn March, Heinrich led his colleagues in delivering remarks on the Senate floor in condemning and drawing attention to the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to erase American history from public lands.\n\nIn March, Heinrich sent a letter to DOI demanding answers from the NPS following reports that NPS staff across the country are removing signage from national parks about slavery, Tribal history, and climate change.\n\nIn February, Heinrich led his colleagues in calling on DOI Secretary Doug Burgum to halt efforts to create the Department\u2019s new U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), citing potential life-or-death consequences that could come as a result of decoupling wildfire management from land management agencies, and emphasizing concerns related to recent reductions in staffing, combined with improperly severing wildfire management from land stewardship.\n\nLast December, during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks hearing to consider 26 pending bills, Heinrich criticized the Trump administration for removing fee-free admission on Juneteenth and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.\n\nLast October, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor, criticizing Republicans for pushing forward Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval targeting BLM Resource Management Plans (RMPs) that would undo protections for national parks, including the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.\n\nLast October, during the government shutdown, Heinrich urged the DOI Secretary Doug Burgum to classify the Department\u2019s staff as essential during the Republican government shutdown to maintain the health and safety of Americans who visit public lands, wildlife refuges, and national park sites.\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich successfully fought Senate Republican provisions to sell off public lands in the Big Bad Bill, lead an amendment to prevent the privatization of our public lands, hosted a roundtable and sounded the alarm about New Mexico public lands that were at risk of being sold off by Republicans, continuously uplifted New Mexicans\u2019 voices who called his office to raise their concern with Republicans\u2019 plan to sell off these lands, and released a statement immediately criticizing Senate Republicans\u2019 plan to sell off public lands following the release of the reconciliation text.\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich blasted the Trump administration for its plans to transfer national park units to state control, criticizing the administration for \u201ccutting off our access to public lands and devastating state economies in the process, overwhelming state budgets and dismantling the systems that keep public lands running.\u201d\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich grilled the DOI Secretary Doug Burgum over the Trump administration\u2019s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget request for the Department, which slashes funding for national parks and guts staffing for the agency.\n\nIn May of 2025, Heinrich sent a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum, demanding answers from the Trump administration regarding its plans to transfer National Park System units from federal management. The letter follows Heinrich\u2019s questioning of Secretary Burgum during a Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, where Burgum failed to provide sufficient answers on the Trump administration\u2019s plan to transfer hundreds of sites managed by the NPS to the states.\n\nIn January of 2025, Heinrich\u2019s Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act and Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act, which extends free access to national parks and other public lands to all American fourth grade students and their families through 2031 \u2014 were signed into law as part of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The broader bipartisan package bolsters outdoor recreation and promotes public lands in New Mexico and across the United States.", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-whitehouse-joint-statement-on-permitting-deal-to-deliver-lower-energy-costs-good-paying-jobs-and-responsible-growth", "Heinrich, Whitehouse Joint Statement on Permitting Deal to Deliver Lower Energy Costs, Good-Paying Jobs, and Responsible Growth", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, issued the following statement on the status of a permitting reform deal:\n\n\u201cTo be clear: permitting negotiations are ongoing, many of the major hurdles have been overcome, and we believe there is a good deal to be had. We\u2019re focused on getting Americans cheaper energy, good-paying jobs, and responsible growth. To get that right, we need good, strong, legislative text and deliberation.\n\n\u201cOur goal is to deliver for Americans struggling to pay their utility bills. And to do that, we must give Senators the opportunity to read and engage with legislation before they\u2019re asked to vote on it. Rushing that process isn\u2019t just unhelpful, it could sabotage the entire effort.\n\n\u201cWe are talking about major changes to how America builds energy and infrastructure. Getting that right has to matter more than election-year deadlines. We are committed to doing what\u2019s needed to get this across the finish line in this Congress, and we look forward to working with the White House and our fellow Members to do that.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-legislation-to-secure-americas-satellite-systems-unanimously-passes-senate/", "Luj\u00e1n Legislation to Secure America\u2019s Satellite Systems Unanimously Passes Senate", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Secure Space Act, legislation led by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media. The bipartisan Secure Space Act would protect America\u2019s satellite systems from foreign threats and strengthen national security.\n\n\u201cAs satellite technology continues to advance, so do the threats to our national security, and we must act swiftly to safeguard our critical infrastructure,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cI\u2019m proud that the Senate unanimously passed my Secure Space Act, legislation that blocks satellite licenses for untrusted entities and protects our skies from foreign adversaries. This legislation is necessary to defend our communications networks from foreign entities that seek to undermine our security and technological leadership.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Secure Space Act prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellite systems to any entity or its affiliates that produce or provide communications equipment or services deemed a national security risk.\n\nThe legislation amends the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to extend this prohibition to both geostationary and non-geostationary orbit satellite systems, including gateway stations. It applies to new licenses and authorizations issued after the bill\u2019s enactment and requires the FCC to establish implementing regulations within one year.\n\nClick here to read text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-trumps-illegal-pocket-recissions-that-strips-nearly-1-billion-from-american-families/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Trump\u2019s Illegal Pocket Recissions that Strips Nearly $1 Billion From American Families", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after the Trump administration released an illegal \u201cpocket rescission\u201d that would strip nearly $1 billion in funds meant to support American families:\n\n\u201cDonald Trump and Russ Vought are illegally stripping away nearly $1 billion in funding for kids, K-12 students, small businesses, and families across America.\n\n\u201cAt a time when families are being squeezed by the rising costs of food, fuel, and other essentials, these cuts will only make life harder for New Mexicans.\n\n\u201cSenate Democrats will fight back against these illegal cuts, defend Congress\u2019 authority, and lower costs for families.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-moreno-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-to-recognize-september-as-latin-music-appreciation-month/", "Luj\u00e1n, Moreno Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize September as Latin Music Appreciation Month", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) introduced a bipartisan resolution to celebrate the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to the musical heritage of the United States and to designate September 2026 as Latin Music Appreciation Month. The resolution recognizes various Latin music styles, instruments, artists, bands, and journalists who have inspired and influenced American culture for generations. U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) plans to lead the resolution in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cAs one of the only Hispanics in the United States Senate, I\u2019m honored to introduce this bipartisan resolution that recognizes and celebrates Hispanic and Latino achievements in music and culture,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cAcross the U.S. and around the world, Hispanic and Latino artists have made significant contributions to musical heritage and driven cultural trends. This month, we can all take a moment to celebrate Hispanic and Latino artists and inspire future generations of artists and performers.\u201d\n\n\u201cLatin music is woven into the story of our nation, and its influence reaches communities across the United States and around the world. You can hear it everywhere, from reggaet\u00f3n at celebrations to Latin ballads at weddings. It is the soundtrack of our lives. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve worked to ensure more Latino artists are a part of the prestigious National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. Alongside Senator Luj\u00e1n, I look forward to calling September \u2018Latin Music Appreciation Month\u2019 to honor the artists who have shaped our nation\u2019s culture,\u201d said Representative Castro.\n\n\u201cLatin music is one of the fastest-growing forces in the American music industry, driving streams, filling stadiums, topping the charts, and creating jobs for artists, producers, songwriters, and crews across the country,\u201d said Nathaly Maurice, Founder and President of Operativo, who helped spearhead the effort alongside legendary music producer and executive Emilio Estefan. \u201cThis resolution recognizes what the industry already knows: Latin music is essential to the business of American music. We\u2019re grateful to Senators Luj\u00e1n and Moreno for coming together across party lines to honor the artists and professionals who built that success and the next generation working to carry it forward.\u201d\n\nFull text of the resolution is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-voting-for-the-14th-time-to-end-trumps-war-with-iran/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Voting for the 14th Time to End Trump\u2019s War with Iran", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after voting for the 14th time to end President Trump\u2019s war with Iran:\n\n\u201cI just voted for the 14th time to end Donald Trump\u2019s disastrous war with Iran and bring our troops home.\n\n\u201cAt least 19 servicemembers have lost their lives, many remain in harm\u2019s way, gas is over $4.53 a gallon, and record diesel prices are squeezing our farmers and working families.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve opposed this war since day one, and I won\u2019t stop fighting to bring our troops home and lower costs for New Mexicans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-introduces-legislation-to-support-investments-to-build-a-more-resilient-reliable-grid", "Heinrich Introduces Legislation to Support Investments to Build a More Resilient, Reliable Grid", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "The bill creates an investment tax credit to boost construction of significant transmission projects across the nation, could create 1 million jobs & help cut electricity costs by 0ver $27 billion annually\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act, legislation to incentivize the construction of new electric transmission infrastructure to help meet growing electricity demand, strengthen the grid, and lower costs for customers.\n\nThe Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act will provide a targeted 30% investment tax credit (ITC) to support investments in large-scale transmission projects and grid-enhancing technologies that help to provide consumers with low-cost, reliable electricity.\n\nAt a time when energy costs are already through the roof, Americans need solutions that can bring down the cost of electricity while making sure our grid can keep up with growing demand. According to an analysis by ACORE and Grid Strategies, a 30% investment tax credit for transmission projects would create more than 1 million new American jobs building and maintaining transmission projects. Transmission expansion could save American families and businesses up to $27.7 billion per year on their residential electricity bills, according to Grid Strategies and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG).\n\n\u201cAs our energy demand increases, we need to improve our grid infrastructure and invest in building more transmission lines that deliver on the promise of reliable, affordable, and clean power,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cAt a time when families are already facing sky-high energy costs, we need to make sure our investments in the grid actually help bring those costs down. My Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act will do just that by incentivizing private investors to put their capital behind building critical energy infrastructure projects, creating long-term certainty, starting from planning to the construction of transmission projects.\u201d\n\nThe Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act could be applied for the following investments:\n\nLarge significant transmission lines and line upgrades that cross certain geographic jurisdictions or are at least 100 miles which are:\n\nAt least 500 MW in capacity\n\nAt least 345 kV AC or 200 kV DC in voltage\n\nGenerator-tie lines and network upgrades to connect additional electricity supply and storage to the grid.\n\nInnovative technologies such as advanced transmission conductors and grid-enhancing technologies.\n\nThe Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act would provide a 10-year tax credit. Starting in 2026, all qualifying transmission projects that are placed in service would qualify for the credit and any qualifying project that starts construction before December 31, 2036, could claim the credit. The Grid Resiliency Tax Credit would support investments in new transmission projects, modifications to existing transmission projects, interconnection, subcomponents, and grid-enhancing technologies.\n\nThe Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act is endorsed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA), Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the American Public Power Association (APPA), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Oceti Sakowin Power Authority (OSPA), Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), SouthWestern Power Group, Pattern Energy, ACORE, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).\n\n\u201cInvesting in transmission infrastructure is critically important to meet soaring electricity demand and maintain a reliable grid. As electric cooperatives make the investments necessary to achieve these goals, having access to the transmission investment tax credit is crucial to reducing costs for consumers. We appreciate Sen. Heinrich\u2019s leadership on this issue and his commitment to ensuring that all Americans reap the benefits of this critical federal resource,\u201d said Jim Matheson, CEO of the NationalRural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).\n\n\u201cWe applaud Sen. Heinrich\u2019s reintroduction of the Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act, which would leverage private capital to build the new transmission capacity needed to meet today\u2019s surging electricity demand. If enacted into law, the Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act would unleash historic grid infrastructure investment, enhance system security and reliability, and help keep electricity prices affordable for the customers we serve,\u201d said Patrick Reiten, Senior Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway Energy.\n\n\u201cCustomers nationwide are facing rising electricity costs, including increasing transmission costs, which are reflected in monthly bills. Senator Heinrich\u2019s bill would help address that challenge by reducing transmission investment expenses, including for public power utilities, which would access the credit\u2019s benefits through elective pay. This allows community-owned, not-for-profit public power utilities to receive the full investment incentive, keeping benefits local, supporting grid reliability, and reducing customers\u2019 transmission rates,\u201d said Scott Corwin, President and CEO of the American Public Power Association (APPA).\n\n\u201cIBEW members proudly build, operate, and maintain our nation's bulk electric grid, and Sen. Heinrich's proposed tax credit will spur the massive transmission buildout that our country urgently needs. This bill will catalyze private investment to create thousands of good-paying jobs for the lineworkers who build these projects while improving reliability and lowering costs for consumers, and the IBEW looks forward to working with Congress to pass this important legislation,\u201d said Kenneth Cooper, International President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).\n\n\u201cAcross the Great Plains, Tribal lands hold some of the strongest renewable energy potential in the country, but inadequate transmission capacity remains one of the biggest barriers to bringing that power to market. The Oceti Sakowin Power Authority strongly supports the Resiliency Tax Credit Act, and we thank Senator Heinrich for his efforts to accelerate investment in the high-voltage transmission infrastructure our country urgently needs. Expanding transmission is fundamental to unlocking Tribal clean energy resources, advancing energy sovereignty, meeting America\u2019s growing energy needs, and creating lasting economic opportunity for Tribal communities,\u201d said Lyle Jack, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oceti Sakowin Power Authority (OSPA), a Tribal utility authority owned by seven Sioux Tribes in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cThe Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) supports Senator Martin Heinrich's legislation establishing a 30% investment tax credit for qualifying transmission infrastructure. Expanding the nation's transmission system is essential. Rising demand, mounting reliability pressures, and long interconnection queues all point to the same conclusion: America needs more wires, substations, and switchyards, and it needs them soon. By taking a technology-neutral approach, the bill focuses on the infrastructure itself rather than any generation resource. That is the right frame. Every customer and every resource depend on a stronger grid,\u201dsaid Vern Lund, CEO of the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC).\n\n\u201cAmerica's electric grid is under mounting strain from record demand growth, and the tools to relieve that strain \u2014 including grid-enhancing technologies like advanced conductors \u2014 already exist and are ready for deployment. What's needed now is a policy framework that makes building them easier,\" said Will Hupman, SVP of Government Affairs of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). \"Sen. Heinrich's Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act does exactly that, offering an investment tax credit for qualified, regionally significant electric power transmission or generator-tie lines that meet rigorous performance standards for capacity, efficiency, and resilience. By providing an incentive to deploy high-performing transmission technology rather than just new poles and wires, Senator Heinrich's legislation will help deliver the faster capacity expansion our economy needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur country cannot meet our ever-growing energy needs without more modern transmission. But the patient capital required to work through the approval process, and then the high cost of construction, limits who is willing to take on necessary and large transmission projects. An Investment Tax Credit is one of the best vehicles to bring key investors and developers to the table to grow our grid. We deeply thank Senator Heinrich for his continued dedication and work to this end and are so appreciative for how much he prioritizes smart, needed transmission policy,\u201d said Darryl Sockwell, General Manager of SouthWestern Power Group.\n\n\u201cA stable policy environment is key to unlocking investment in American energy infrastructure to strengthen grid reliability, support economic growth, and deliver affordable energy to communities across the country. Meeting growing energy demand requires significant investment in transmission, which serves to both improve reliability and provide the backbone to efficiently utilize both existing and new generation assets. Senator Heinrich\u2019s Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act recognizes the critical role transmission plays in advancing these priorities,\u201d said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy.\n\n\u201cWe need to add enough electricity supply to our grid by 2030 to power New York City 15 times over. That pace of growth is unlike anything we\u2019ve seen, and this bill is a constructive step toward preparing our grid to affordably and reliably deliver that power,\u201d said Ray Long, President and CEO of ACORE. \u201cWe at ACORE look forward to working across the aisles of Congress to deliver bipartisan solutions to grid modernization, permitting reform, and energy security.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill supports smart investments to help us build the grid that Americans deserve,\u201d said Grace Henley, tax attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council. \u201cWe need a resilient grid for the 21st century that delivers affordable, clean, and reliable energy across the nation.\u201d\n\nA fact sheet of the bill is here.\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.\n\nThis Congress, as Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich has introduced multiple bills aimed at strengthening our electrical grid and lowering energy costs for families.\n\nLast month, Heinrich introduced the GRID Savings Act, legislation that aims to ensure that the biggest new electricity users play by the same basic rules that have applied to new power plants for two decades, while increasing transparency, protecting grid reliability, and making sure that families and businesses aren\u2019t left paying for infrastructure that only serves new, high-demand customers. Last week, Heinrich took to the Senate floor to encourage his colleagues to put the GRID Savings Act up for a vote, however, Senate Republicans blocked the effort.\n\nIn July, Heinrich introduced the Grid Connection and Congestion Management Act, which would require grid operators to establish a fast-track process for connecting new energy projects to the electric grid, reducing delays and easing congestion.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-kim-introduce-legislation-to-address-rising-costs-of-school-meals-help-end-childhood-hunger-in-america", "Heinrich, Kim Introduce Legislation to Address Rising Costs of School Meals, Help End Childhood Hunger in America", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act, legislation to make it easier for students to access quality, nutritious school meals.\n\nSchool meals help shape lifelong healthy eating habits, and research shows that students who participate in school meal programs have better overall diet quality than nonparticipants. But as the cost of food and equipment continues to rise, school districts are struggling to keep up. The Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act will give school districts the certainty they need to strengthen their meal programs, provide nutritious meals to students, and plan for the future.\n\n\u201cNew Mexico has shown that when we make healthy school meals available to every student, we give kids a better chance to focus, learn, and succeed. But schools across the country are facing a financial crisis, with the skyrocketing cost of food, equipment, and labor making it harder to put nutritious meals on the table. My Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act will give schools the resources and certainty they need to serve healthy meals, buy more food from local farmers, and make sure every kid in America has the food they need to learn and thrive,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\n\u201cKids can\u2019t learn if they\u2019re hungry, and our schools can\u2019t get them nutritious food if they\u2019re struggling with stretched budgets. As a parent, I know there\u2019s nothing more important than being there for your kid; as a Senator, I know there\u2019s nothing more important than using our voice to stand up for all kids. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Heinrich to introduce this bill and hope our colleagues join us in standing up for America\u2019s kids,\u201d said Kim.\n\nUnder federal law, approximately 71% of all New Mexican students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. New Mexico enacted universal free school meals in 2023 when Senate Bill 4 was signed into law, which covers the cost of universal school meals after federal reimbursements to ensure all students receive free meals.\n\nIn the School Nutrition Association\u2019s School Year (SY) 2025-26 School Nutrition Trends Report, nearly all respondents reported challenges related to costs. 99% of respondents cited the need for more funding for their programs with 98% reporting challenges with the cost of food; 95% reported challenges with the cost of labor; and 95% also reported challenges with the cost of equipment. Additionally, over half of respondents shared that they have \u201cserious concern\u201d about the financial sustainability of their program in three years.\n\nA new report found that meal revenues \u2014 including federal reimbursements, paid meals, and \u00e0 la carte sales \u2014 covered only an average of 81% of program expenses. A July 2026 report also revealed that 35% of school meal programs operated at a deficit at the end of the 2023-24 school year, nearly double the 18% reported in 2021\u201322.\n\nThe Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act permanently increases the federal reimbursement level for all free, reduced-price, and paid-rate school meals by 45 cents for every lunch served and 28 cents for every breakfast served, with a yearly adjustment\u2014 making it easier for school districts to provide healthy meals to students.\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.\n\nThis legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).\n\nThe Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act has the support of more than a dozen organizations in New Mexico and across the country, including the School Nutrition Association, New Mexico School Nutrition Association, New Mexico Appleseed, Roadrunner Food Bank, Farm to Table New Mexico, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Urban School Food Alliance, New Mexico Voices for Children, Chef Ann Foundation, National Farm to School Network, American Heart Association, National Education Association, National Education Association-NM, Superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools, Food Research & Action Center, and National Parent Teacher Association, Share Our Strength - No Kid Hungry campaign.\n\n\"With prices rising for everything from fresh produce to kitchen equipment and skilled labor, federal reimbursements no longer cover the cost of preparing healthy school meals,\" said School Nutrition Association President Ashley Powell, PhD, RD, FAND, SNS. \"To meet updated federal nutrition standards, schools need additional funds to purchase more fresh, whole foods and invest in kitchen upgrades and culinary training. The Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act will ensure school meal programs have the necessary resources to fuel students for success in and out of the classroom.\"\n\n\"The New Mexico School Nutrition Association proudly supports Senator Martin Heinrich's Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act. School nutrition professionals across our state see firsthand how critical a well-nourished day is to a child\u2019s ability to focus, learn, and grow. By permanently increasing federal reimbursement rates for school meals, this legislation provides our school food authorities with the vital resources they need to combat rising food costs, enhance daily menus, and successfully sustain New Mexico's commitment to universal free school meals. We applaud Senator Heinrich\u2019s continued leadership in ensuring that no child has to face the school day on an empty stomach,\" said New Mexico School Nutrition Association Legislative Chair and Director of Student Nutrition at Hobbs Municipal Schools Sonya Moore, SNS.\n\n\u201cRoadrunner Food Bank is once again honored and committed to endorse Senator Heinrich\u2019s Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act. We believe that every child should have consistent access to the nutritious meals they need to be successful in school and in life. By increasing reimbursement for school breakfasts and lunches, this legislation will help reduce childhood food insecurity in every state. It will also help strengthen New Mexico\u2019s own groundbreaking universal school meals program,\u201d said Roadrunner Food Bank President and CEO Dana Yost.\n\n\u201cOne of the most powerful tools we have in education is the USDA school meal program. It is an evidence-based antidote to chronic absenteeism, low academic performance, and disruptive classroom behavior. USDA school meals provide critical nutrition to children for brain growth, focus, and behavior at school. Ample research shows that there is a high correlation between USDA school breakfast and lunch with higher test scores, improved attendance rates and even better behavior in class. We are grateful to Senator Heinrich for making sure kids cannot just show up to school, but thrive when they are there,\u201d said Child Poverty Expert and Founder of New Mexico Appleseed Jennifer Ramo.\n\n\u201cAs one of the first states to provide healthy school meals to every student, we know the significant value of federal meal reimbursements through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. With federal cuts impacting SNAP enrollment and rising costs of food, it's more important than ever to increase the reimbursements for school meal programs so we can continue to keep our students fed and ready to learn,\u201d said Director of Policy at New Mexico Voices for Children Emily Wildau.\n\n\"Every child deserves to come to school ready to learn, and we know that is much harder when a child is hungry,\u201d said Superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools Dr. Christine Griffin. \u201cAt SFPS, we see every day the difference healthy school meals make for our students and families. Universal school meals remove one more barrier for students, ease some of the financial pressure on families, and allow our kids to focus on learning instead of worrying about their next meal. We appreciate Senator Martin Heinrich\u2019s continued support for school nutrition programs and his understanding that taking care of our students is an important part of helping them succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cIncreasing investment in school meals is one of the best ways to ensure every kid gets the nutrition they need to thrive, and that school nutrition professionals have the resources to do the local purchasing and healthy menu planning they strive for,\u201d said National Farm to School Network Executive Director Jessica Gudmundson.\n\n\"Schools want to cook healthier food for students, but the outdated federal meal reimbursement rate is holding them back,\u201d said Chef Ann Foundation CEO and Co-Founder Mara Fleishman. \u201cRaising this rate is the most direct way we can help all schools in every state unlock better meals for kids and fairer wages for our essential school food professionals. We believe passing this legislation is an absolutely necessary step toward prioritizing children's health in America, and we're grateful to Senator Heinrich for championing this critical effort.\"\n\n\u201cHealthy school meals are an investment in student success. By increasing federal reimbursements, the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act would provide schools with more resources to keep pace with the growing demand for school meals and help ensure children have the nutrition they need for their health and learning. We applaud Sen. Heinrich for reintroducing this bill and urge Members of Congress to co-sponsor this important legislation that would fuel bright futures for our nation\u2019s children,\u201d said President of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) Crystal FitzSimons.\n\n\"For students to achieve their academic dreams, school breakfasts and lunches are as essential as reading and math. As schools face pressure from rising costs, they need more resources to continue providing the healthy food that families can count on,\" said Director for Share Our Strength and Its No Kid Hungry Campaign Claire Borzne. \"Increasing the federal reimbursement rate for meals is an investment in our future that will help schools continue to prepare meals that fuel kids so that they can learn, grow and thrive.\"\n\n\u201cStudents cannot learn without adequate nutrition and for far too many children, school meals are a necessity and often the most nutritious meals they receive,\u201d said Dr. Bill Datema, president of National PTA. \u201cOur association applauds Senator Heinrich for reintroducing the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act. Federal investments are critical to help schools feed students breakfast and lunch and provide healthier options.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-cotton-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-improve-medicare-patients-access-to-timely-necessary-care/", "Luj\u00e1n, Cotton Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Medicare Patients\u2019 Access to Timely, Necessary Care", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act, legislation to improve Medicare patients\u2019 access to timely and medically necessary care by making the Medicare coverage determination process more predictable, transparent, and rooted in medical evidence.\n\nNational Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) are the Medicare policies that determine whether specific medical services, procedures, and devices are considered reasonable and necessary for coverage within a Medicare Administrative Contractor\u2019s (MAC) jurisdiction. The current process for issuing and updating coverage decisions can result in lengthy delays and uncertainty for patients and providers, even as medical evidence and technology continue to advance. By establishing clearer timelines, increasing transparency, and improving oversight, the Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act would help ensure Medicare patients have timely access to medically necessary items and services.\n\n\u201cMedicare beneficiaries should not have to wait years for cutting edge treatments while medical science and technology advance rapidly,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cPatients deserve a coverage process that is timely, transparent, and informed by qualified health experts. My Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act will bring greater accountability and certainty to Medicare coverage decisions so patients can access the care they need without unnecessary delays.\u201d\n\n\u201cArkansas seniors deserve access to high-quality medical treatments, and they shouldn\u2019t have to wait on the slow clock of government to obtain coverage for them. Our bill would require Medicare administrators to give seniors prompt, transparent decisions about their coverage, ensuring they can address their health concerns in a timely manner,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nSpecifically, the Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act would:\n\nEstablish a predictable timeframe for coverage decisions: Medicare Administrative Contractors would be required to determine whether formal LCD requests and reconsideration requests are complete within 60 days.\n\nIncrease transparency in the coverage decision process: Medicare Administrative Contractors would be required to hold public meetings on proposed LCDs, provide advance notice of meeting agendas, seek input from an expert panel that includes patients, physicians, and industry stakeholders, and make meeting records publicly available.\n\nEnsure logical outgrowth of draft LCDs: Final LCDs would be required to be a logical outgrowth of the draft LCD. Any updates to an LCD that are not a logical outgrowth of the draft must be reissued as a draft LCD before finalization.\n\nStrengthening oversight of Medicare coverage decisions: Would provide for additional review by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services following the completion of certain reconsideration requests.\n\n\u201cPatients should not face delays in care because Medicare coverage decisions are developed through processes that lack transparency, consistency, or meaningful stakeholder input,\u201d said Dr. Zhai, College of American Pathologists. \u201cLocal Coverage Determinations play an important role in ensuring access to medically necessary services, and it is critical that these policies are based on clear evidence and informed by practicing physicians and patients. This legislation represents an important step toward improving the LCD process by strengthening transparency, increasing accountability, and creating more opportunities for stakeholder engagement. These reforms will help ensure coverage decisions are made through a fair, predictable, and evidence-based process. We commend the bipartisan Senate sponsors for advancing this legislation and for recognizing the importance of timely, transparent coverage policies that support patient access to medically necessary care.\u201d\n\n\u201cMedicare beneficiaries should not have to wait months or years for a decision on whether they can access a technology or service that may be medically necessary to maintain their health, mobility, independence, and quality of life. Timely, transparent, and accountable coverage decisions are essential to a Medicare program that keeps pace with advances in technology and the needs of beneficiaries. The ITEM Coalition commends Senators Luj\u00e1n and Cotton for recognizing that timely access to Medicare coverage is not simply an administrative issue; it is fundamental to ensuring that beneficiaries can access the care and technologies they need,\u201d said Michael Barnett, J.D., ITEM Coalition Co-Coordinator.\n\n\u201cThe American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) commends Senators Luj\u00e1n and Cotton for their bipartisan leadership on the Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act. Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians deserve timely, transparent, and evidence-based coverage decisions. This legislation would establish clearer timelines for coverage decisions and ensure physicians and other stakeholders have meaningful opportunities to provide input throughout Medicare\u2019s Local Coverage Determination process,\u201d said Patrick A. DeHeer, DPM, APMA President.\n\n\u201cTimely Medicare coverage is critical to ensuring patients can benefit from the latest lifesaving, life-changing medtech,\u201d said Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of AdvaMed, the medtech association. \u201cBy setting clear expectations for Local Coverage Determination reviews and strengthening transparency and accountability, the Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act would help reduce unnecessary delays and make the process more predictable for patients, providers, and innovators. AdvaMed strongly supports this bipartisan legislation and thanks Senators Luj\u00e1n and Cotton and Representatives Dunn, Tenney, Barrag\u00e1n, and Foushee for their leadership.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-van-hollen-colleagues-push-trump-to-negotiate-ai-guardrails-with-xi/", "Luj\u00e1n, Van Hollen, Colleagues Push Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with Xi", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Senators\u2019 letter calls for global cooperation on AI development to preserve public safety and human control\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and 15 colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The lawmakers also urged President Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development to prevent potential cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that could threaten humanity.\n\nSenators Luj\u00e1n and Van Hollen were joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\u201d\n\nThey note specifically, \u201cThe conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nPresident Trump:\n\nWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\n\nThe development, release, and proper and improper use of AI present several risks unique to this technology. Testing AI models without constant monitoring and safe sandboxing has resulted in security breaks. Current publicly available models are concerningly capable of detecting and exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Companies developing AI have even more powerful models internally. An international race between the U.S. and China to advance these capabilities without safety guardrails, as is currently unfolding, poses unnecessary and dangerous risks to the American people. CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently said that it would \u201cnot be misplaced\u201d to refer to the capabilities of AI as \u201cakin to digital nuclear weapons.\u201d At the same time, despite serious warnings from those in your administration and bipartisan Congressional action, your administration has loosened export controls of semiconductors to China and refused to close relevant loopholes on the remaining regulations, enabling China to access the U.S. chips it needs to accelerate its own AI development. Both countries are currently integrating AI tools into military and defense applications, including in autonomous and unmanned systems, which Congress and AI developers alike have warned against without significant safeguards. AI has many applications and many of them are tools we will find beneficial, but its significant dangers and potential use in lethal applications without meaningful human control must be addressed, in part, through international cooperation.\n\nIn addition, efforts to engage with China should not stop the U.S. from constructing and implementing guardrails domestically, and Congress and U.S. companies should not wait to do so. In fact, both the U.S. and the Chinese government have already put some guardrails in place, but these provisions are not sufficient on their own. Your administration has implemented a voluntary testing scheme before the public release of advanced AI models. China reportedly has put in place several testing and capability restrictions, including registration and safety requirements for certain applications, although consistent implementation remains uncertain. The mutual recognition between the two countries that AI poses significant risks both during development and after release should be the foundation of discussions centered on reaching concrete terms for an international safety agreement. The conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.\n\nWhile advanced AI may be new, engagement between two superpowers over a technology that poses an existential threat is not. The U.S. and Soviet Union, over decades, negotiated and implemented multiple nuclear arms control agreements with each other, despite many deep-seated ideological differences during the Cold War. At the core of those agreements were verification mechanisms to ensure both countries were complying. Like those agreements that have helped keep the world safe from mutually assured destruction, identifying and coming to terms with the technical specifications for AI safety will require some of the smartest minds in the world committed to diplomacy. We encourage you to embrace these challenges because the stakes are existential, and our response must match the moment.\n\nThe experts building frontier AI models have also been raising concerns for some time that the capabilities of AI models may soon accelerate beyond our ability to understand or control them. In July, over 1,300 employees of frontier AI companies, who are uniquely aware of AI\u2019s potential and risks, called on the U.S. government to engage in an international effort to create the tools necessary to pace the frontier of AI development, particularly as increased automation of AI research may lead to even faster advancement. We should take these warnings seriously. Former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Robert Rubin recently published an op-ed calling for you and President Xi to work on an \u201cACT\u201d \u2014 AI Cooperation Treaty.\u201d We may not get another moment to take the actions necessary to protect our citizens and people around the world.\n\nAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-lujan-delivers-major-win-for-new-mexicos-land-grant-communities-and-traditional-uses/", "WATCH: Luj\u00e1n Delivers Major Win for New Mexico\u2019s Land Grant Communities and Traditional Uses", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) led the unanimous Senate passage of the New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act, legislation to strengthen cooperation between the federal government and land grant communities. There are 27 community land grant-mercedes that are recognized as political subdivisions under New Mexico law. The legislation was introduced by Senator Luj\u00e1n and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.).\n\nWATCH: Luj\u00e1n Secures Unanimous Consent Request on U.S. Senate Floor\n\nSenator Luj\u00e1n has championed this legislation for years, previously passing it through the House of Representatives while serving in the House and continuing that effort in the Senate.\n\n\u201cLand grant communities in New Mexico have cared for our lands, sustained our communities, and preserved traditions deeply rooted in our state\u2019s history and culture,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cFor too long, these communities have faced unnecessary barriers when working with the federal government. This legislation has been years in the making, and I\u2019m proud that we are one step closer toward making this law. This is about making sure the people who have cared for these lands for generations have a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their communities, livelihoods, and traditions.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe New Mexico Land Grant Council is excited that Senate Bill 1363, the New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act, passed the United States Senate today. The Bill has been in the works for over a decade, and Senator Luj\u00e1n has been a tireless advocate fighting for its passage. The Bill provides a mechanism for land grant-merced communities to get meaningful recognition of their connection to, and traditional use of former common lands now managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in New Mexico,\u201d said Chairman Juan S\u00e1nchez, New Mexico Land Grant Council.\n\n\u201cEl Consejo de Las Mercedes is pleased that the U.S. Senate passed Senate Bill 1363 today. The New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act is a monumental step forward to ensuring that land grant-merced communities have continued access to traditional uses on our historic lands that are now under the control of the Federal Government,\u201d said Jason Quintana, President, El Consejo de Las Mercedes.\n\n\u201cI am so excited to here that our Traditional Use legislation was passed by the U.S. Senate. This is truly an accomplishment for our land grants and our traditional communities. This will allow to work more closely with federal and state agencies to accomplish great things for our gente. Que vivan las Mercedes!\u201d said Andrea Padilla, President Town of Tome Land Grant.\n\nThe New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act:\n\nDirects the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) and Department of Agriculture (USDA), through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New Mexico Land Grant Council, to clarify existing agency processes that qualified land grant-mercedes may use to seek authorization for historical or traditional uses on Federal public lands, including permit requirements and associated fees;\n\nClarifies that the MOU does not directly authorize any uses or activities on Federal public lands;\n\nDirects the DOI and USDA to consult with Tribes when the MOU is entered into, extended, renewed or revised;\n\nEnsures that the MOU contains a description of the notice and comment procedures on agency land management planning decisions, and that qualified land grant-mercedes, the New Mexico Land Grant Council, and Tribes are notified of opportunities to comment on and be involved in agency land management planning decisions; and\n\nRequires the DOI and the USDA to evaluate impacts on historical or traditional uses in Federal land use planning.\n\nIn April 2025, Senator Luj\u00e1n and Representative Leger Fern\u00e1ndez reintroduced the New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act. In December 2025, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed the legislation.\n\nA summary of the bill is available HERE. Full text of the legislation is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-demands-trump-admin-immediately-halt-construction-of-trumps-250-foot-arch", "Heinrich Demands Trump Admin Immediately Halt Construction of Trump\u2019s 250-Foot Arch", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum demanding that the Trump administration stop work on President Trump\u2019s commemorative arch on federal property, which federal officials have admitted will harm historic sites on public lands, including Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.\n\n\u201cWe write with our continued concern that President Trump\u2019s proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch will cast a shadow over some of our nation\u2019s most historic monuments and memorials, as indicated in the National Park Service\u2019s (NPS) own assessment, and to renew our call for you to immediately halt work on the project,\u201d the lawmakers began.\n\nLate last year, the President unveiled a plan to build a towering arch near a number of historic sites and landmarks, including Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. In response, Heinrich and his colleagues raised significant concerns about the legality of the arch and its impact on neighboring historic sites\u2014demanding the administration halt construction of the President\u2019s latest vanity project. Those concerns have proven to be accurate. NPS\u2019 own assessment now confirms what we all have known to be true.\n\n\u201cLast month\u2014under requirements set forth in section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act\u2014NPS concluded that the President\u2019s illegal arch could adversely affect 37 historic sites in and around the nation\u2019s capital,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cThe proposed arch would have the most pronounced impact on the Memorial Avenue Corridor Cultural Landscape, Arlington Memorial Bridge, and Arlington National Cemetery Historic District. Other historic sites built decades ago, such as National Mall, U.S. Capitol, and Washington Monument, would also be affected by the construction of the arch. Section 106 is clear: the administration must seek to \u201cavoid, minimize, or mitigate,\u201d adverse harm to historic sites.\u201d\n\n\u201cPutting the President\u2019s ego ahead of these memorials adds another stain on this administration\u2019s legacy,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter by demanding that the Trump administration halt work on its 250-foot arch.\n\nIn April, Heinrich voted against a resolution in Senate Republicans\u2019 budget resolution that allowed for the construction of Trump\u2019s arch.\n\nIn March, Heinrich joined lawmakers in filing an amicus brief that would stop President Trump\u2019s plan to construct a commemorative arch on federal property. The amicus brief argues that President Trump\u2019s plan is illegal unless Congress authorizes it.\n\nIn addition to Heinrich, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).\n\nYou can read the letter here and below.\n\nWe write with our continued concern that President Trump\u2019s proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch will cast a shadow over some of our nation\u2019s most historic monuments and memorials, as indicated in the National Park Service\u2019s (NPS) own assessment, and to renew our call for you to immediately halt work on the project.\n\nLate last year, the President unveiled a plan to build a towering arch near a number of historic sites and landmarks, including Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. In response, we raised significant concerns about the legality of the arch and its impact on neighboring historic sites\u2014demanding the Administration halt construction of the President\u2019s latest vanity project. Those concerns have proven to be accurate. NPS\u2019 own assessment now confirms what we all have known to be true.\n\nLast month\u2014under requirements set forth in section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act\u2014NPS concluded that the President\u2019s illegal arch could adversely affect 37 historic sites in and around the nation\u2019s capital. According to the assessment, the arch would impact the \u201cintegrity\u201d of historic sites and change \u201ccharacter-defining visual and spatial relationships.\u201d The proposed arch would have the most pronounced impact on the Memorial Avenue Corridor Cultural Landscape, Arlington Memorial Bridge, and Arlington National Cemetery Historic District. Other historic sites built decades ago, such as National Mall, U.S. Capitol, and Washington Monument, would also be affected by the construction of the arch. Section 106 is clear: the Administration must seek to \u201cavoid, minimize, or mitigate,\u201d adverse harm to historic sites.\n\nThis threat is no longer hypothetical. You recently announced that the Administration intends to begin excavation work on the arch within two weeks despite the project lacking final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission and required reviews of aviation safety and historic preservation impacts. The next day, the veterans challenging the arch in federal court asked the court to intervene before ground is broken, and U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the Administration to provide 48 hours\u2019 notice before undertaking any activity on Memorial Circle other than on-site information gathering. We share that same concern, and it underscores the urgency of our request.\n\nHistoric sites in and around the nation\u2019s capital have been carefully planned over decades and hold significant symbolic value to the nation and our shared history as Americans. In particular, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and Arlington House form a single memorial landscape honoring the unity of our nation, its military history, and the ultimate sacrifice of service members who gave their lives to our nation. Putting the President\u2019s ego ahead of these memorials adds another stain on this Administration\u2019s legacy.\n\nThe Department should adhere to the highest standards in avoiding adverse impacts to some of our nation\u2019s most sacred memorials. We demand the Administration immediately halt work on the arch in light of the unavoidable damage it will do to these memorials to honor those who gave the greatest sacrifice for our nation\u2019s freedom.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-joins-bipartisan-congressional-push-to-stop-proposed-yosemite-land-transfer-to-trump-donor", "Heinrich Joins Bipartisan Congressional Push to Stop Proposed Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 This week, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined a bipartisan group of 153 lawmakers in urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch. U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), led the effort.\n\nIn their letter to the Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers condemned recent reporting that indicated the Trump administration is considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite to facilitate access to private property owned by Kingsbarn, a company whose chief executive officer began making a series of donations to Trump\u2019s campaign and the Republican National Committee in late 2024 \u2014 shortly after Kingsbarn acquired the Hazel Green Ranch property.\n\n\u201cAt its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cAny decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers also raised concerns about the Department\u2019s proposal to use Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate the exchange. The letter noted that the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward with the project due to congressional objections.\n\n\u201cPublic lands belong in public hands,\u201d the lawmakers concluded. \u201cProtection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life.\u201d\n\nAs Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich is leading efforts to protect our public lands and to hold the Trump administration accountable for their attacks on these treasured places.\n\nIn July, Heinrich criticized legislation that removes protections for public lands, emphasizing the need for bipartisan collaboration within the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\n\nIn June, Heinrich helped advance the America the Beautiful Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Angus King (I-Maine) to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, out of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\n\nIn March, Heinrich led his colleagues in delivering remarks on the Senate floor in condemning and drawing attention to the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to erase American history from public lands.\n\nIn October of 2025, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor, criticizing Republicans for pushing forward Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval targeting Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plans (RMPs) that would undo protections for national parks, including the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.\n\nIn July of 2025, Heinrich blasted the Trump administration for its plans to transfer national park units to state control, criticizing the administration for \u201ccutting off our access to public lands and devastating state economies in the process, overwhelming state budgets and dismantling the systems that keep public lands running.\u201d\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich successfully fought Senate Republican provisions to sell off public lands in the Big Bad Bill, and led an amendment to prevent the privatization of our public lands.\n\nIn May of 2025, Heinrich sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, demanding answers from the Trump administration regarding its plans to transfer National Park System units from federal management. The letter follows Heinrich\u2019s questioning of Secretary Burgum during a Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, where Burgum failed to provide sufficient answers on the Trump administration\u2019s plan to transfer hundreds of sites managed by the NPS to the states.\n\nFull letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Burgum:\n\nYosemite National Park is a cornerstone of the National Park System and is one of California\u2019s crown jewels. President Theodore Roosevelt once said that \u201cnothing in the world is more beautiful than the Yosemite\u201d and that our national parks should be \u201cpreserved\u201d and \u201ctheir majestic beauty all unmarred.\u201d Yosemite is a national treasure preserved for the benefit of the American people. Its continued beauty, status as a wildlife sanctuary, and source of enjoyment is contingent upon preservation and proper maintenance of its land\u2014not parts being sold off to enrich nearby private property owners. We are extremely concerned that the Department of the Interior is considering selling off portions of the park to private development and we strongly oppose the proposed land transfer.\n\nRecent reporting indicates that since early 2025, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have been considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park to facilitate access to an 83-acre privately owned ranch. This is not the first time this property has sought to have private access to Yosemite, with federal courts blocking this right to access in both 2007 and 2012. Now that the ranch has a new owner, they are once again seeking to acquire this land to enhance the value of their property, and the political leadership at DOI is pressuring career staff to approve the exchange.\n\nAt its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans. This transaction does not seek to expand public access to Yosemite, improve visitor services, or address transportation deficiencies in park access. Rather, this land exchange seeks to merely cut down on driving time for a select few on private property. Any decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.\n\nWe were alarmed that the Department submitted to Congress a proposal to use money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate this exchange. That fund exists to acquire and protect public lands for the benefit of the American public\u2014not sell them off to corporate developers. In response to the Department\u2019s request to fund this exchange through the LWCF, the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward on this project due to our objection.\n\nFurther, in response to inquiries from Congress, the Department indicated that it has not identified any land to be exchanged for the parcel of Yosemite National Park that the Department is seeking to sell to the private developer. This gives further credence to the notion that this exchange is not being done in the public interest, but rather solely to benefit a private developer. In its justification for the LWCF proposal, the Department indicated that this exchange was a \u201cpriority,\u201d while providing no compelling explanation for why it was in the interest of the United States to pursue this exchange. Instead, when explaining the need for the project, the Department simply stated that the private landowner requested an interest in federally owned property within the national park.\n\nPublic lands belong in public hands. Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life. We oppose any effort to privatize, sell off, give away, or otherwise undermine the continued existence of public lands, in Yosemite or across the country. We ask that you honor congressional objections and abandon this effort to sell off a piece of Yosemite National Park.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-trumps-unconstitutional-press-ban/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Trump\u2019s Unconstitutional Press Ban", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, issued the following statement on President Trump\u2019s decision to ban journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House:\n\n\u201cThis is an outrageous attack on the First Amendment. The White House press corps show up to work every day on behalf of the American people to hold public officials accountable.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump doesn\u2019t like when the press report on his countless broken promises and failures, so he is trying to get rid of them. It\u2019s page one in the authoritarian handbook.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-demands-transparency-on-hundreds-of-millions-in-taxpayer-dollars-spent-paying-employees-not-to-work", "Heinrich Demands Transparency on Hundreds of Millions in Taxpayer Dollars Spent Paying Employees Not to Work", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Recent reporting from POLITICO states that the Interiorspent more than $150 million on administrative leave for employees in 2025\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum demanding more information on why the Interior spent more than $150 million in paid administrative leave last year, according to recent reporting.\n\n\u201cI write to request detailed information regarding the Department of the Interior\u2019s (Department or DOI) misguided reductions in workforce under the deferred resignation program (DRP). It is clear from recent reporting that the Department\u2019s downsizing was executed poorly and costly to taxpayers, to say nothing of its impact to the Department\u2019s mission,\u201d Heinrich began.\n\nIn his letter, Heinrich demanded clarity on the Interior\u2019s use of its deferred resignation program, and the total amount the Interior spent on employees placed on paid administrative leave due to the deferred resignation program since the start of the administration.\n\n\u201cMore than one year has passed since the Trump administration introduced the DRP, but Congress and the American people still do not know the full extent of its impact,\u201d Heinrich continued.\n\nHeinrich specifically requested that the Interior disclose the number of employees placed on paid administrative leave since the start of the Trump administration, the total amount spent on employees placed on paid administrative leave due to the program, and a breakdown on the employees who were offered and accepted the program\u2019s benefits and early retirement.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below.\n\nSecretary Burgum:\n\nI write to request detailed information regarding the Department of the Interior\u2019s (Department or DOI) misguided reductions in workforce under the deferred resignation program (DRP). It is clear from recent reporting that the Department\u2019s downsizing was executed poorly and costly to taxpayers, to say nothing of its impact to the Department\u2019s mission.\n\nAccording to a recent report, the Department paid employees more than $150 million in paid administrative leave to stay at home from the start of the administration through December 31, 2025. Of the 1,764 employees put on administrative leave, more than two-thirds \u2013 1,468 \u2013 participated in the DRP and mostly worked in locations outside of the Beltway\u2014from New Mexico to Ohio to North Carolina. Additionally, it appears the Department continues to utilize the DRP. In April 2026, the Department announced a new round of DRPs and voluntary early retirement offers to employees.\n\nMore than one year has passed since the Trump administration introduced the DRP , but Congress and the American people still do not know the full extent of its impact. To understand the Department\u2019s use of the DRP and the total cost shouldered by taxpayers as a result, I request the following data and information by October 1, 2026:\n\nThe number of employees placed on paid administrative leave since the start of the administration. In responding to this question, please provide the office, agency, or bureau the employee works or worked in; reason for placing the person on administrative leave (e.g., DRP); their grade or level; position title; salary or pay rate; duty station; and the number of days of leave.\n\nThe total amount the Department spent (salaries and benefits) on employees placed on paid administrative leave due to the deferred resignation program, since the start of the administration.\n\nProvide the following information related to the Department\u2019s April 2026 announcement of DRPs and voluntary early retirement offers:\n\nA detailed breakdown of employees offered the deferred resignation program and early retirement. Please provide the following as part of your response: which office, agency, or bureau the employee works in; their grade or level; position title; salary or pay rate; and duty station.\n\nThe number of employees that have accepted the deferred resignation program and early retirement and are now or have been previously on paid administrative leave. Please provide the following as part of your response: which office, agency, or bureau the employee works in; their grade or level; position title; salary or pay rate; and duty station.\n\nThank you for your attention to this request. Should you have any questions, please contact my staff at (202) 224-4971.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-offers-his-grid-savings-act-to-force-ai-data-centers-to-pay-for-grid-upgrades-highlights-how-husted-backed-bill-falls-short", "Heinrich Offers His GRID Savings Act to Force AI Data Centers to Pay for Grid Upgrades, Highlights How Husted-Backed Bill Falls Short", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, took to the Senate floor to object to Senate passage of the Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation offered by U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and pass Heinrich's GRID Savings Act instead.\n\nWhile the Husted-backed legislation relies on a voluntary framework and fails to adequately protect American families from AI data center-caused increases in energy costs, Heinrich's legislation forces large load customers\u2014like data centers\u2014to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid. Unfortunately, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) objected to Heinrich's request to pass the GRID Savings Act.\n\n\u201cWhen I open my electricity bill, and read to see how much I owe for the month, it doesn\u2019t say I \u2018may\u2019 pay that amount. It doesn\u2019t say I \u2018should\u2019 pay that amount. It\u2019s not optional. Just like every other bill-paying American out there, I open that bill and I have to pay it. The same needs to be true for AI data centers,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cIf hyperscalers and other big tech companies need expensive new facilities and more energy, they should pay for it\u2014not our hardworking families and small businesses.\u201d\n\nHeinrich continued, \u201cThe Senator from Ohio and I agree on that principle. And plenty of big tech companies have said that\u2019s their plan. But it\u2019s not enough to just take their word for it. And it\u2019s not enough for us to just tell states to consider making data centers pay for grid upgrades. Rather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth.\u201d\n\nVIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urges his colleagues to pass his GRID Savings Act to force data centers to pay for their grid upgrades, rather than pass along those costs to families, September 17, 2026.\n\nA video of Heinrich\u2019s floor speech can be found here.\n\nA transcript of Heinrich\u2019s remarks as delivered is below:\n\nM. President, reserving the right to object\u2014\n\nThe Senator from Ohio and I agree on one thing: AI data centers could mean higher costs for American families.\n\nAnd in a lot of places, they already do.\n\nThe Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found that data center demand has already pushed electricity prices across the nation up by two to six percent \u2013 a number that they expect to increase to 20 to 30 percent by 2028.\n\nIn the mid-Atlantic region, that means an extra $840 a year per family in the next two years. $840.\n\nWe expect to see increases like this across the country as more AI data centers come online. But the Ratepayer Protection Act falls short of what we need to do to respond.\n\nWhen I open my mail and unfold my electricity bill, and read how much I owe for the month, it doesn\u2019t say I \u201cmay\u201d pay that amount.\n\nIt doesn\u2019t say I \u201cshould\u201d pay that amount.\n\nIt\u2019s not optional.\n\nJust like every other bill-paying American family out there, I open that bill and I have to pay it.\n\nThe same needs to be true for AI data centers.\n\nIf hyperscalers and other big tech developers need expensive new facilities and more energy, they should pay for it\u2014not our hardworking families and small businesses.\n\nI think the Senator from Ohio and I agree on that principle. And plenty of big tech companies have said that\u2019s their plan.\n\nBut it\u2019s not enough to just take their word for it.\n\nIt\u2019s not enough for us to tell states to consider making data centers pay for grid upgrades.\n\nRather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth.\n\nThat\u2019s why I introduced the GRID Savings Act to require, not a voluntary agreement, large load customers\u2014like data centers\u2014to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid.\n\nNot to consider it. Not to make pledges about it.\n\nTo actually do it. To pay for the upgrades they need.\n\nThat way, we can ensure reliable, low-cost energy to power our everyday lives.\n\n?My bill is what is needed to start to bring down energy prices.\n\nWe also need to do more to get data centers to actually engage with communities from the beginning to the very end.\n\nWe need to conserve local resources, especially water.\n\nAnd we need to protect communities from air pollution by using clean energy and battery storage.\n\nBut we\u2019re not going to get there with the bill the Senator from Ohio has proposed, and therefore, Mr. President, I object.\n\nMr. President, as if in legislative session, and notwithstanding, I would ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S.5199, the GRID Savings Act, and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. Further, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/200-days-into-trumps-38-billion-war-with-iran-new-mexicans-are-paying-the-price/", "200 Days Into Trump\u2019s $38 Billion War With Iran, New Mexicans Are Paying the Price", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Donald Trump: \u201cIt\u2019s small potatoes for us. It\u2019s not a big thing.\u201d 9/4/26\n\nNew Mexico Diesel Prices Hit Record-High Under Donald Trump\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Two hundred days ago, President Trump launched the United States into a reckless war with Iran with no plan, no strategy, and no end game. Although he repeatedly assured the American people of a quick and decisive victory. His timeline has moved again and again: from \u201ctotal and complete victory\u201d and a war \u201cwon\u201d in its \u201cfirst hour,\u201d to promising success in \u201ctwo or three days,\u201d \u201ctwo weeks,\u201d \u201cthree weeks,\u201d \u201cfour weeks,\u201d \u201cfive weeks,\u201d or \u201csix weeks.\u201d He later announced an agreement with Iran that he said achieved \u201ceverything we set out to accomplish,\u201d only to declare that agreement \u201cover\u201d just weeks later. Now, 200 days into the war, he\u2019s claiming his war will be over \u201cshortly after\u201d the November election.\n\n\u201cNew Mexicans are still paying the price for Donald Trump\u2019s 200-day war in Iran, with no end in sight. This war has cost taxpayers nearly $40 billion, driven up prices for families, depleted critical resources, and put our service members in harm\u2019s way,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cYet as this war continues to spiral out of control, Congressional Republicans have repeatedly refused to stand up to President Trump.\u201d\n\n\u201cNew Mexicans should not have to pay more at the pump and at the grocery store for a war they never wanted,\u201d Senator Luj\u00e1n continued. \u201cI will keep fighting to end this war and stop New Mexico families from being forced to foot the bill for this reckless president.\u201d\n\nAmericans are paying for every additional day this war drags on. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the Department of Defense had already incurred approximately $38 billion in costs as of August 1\u2014before the last month and a half of fighting. CBO estimates that every additional month of this war could add another $2 billion to $3 billion to the price tag, not including costs to repair the vast damage Iran has inflicted on our bases or what it will cost to rebuild our depleted munitions supply.\n\nAmericans have also already spent more than $107 billion extra on gasoline and diesel because of Trump\u2019s war, amounting to over $820 per household. The New Mexico average for gas has surged to $4.47 per gallon while diesel has reached a high of $6.34 per gallon. Higher gas and diesel prices are also pushing up Americans\u2019 costs on everything from groceries to home energy to air travel.\n\nTwo hundred days into the conflict, Americans are facing billions in federal costs, nearly two-thirds say going to war was the wrong decision\u2014and there is still no end in sight.\n\nFebruary\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cI can go long and take over the whole thing, or end it in two or three days.\u201d [Axios, 2/28/26]\n\nMarch\n\nDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth: \u201cWe can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three.\u201d [Press Briefing, 3/4/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe\u2019ve already won in many ways, but we haven\u2019t won enough.\u201d [Speech, 3/9/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe had to do a little excursion, if you don\u2019t mind, a little excursion to take care of nuclear weaponry in the hands of maniacs. But other than that, in a couple of weeks and won\u2019t be much longer, it\u2019s moving along fast. We\u2019re way ahead of schedule. Did you know that, Mr. Speaker? I\u2019m trying to save a lot of money by being ahead of schedule. We\u2019re way ahead of schedule.\u201d [Remarks,3/17/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWell, I think we\u2019re going to end it. I can\u2019t tell you for sure. You know, I don\u2019t like to say this, we\u2019ve won this \u2013 this war has been won.\u201d [Press Conference, 3/24/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve our mission, and we\u2019re way ahead of schedule. If you look at what we\u2019ve done in terms of the destruction of that country, I mean, we\u2019re way ahead. Think of it, they have no Navy, and they had good ships. 154 ships have been shot down and are resting very nicely at the bottom of the sea. And we did that in a matter of less than a week, because we have the greatest military in the world by far, nobody even close. So, we estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve our mission. 26 days in, we\u2019re extremely \u2013 really a lot ahead of schedule.\u201d [Cabinet Meeting, 3/26/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cI would say that within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three, we\u2019re hitting them very hard. Last night we knocked out tremendous amounts of missile making facilities. We, as you probably read or wrote, we\u2019ll be gone.\u201d [Remarks, 3/31/26]\n\nApril\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cThe war is going to be over in three days. My prediction.\u201d [Remarks, 4/1/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe are the winner. We won.\u201d [Press Conference,4/6/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cIf you told me that we were going to be at only 92 a barrel, $92 a barrel, I would have been very surprised. And you know what? I\u2019m very happy and it\u2019s going to come dropping down very big as soon as it\u2019s over and I think it can be over very soon. If they\u2019re smart, it will end soon.\u201d [Fox Business,4/15/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cI will say the war in Iran is going along swimmingly. We can do whatever we want. And it should be ending pretty soon. It was perfect. [Speech, 4/16/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe won everything. We have all the cards.\u201d [Press Gaggle, 4/25/26]\n\nMay\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe\u2019ve taken out much of what we\u2019d have to do,probably another two weeks, two weeks, maybe three weeks.\u201d [Interview,5/4/26]\n\nSecretary of State Marco Rubio: \u201cThe operation is over.\u201d [Press Briefing, 5/5/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cI think we\u2019re going to be finished with that very quickly and they won\u2019t have a nuclear weapon and hopefully we\u2019re going to get it done in a very nice manner.\u201d [Remarks, 5/19/26]\n\nJune\n\nSecretary of State Marco Rubio: \u201cThe war is over.\u201d [Committee Hearing, 6/2/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cYou\u2019re really going to win it over the next two weeks when we declare total victory. It\u2019ll be a total victory. It\u2019ll happen very soon.\u201d [Tele-Rally, 6/8/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cTwo or three days.\u201d [Press Gaggle, 6/9/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cI don\u2019t know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today.\u201d [Tele-Rally, 6/11/26]\n\nDefense Secretary Pete Hesgeth: \u201cWe\u2019re on the verge of a deal.\u201d [CBS News Face the Nation, 6/14/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cOn Sunday, we reached an agreement with Iran that achieves everything we set out to accomplish\u2014everything and much more.\u201d [Press Conference, 6/17/26]\n\nJuly\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe have many ways we can win, but we\u2019ve already won militarily. They have very little left, and they want to make a deal so badly.\u201d [Press Gaggle, 7/9/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe\u2019ll have Iran defeated soon. They\u2019ll be defeated very soon.\u201d [Remarks, 7/15/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe are, likewise, winning big in Iran, and you will see the fruits of that labor very shortly.\u201d [Remarks, 7/17/26]\n\nAugust\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cWe\u2019re moving along very nicely.\u201d [Press Gaggle,8/5/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cSome good things are going to happen very soon. They\u2019ve already happened.\u201d [Remarks, 8/16/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cI have no time schedule\u2026I\u2019m not in a hurry.\u201d [Fox News,8/17/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cBut right now, I think the situation is so good.\u201d [Press Gaggle, 8/19/26]\n\nSeptember\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cIt\u2019s small potatoes for us. It\u2019s not a big thing.\u201d [Press Briefing, 9/4/26]\n\nPresident Donald Trump: \u201cThe war will be over very shortly after the election.\u201d [Speech, 9/9/26]\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-home-heating-season-approaches-lujan-bipartisan-colleagues-urge-trump-admin-to-swiftly-release-liheap-funding/", "As Home-Heating Season Approaches, Luj\u00e1n, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge Trump Admin. to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Funding", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 With energy costs rising and winter approaching, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in leading a bipartisan push for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible.\n\nAppropriators worked on a bipartisan basis to make roughly $4 billion in federal LIHEAP funds available for the coming year.\n\nThirty-one U.S. Senators joined in calling on HHS to swiftly distribute LIHEAP aid before winter home-heating bills arrive to help states and eligible households manage their energy costs.\n\nLIHEAP provides financial assistance to income-eligible homeowners and renters to help with energy bills and for reconnection of energy service. The program is targeted to assist vulnerable households facing high energy burdens\u2014the share of a household\u2019s income that goes toward their energy bills. Low-income homes generally spend the biggest percentage of their income on utility bills. However, factors such as income, weather, housing stock, fuel type, and energy-efficiency can all impact a household\u2019s energy burden.\n\n\u201cAs you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,\u201d the 31 U.S. Senators wrote.\n\nIn addition to Luj\u00e1n, Reed, Collins, and Murkowski, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NM), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe bipartisan group of Senators say the federal government should put preparation ahead of politics and ensure LIHEAP funding is allocated in a timely manner to keep vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills. The program also helps reduce energy costs through improved energy efficiency initiatives.\n\nNationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year. And more households may need heating assistance this winter as temperatures drop and the cost of oil, gas, propane, and other residential fuels rise.\n\nStates and tribes typically receive their LIHEAP allocations from HHS by early November. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. While eligibility varies by state, most applicants must have a household income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline or 60 percent of the state median income.\n\nLIHEAP applications are open for all income-eligible households. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2027 \u2014 or until the funding is exhausted. To find your state agency, visit HHS\u2019s LIHEAP State Map of Contacts.\n\nLIHEAP provides direct payments to utility companies on behalf of approved applicants with demonstrated need.\n\nAccording to a new forecast from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), heating will be more expensive for allU.S. households this year, but some homes will be hit with steeper increases than others.\n\nHeating oil costs are projected to soar by 31.3 percent this winter, the largest increase among the major heating fuels.\n\nOverall, the average American household is projected to spend an average of $1,030 to heat their homes this winter, an 8.7 percent increase over last year.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy:\n\nAs you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline.\n\nOctober marks the start of the heating season for many states, and with temperatures already dropping, low-income families and seniors are feeling additional strains on their household budgets. As the main federal program benefiting these individuals with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance to vulnerable families and seniors during the cold winter and hot summer months. State agencies and tribes are already activating their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter. A quick release of funding will ensure no gaps in assistance.\n\nWe look forward to working with you on this critical program. Thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-eviscerates-trump-admin-official-for-lying-under-oath-about-the-illegal-political-cancelation-of-energy-project-grants-in-states-that-didnt-vote-for-trump-in-2024", "Heinrich Eviscerates Trump Admin Official For Lying Under Oath About the Illegal, Political Cancelation of Energy Project Grants in States That Didn\u2019t Vote for Trump in 2024", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Heinrich to Fitzsimmons on his congressional testimony contradicting DOE lawyers admitting projects were canceled for political reasons: \u201cI find your testimony completely uncredible\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to receive testimony on pending legislation, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, questioned Alex Fitzsimmons, U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy, and Dr. Sarah J. Ryker, Associate Director for the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), on the Trump administration\u2019s plan to sell off a part of Yosemite National Park to a private equity-owned firm, the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to roll back efficiency standards, and the Trump administration\u2019s illegal cancelation of energy projects grants in states that didn\u2019t vote for President Trump in 2024.\n\nVIDEO: Ranking Member Heinrich (D-N.M.), questions Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy Alex Fitzsimmons and Associate Director for the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area at the (USGS) Dr. Sarah J. Ryker during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to receive testimony on pending legislation, September 16, 2026.\n\nOn the Trump Administration\u2019s Plan to Transfer Part of Yosemite National Park to a Private Equity-Owned Property\n\nHeinrich began his line of questioning by asking about the Trump administration\u2019s plan to sell off land in Yosemite National Park to a private equity-owned development, \u201cDr. Riker, the Land and Water Conservation Fund exists to acquire land for public conservation and recreational purposes. It was not authorized to facilitate private commercial development yet. The Department of the Interior is currently considering this land trade within Yosemite National Park, using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to facilitate commercial development. Can you share with this Committee the Department's reasoning behind why they would move forward with this?\u201d\n\nRyker responded, \u201cRanking Member, thank you for the question. I do not oversee or participate in those decisions by the Department, but I'll be happy to take your question back for response by the Department.\u201d\n\nHeinrich followed, \u201cI would appreciate that. I would love to hear from Secretary Burgum some rationale for this. I know Burgum hasn't been in front of this committee for a number of months, but I think that both myself and the California delegation have very serious concerns about whether this is an appropriate use of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and if this is just good for Yosemite National Park. It is one of our iconic national parks, and we should think very carefully about transferring land from a national park unit like this to commercial developers.\u201d\n\nOn Energy Efficiency Standards\n\nHeinrich continued, asking the Trump administration about repealing energy efficiency standards, which undermine domestic manufacturing and support China\u2019s manufacturing, \u201cMr. Fitzsimmons, one of the concerns that has been raised to us repeatedly from industry groups is that rolling back some of these efficiency rules will facilitate an advantage for Chinese manufacturers\u2019 cheaper, more poorly made manufacturing goods. Is that something that the administration is considering? And do you have concerns about that line of reasoning?\u201d\n\nFitzsimmons answered, \u201cSenator, we would say that trade issues should be addressed through trade remedies and trade policies that are in the jurisdiction of other agencies, not the Appliance Standards Program. The Appliance Standards Program is designed to increase energy efficiency and, in our view, balance consumer choice. And so, our guiding principle here is consumer choice. And if those groups are concerned about trade issues, there are other avenues to address the trade aspects.\u201d\n\nHeinrich followed, underscoring why the Trump administration should be concerned with appliance standards that benefit our adversaries, \u201cBut if the net effect is to make a Chinese heat pump, for example, mini-split dominant in the market at the expense of American manufacturing, shouldn't that be something that the Department of Energy is also concerned with?\u201d\n\nFitzsimmons answered, \u201cThe net effect for us is making sure that products that consumers want to buy are not regulated out of the market, that they have the choice to choose which products they want. Trade issues, as I said, should be addressed through trade policies, not the appliance standards program.\u201d\n\nHeinrich followed, stressing the fact that updated energy efficiency standards support American-made manufacturing and should be supported by DOE, \u201cWell, I want to make it very clear that members of this committee think that American manufacturing is something that the Department of Energy should be thinking about each and every day.\u201d\n\nOn the Trump Administration Illegally Canceling Energy Project Grants in States That Didn\u2019t Vote for President Trump in 2024\n\nHeinrich continued, asking Fitzsimmons about the Trump administration canceling energy project grants in states that didn\u2019t vote for President Trump in 2024, and whether he lied under oath about the nature of these cancelations, \u201cMr. Fitzsimmons, in a House Energy and Commerce hearing earlier this year, you were asked directly whether political retribution was a factor in the $8 billion of funding that DOE canceled in grant cancelations, and at that time you responded, it is certainly not a factor. Those were your words. More recently, DOE's own lawyers have now testified in court that cancelations were quote \u2018based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient state.\u2019 Do you stand by your earlier testimony?\n\nFitzsimmons answered, \u201cI do.\u201d\n\nHeinrich followed, \u201cAnd so, why would DOE's lawyers make that statement?\u201d\n\nFitzsimmons continued, \u201cI can tell you about the process that we use. The process does not involve politics.\u201d\n\nHeinrich interjected, blasting Fitzsimmons for the costly impact the cancelations had on New Mexico, \u201cWell, I would just tell you that I find that not credible. New Mexico saw $135 million dollars in projects canceled, 10 different projects, and I think based on the testimony in court, the impression of the people of New Mexico is those projects were canceled because the state of New Mexico did not vote for the current president of the United States.\u201d\n\nFitzsimmons followed, \u201cDo you have a question?\u201d\n\nHeinrich asked, \u201cYeah, why is your testimony in contradiction of the DOE's own lawyers?\u201d\n\nFitzsimmons doubled down, \u201cIt is not in contradiction at all. You're conflating two different issues between the timing of announcements and the process that we use to make decisions. We make decisions based on what is technologically feasible and economically viable, based on physics and math, not on politics.\u201d\n\nHeinrich concluded, \u201cI find your testimony completely uncredible.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-sounds-off-on-trump-admin-plan-to-sell-off-part-of-yosemite-national-park-raises-alarm-on-senate-republicans-attacks-on-energy-efficiency-standards-and-tribal-protections", "Heinrich Sounds Off on Trump Admin Plan to Sell Off Part of Yosemite National Park, Raises Alarm on Senate Republicans\u2019 Attacks on Energy Efficiency Standards and Tribal Protections", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 This week, during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, raised the alarm on the Trump administration\u2019s proposed plan to sell off part of Yosemite National Park to a private equity-owned development, countered legislation proposed by U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Committee, which would dismantle the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) Appliance Standards Program and raise consumer costs, and exposed the lack of Tribal protections in proposed hydropower licensing legislation from U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.).\n\nVIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, delivers opening remarks during a Committee hearing to consider pending legislation, September 16, 2026.\n\nHeinrich began by expressing serious concern over the Department of the Interior\u2019s (DOI) proposal to exchange public land in Yosemite National Park for private development, requesting $300,000 in funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to facilitate the land transfer.\n\n\u201cThe LWCF exists to protect public lands and waters and expand recreational access nationwide for the public benefit, not to enrich private interests,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cThe protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, and we will continue to raise our concerns over this proposal and demand that the Department provide transparency.\u201d\n\nHeinrich also slammed two bills led by U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, that threaten to repeal energy efficiency standards, make it virtually impossible for DOE to set future standards, and raise consumer costs \u2014 S. 5338, the Energy Efficiency Reform Act, and S. 1658, the Liberating Incandescent Technology (LIT) Act, submitting several letters of opposition from consumer advocacy and industry groups into the record.\n\n\u201cThe Chairman's bill would make it virtually impossible for DOE to set future efficiency standards, forgoing significant additional savings for consumers. The bill could also increase electricity demand by 32 gigawatts in 2040, at a time when we desperately need more electrons on the grid. Furthermore, the bill would eliminate several existing standards and give the administration the authority to cancel standards as it sees fit,\u201d said Heinrich on the Energy Efficiency Reform Act.\n\nOn the LIT Act, \u201cFamilies in New Mexico are not clamoring for incandescent light bulbs. Most people just want to be able to afford their energy bills. The LIT Act aims to walk back a commonsense rule that has saved consumers an estimated $3 billion \u2014 billion with a \u2018B\u2019\u2014 and is supported by industry as well.\u201d\n\nHeirich also expressed disappointment that Lee would not consider bipartisan legislation to weatherize American\u2019s homes, \u201cRather than turning back the clock on progress, I had hoped this hearing would offer a chance to consider several bipartisan bills to help more families lower their energy bills through the popular weatherization assistance program. I hope the Chair will work with me to advance weatherization legislation.\u201d\n\nHeinrich concluded his remarks by criticizing the lack of appropriate witnesses present at the hearing to answer questions on S. 5048, the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act, referencing concerns from Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations on how provisions of the bill would strip protections from reservation lands and treaty resources.\n\n\u201cI share the Tribes\u2019 concerns, and if an appropriate witness from the Department of Interior or the Department of Commerce were present today, I would ask them to confirm that the bill would limit Tribal rights, including fishing rights and if the bill could lead to an increase in litigation,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\nA video of Heinrich\u2019s opening remarks is here.\n\nHeinrich\u2019s full remarks as delivered are below:\n\nBefore I begin to address the bills in today\u2019s legislative hearing, I want to raise my deep concern over the Department of the Interior\u2019s consideration of trading away National Park land in Yosemite National Park to a private equity-owned development.\n\nWhat is equally alarming is that the Department filed a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) request for $300,000 to support the transfer of this National Park Service land.\n\nLWCF exists to protect public lands and expand recreational access nationwide for the public benefit, not to enrich private equity.\n\nWe also don\u2019t know what private land would be exchanged for the parcel, which indicates that the exchange is likely not in the public interest. How can it be, if we don\u2019t even know where it is?\n\nThe protection of public lands and particularly our National Parks is a bipartisan issue, and we will continue to raise our concerns over this proposal and demand that the Department provide more transparency.\n\nWith that, I would like to address the bills in today\u2019s hearing.\n\nI am glad to see a number of the bills included on today\u2019s agenda.\n\nIn particular, Senator Bennet\u2019s Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act would ensure that Glenwood, Colorado\u2019s famous hot springs are not threatened by a proposed mine expansion that could disrupt the groundwater hydrology at the springs.\n\nThis is a great example of locally driven public land management, and I hope this committee can move this bill forward soon.\n\nI\u2019m also glad to see Senator Durbin\u2019s Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act on the agenda.\n\nThe communities in the St. Louis area have long supported the growth of this park to encompass both sides of the Mississippi River and add new park land in neighboring Illinois, and this bill would do just that.\n\nI am concerned that we find the Energy Efficiency \u201cReform\u201d Act on the agenda today.\n\nThe Chairman\u2019s bill would thoroughly dismantle the Department of Energy\u2019s Appliance Standards Program. This is a successful, bipartisan program that has been providing real savings for American families for 50 years.\n\nThanks to the Appliance Standards Program, American households save almost $600 a year on their utility bills, all while having better performing and wide-ranging options of home appliances.\n\nThe Chairman's bill would make virtually impossible for DOE to set future efficiency standards, forgoing significant additional savings for consumers.\n\nThe bill would also increase electricity demand by as much as 32 gigawatts in 2040, at a time when we desperately need more electrons on the grid.\n\nFurthermore, the bill would eliminate several existing standards and give the administration the authority to cancel standards as it sees fit.\n\nThis type of \u201cbacksliding\u201d on existing standards has been opposed by industry leaders because it would undermine domestic manufacturing and allow Chinese products to flood the market.\n\nGroups such as the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers have all submitted public comments to the Department of Energy opposing the very backsliding this bill authorizes.\n\nI would ask for unanimous consent to submit three letters of opposition to S. 5338 for the record.\n\nThe first letter is from consumer groups including Consumer Reports, the Consumer Federation of America, and the National Consumer Law Center. The second is from seven public health organizations, and the third is from 60 environmental organizations.\n\nAdditionally, I am deeply concerned by S. 1658, the \u201cLiberating Incandescent Technology Act\u201d or LIT Act, which would repeal energy efficiency standards for light bulbs.\n\nFamilies in New Mexico are not clamoring for incandescent light bulbs. Most people just want to be able to afford their energy bills.\n\nThe LIT Act aims to walk back a commonsense rule that has saved consumers an estimated $3 billion \u2014 billion with a \u201cB\u201d \u2014 and is supported by industry as well.\n\nSo, I would ask for unanimous consent to submit a letter of opposition to S. 1568 for the record from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the American Lighting Association.\n\nThe letter states that \"the sole beneficiaries of the LIT Act would be foreign companies positioned to flood American markets with low performance, low-quality, and potentially unsafe products.\"\n\nRather than turning back the clock on progress, I had hoped this hearing would offer a chance to consider several bipartisan bills to help more families lower their energy bills through the popular weatherization assistance program.\n\nI hope the Chair will work with me to advance weatherization legislation sponsored by Senators Reed, Murkowski, Collins, Shaheen, Coons, and Gallego in the very near term.\n\nLastly, I am disappointed that we do not have a witness present who can speak to S. 5048, the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act.\n\nIntended to \u201cstreamline\u201d hydropower project approvals by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the bill would significantly weaken Tribal protections.\n\nChairman Lee and I were copied on a letter from Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations opposed to this bill.\n\nThe letter details how the provisions of S. 5048 would strip protections from reservation lands and treaty resources, including fishing; threaten important cultural sites; undermine water quality for fish and people; and increase litigation.\n\nI share the Tribes\u2019 concerns, and if an appropriate witness from the Department of Interior or the Department of Commerce were present today, I would ask them to confirm that the bill would limit Tribal rights, including fishing rights and if the bill could lead to an increase in litigation.\n\nBut there is no one from these agencies today, and FERC only provided written testimony, so I will be submitting these questions for the record to FERC, and I expect to receive answers to them prior to this bill being included on a future business meeting agenda.\n\nThank you to all the witnesses who are here today, and I yield back the rest of my time.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-heinrich-statement-commemorating-hispanic-heritage-month", "Sen. Heinrich Statement Commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. Heinrich is a cosponsor of a bipartisan resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month.\n\n\u201cAs we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the remarkable contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our country and our communities. From Senator Dennis Chaves to Mar\u00eda Dolores Gonzales to Eva Enci\u00f1ias, the story of New Mexico is infused with the resilience, connectedness, and brilliance of incredible Hispanic leaders. Hispanic heritage is also embedded in the fabric of our everyday lives \u2014 from our traditions, values, and the querencia that connects us to our lands to the food we eat, the art we create, and the collaborative ways we innovate.\n\n\u201cCelebrating the richness of this cultural inheritance, in this moment, also must include standing up with Hispanic and Latino communities to protect their rights, dignity, and access to opportunities. Together, we can and must push back against the Trump administration as it continues trying to defund programs for bilingual students and Hispanic-owned small businesses, slashing healthcare and nutrition programs families rely on, and unlawfully targeting Hispanics and Latinos with out-of-control immigration enforcement tactics.\n\n\u201cNew Mexico families work hard, look out for one another, and build a better future for the next generation together. Resilience and tenacity are who we are. But every family deserves the opportunity to feel secure in their community, provide for the people they love, and build a future here at home.\n\n\u201cThis month and every month, I\u2019ll continue working to protect the programs New Mexicans rely on, fight back against the Trump administration\u2019s attack on programs that benefit Hispanic and Latino children and businesses, lift up the successes of Hispanic innovators and leaders, and push for the policies that give every family a fair shot at succeed.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-lujan-defends-new-mexico-against-trumps-threats/", "ICYMI: Luj\u00e1n Defends New Mexico Against Trump\u2019s Threats", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2013 In Case You Missed It: Following Donald Trump\u2019s threats to rename New Mexico, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) led the New Mexico Congressional Delegation in defending New Mexico\u2019s name and making clear that the President does not have the authority to rename the state unilaterally.\n\nSenator Luj\u00e1n led U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) in calling on Apple and Google to publicly commit to keeping New Mexico\u2019s name on Apple Maps and Google Maps, regardless of pressure from President Trump.\n\nThe push to protect New Mexico\u2019s name garnered national and local coverage. See what they\u2019re saying:\n\nWashington Post: New Mexico leaders ask Apple and Google not to use \u2018New America\u2019 on their maps\n\nNew Mexico congressional leaders asked Google and Apple on Thursday not to rename their state \u201cNew America\u201d on the platforms\u2019 maps should President Donald Trump demand it. The delegation\u2019s five members, Sens. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and Martin Heinrich, and Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez and Gabe Vasquez, are all Democrats.\n\nThe Hill: New Mexico Democrats call on Apple, Google to keep state\u2019s name on map\n\nA group of Democratic lawmakers who represent New Mexico urged Apple and Google on Thursday not to adopt President Trump\u2019s proposed renaming of the state to \u201cNew America\u201d on their map platforms. The Democratic lawmakers behind this request included Sens. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and Martin Heinrich and Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez and Gabe Vasquez.\n\nThe Washington Sun: New Mexico Lawmakers Urge Apple, Google to Publicly Reject Trump\u2019s \u2018New America\u2019 Name\n\nNew Mexico lawmakers are calling on Apple and Google to keep using New Mexico on their map applications rather than President Donald Trump\u2019s suggested name for the state, \u201cNew America.\u201d In a letter sent Thursday, Democratic Sens. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and Martin Heinrich and Reps. Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez, Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez urged the tech companies to \u201cpublicly commit\u201d to keeping their state\u2019s name unchanged by Sept. 18.\n\nThe Independent: New Mexico leaders beg Apple and Google not to rename their state on apps like Trump wants\n\nLawmakers from New Mexico have urged Apple and Google not to rename the state on their mapping apps after President Donald Trump suggested restyling it as \u201cNew America.\u201d The state\u2019s delegation includes Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and Martin Heinrich, and Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez, Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez.\n\nSource NM: New Mexico congressional delegation asks Google, Apple to commit to keeping state\u2019s name on maps\n\nNew Mexico\u2019s congressional delegation on Thursday called upon major tech companies Apple and Google to commit to ensuring New Mexico retains its name on the companies\u2019 maps. New Mexico state and federal officials swiftly rebuked Trump\u2019s post, with U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), who leads the Thursday letter, writing on social media that, \u201cIt\u2019s New Mexico, always has been and always will be. Just like how you\u2019ll always be a sinverg\u00fcenza and corrupt.\u201d\n\nSanta Fe New Mexican: New Mexico lawmakers call on Apple, Google, not to change state to \u2018New America\u2019 on maps\n\nNew Mexico\u2019s congressional delegation is seeking to ensure Apple and Google keep New Mexico New Mexico. In a letter sent Thursday, U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and Martin Heinrich, along with U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez, Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez \u2014 all Democrats \u2014 called on the companies to commit to continuing to label the state as New Mexico on their popular online map services.\n\nKVIA: NM delegates call on Apple, Google to keep New Mexico\u2019s name on all mapping services\n\nA group of New Mexico delegates sent a letter to the CEOs of Apple and Google to commit to keeping New Mexico\u2019s name on their platforms mapping services. The request from U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Congressman Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernande (D-NM), and Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury stated, \u201cLet us be clear: the President has no legal authority to rename New Mexico. Our state\u2019s name belongs to the people of New Mexico and is rooted in our history and our Constitution, which clearly states that the \u2018name of this state is New Mexico'\u201d.\n\nAlbuquerque Journal: NM congressional delegation urges Google, Apple not to use \u2018New America\u2019 on maps\n\nNew Mexicans are used to national confusion about the state\u2019s location and whether it\u2019s actually part of the United States \u2014 or a foreign country. But members of the state\u2019s congressional delegation don\u2019t want any further mix-ups \u2014 or sovereignty slights \u2014 after President Donald Trump\u2019s recent social media posts suggesting New Mexico be renamed \u201cNew America.\u201d In a Thursday letter, members of the state\u2019s all-Democratic delegation urged the chief executive officers of Google and Apple to publicly commit by next week that they would not change the name of New Mexico on their mapping services.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-the-news-lujan-hits-the-road-in-new-mexico-fighting-for-families-farmers-and-communities/", "IN THE NEWS: Luj\u00e1n Hits the Road in New Mexico, Fighting for Families, Farmers, and Communities", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2013 During the August and September state work period, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) traveled thousands of miles across New Mexico to hear directly from New Mexicans and highlight his work to lower costs, protect access to food and health care, support farmers and ranchers, strengthen consumer protections, and deliver for communities across the state.\n\nHis visits included Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Gallup, Grants, Las Cruces, Farmington, Derry, Tierra Amarilla, Las Vegas, and communities across New Mexico.\n\nSenator Luj\u00e1n met with families, health care providers, farmers, local leaders, advocates, and small businesses to discuss the challenges facing New Mexicans and how he is working to address them in Washington.\n\nSee what New Mexico media are reporting on Senator Luj\u00e1n\u2019s work across the state:\n\nSource NM \u2013 New Mexico food banks describe significant increase in demand after federal food aid cuts\n\nOfficials from New Mexico food banks say recent changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as rising grocery costs, have dramatically increased demand at community food distribution centers across the state. A leader of Roadrunner Food Bank, the largest food bank in New Mexico, told U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) during a roundtable Tuesday that demand increased 79% at the food bank between January 2025 and January 2026, which is the most-recent data available.\n\nNM Political Report \u2013 Luj\u00e1n, hospital leaders talk Medicaid \u2018headwinds\u2019 and rural health gaps at Rio Rancho roundtable\n\nU.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, a Democrat from New Mexico, told hospital administrators at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center that Republican-backed federal Medicaid cuts won\u2019t just hurt New Mexicans enrolled in the program \u2014 they\u2019ll raise care and insurance costs for everyone else, too.\n\nCibola Citizen \u2013 Luj\u00e1n Visits Grants Pantry as Local Families Brace for SNAP Changes\n\nU.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n visited the Grants Community Pantry Thursday, August 20, meeting with local families, food assistance workers and service providers as changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, begin raising concerns across rural New Mexico. The visit came as Cibola County continues to struggle with high levels of poverty, particularly among children. Recent Census and KIDS COUNT data indicate approximately 41.6% of children in the county live below the federal poverty line \u2013 roughly four in every 10 children.\n\nLos Alamos Daily Post \u2013 Luj\u00e1n Highlights Efforts To Strengthen Care For Seniors And Protect Nutrition Assistance For New Mexicans\n\nLast week in Farmington and Grants, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) held events highlighting his efforts to expand access to home and long-term care for older New Mexicans and people with disabilities and protect nutrition assistance for New Mexico families.\n\nGallup Sun \u2013 Luj\u00e1n Hosts Forum In Gallup To Raise Awareness Of Expanded Reca Compensation\n\nU.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., led a public outreach forum in Gallup Aug. 19 to raise awareness about expanded compensation available through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and help New Mexicans understand how they can apply for compensation. During the forum, Luj\u00e1n joined local leaders and advocates to provide information about expanded eligibility under RECA and the resources available to help New Mexicans apply for compensation.\n\nKSJE \u2013 U.S. Senator \u201cRECA, Public Lands, Stroke Survivors, & More!\u201d : With Ben Ray Lujan, & Scott Michlin\n\nThe interview with Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n focuses on healthcare, support for family caregivers, stroke research and rehabilitation, and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). Luj\u00e1n discusses his personal experience surviving a stroke and explains his efforts to improve stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services.\n\nTaos News \u2013 Ticket scammers on the rise Sen. Ben Ray Lujan helps spearhead effort to protect fans, artists and venues\n\nIt all comes down to consumer safety. That\u2019s one of the reasons U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM) got involved in a growing issue involving fraudulent ticket sales. Luj\u00e1n put together a group of representatives from the New Mexico entertainment industry for a roundtable conversation about the issue Monday (Aug. 31) at the Taos Mesa Brewing Mothership, west of El Prado. From venues, popular music artists, associations and even the Santa Fe Opera, the participants showed how wide-ranging the issue has affected their profession. Sen. Luj\u00e1n\u2019s purpose for the meeting was to unveil newly introduced legislation to ban speculative ticketing and protect ticket buyers from scams and unfair practices, a statement from the senator\u2019s office reads.\n\nKFOX \u2013 Sen. Ben Ray Lujan hears Southern NM chile growers\u2019 concerns over rising costs\n\nSouthern New Mexico chile farmers met with U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan on Tuesday to highlight the pressures facing one of the state\u2019s signature crops. The New Mexico Democrat visited Sierra County on Tuesday, where organizers said the purpose of the visit was to hear directly from local chile producers about the challenges they face and the support they need. \u201cIn New Mexico we have a lot of what they call specialty crops, these are high-cost crops, like our chile,\u201d Lujan said.\n\nAlbuquerque Journal \u2013 Domenici conference gathers policy experts, candidates\n\nNew Mexico State University\u2019s Domenici Public Policy Conference returned after an eight-year hiatus this week, as a dozen presenters, including subject experts, past and present political officials and 2026 election candidates gave hourlong talks and took questions from NMSU students. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., also upheld bipartisan collaboration in his Wednesday keynote address over lunch, rooting it in the legacy of New Mexico\u2019s finest leaders as well as President Ronald Reagan and his friendship with Democratic House Speaker Thomas \u201cTip\u201d O\u2019Neill. \u201cBringing people together with different approaches creates a better outcome,\u201d Luj\u00e1n said, arguing further that it would be key to solving difficult policy challenges, such as supporting utility-scale renewable energy production.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-capito-champion-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-ticket-buyers-from-ticket-scams/", "Luj\u00e1n, Capito Champion Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Ticket Buyers from Ticket Scams", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the Guaranteeing Honest Ownership in Secondary Ticketing (GHOST) Act, legislation to protect fans and concertgoers from deceptive ticket resale practices by prohibiting resellers from selling tickets they do not actually possess.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation to protect ticket buyers because when New Mexicans spend their hard-earned money on a concert or event, they deserve to know the ticket they are buying actually exists,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cToo often, fans are misled into purchasing tickets from resellers who don\u2019t even have them. That\u2019s why I introduced the GHOST Act to protect consumers, hold bad actors accountable, and bring greater transparency and fairness to the ticket marketplace.\u201d\n\n\u201cWest Virginians who spend their hard-earned money on tickets to see their favorite artist, team, or event should be able to trust that the tickets they\u2019re purchasing actually exist. Unfortunately, deceptive practices in the resale market can leave consumers paying inflated prices for tickets that sellers don\u2019t even possess. I\u2019m proud to support this legislation, which includes commonsense protections that will bring greater transparency and accountability to the ticket marketplace and ensure a fairer ticket-buying experience,\u201d Senator Capito said.\n\nToo often, consumers unknowingly purchase \u201cspeculative\u201d or \u201cghost\u201d tickets listed by resellers who do not actually have the tickets they are advertising. In some cases, buyers may not learn until shortly before an event that their tickets are unavailable, leaving them with little time to find legitimate replacements that may be sold out or significantly more expensive. Currently, there is no federal law specifically prohibiting speculative ticketing. The GHOST Act would establish nationwide protections to prevent resellers from advertising and selling tickets they do not possess.\n\nSpecifically, the GHOST Act would:\n\nBan ticket resellers from selling tickets they do not have actual possession of;\n\nEmpower the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action against violators and seek injunctive and monetary relief;\n\nRequire the FTC to establish a website where consumers can report potential violations of the GHOST Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016; and\n\nAllow state attorneys general to bring actions to enforce the law.\n\nThe legislation is supported by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).\n\nFull bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-partisan-republican-farm-bill/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Partisan Republican Farm Bill", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "GOP No-Shows Previously Derailed Republican Farm Bill, Failed to Earn the Support of Committee Democrats\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to advance the Republican Farm Bill in committee:\n\n\u201cFor generations, the Farm Bil has been a bipartisan commitment to our nation\u2019s farmers, ranchers, growers, rural communities, and every family that depends on them to put food on the table. Today, that bipartisan promise was abandoned by Senate Republicans who pushed through a partisan bill.\n\n\u201cFamilies are already struggling with President Trump\u2019s trade war, tariffs, and skyrocketing costs. Farmers and ranchers are paying more to keep their operations running, and families are paying more at the grocery store. This bill does nothing to meet the urgency of this crisis.\n\n\u201cAfter Republicans gutted our nation\u2019s food programs, this bill does nothing to reverse those devastating cuts or meet our responsibility to eliminate hunger in America. And at a time when farmers and ranchers are struggling, it fails to make the investments in agriculture that producers need.\n\n\u201cThe Farm Bill should be a bipartisan process. It should bring together everyone \u2013 Republicans and Democrats \u2013 who want to support the people who grow our food, strengthen rural communities, and ensure families don\u2019t go hungry. That is the Farm Bill that New Mexicans deserve, and that is the Farm Bill that I will continue fighting for.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-leads-fight-to-protect-state-and-tribal-gaming-rights-votes-against-advancing-clarity-act", "Heinrich Leads Fight to Protect State & Tribal Gaming Rights, Votes Against Advancing CLARITY Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Heinrich to introduce an amendment to protect Indian Gaming Regulatory Act & Tribal-state compacts & prohibit CFTC-registered entities from online sports betting & casino-style gaming\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement after voting against advancing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act), legislation that fails to protect state regulatory authority and Tribal gaming rights from prediction markets\u2019 unlawful online sports and casino-style gaming.\n\n\u201cThe legislation we voted on today undermines Tribal sovereignty and states\u2019 police powers. And it directly threatens Tribes\u2019 gaming revenues, which would mean less government services funding across Indian Country. That\u2019s a lose-lose,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cGiving prediction markets a free pass to sidestep existing law and Tribal sovereignty is wrong, in every conceivable way. That is not to say I oppose digital asset market structure legislation. But what that legislation absolutely must include is commonsense protections for state and Tribal gaming rights, including an Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and Tribal-state compact savings clause and a ban on prediction contracts that function like sports bets or casino games.\u201d\n\nHeinrich plans to introduce an amendment to the CLARITY Act that provides:\n\nAn Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and Tribal-state compacts savings clause; and\n\nProhibitions on Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)-registered entities from listing prediction contracts that resemble sports bets or casino-style gaming products.\n\nThe rapid expansion of sports event contracts and casino-style gaming through prediction markets threatens Tribal gaming revenues and the sovereignty of Tribal nations that rely on gaming to fund essential government services, including health care, public safety, education, housing, and social services. By offering products that function like sports bets while operating outside the regulatory framework governing gaming, prediction markets could divert a significant share of revenue away from Tribal governments.\n\nUnder the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, gaming on Tribal lands is subject to a carefully negotiated framework that protects Tribal sovereignty and establishes the roles of Tribal, state, and federal governments. Following the Supreme Court\u2019s 2018 decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Tribes also began entering the legal sports betting market through agreements with states.\n\nPrediction markets are now attempting to offer sports betting nationwide by classifying sports and event contracts as financial products rather than gambling. These markets operate under the authority of the CFTC, which has asserted jurisdiction over prediction contracts and treated them as financial derivatives rather than sports wagers.\n\nThe CLARITY Act could further entrench this loophole. By creating exemptions from federal securities regulation for certain digital asset platforms and decentralized finance infrastructure, the bill could allow prediction markets to expand sports betting and casino-style gaming nationwide without complying with the state- and Tribal-based regulatory frameworks that govern legal gaming.\n\nWithout clear protections for Tribal and state gaming rights, prediction markets could compete directly with Tribal gaming while avoiding the laws and agreements designed to protect Tribal sovereignty. Congress should ensure that digital asset market structure legislation does not create a federal pathway for companies to circumvent IGRA, Tribal-state gaming compacts, or state gaming laws.\n\nIn addition to the amendment Heinrich plans to introduce, Heinrich cosponsored another amendment to the CLARITY Act that would stop stablecoin companies from offering rewards or interest like a bank does, which could hurt local banks, reduce the money they have available to lend to families and small businesses, and increase the amount of funds in stablecoin accounts that are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The amendment is led by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).\n\nIn July, Heinrich led a letter urging the leadership of the U.S. Senate Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to regulate prediction markets offering nationwide sports and event wagering. The letter is supported by the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Santa Ana Pueblo, Sandia Pueblo, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, Kewa Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo, Santa Clara Pueblo, Taos Pueblo, Tesuque Pueblo, Zia Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo, Pojoaque Pueblo, and Mescalero Apache Tribe.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-meets-with-cadets-at-new-mexico-youth-challenge-academy-and-new-mexico-military-institute-tours-newly-renovated-health-science-center_expanded-nursing-program-at-eastern-nm-university-roswell", "Heinrich Meets with Cadets at New Mexico Youth Challenge Academy & New Mexico Military Institute, Tours Newly Renovated Health Science Center & Expanded Nursing Program at Eastern NM University-Roswell", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ROSWELL, N.M. \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, met with cadets at the New Mexico Youth Challenge Academy and the New Mexico Military Institute, and toured Eastern NM University-Roswell's (ENMU-R) newly renovated health science center, automotive and welding technology center, and expanded nursing program.\n\nHeinrich toured the New Mexico Youth Challenge Academy campus and met with cadets enrolled at the academy. While there, he also discussed an $87.5 million increase in federal funding he secured for the academy and programs like it across the country to help students earn their high school diploma, while also receiving advanced workforce training in the skilled trades and industry-recognized certifications.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) meets with cadets at the New Mexico Youth Challenge Academy, September 8, 2026.\n\nHeinrich also met with the leadership of the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) to discuss federal funding opportunities for the institute, military academy pathways for New Mexicans, and campus modernization needs. Heinrich also met with cadets enrolled at NMMI. Heinrich nominates New Mexicans to the Military Service Academies each year and provides an online informational session and application process for those interested.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) meets with cadets at the New Mexico Military Institute, September 8, 2026.\n\nAdditionally, Heinrich toured Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell's (ENMU-Roswell) newly renovated health science center, automotive and welding technology center, and expanded nursing program. ENMU-Roswell's nursing program is ranked first in New Mexico.\n\nWhile there, Heinrich met with Rocio Rugelio from Las Cruces. Rocio participated in ENMU-Roswell's Adult Education Program before enrolling at ENMU-Roswell with the goal of earning a degree in Early Childhood Education and making a positive difference in the lives of young children and families.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) tours Eastern NM University-Roswell's newly renovated health science center and expanded nursing program, September 8, 2026.\n\nHeinrich successfully protected programs that make higher education more affordable for students in New Mexico. This includes:\n\nMaintaining the maximum Pell Grant award at $7,395;\n\nFunding federal TRIO programs at $1.2 billion to serve low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities; and\n\nFunding the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant program at $388 million to support first-generation and low-income students with the resources they need to get their high school and college degrees.\n\nHeinrich also successfully ensured that the Postsecondary Student Success Grant maintained $45 million in funding. This program provides investments in evidence-based initiatives aimed at enhancing retention and completion rates for college students.\n\nIn 2020, Heinrich secured $1.5 million for ENMU-Roswell\u2019s \u201cDream. Achieve. Succeed\u201d program. The program partners the university with local school districts in Chaves and surrounding counties to improve college readiness and academic success for disadvantaged and low-income students.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich advocated for maintaining maximum Pell Grant awards and funding federal programs utilized by two-year and minority-serving community college systems in New Mexico.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-introduce-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence", "Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n Introduce Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) introduced a 502B privileged resolution requiring the U.S. Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years \u2013 and more detained \u2013 and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or U.S. Governments.\n\nThe resolution would require the State Department to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of U.S. citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children.\n\n\"The United States cannot look the other way when Americans are killed or when Palestinians are subjected to violence and displacement, and neither can Israel. We must send a clear message to the Trump administration and the Israeli government: New Mexicans will not stand by while U.S. citizens are killed by violent Israeli settlers and the Israeli military,\u201d said Heinrich. \"We need to end the bloodshed and work toward lasting peace in the region. That starts with holding President Netanyahu accountable for the human rights abuses taking place in the West Bank and making clear that American taxpayers will not provide a blank check for the Israeli government to kill U.S. citizens and kill and displace Palestinians. This resolution will get us closer to real accountability from the Trump Administration and the Israeli Government.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect Americans abroad and seek justice when Americans are killed,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe escalating violence in the West Bank and lack of accountability for the deaths of American citizens are deeply concerning. This resolution will help us get the answers we need, demand accountability, and ensure that we have a better assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank.\u201d\n\nThe resolution is led by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).\n\nAlongside Heinrich and Luj\u00e1n, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-joins-roundtable-with-new-mexico-voices-for-children-and-wk-kellogg-foundation-tours-presbyterian-kaseman-hospitals-food-pharmacy-speaks-at-array-technologies-new-facility-ribbon-cutting-urges-new-mexicans-to-raise-their-voices-for-roadless-rule", "Heinrich Joins Roundtable with New Mexico Voices for Children and W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Tours Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital\u2019s Food Pharmacy, Speaks at ARRAY Technologies\u2019 New Facility Ribbon Cutting, Urges New Mexicans to Raise Their Voices for Roadless Rule", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, participated in an event in Albuquerque on improving the well-being of children and families, toured Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital\u2019s food pharmacy, joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony for ARRAY Technologies\u2019 solar manufacturing facility, and spoke in support of protecting the Roadless Rule at a New Mexico Wild community event.\n\nHeinrich began the day participating in a roundtable event hosted in partnership with New Mexico Voices for Children and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, along with representatives from the UNM School of Medicine, Changing Women Initiative, Future Focused Education, and Breath of My Heart, to discuss New Mexico Voices for Children\u2019s Roadmap Report and policy solutions to improve the well-being of children and families in New Mexico.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joins a roundtable to discuss policy solutions to improve the well-being of children and families in New Mexico, September 9, 2026.\n\n\u201cI got involved early in the conversation around universal pre-K and early childhood education in New Mexico because we need to invest in our greatest asset: the next generation,\u201d said Heinrich, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. \u201cRight now, we\u2019re seeing the Trump administration walk away from investing in our children and families. We need to be thinking about the future. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve long championed legislation and funded programs that give our children a strong start and ensure they have access to high-quality care. We\u2019ve done some incredible things here in New Mexico over the last few years, but we\u2019re just getting started. I\u2019ll keep pushing to make sure every child in our state has the opportunity to succeed.\u201d\n\nNotably, in 2014, Heinrich was the first member of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to publicly support unlocking investments from the state\u2019s Land Grant Permanent Fund to sustainably support early childhood education. After the New Mexico Legislature and voters in the state passed the necessary state constitutional amendment to unlock these investments, Heinrich successfully led the effort to secure Congressional authorization of the amendment through his New Mexico Education Enhancement Act, which passed in the Omnibus Appropriations Agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).\n\nFor more information on the efforts Heinrich has championed to bolster childhood education in New Mexico, click here.\n\nFollowing the roundtable event, Heinrich toured Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital\u2019s food pharmacy, hearing directly from families who receive the program\u2019s food distribution services about the program\u2019s impact.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) tours Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital\u2019s food pharmacy, September 9, 2026.\n\nWhile touring the food pharmacy, Heinrich highlighted the need to build on programs like Presbyterian\u2019s that are making nutritious food more accessible to New Mexico families.\n\n\u201cIt's time to rebuild our food system in a different way that really serves people's health,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cWe need to thoughtfully look at some of our food deserts in this state and find ways to make fruits and vegetables accessible in those places, while also supporting our local farmers. Presbyterian\u2019s food pharmacy program proves how valuable a fresh fruit and vegetable kind of diet is for New Mexicans, and we should learn from that.\u201d\n\nLast month, Heinrich cosponsored the Accountable Produce is Medicine Act of 2026, which would require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a new bundled-payment model that integrates Food is Medicine services into chronic disease care. Participating programs would provide eligible Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP patients with health assessments, care coordination, telehealth and remote monitoring, nutrition counseling, lifestyle support, and healthy, nutrient-dense foods.\n\nIn December of 2024, Heinrich introduced the FOOD for Health Act, which aimed to reduce nutrition-related chronic diseases and address food insecurity by supporting the production of nutritious food.\n\nIn 2018, Heinrich voted in favor of the 2018 Farm Bill, which established the first federal Produce Prescription Program under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) program, which provides federal grants to increase the purchase and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among low-income households.\n\nHeinrich also joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open ARRAY Technologies\u2019 Westside Albuquerque facility. The new $50 million facility will triple ARRAY\u2019s solar tracker manufacturing capacity in New Mexico \u2013 shortening energy delivery times, lowering costs for consumers, and creating over 300 good-paying jobs in New Mexico.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joins a ribbon-cutting ceremony for ARRAY Technologies\u2019 Solar manufacturing facility, September 9, 2026.\n\n\u201cArray Technologies\u2019 new $50 million facility on Albuquerque\u2019s West Side is a testament to the strength of our workforce and New Mexico\u2019s leadership in unlocking our country\u2019s clean energy future,\u201d said Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. \u201cThis new facility will employ more than 300 New Mexicans and create high-skilled jobs, from welders to tooling and die technicians. It\u2019s proof that when we invest in American-made energy, we\u2019re not just building the technologies that will power our future \u2014 we\u2019re creating good-paying jobs, strengthening local economies, and helping lower electricity costs for families and small businesses. And this is just the beginning.\u201d\n\nHeinrich has long supported ARRAY Technologies and investments that have spurred solar development.\n\nIn April 2022, Heinrich met with New Mexico solar industry leaders, including ARRAY Technologies, to hear how a solar tariff petition filed with the Department of Commerce would severely harm the state\u2019s solar industry and the hard-working New Mexicans who work in the industry, and later led the charge to prevent the Biden administration from moving forward with the tariffs.\n\nIn June 2022, Heinrich delivered keynote remarks at the American Solar Energy Society\u2019s 51st Annual National Solar Conference, SOLAR 2022, hosted at the University of New Mexico, highlighting the importance of accelerating the deployment of residential and utility-scale solar across New Mexico and the nation.\n\nIn July 2022, Heinrich passed the CHIPS and Science Act, which invested in domestic solar manufacturing through tax credits and semiconductor funding.\n\nIn August 2022, Heinrich helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which included the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit, to subsidize the production of five types of goods: solar energy components, wind energy components, battery components, inverters, and critical minerals.\n\nIn April 2024, Heinrich delivered keynote remarks during New Mexico\u2019s first Business-to-Business Electrify New Mexico event, hosted by the Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico, celebrating ARRAY Technologies\u2019 expansion and growth in the state.\n\nIn April 2024, Heinrich welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to New Mexico to highlight how investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act created a manufacturing boom and helped position New Mexico as a national leader in an American-made clean energy future, touring ARRAY Technologies\u2019 manufacturing plant in NE Albuquerque.\n\nIn June 2024, Heinrich, as Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), hosted a hearing on how investments in clean energy have helped create an economic boom, uplifting ARRAY Technologies for expanding in New Mexico.\n\nHeinrich ended the day speaking in support of the Roadless Rule at a New Mexico Wild community event, emphasizing the importance of fighting to preserve the Roadless Rule. The public now has until October 6 to submit comments on the Trump administration\u2019s proposed plan to rescind the Roadless Rule.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaks at New Mexico Wild\u2019s event on protecting the Roadless Rule, September 9, 2026.\n\n\u201cPublic input makes for better governance. It gets all the facts on the table. It gets people\u2019s opinions on the table, and generally the outcome benefits from that,\u201d said Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. \"We saw that during the public process that led to the Roadless Rule in the late 1990s, when there were tons of people in those hearings \u2014 and now, after more than 20 years of management under the Roadless Rule, the comments are 99 percent supportive. And yet, this Forest Service and this administration doesn\u2019t have the decency to hold a single public hearing. Public process is at the heart of good democracy and good governance, and we won\u2019t accept anything less than that.\u201d\n\nLast month, Heinrich released a statement reacting to the Trump administration\u2019s announcement that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has filed a proposed rule to rescind the Roadless Rule, calling roadless areas irreplaceable and criticizing the administration for its attack on public lands.\n\nEarlier this summer, Heinrich hosted a press conference on Senate Republicans\u2019 efforts to repeal the Roadless Rule and spoke out against the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to rescind the Roadless Rule.\n\nAdditionally, Heinrich wrote an op-ed in Outside News about how the Roadless Rule helps conserve our public lands and prevent wildfires \u2013 and how it represents years of input from Americans who have made it clear they want the Roadless Rule to stay in place.\n\nIn May, Heinrich and the N.M. Congressional Delegation urged New Mexicans to voice their opposition to the looming Roadless Rule repeal.\n\nIn February, Heinrich attended the \u201cCamo at the Capitol Day\u201d rally in the Roundhouse where he stated, \u201cIt makes me incredibly proud to be a New Mexican. They\u2019ll never take our public lands from our public hands.\u201d\n\nLast September, Heinrich and the N.M. Congressional Delegation sent a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins requesting that New Mexico be excluded from the Trump administration\u2019s proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule.\n\nDuring a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee hearing to examine pending legislation, Heinrich brought attention to the Trump administration\u2019s refusal to take public opinion into account prior to repealing the Roadless Rule.\n\nIn June 2025, Heinrich released a statement slamming USDA Secretary Rollins\u2019 efforts to rescind the Roadless Rule.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-on-the-25th-anniversary-of-the-september-11th-terrorist-attacks", "Heinrich Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.\n\n\u201cToday, we honor and mourn all those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, in the Pentagon, and in the fields of Western Pennsylvania. We honor the first responders and countless others who risked their lives or made the ultimate sacrifice to help neighbors and strangers in a moment of unfathomable tragedy.\n\n\u201cWe remember the way our country came together, through the grief, with determined, united resilience. And we honor the military service members who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world in the years that followed, and the allies and interpreters who supported their work. We know the sacrifices of our service members, their families, and our allies extended far beyond the battlefield.\n\n\u201cNow, 25 years following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we say again: We will never forget. We must always strive to carry the spirit of service, unity, and compassion we witnessed in New York, Virginia, and the skies above Pennsylvania on that day and across the country in the weeks that followed. And we will remember the heavy cost of endless wars as we strive to ensure that future generations do not bear the same burdens.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-the-25th-anniversary-of-9-11-terrorist-attacks/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Terrorist Attacks", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001:\n\n\u201cSeptember 11, 2001, remains one of the most tragic days in our nation\u2019s history. Twenty-five years later, we remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives and the families and loved ones whose lives were forever changed.\n\n\u201cIn the face of unimaginable loss, Americans showed extraordinary courage, compassion, and bravery. First responders and ordinary citizens ran toward danger to save others, while communities across the country came together to support those who were grieving.\n\n\u201cToday and every day, we honor the memory of every person who never made it home. We will never forget.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-southern-new-mexico-lujan-delivers-keynote-at-domenici-public-policy-conference-highlights-support-for-new-mexico-chile-farmers/", "In Southern New Mexico, Luj\u00e1n Delivers Keynote at Domenici Public Policy Conference, Highlights Support for New Mexico Chile Farmers", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO \u2013 This week, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) was in Southern New Mexico to engage with students and community leaders on the issues facing New Mexico and the country and highlight his continued support for New Mexico farmers.\n\nKeynote Address at Domenici Public Policy Conference\n\nAt New Mexico State University on Wednesday, Senator Luj\u00e1n delivered the luncheon keynote address at the Domenici Public Policy Conference and took questions from students on issues impacting New Mexicans and Americans across the country. Senator Luj\u00e1n\u2019s address focused on his work on behalf of New Mexicans and his continued commitment to deliver for communities across the state.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to deliver the keynote address at the Domenici Public Policy Conference and speak directly with students about the issues shaping New Mexico and our country,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe Domenici Public Policy Conference exemplifies a commitment to public service and thoughtful debate, and I was proud to join students and community leaders who share a dedication to making life better for New Mexicans. I was especially grateful for the opportunity to hear from students and discuss the work ahead to build a stronger future for New Mexico.\u201d\n\nSupporting New Mexico\u2019s Chile Producers\n\nDuring his visit to Derry on Tuesday, Senator Luj\u00e1n visited Ogaz Farms to see firsthand the challenges chile producers are facing. Senator Luj\u00e1n heard directly from local producers about the stresses impacting their operations and discussed his efforts to support specialty crop producers across New Mexico. In June, Senator Luj\u00e1n introduced the Cultivating Horticultural Innovation in Local Economies (CHILE) Act, legislation to strengthen support for specialty crop producers, including New Mexico farmers who grow chile and other specialty crops that are vital to the state\u2019s agricultural economy.\n\n\u201cThis week in Derry, I had the honor of meeting with New Mexico chile producers at the height of harvest season,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cI heard directly from chile producers about the challenges they are facing and highlighted my efforts to ensure they get the assistance they need. New Mexico\u2019s chile producers are an important part of our state\u2019s culture and economy, and I\u2019ll continue working to support our specialty crop producers and deliver the resources they need to succeed.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-n-m-delegation-call-on-apple-google-to-keep-new-mexicos-name-on-mapping-services/", "Luj\u00e1n, N.M. Delegation Call on Apple, Google to Keep New Mexico\u2019s Name on Mapping Services", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "N.M. Delegation Demands Commitment Following Trump\u2019s Post to Rename New Mexico \u201cNew America\u201d\n\nLuj\u00e1n\u2019s Reaction Following Trump\u2019s Post: It\u2019s New Mexico, always has been and always will be. Just like how you\u2019ll always be a sinverg\u00fcenza and corrupt.\n\nSanta Fe, N.M. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on Apple and Google to publicly commit to keeping New Mexico\u2019s name on their mapping services following President Trump\u2019s threatening post that the state be renamed \u201cNew America.\u201d\n\nIn a letter to Apple CEO John Ternus and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Senator Luj\u00e1n and the New Mexico Delegation clearly state that President Trump does not have the legal authority to unilaterally rename New Mexico and calls on the companies to commit to continuing to identify the state as New Mexico on Apple Maps and Google Maps, regardless of pressure from the Trump administration.\n\nOver Labor Day weekend, President Trump published a series of erratic social media posts, including posts suggesting that New Mexico be renamed \u201cNew America.\u201d President Trump has previously directed the federal government to use new names for geographic features, including the Gulf of Mexico, Denali, and Lake Ontario.\n\n\u201cLet us be clear: the President has no legal authority to rename New Mexico. Our state\u2019s name belongs to the people of New Mexico and is rooted in our history and our Constitution, which clearly states that \u2018the name of this state is New Mexico,\u2019\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cWe ask each of you to publicly commit that Apple Maps and Google Maps will continue to identify the State of New Mexico as New Mexico, regardless of what the President posts on social media, what executive order he attempts to issue, or what pressure he puts on your companies,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Ternus and Mr. Pichai:\n\nThis weekend, rather than addressing the affordability crisis, ending his illegal war in Iran that has driven up gas prices, removing tariffs that are raising costs for American families, or honoring our nation\u2019s workers, President Trump published more than a hundred posts to his Truth Social account. In several of them, the President suggested renaming our home state of New Mexico, \u201cNew America.\u201d\n\nLet us be clear: the President has no legal authority to rename New Mexico. Our state\u2019s name belongs to the people of New Mexico and is rooted in our history and our Constitution, which clearly states that \u201cthe name of this state is New Mexico.\u201d The United States Constitution does not give the President the power to unilaterally rename a state and an executive order cannot amend New Mexico\u2019s Constitution or change the legal identity of our state. Changing New Mexico\u2019s name would require changing our state Constitution through New Mexico\u2019s own constitutional process.\n\nUnfortunately, this is not the first time President Trump has attempted to unilaterally rename a place. In 2025, through an executive order, the President directed the federal government to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the \u201cGulf of America\u201d and Denali to \u201cMount McKinley.\u201d Most recently, the President ordered the federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as \u201cLake America.\u201d\n\nIn each case, your companies soon updated your mapping services to reflect the President\u2019s whims. According to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the President even reached out to Apple directly, pressuring the company to change Lake Ontario to \u201cLake America.\u201d\n\nThis is disappointing but unsurprising. Both of your companies have significant business interests before the federal government. These include antitrust enforcement, tariffs, regulation of artificial intelligence and online platforms, and federal contracting opportunities. This is not the first time your companies have made concessions to this President and this Administration. For example, after the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol and our democracy, YouTube suspended President Trump from its platform. President Trump subsequently sued over that decision. Last year, Google agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle that lawsuit with $22 million directed toward the President\u2019s new White House ballroom. In addition, both Google and Apple are among the corporations that have donated to the ballroom project \u2013 a project that has not been authorized by the United States Congress.\n\nBecause of this history, we ask each of you to publicly commit that Apple Maps and Google Maps will continue to identify the State of New Mexico as New Mexico, regardless of what the President posts on social media, what executive order he attempts to issue, or what pressure he puts on your companies.\n\nAgain, the name has belonged to the people of New Mexico since before the United States existed. It should not become a political football to be negotiated between an unhinged President and two of the most powerful technology companies in the world.\n\nWe ask for your public commitment to maintaining New Mexico\u2019s name by September 18.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-oil-hits-100-a-barrel-heinrich-details-how-trumps-war-in-iran-will-continue-to-harm-working-families", "As Oil Hits $100 a Barrel, Heinrich Details How Trump\u2019s War in Iran Will Continue to Harm Working Families", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Report outlines how Trump\u2019s war in Iran continues to strain the United States\u2019 Strategic Petroleum Reserve, threatening to further hike gasoline prices\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a report detailing how draining the United States\u2019 oil reserves to historic lows as a result of President Trump\u2019s ongoing war in Iran \u2014 a war that financially benefits him \u2014 will cause prices at the pump to continue to rise.\n\nIn the report, Heinrich spells out how the historically low U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) endangers critical energy infrastructure, risking the United States\u2019 ability to release more oil from the SPR and threatening our energy security. As President Trump\u2019s war with Iran continues, a depleted SPR could cause gasoline prices to potentially rise to $6 per gallon according to oil executives, putting a greater financial strain on working families. This report follows the Joint Economic Committee\u2019s (JEC) August 2026 report, which found that Trump is financially benefitting from his ongoing war in Iran and has gained $15.5 million from oil and gas stocks.\n\n\u201cInstead of tackling rising energy prices or ending his war in Iran, President Trump is irresponsibly draining our fuel reserves. That's making things worse, not better. And working families could be forced to pay more at the pump as a result,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\nThe SPR was created in 1975 to mitigate the impacts of global crises on consumers, protecting the economy from severe oil shortages and price surges. It\u2019s designed to hold up to 713.5 million barrels of crude oil spread across 60 salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana and is the largest reported government-owned stockpile in the world.\n\nIn April 2026, the U.S. \u2014 at the direction of President Trump \u2014 released 172 million barrels of crude oil from the SPR. The decision to release oil came as Trump\u2019s war with Iran caused gas prices to surge from $3 per gallon to over $5 per gallon in some parts of the country. The SPR is now at its lowest level since its inception.\n\nIn June 2026, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report warning that the SPR is at risk of failing to safeguard the U.S. from severe petroleum supply disruptions.\n\nRead the spotlight report here.", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-celebrates-first-ever-permit-issued-under-his-good-samaritan-mine-cleanup-law", "Heinrich Celebrates First-Ever Permit Issued Under His Good Samaritan Mine Cleanup Law", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today celebrated the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) issuance of the first-ever permit under the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Pilot Program \u2014 established by legislation he authored and championed alongside U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to remove a longstanding legal barrier to cleaning up abandoned mines. The House companion legislation was led by U.S. Representatives Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), and Susie Lee (D-Nev.).\n\nThe permit authorizes Trout Unlimited to move forward with the Bodie Mine Project in Okanogan County, Washington, marking the first time a Good Samaritan has received federal authorization under the pilot program created by Heinrich\u2019s bipartisan Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, which was signed into law in December 2024.\n\nFor decades, nonprofits, state and local governments, and other groups willing to clean up abandoned hardrock mines faced a major obstacle: under existing environmental liability laws, organizations could potentially become legally liable for pollution they did not create simply by attempting to remediate it. Heinrich\u2019s legislation created a new permitting pathway that provides eligible Good Samaritans with protections from certain liability risks while they carry out approved cleanup projects.\n\n\u201cThis is a landmark moment \u2014 and proof that our Good Samaritan law is working. After more than 25 years of hard work to break down the legal barriers standing in the way of abandoned mine cleanup, we are finally seeing volunteers get to work restoring polluted lands and waters without taking on liability for contamination they didn\u2019t cause,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cThe first Good Samaritan permit has now been issued, and this is just the beginning. We can now use this new tool to clean up more abandoned mines, improve water quality, and make communities across New Mexico and the West safer and healthier.\u201d\n\nThe Bodie Mine Project will address legacy mine contamination along approximately 400 feet of Toroda Creek. Under the permit, Trout Unlimited will excavate and remove up to 790 tons of contaminated soil and sediment, reconstruct and stabilize the streambank, and restore native vegetation. The project is expected to prevent approximately 104 tons of contaminated tailings from eroding into Toroda Creek each year. Just last week, Heinrich, Risch, Maloy, and Lee sent a bipartisan letter to EPA supporting the Bodie Mine Project and urging the agency to move forward with implementation of the new pilot program.\n\n\u201cThis law simply does not happen without the bipartisan work of Senators Heinrich and Risch. Senator Heinrich, in particular, was a force of nature in his advocacy and effectiveness. Anyone who cares about clean water owes him a debt of gratitude,\u201d said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited.\n\nThe project demonstrates exactly the kind of collaborative conservation effort Heinrich\u2019s legislation was designed to enable: a non-liable conservation organization to address pollution left behind by historic mining. As required by the law, the EPA completed an environmental assessment for the Bodie Mine Project.\n\nHeinrich first introduced the Good Samaritan legislation with Risch in 2022 after years of bipartisan efforts to address the liability barriers preventing voluntary abandoned mine cleanups. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously before passing the House and being signed into law on December 17, 2024.\n\nIn 2021, Heinrich championed a provision in the Infrastructure Law to establish the first-ever abandoned hardrock mine reclamation program in the Department of the Interior. With the passage of the Good Samaritan legislation, public-private partnerships can use this program to jumpstart abandoned mine cleanups.\n\nThe United States has hundreds of thousands of abandoned hardrock mine features, with at least 33,000 posing environmental hazards, according to the Government Accountability Office. Heinrich\u2019s law established a pilot permitting program specifically designed to help lower-risk projects move forward while maintaining federal oversight.", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/news-ballistics-technology-heinrich-secured-helps-law-enforcement-identify-suspect-in-roswell-murders", "NEWS: Ballistics Technology Heinrich Secured Helps Law Enforcement Identify Suspect in Roswell Murders", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Heinrich secured more than $1 million to expand NIBIN technology across New Mexico, including a new machine in Roswell that investigators used to connect ballistic evidence in multiple homicides\n\nROSWELL, N.M. \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today highlighted the critical role that new ballistics testing machines he secured helped law enforcement identify and arrest a suspect accused of two murders in the community.\n\nAccording to the New Mexico Department of Justice, the Roswell Police Department used the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine to identify a connection between ballistic evidence recovered in two of the homicides and a firearm recovered from the suspect\u2019s home.\n\n\u201cThis is exactly why I fought to bring this technology to communities like Roswell,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cWhen someone commits a violent crime with a firearm, law enforcement needs every possible tool to identify that weapon, connect it to other crimes, and get a dangerous criminal off the streets before they can hurt anyone else. That is what these investments are designed to do \u2014 help law enforcement solve crimes faster and keep New Mexicans safe.\u201d\n\nIn the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Appropriations process, Heinrich secured more than $1 million to purchase four new NIBIN machines for law enforcement agencies in Roswell, Las Cruces, Farmington, and Gallup. The investment expanded access to advanced ballistic intelligence beyond Albuquerque and Santa Fe and established a statewide network connecting local law enforcement agencies with the New Mexico Department of Justice\u2019s Crime Gun Intelligence Center.\n\nBefore Heinrich secured the funding, New Mexico had only three NIBIN machines \u2014 two in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe. The new Roswell machine has given law enforcement in southeastern New Mexico direct access to the technology, eliminating the need to transport evidence long distances for testing.\n\nNIBIN machines use highly technical imaging to analyze the markings left on spent cartridge casings and determine whether they are associated with other firearms-related crimes. That information is shared with the New Mexico Department of Justice\u2019s Crime Gun Intelligence Center, where trained analysts can identify connections between crimes, firearms, and suspects and provide intelligence back to local law enforcement.\n\nThe New Mexico Department of Justice has credited Heinrich\u2019s federal investment with helping establish the statewide Crime Gun Intelligence Center, which uses forensic firearm evidence to find connections between crimes across New Mexico. The four new NIBIN machines are located in Roswell, Farmington, Gallup, and Do\u00f1a Ana County. Since the machines were installed, the Crime Gun Intelligence Center has processed more than 2,000 ballistic acquisitions, generating leads in over 527 criminal incidents across New Mexico, with 41% resulting in an arrest.\n\nHeinrich also secured language in the FY2024 Appropriations bills directing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to expand access to NIBIN for state and local agencies in the Southwest Border region.\n\nBackground on Heinrich\u2019s work to support law enforcement\u2019s ability to solve violent crime and keep New Mexicans safe:\n\nHeinrich has made securing resources for New Mexico law enforcement and first responders a priority on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Through the FY2022, FY2023, and FY2024 appropriations processes, Heinrich delivered $48.9 million for law enforcement and first responders across New Mexico.\n\nIn October 2024, Heinrich previously highlighted the machines as a critical tool for helping law enforcement \u201csolve the crimes that happen before those same criminals can do more harm\u201d in Las Cruces.\n\nThe New Mexico Department of Justice\u2019s Crime Gun Intelligence Center now uses the network of NIBIN machines to connect firearm evidence from crimes across the state, helping investigators identify suspects, witnesses, and patterns that might otherwise go undetected.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-lujan-n-m-delegation-call-on-doj-inspector-general-to-expand-investigation-into-dea-fentanyl-practices-in-new-mexico/", "ICYMI: Luj\u00e1n, N.M. Delegation Call on DOJ Inspector General to Expand Investigation into DEA Fentanyl Practices in New Mexico", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "NEW MEXICO \u2013 In Case You Missed It: U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to expand its recently announced review of federal fentanyl investigations to examine Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) practices dating back before 2024, with a specific focus on the DEA\u2019s fentanyl practices in New Mexico.\n\nThe Delegation\u2019s request follows whistleblower complaints alleging that DEA agents allowed large quantities of fentanyl to reach New Mexico communities instead of seizing the drugs. On August 17th, the DOJ OIG announced a review of federal fentanyl investigations, including cases where investigators allowed fentanyl shipments to continue rather than seizing them. In the letter, the lawmakers point to whistleblower allegations that raise concerns that DEA\u2019s practice of allowing fentanyl to \u201cwalk\u201d may extend further than the OIG\u2019s current two-year review period. Additionally, the lawmakers call on the DOJ OIG to examine whether the DEA\u2019s decisions led to increased overdose deaths throughout New Mexico.\n\n\u201cOne of the whistleblowers claims that the DEA surveilled a drug trafficker \u2018who made repeated deliveries of fentanyl from Phoenix to Albuquerque between 2022 and 2023.\u2019 There is reason to suspect that the DEA\u2019s policies of allowing fentanyl to \u2018walk\u2019 stretches back before 2023. For that reason, we believe the OIG should expand its scope of review.\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cThe people of New Mexico deserve answers as to why the agency charged with seizing drugs instead allowed deadly pills to flood their streets. We ask that the DOJ OIG conduct a full and thorough investigation to bring some measure of accountability to actions carried out by DEA,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nIn July, the New Mexico Delegation demanded answers from U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance Cole on why the DEA allowed large quantities of fentanyl to circulate unseized in New Mexico communities.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Inspector General Berthiaume:\n\nWe write regarding the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Inspector General\u2019s (DOJ OIG) August 17, 2026\u2019s announcement that it would review \u201cinvestigations involving the trafficking of substances containing fentanyl\u2026 when federal investigators have knowledge, specific information, or probable cause to believe that fentanyl will be transported or distributed to or from, or stored at, a specified identifiable location.\u201d While we are pleased to see OIG initiate this investigation we ask that the Office expand the scope of its review to investigations before 2024 with a specific focus on investigations undertaken by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) within New Mexico.\n\nAs you know, current and former DEA agents filed whistleblower complaints alleging that agents within the Agency allowed drug traffickers to deliver hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills onto the streets of New Mexico. One of the whistleblowers claims that the DEA surveilled a drug trafficker \u201cwho made repeated deliveries of fentanyl from Phoenix to Albuquerque between 2022 and 2023.\u201d There is reason to suspect that the DEA\u2019s policies of allowing fentanyl to \u201cwalk\u201d stretches back before 2023. For that reason, we believe the OIG should expand its scope of review.\n\nSadly, New Mexico remains a hotbed of fentanyl trafficking and overdose deaths. Federal data show that overdose deaths fell throughout the country in 2025, yet, in New Mexico deaths rose by 21 percent. This increase correlates with the time period during which the DEA\u2019s allowed traffickers to flood the streets with deadly fentanyl pills. Thus, we ask that the OIG examine whether the DEA\u2019s decisions led to increased overdose deaths throughout the state.\n\nThe people of New Mexico deserve answers as to why the agency charged with seizing drugs instead allowed deadly pills to flood their streets. We ask that the DOJ OIG conduct a full and thorough investigation to bring some measure of accountability to actions carried out by DEA. Thank you in advance for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-celebration-of-labor-day/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Celebration of Labor Day", "2026-09-07", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) issued the following statement recognizing New Mexico workers in honor of Labor Day:\n\n\u201cThis Labor Day, we recognize the hardworking New Mexicans who keep our communities strong. We celebrate the generations of New Mexican workers who have fought for fair pay, safer workplaces, and better opportunity for working families.\n\n\u201cAs the son of a union ironworker and a public school administrator, I understand the dignity of hard work, the importance of a good-paying job, and the necessity for a safe workplace. I remain committed to standing up to protect workers\u2019 rights, expand opportunity, and ensure every New Mexican can build a better future for themselves.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-08T09:24:24Z", "2026-09-08T09:26:10Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-honoring-labor-day", "Heinrich Statement Honoring Labor Day", "2026-09-07", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement honoring Labor Day.\n\n\u201cToday we honor the skilled workers who built our country and keep it running. We recognize all those, past and present, who have fought for labor protections and the right to organize. And we commit to creating an economy where hard work pays off.\n\n\u201cAs the son of an IBEW lineman and a wheel factory worker, I know how hard my parents worked to provide for our family. And I know that it was my dad\u2019s union job that gave us a ticket to the middle class.\n\n\u201cBut even as union workers across New Mexico are building a future for their families and supporting our communities \u2014 lighting our homes, schools, and offices, and building the clean energy infrastructure that will power our economy for generations \u2014 too many others are working harder and falling further behind \u2014 asked to do more with far less.\n\n\u201cI am committed to delivering policies that bring costs down and support the folks working hard for our communities. And I will continue holding President Trump accountable for the rising prices caused by his tariffs, war with Iran, and other reckless economic policies.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-nm-delegation-press-va-secretary-to-ensure-new-mexico-veterans-are-not-harmed-by-agency-reorganization", "Heinrich, N.M. Delegation Press VA Secretary to Ensure New Mexico Veterans Are Not Harmed by Agency Reorganization", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and members of the N.M. Congressional Delegation, including U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), sent a letter pressing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to ensure New Mexico veterans\u2019 unique needs are not diminished in the agency\u2019s planned reorganization of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) structure into five regional networks under the VA RISE Initiative.\n\nNew Mexico is home to more than 125,000 veterans, many of whom live in rural communities where access to healthcare is already limited. Veterans across the state face unique challenges, including long distances to VA medical centers, shortages of specialty care providers, and limited broadband access for telehealth services. New Mexico also has a disproportionately high share of Native American, Hispanic, and Latino veterans, whose healthcare needs are best served through culturally competent care and strong partnerships with Tribal governments and the Indian Health Service (IHS). New Mexico also has a particular need for local decision-making and resources that reflect the unique needs of veterans in geographically isolated areas.\n\n\u201cWhile we appreciate the Department's efforts to modernize its healthcare delivery system, any restructuring must improve \u2014not weaken \u2014 the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of care for veterans living in rural communities,\u201d the N.M. Congressional Delegation wrote to VA Secretary Collins.\n\nWhile New Mexico was previously aligned under VISN 22 and 17, veterans and stakeholders repeatedly expressed concerns that the state's priorities were overshadowed by larger population centers within the VISN. Resource allocation, executive attention, and operational decision-making often favored larger facilities, leaving New Mexico veterans underrepresented despite facing some of the greatest barriers to care. Differences in geography, demographics, and healthcare infrastructure between New Mexico and the rest of the VISN complicated efforts to tailor services to the state's unique needs.\n\nIn the letter, the N.M. Congressional Delegation urged VA leadership to ensure that the unique needs of New Mexico\u2019s veterans are addressed and that past hurdles to adequate healthcare do not persist as the agency establishes a new five-VISN structure.\n\n\u201cThe success of this reorganization should ultimately be measured not by administrative efficiencies alone, but by whether veterans experience faster access to care, improved health outcomes, and greater confidence in the VA healthcare system. New Mexico's unique geography and veteran population require sustained attention and dedicated leadership to ensure that organizational changes do not unintentionally widen existing disparities in access to care,\u201d the N.M. Congressional Delegation underscored.\n\nThe N.M. Congressional Delegation concluded the letter by requesting that the VA provide an overview of how New Mexico's unique healthcare needs will be incorporated into the new VISN structure, including what safeguards will be implemented to ensure the state receives equitable resources, leadership engagement, accessible community care, expanded telehealth and rural outreach, and stronger partnerships with Tribal governments and the IHS following the reorganization. The Delegation also requested that the VA prioritize recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural communities and maintain transparent, New Mexico-specific metrics to ensure veterans receive timely, high-quality care.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Collins,\n\nAs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertakes its planned reorganization of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) structure into five regional networks under the VA RISE Initiative, I write to emphasize the importance of ensuring that the unique needs of New Mexico's veterans are not diminished within a larger organizational framework. While we appreciate the Department's efforts to modernize its healthcare delivery system, any restructuring must improve\u2014not weaken\u2014the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of care for veterans living in rural communities.\n\nNew Mexico is home to more than 125,000 veterans, many of whom reside in geographically isolated areas where access to healthcare is already limited. Veterans in my state face unique challenges, including long travel distances to VA medical centers, shortages of specialty care providers, limited broadband access for telehealth services, and a disproportionately high percentage of Native American, Hispanic, and Latino veterans whose healthcare needs are best served through culturally competent care and strong partnerships with Tribal governments and the Indian Health Service. Additionally, New Mexico has one of the nation's highest concentrations of rural veterans, making local decision-making and resource allocation particularly important.\n\nWhile New Mexico was previously aligned under VISN 22 and 17, veterans and stakeholders repeatedly expressed concerns that the state's priorities were overshadowed by larger population centers within the VISN. Resource allocation, executive attention, and operational decision-making often favored larger facilities, leaving New Mexico veterans feeling underrepresented despite facing some of the greatest barriers to care. Differences in geography, demographics, and healthcare infrastructure between New Mexico and the rest of the VISN complicated efforts to tailor services to the state's unique needs.\n\nAs the Department establishes a new five-VISN structure, I urge VA leadership to ensure that the unique needs of New Mexico\u2019s veterans are prioritized and that past hurdles to adequate health care do not persist. Specifically, I request that the Department:\n\nEstablish dedicated regional leadership responsible for advocating exclusively for New Mexico's veterans and ensuring the state's healthcare priorities remain visible within the larger VISN structure.\n\nPreserve and expand access to community care where VA facilities remain geographically inaccessible, while maintaining strong oversight to ensure timely, high-quality care.\n\nContinue investments in telehealth infrastructure, mobile health care services, and rural outreach programs to better serve veterans in remote communities.\n\nStrengthen partnerships with Tribal governments, Tribal health systems, and the Indian Health Service to improve coordination of care for Native American veterans.\n\nPrioritize recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in rural New Mexico facilities through targeted workforce initiatives.\n\nMaintain transparent performance metrics specific to New Mexico, including appointment wait times, specialty care access, community care utilization, and veteran satisfaction, so Congress and veterans can evaluate whether the reorganization is producing meaningful improvements.\n\nThe success of this reorganization should ultimately be measured not by administrative efficiencies alone, but by whether veterans experience faster access to care, improved health outcomes, and greater confidence in the VA healthcare system. New Mexico's unique geography and veteran population require sustained attention and dedicated leadership to ensure that organizational changes do not unintentionally widen existing disparities in access to care.\n\nWe respectfully request that the Department provide an overview of how New Mexico's unique healthcare needs will be incorporated into the new VISN structure, including what safeguards will be implemented to ensure the state receives equitable resources, leadership engagement, and operational support following the reorganization.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued commitment to serving those who have worn our nation's uniform. We look forward to working with you to ensure that every New Mexico veteran receives the high-quality healthcare they have earned.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-releases-fact-sheet-highlighting-how-clean-energy-is-keeping-the-lights-on-during-extreme-heat", "Heinrich Releases Fact Sheet Highlighting How Clean Energy is Keeping the Lights on During Extreme Heat", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a new fact sheet detailing how clean energy and energy storage resources have lessened the likelihood of power outages this summer and strengthened the reliability of the nation\u2019s electric grid.\n\nThis summer, as our grid is constrained the most due to increased energy usage, communities across the United States have faced dangerous, record-breaking heat, making reliable electricity a matter of public health and safety. During extreme heat, power outages can leave people without air conditioning for hours or even days, putting older adults, children, and other vulnerable Americans at serious risk.\n\nDespite clean energy being the cheapest, fastest source to deploy, the Trump administration has continuously blocked clean energy projects from connecting to the grid. If those actions continue, over 90% of planned new electricity generation capacity could be prevented from coming online in the next several years, straining our energy grid even further and increasing the likelihood of power outages.\n\n\u201cExtreme heat is putting more pressure on our electric grid, and Americans need to know that when they flip the switch, the power will be there. Clean, American-made energy can help us meet growing demand, lower energy costs, strengthen the grid, and keep the lights and air conditioning on,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cThat is why it makes no sense that President Trump continues to block and stall new clean energy projects from connecting to the grid. Every summer, our grid faces an increase in demand, leaving communities across the country at risk of power outages that can be life-threatening. We should be building more reliable, affordable energy \u2013 not putting up more roadblocks.\u201d\n\nThe fact sheet finds that clean energy resources are already helping meet growing electricity demand and improve grid reliability. Between June 2025 and May 2026, as more clean energy sources connected to the grid, these sources increased available energy capacity, reducing the likelihood of power outages in regions across the country.\n\nRead the fact sheet here.", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-n-m-delegation-call-on-doj-inspector-general-to-expand-investigation-into-dea-fentanyl-practices-in-new-mexico/", "Luj\u00e1n, N.M. Delegation Call on DOJ Inspector General to Expand Investigation into DEA Fentanyl Practices in New Mexico", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "NEW MEXICO \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to expand its recently announced review of federal fentanyl investigations to examine Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) practices dating back before 2024, with a specific focus on the DEA\u2019s fentanyl practices in New Mexico.\n\nThe Delegation\u2019s request follows whistleblower complaints alleging that DEA agents allowed large quantities of fentanyl to reach New Mexico communities instead of seizing the drugs. On August 17th, the DOJ OIG announced a review of federal fentanyl investigations, including cases where investigators allowed fentanyl shipments to continue rather than seizing them. In the letter, the lawmakers point to whistleblower allegations that raise concerns that DEA\u2019s practice of allowing fentanyl to \u201cwalk\u201d may extend further than the OIG\u2019s current two-year review period. Additionally, the lawmakers call on the DOJ OIG to examine whether the DEA\u2019s decisions led to increased overdose deaths throughout New Mexico.\n\n\u201cOne of the whistleblowers claims that the DEA surveilled a drug trafficker \u2018who made repeated deliveries of fentanyl from Phoenix to Albuquerque between 2022 and 2023.\u2019 There is reason to suspect that the DEA\u2019s policies of allowing fentanyl to \u2018walk\u2019 stretches back before 2023. For that reason, we believe the OIG should expand its scope of review.\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cThe people of New Mexico deserve answers as to why the agency charged with seizing drugs instead allowed deadly pills to flood their streets. We ask that the DOJ OIG conduct a full and thorough investigation to bring some measure of accountability to actions carried out by DEA,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nIn July, the New Mexico Delegation demanded answers from U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance Cole on why the DEA allowed large quantities of fentanyl to circulate unseized in New Mexico communities.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Inspector General Berthiaume:\n\nWe write regarding the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Inspector General\u2019s (DOJ OIG) August 17, 2026\u2019s announcement that it would review \u201cinvestigations involving the trafficking of substances containing fentanyl\u2026 when federal investigators have knowledge, specific information, or probable cause to believe that fentanyl will be transported or distributed to or from, or stored at, a specified identifiable location.\u201d While we are pleased to see OIG initiate this investigation we ask that the Office expand the scope of its review to investigations before 2024 with a specific focus on investigations undertaken by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) within New Mexico.\n\nAs you know, current and former DEA agents filed whistleblower complaints alleging that agents within the Agency allowed drug traffickers to deliver hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills onto the streets of New Mexico. One of the whistleblowers claims that the DEA surveilled a drug trafficker \u201cwho made repeated deliveries of fentanyl from Phoenix to Albuquerque between 2022 and 2023.\u201d There is reason to suspect that the DEA\u2019s policies of allowing fentanyl to \u201cwalk\u201d stretches back before 2023. For that reason, we believe the OIG should expand its scope of review.\n\nSadly, New Mexico remains a hotbed of fentanyl trafficking and overdose deaths. Federal data show that overdose deaths fell throughout the country in 2025, yet, in New Mexico deaths rose by 21 percent. This increase correlates with the time period during which the DEA\u2019s allowed traffickers to flood the streets with deadly fentanyl pills. Thus, we ask that the OIG examine whether the DEA\u2019s decisions led to increased overdose deaths throughout the state.\n\nThe people of New Mexico deserve answers as to why the agency charged with seizing drugs instead allowed deadly pills to flood their streets. We ask that the DOJ OIG conduct a full and thorough investigation to bring some measure of accountability to actions carried out by DEA. Thank you in advance for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/n-m-delegation-presses-va-secretary-to-ensure-new-mexico-veterans-are-not-harmed-by-agency-reorganization/", "N.M. Delegation Presses VA Secretary to Ensure New Mexico Veterans Are Not Harmed by Agency Reorganization", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and members of the N.M. Congressional Delegation, including U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), sent a letter pressing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to ensure New Mexico veterans\u2019 unique needs are not diminished in the agency\u2019s planned reorganization of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) structure into five regional networks under the VA RISE Initiative.\n\nNew Mexico is home to more than 125,000 veterans, many of whom live in rural communities where access to healthcare is already limited. Veterans across the state face unique challenges, including long distances to VA medical centers, shortages of specialty care providers, and limited broadband access for telehealth services. New Mexico also has a disproportionately high share of Native American, Hispanic, and Latino veterans, whose healthcare needs are best served through culturally competent care and strong partnerships with Tribal governments and the Indian Health Service (IHS). New Mexico also has a particular need for local decision-making and resources that reflect the unique needs of veterans in geographically isolated areas.\n\n\u201cWhile we appreciate the Department\u2019s efforts to modernize its healthcare delivery system, any restructuring must improve \u2014not weaken \u2014 the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of care for veterans living in rural communities,\u201d the N.M. Congressional Delegation wrote to VA Secretary Collins.\n\nWhile New Mexico was previously aligned under VISN 22 and 17, veterans and stakeholders repeatedly expressed concerns that the state\u2019s priorities were overshadowed by larger population centers within the VISN. Resource allocation, executive attention, and operational decision-making often favored larger facilities, leaving New Mexico veterans underrepresented despite facing some of the greatest barriers to care. Differences in geography, demographics, and healthcare infrastructure between New Mexico and the rest of the VISN complicated efforts to tailor services to the state\u2019s unique needs.\n\nIn the letter, the N.M. Congressional Delegation urged VA leadership to ensure that the unique needs of New Mexico\u2019s veterans are addressed and that past hurdles to adequate healthcare do not persist as the agency establishes a new five-VISN structure.\n\n\u201cThe success of this reorganization should ultimately be measured not by administrative efficiencies alone, but by whether veterans experience faster access to care, improved health outcomes, and greater confidence in the VA healthcare system. New Mexico\u2019s unique geography and veteran population require sustained attention and dedicated leadership to ensure that organizational changes do not unintentionally widen existing disparities in access to care,\u201d the N.M. Congressional Delegation underscored.\n\nThe N.M. Congressional Delegation concluded the letter by requesting that the VA provide an overview of how New Mexico\u2019s unique healthcare needs will be incorporated into the new VISN structure, including what safeguards will be implemented to ensure the state receives equitable resources, leadership engagement, accessible community care, expanded telehealth and rural outreach, and stronger partnerships with Tribal governments and the IHS following the reorganization. The Delegation also requested that the VA prioritize recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural communities and maintain transparent, New Mexico-specific metrics to ensure veterans receive timely, high-quality care.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Collins,\n\nAs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertakes its planned reorganization of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) structure into five regional networks under the VA RISE Initiative, I write to emphasize the importance of ensuring that the unique needs of New Mexico\u2019s veterans are not diminished within a larger organizational framework. While we appreciate the Department\u2019s efforts to modernize its healthcare delivery system, any restructuring must improve\u2014not weaken\u2014the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of care for veterans living in rural communities.\n\nNew Mexico is home to more than 125,000 veterans, many of whom reside in geographically isolated areas where access to healthcare is already limited. Veterans in my state face unique challenges, including long travel distances to VA medical centers, shortages of specialty care providers, limited broadband access for telehealth services, and a disproportionately high percentage of Native American, Hispanic, and Latino veterans whose healthcare needs are best served through culturally competent care and strong partnerships with Tribal governments and the Indian Health Service. Additionally, New Mexico has one of the nation\u2019s highest concentrations of rural veterans, making local decision-making and resource allocation particularly important.\n\nWhile New Mexico was previously aligned under VISN 22 and 17, veterans and stakeholders repeatedly expressed concerns that the state\u2019s priorities were overshadowed by larger population centers within the VISN. Resource allocation, executive attention, and operational decision-making often favored larger facilities, leaving New Mexico veterans feeling underrepresented despite facing some of the greatest barriers to care. Differences in geography, demographics, and healthcare infrastructure between New Mexico and the rest of the VISN complicated efforts to tailor services to the state\u2019s unique needs.\n\nAs the Department establishes a new five-VISN structure, I urge VA leadership to ensure that the unique needs of New Mexico\u2019s veterans are prioritized and that past hurdles to adequate health care do not persist. Specifically, I request that the Department:\n\nEstablish dedicated regional leadership responsible for advocating exclusively for New Mexico\u2019s veterans and ensuring the state\u2019s healthcare priorities remain visible within the larger VISN structure.\n\nPreserve and expand access to community care where VA facilities remain geographically inaccessible, while maintaining strong oversight to ensure timely, high-quality care.\n\nContinue investments in telehealth infrastructure, mobile health care services, and rural outreach programs to better serve veterans in remote communities.\n\nStrengthen partnerships with Tribal governments, Tribal health systems, and the Indian Health Service to improve coordination of care for Native American veterans.\n\nPrioritize recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in rural New Mexico facilities through targeted workforce initiatives.\n\nMaintain transparent performance metrics specific to New Mexico, including appointment wait times, specialty care access, community care utilization, and veteran satisfaction, so Congress and veterans can evaluate whether the reorganization is producing meaningful improvements.\n\nThe success of this reorganization should ultimately be measured not by administrative efficiencies alone, but by whether veterans experience faster access to care, improved health outcomes, and greater confidence in the VA healthcare system. New Mexico\u2019s unique geography and veteran population require sustained attention and dedicated leadership to ensure that organizational changes do not unintentionally widen existing disparities in access to care.\n\nWe respectfully request that the Department provide an overview of how New Mexico\u2019s unique healthcare needs will be incorporated into the new VISN structure, including what safeguards will be implemented to ensure the state receives equitable resources, leadership engagement, and operational support following the reorganization.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued commitment to serving those who have worn our nation\u2019s uniform. We look forward to working with you to ensure that every New Mexico veteran receives the high-quality healthcare they have earned.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-armstrong-introduce-legislation-to-give-tribes-more-flexibility-to-hire-qualified-native-language-educators-preserve-native-languages", "Heinrich, Armstrong Introduce Legislation to Give Tribes More Flexibility to Hire Qualified Native Language Educators, Preserve Native Languages", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.) introduced the Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act, bipartisan legislation to give Tribal Head Start programs greater authority to determine how qualified educators can meet Head Start teaching requirements \u2014 helping Tribes hire more Native language educators and bring more fluent Native language speakers into the classroom. Tribal Head Start programs play a critical role in preserving and promoting Native languages, cultures, and traditions. But federal credentialing requirements can prevent Tribal programs from hiring qualified educators \u2014 particularly in communities with limited access to higher education.\n\n\u201cPreserving Native languages is essential to maintaining cultural identity,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cBut today, federal requirements can prevent Tribal Head Start programs from hiring the people best equipped to pass those languages, cultures, and traditions on to the next generation. My Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act will give Tribes more flexibility to determine who is qualified to teach in their own communities and create more pathways for fluent Native language speakers and other qualified educators to enter the classroom. This is about making sure Tribal communities have the authority and resources they need to keep their languages and cultures strong for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cNative languages are at the heart of Tribal culture, identity, and community. I\u2019m proud to work across the aisle to strengthen Tribal Head Start programs and open more pathways for teachers to enter the classroom, helping Tribes preserve their languages and pass them on to the next generation,\u201d said Armstrong.\n\nAccording to a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, nearly all Tribal Head Start programs report difficulty hiring and retaining staff. These staffing challenges can limit programs\u2019 ability to enroll eligible children and provide Native language education.\n\nNew Mexico is at a critical junction when it comes to preserving Native languages. A Navajo Times study found that 93% of Navajo people were considered fluent in the language in 1980. By 2010, that figure had fallen to 53%, and projections estimate it could drop to just 30% by 2030.\n\nHeinrich and Armstrong\u2019s Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act helps address these challenges by giving Tribes flexibility in credentialing Tribal Head Start educators. This flexibility will allow Tribal Head Start programs to hire more Native language educators in Head Start classrooms while maintaining health, safety, and professional standards.\n\nUnder the Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act, Tribes could:\n\nWaive certain degree requirements that fail to recognize the knowledge and language skills of elders and fluent Native language speakers.\n\nWaive certain verification visit requirements that can be particularly difficult for educators and programs in remote Tribal communities.\n\nRecognize early childhood education certificates as an alternative pathway to qualification, including certificates earned through institutions of higher education available in Tribal communities, such as Tribal colleges and universities. These certificates can exceed the qualifications of typical Head Start credentials without requiring a verification visit.\n\nCreate more pathways for qualified Tribal community members to enter the Head Start workforce, allowing educators to earn credentials and build their professional qualifications through institutions and programs that are accessible in their own communities.\n\nThe Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act is endorsed by the Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, National Indian Head Start Directors Association, National Indian Education Association, and American Indian Higher Education Consortium, National Congress of American Indians, and the National Head Start Association (NHSA).\n\n\"Our Head Start program is a vital resource for the Pueblo of Isleta. This critical legislation expands opportunities for Isleta tribal members to work with Head Start program here at home, while making it possible for youngest children to be taught by members of our community,\u201d said Governor Jiron, Pueblo of Isleta.\n\n\u201cAmerican Indians and Alaska Natives face unique challenges accessing higher education. Even when they do obtain credentials, they face further challenges returning to work in their Tribal communities, which may be unable to offer compensation competitive with opportunities outside the community,\u201d said Governor Raymond Aguilar, Jr., Pueblo of Santo Domingo. \u201cThe Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act would create a unique credentialing framework designed to support Native educators in obtaining credentials through flexible and supportive pathways. The result will be Tribal Head Start classrooms staffed by Native educators who pass on our culture, traditions, core values, and language to our children and families. The Santo Domingo Pueblo supports Senator Heinrich and Senator Armstrong in this legislative effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarly childhood education is the foundation of healthy Tribal communities. But overly restrictive degree requirements are making it harder for the very people best equipped to teach Tribal children to become Head Start educators. The strongest teachers combine professional preparation with the language, culture, and community knowledge that Native children deserve. The Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act provides a commonsense, bipartisan solution, without compromising quality, by expanding the types of pathways early educators can take to include Early Childhood Education certificates, which can be earned from a Tribal College or University. NIHSDA applauds Senators Heinrich and Armstrong for their leadership in advancing legislation that will help Tribal programs recruit and retain educators, strengthen culturally grounded early childhood education, and ensure more Native children receive the strong start they deserve,\u201d said the National Indian Head Start Directors Association.\n\n\u201cThe National Indian Education Association strongly supports the Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act. Tribal communities know what their children need to thrive, and that includes educators who bring not only professional preparation, but also the language, culture, knowledge, and relationships that are essential to strong early learning. S. 5299 recognizes the realities facing Tribal Head Start programs by creating meaningful pathways for talented educators to enter the classroom, grow professionally, and earn credentials without asking communities to choose between cultural knowledge and academic preparation. This legislation strengthens the Native educator pipeline, supports Tribal self-determination, and helps ensure our youngest Native learners are surrounded by educators who know their communities, languages, and cultures,\u201d said Kerry D. Bird, President of the National Indian Education Association.\n\n\u201cHead Start and Early Head Start programs, especially in the American Indian and Alaska Native communities, continually struggle to create a consistent workforce pool of degree-qualified educators. The Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act would not only address workforce shortages but also create a flexible pathway to obtain credentials for Head Start staff in Tribal communities, in particular by recognizing credentials issued by Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). These institutions provide targeted credential pathways for educators who incorporate their culture, customs, and language with the respective Tribal Nation to enhance lifelong learning and cultural preservation. Specifically, Head Start teachers and assistant teachers, and Early Head Start teachers would be able to enter the field more readily, gain advanced credentials over a period of time, and take advantage of long-term support toward attaining higher degrees,\" said Ahniwake Rose, President and CEO of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. \u201cAIHEC stands with Senators Heinrich and Armstrong in support of modernizing this legislation to recognize Early Childhood Education certifications and credentials offered by more than 50 percent of TCUs to help fill these workforce gaps.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) supports the Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act, which recognizes that Native languages and cultural knowledge are essential to the success of Native children enrolled in Tribal Head Start programs. By creating more flexible pathways for qualified Native language and cultural educators, this legislation will help remove barriers to employment that too often leave classrooms without the educators they need. Native youth are our future leaders and they deserve the ability to learn their Native languages and culture. NCAI urges Congress to advance this bipartisan legislation and provide Tribal communities with greater flexibility to recruit and retain the Native language and culture educators their children need,\u201d said Larry Wright Jr., National Congress of American Indians Executive Director.\n\n\u201cThe National Head Start Association (NHSA) supports the Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act as a bipartisan solution to the unique challenges faced by American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Head Start programs,\u201d said National Head Start Association Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. \u201cThe legislation recognizes the unique language and cultural qualifications of AI/AN Head Start teachers and provides flexible paths to alternative credentialing that meet or exceed existing degree requirements. NHSA looks forward to supporting Sens. Heinrich and Armstrong to move this legislation forward.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-tierra-amarilla-lujan-meets-with-local-leaders-to-fight-back-against-trump-administration-attacks-on-public-lands/", "In Tierra Amarilla, Luj\u00e1n Meets with Local Leaders to Fight Back Against Trump Administration Attacks on Public Lands", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Tierra Amarilla, N.M. \u2013 On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) met with community leaders and public lands advocates in Tierra Amarilla to hear directly about the impact of the Trump administration\u2019s attacks on New Mexico\u2019s public lands and highlight his efforts to protect New Mexico\u2019s public lands.\n\nDuring the discussion, Senator Luj\u00e1n met with community leaders and public lands advocates from Northern Rio Arriba County to discuss their policy priorities and concerns regarding the Trump administration\u2019s recent attacks on public lands, including concerns about efforts to increase oil, gas, and mining development on public lands. Senator Luj\u00e1n heard directly about how these changes could impact Northern New Mexico communities and shared updates on his work in the Senate to push back against policies that threaten New Mexico\u2019s public lands.\n\n\u201cNew Mexico\u2019s public lands are central to our way of life,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cIn Tierra Amarilla, I heard directly from local leaders and advocates about their concerns with the Trump administration\u2019s attacks on our public lands. From drilling and mining proposals to the rollback of protections that New Mexicans depend on, we\u2019ve seen this administration go after lands that have meant so much to generations of New Mexicans. I will continue fighting back against these attacks and working alongside our communities to protect New Mexico\u2019s cherished lands and water for generations to come.\u201d\n\nSenator Luj\u00e1n has long fought to protect New Mexico\u2019s public lands and cherished sites. Recently, Senator Luj\u00e1n introduced the Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act, legislation to permanently withdraw certain federal lands in the Rio Chama Watershed from mineral development. Additionally, Senator Luj\u00e1n has fought to establish permanent protections for Chaco Canyon.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-bennet-hickenlooper-demand-trump-administration-comply-with-injunction-to-ensure-prompt-approvals-of-wind-and-solar-energy-projects/", "Luj\u00e1n, Bennet, Hickenlooper Demand Trump Administration Comply with Injunction to Ensure Prompt Approvals of Wind and Solar Energy Projects", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, joined U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee\u2019s Rural Development and Energy Subcommittee, and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) in demanding Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the Department of the Interior (DOI) comply with a preliminary injunction and ensure covered wind and solar permitting reviews are conducted promptly and without illegal bureaucratic roadblocks.\n\nIn July 2025, the DOI released an order requiring Secretary Burgum\u2019s personal approval for routine wind and solar energy project permitting decisions, which led to massive delays in power projects across the West. In November 2025, Luj\u00e1n, Bennet, and Hickenlooper sent a letter demanding answers to the DOI\u2019s order and highlighting its harmful effects to energy prices and reliability, but never received a response.\n\nIn April 2026, the U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction to prohibit the DOI and its officials from applying the July 2025 order and other internal DOI orders that make wind and solar permitting processes needlessly delayed and difficult while the court case proceeds. Since then, numerous wind and solar developers report that DOI personnel have illegally continued to force project applicants to repeatedly document and prove their eligibility for these court protections.\n\n\u201c[\u2026] Applicants also report that DOI staff have received little or no internal guidance regarding implementation of the Court\u2019s injunction. These reports are not isolated or short-lived: developers continue to describe these delays more than three months after the injunction took effect, indicating an ongoing pattern of noncompliance rather than a transitional implementation issue. DOI\u2019s actions are creating severe regulatory uncertainty, threatening to permanently sideline projects at a time when Western families, farmers, and businesses are facing rising energy demand and higher costs,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cWestern states depend on reliable and affordable energy to keep our grid secure and our economies competitive. Wind and solar are the least expensive and fastest-to-deploy sources of new electricity generation available. Dragging out permitting timelines in direct violation of a federal court order is not only illegal, but it also needlessly stalls private investment and drives up household energy costs. Furthermore, your recent testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, where you reportedly rejected the premise of the ruling and called it \u201cabsurd\u201d for a judge to dictate internal processes, raises concerns. While DOI has the right to appeal, it is legally obligated to comply with the injunction. Moreover, impeding the deployment of the lowest-cost energy sources directly undermines the administration\u2019s stated goals of unleashing American energy and ensuring affordability,\u201d continued the senators.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Burgum:\n\nWe write to express serious concerns regarding reports of the Department of Interior\u2019s (DOI) failure to fully comply with the U.S. District Court\u2019s April 21, 2026 preliminary injunction in Renew Northeast v. U.S. Department of the Interior, No. 1:25-cv-13961 (D. Mass.). In November 2025, we sent you a letter with questions regarding one of the DOI memos addressed in the case, but never received a response. While this injunction took immediate effect and remains in force, reports from industry participants raise serious questions regarding whether DOI has fully complied with the Court\u2019s injunction.\n\nAs you know, the Court\u2019s injunction explicitly prohibits DOI and its officials from applying the DOI Review Procedures Memorandum, the Wind and Solar Fish and Wildlife Service database Ban, Section 4 of the DOI Land Order, Section 4(c) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memorandum, and M-Opinion 37086. The Court clearly intended for the covered wind and solar permitting reviews to proceed to timely decisions without these needless bureaucratic roadblocks. Yet, wind and solar developers continue to report that DOI personnel are forcing covered project applicants to repeatedly document and prove their eligibility for these protections, despite the fact that plaintiffs previously provided DOI with a list of covered members. Applicants also report that DOI staff have received little or no internal guidance regarding implementation of the Court\u2019s injunction. These reports are not isolated or short-lived: developers continue to describe these delays more than three months after the injunction took effect, indicating an ongoing pattern of noncompliance rather than a transitional implementation issue. DOI\u2019s actions are creating severe regulatory uncertainty, threatening to permanently sideline projects at a time when Western families, farmers, and businesses are facing rising energy demand and higher costs.\n\nWestern states depend on reliable and affordable energy to keep our grid secure and our economies competitive. Wind and solar are the least expensive and fastest-to-deploy sources of new electricity generation available. Dragging out permitting timelines in direct violation of a federal court order is not only illegal, but it also needlessly stalls private investment and drives up household energy costs. Furthermore, your recent testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, where you reportedly rejected the premise of the ruling and called it \u201cabsurd\u201d for a judge to dictate internal processes, raises concerns. While DOI has the right to appeal, it is legally obligated to comply with the injunction. Moreover, impeding the deployment of the lowest-cost energy sources directly undermines the administration\u2019s stated goals of unleashing American energy and ensuring affordability.\n\nTo ensure compliance with the law and restore certainty to energy developers and Western stakeholders, we request answers to the following questions:\n\nInternal Guidance \u2013 What types of written internal guidance or implementation instructions regarding compliance with the Court\u2019s injunction has DOI provided to staff? Please provide copies of any implementation memoranda, directives, guidance documents, training materials, emails, or other instructions on this topic. If no such materials exist, explain what alternative measures DOI has taken to ensure consistent compliance throughout DOI;\n\nApplicant Identification \u2013 What instructions has DOI provided staff for identifying plaintiffs and their members? Please provide communications to DOI staff and explain the steps that DOI is taking to minimize duplicative verification procedures.\n\nPermitting Progress \u2013 What steps has DOI taken since the Court injunction to ensure that covered permitting reviews are proceeding to timely agency action? Please identify, by bureau or office where practicable, the number of covered permitting reviews that have advanced since entry of the Court\u2019s injunction, including consultations completed, biological opinions issued, permits or other authorizations issued or denied.\n\nStalled Reviews \u2013 Which covered permitting reviews remain paused or materially delayed following entry of the Court\u2019s injunction? Please provide a list and explain the specific reason for any such delay, including whether it is related to eligibility verification, lack of implementation guidance, application of one of the court-blocked policies, or some other basis. The lists from questions 3 and 4 should add up to the total number of permitting reviews under consideration by DOI between April 21 and now.\n\nWe respectfully request a written response to these questions no later than September 1, 2026. We urge you to follow the law and comply with federal court orders to ensure that federal permitting supports, rather than undermines, an affordable and secure energy future.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-speaks-at-national-conference-of-tribal-historic-preservation-officers-visits-spiritus-pilot-facility-on-nambe-pueblo-meets-with-community-leaders-in-canjilon-to-protect-northern-new-mexico-from-uranium-mining", "Heinrich Speaks at National Conference of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Visits Spiritus Pilot Facility on Namb\u00e9 Pueblo, Meets with Community Leaders in Canjilon to Protect Northern New Mexico from Uranium Mining", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBUQUERQUE & ABIQUI\u00da, N.M. \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) attended the 26th Annual Conference of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO), where he advocated for increased funding for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and meaningful consultation; toured Spiritus Direct Air Capture pilot facility at Namb\u00e9 Pueblo; and visited Canjilon in northern New Mexico to meet with community members opposed to a potential uranium mine.\n\nOn Tuesday, August 25, Heinrich joined U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.) at the NATHPO Conference for a discussion moderated by Santo Domingo Pueblo Governor Raymond Aguilar, Jr., and Acoma Governor Charles Riley. The discussion focused on the need for greater federal investment in Tribal historic preservation, and the importance of meaningful Tribal consultation in federal decision-making. Heinrich highlighted Tribal Historic Preservation Officers\u2019 role in protecting and preserving cultural, historical, archaeological, and traditional Tribal resources, and called for the Historic Preservation Fund to be made permanent, adequately funded, and expanded. He has previously introduced legislation establishing a goal of $300 million annually for the Fund and requiring at least 20 percent of funding for Tribal Historic Preservation Officers \u2014 providing at least $60 million annually for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.\n\n\u201cWe need to make the Historic Preservation Fund permanent. We need to adequately resource the fund as a whole. And we especially need to make sure that we're dedicating more of those funds to Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, so that you can expand your efforts and do the work that we all know has to get done,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) speaking with Acoma Governor Charles Riley, Santo Domingo Pueblo Governor Raymond Aguilar, Jr., and U.S. Representative Teresa Ledger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.) at the Annual NATHPO Conference, August 25, 2026.\n\nDuring the conversation, Heinrich also emphasized the need for bipartisan collaboration to make stronger federal protections for Tribal historic preservation durable over the long term.\n\n\u201cOne of the things we really need is to build more Republican support. So having Tribes that are represented, in particular, by Republican senators, reach out. We need some champions on the other side of the aisle to be successful with this \u2014 we don't want to just be in a position where we're able to get this done when we're in complete control of the White House, the Senate, the House. We want this to be durable for the long term, and we need some good Republican partners,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\nHeinrich criticized the Advisory Council of History Preservation\u2019s proposed revisions for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), warning that the changes could undermine Tribal sovereignty and meaningful consultation.\n\n\u201cI don't know how to characterize the draft that we've seen as anything other than complete hostility to the government-to-government relationship and to meaningful consultation,\u201d said Heinrich, stressing the importance of meaningful and effective Tribal consultation. \u201cA comment period is not consultation. Full stop. These proposals are a way of cutting Tribes out of the conversation. And the irony is, that's not going to get projects built.\u201d\n\nOn Thursday, August 27, Heinrich toured Spiritus, a Direct Air Capture pilot facility at Namb\u00e9 Pueblo.\n\nThe facility builds on a Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) technology transfer and uses a new approach to capture carbon dioxide with less energy than previous methods. Spiritus\u2019 partnership with the NPDC will bring sustainable, high-skill jobs to New Mexico and cement the state as a key player in the future of large-scale carbon sequestration.\n\nHeinrich submitted a $1 million Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Congressionally Directed Spending request to improve Tova Muusa Poe, the road serving the Namb\u00e9 Pueblo Development Corporation facility where Spiritus is a tenant.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) touring Spiritus Pilot Facility at Namb\u00e9 Pueblo, August 27, 2026.\n\nOn Friday, August 28, Heinrich met with Rio Arriba County ranchers, acequia parciantes, and Land Grant heirs at the U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Canjilon Ranger Station to speak out against uranium mining in Northern New Mexico and discuss the Mesa Arc Project, a uranium exploration project in the Upper Chama watershed.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) speaking with Rio Arriba County community members about protecting the Upper Chama watershed from proposed uranium mining, August 28, 2026.\n\nHeinrich is fighting to protect communities in Northern New Mexico and the Chama Watershed from uranium mining and mineral development.\n\nEarlier this month, Heinrich co-sponsored U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n\u2019s (D-N.M.) Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act, legislation to permanently ban uranium mining on federal lands in Northern New Mexico\u2019s Rio Chama Watershed.\n\nIn April, Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n, and Leger Fern\u00e1ndez wrote to Carson National Forest Supervisor James Duran expressing strong opposition to a proposal to conduct uranium mining within the Carson National Forest.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-las-vegas-lujan-meets-with-hospital-leaders-highlights-fight-to-protect-rural-health-care-for-new-mexicans/", "In Las Vegas, Luj\u00e1n Meets with Hospital Leaders, Highlights Fight to Protect Rural Health Care for New Mexicans", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Las Vegas, N.M. \u2013 On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) joined hospital leaders from Northern New Mexico at Alta Vista Regional Hospital to hear directly about the challenges facing rural health care. During the visit, Senator Luj\u00e1n met with leaders from Alta Vista Regional Hospital, Union County General Hospital, New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute, and Miners Colfax Medical Center. Senator Luj\u00e1n and the hospital leaders discussed the state of rural health care in Northern New Mexico and examined how cuts to Medicaid and other critical health programs impact their ability to provide care to rural communities.\n\n\u201cNew Mexicans in rural communities deserve ready access to quality, affordable health care, but Republican cuts to Medicaid and other critical health programs threaten the hospitals and services that families depend on,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThis week in Las Vegas, I heard directly from hospital leaders about the challenges they are facing and their concerns about what these cuts will mean for the patients and communities they serve. Rural hospitals are lifelines for communities across New Mexico, and I will continue fighting back against these devastating cuts and working to protect access to care across our state.\u201d\n\nDuring the conversation, Senator Luj\u00e1n also provided an update on his work in the Senate to protect access to health care and highlighted his continued efforts to fight back against cuts that threaten rural hospitals and the New Mexicans they serve. Following Republican cuts to critical health care programs, Senator Luj\u00e1n introduced legislation to reverse all of the Republican health care cuts.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-gains-155-million-from-oil-and-gas-stocks-amid-his-war-in-iran-meanwhile-new-mexicans-pay-526-million-more-for-gas", "Trump Gains $15.5 Million From Oil & Gas Stocks Amid His War in Iran, Meanwhile New Mexicans Pay $526 Million More for Gas", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a member and former Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, highlighted a new analysis finding that New Mexicans have spent an additional $526.2 million on gas since the start of President Trump\u2019s Iran War \u2014 an average of $666 per New Mexico household.\n\nMeanwhile, according to the Joint Economic Committee\u2019s analysis, President Trump\u2019s portfolio of $45.6 million in oil and gas stocks has gone up since the end of 2025 by up to $61.1 million. That\u2019s due to the sky-high oil and gas profits and stock prices tied to Trump\u2019s war in Iran. And in just the first three months of 2026 \u2013 a period that covers both the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the start of the Iran War \u2013 the Committee found that Trump bought as much as $3.6 million in additional oil and gas stocks.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump continues to put his personal financial interests and the interests of his ultrawealthy friends ahead of New Mexico families \u2013 folks who are already struggling with higher costs created by the President\u2019s tariffs and reckless, illegal war in Iran,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cNew Mexicans shouldn\u2019t have to pay more at the pump while Donald Trump and oil and gas executives rake in record returns.\u201d\n\nHeinrich continued, \u201cWhen a President uses the power of his office to benefit himself and his wealthy friends while working families are left to foot the bill, that\u2019s corruption \u2014 plain and simple. We need energy policies that actually lower costs for families, not actions that pad the pockets of the President and his friends and family.\u201d\n\nAs detailed in the new Joint Economic Committee report, throughout his campaign and early in his term, Trump received millions in donations from oil company executives, and his administration began to enact favorable rules and regulations for the industry \u2013 including billions in tax giveaways. These companies have seen massive profits since the President launched his war with Iran. Recent estimates show that oil companies reported more than $125 billion in profits so far this year, including $12 billion for Chevron in the second quarter \u2013 its highest quarterly profits in six years \u2013 and a sky-high $14.7 billion for Exxon Mobil in that same period.\n\nHeinrich has been working to hold President Trump and his administration accountable for putting the President\u2019s personal projects and financial interests ahead of New Mexico families.\n\nIn August, Heinrich demanded accountability from the Department of the Interior (DOI) following reports that agency officials destroyed official records and used disappearing-message applications to avoid preserving government communications. He also called for a full Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of President Trump\u2019s ballroom project and demanded a GAO investigation into potential conflicts of interest and preferential treatment in the Trump administration\u2019s use of taxpayer dollars to invest in private mining companies. Heinrich also joined a letter calling for an investigation into what DOI officials knew about engineering failures at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and whether Department employees withheld evidence from federal prosecutors.\n\nIn June, Heinrich led a letter demanding answers from DOI Secretary Doug Burgum regarding the Department\u2019s rushed rehabilitation project of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He also sent a letter with U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) pressing Burgum for answers about the Trump administration redirecting tens of millions of dollars from fees paid to the National Park Service \u2014 including fees collected at New Mexico sites such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Bandelier National Monument \u2014 to fund President Trump\u2019s vanity projects in Washington, D.C.\n\nIn May, Heinrich successfully blocked Senate Republicans from funding Trump\u2019s ballroom project with $1 billion in taxpayer dollars through their budget bill.\n\nRead the Joint Economic Committee\u2019s full report with state-by-state data here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-taos-lujan-hosts-roundtable-on-ticketing-marketplace-unveils-new-legislation-to-protect-ticket-buyers-from-ticket-scams/", "In Taos, Luj\u00e1n Hosts Roundtable on Ticketing Marketplace, Unveils New Legislation to Protect Ticket Buyers from Ticket Scams", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Taos, N.M. \u2013 On Monday, at Taos Mothership, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) unveiled the Guaranteeing Honest Ownership in Secondary Ticketing (GHOST) Act, legislation to protect fans and concertgoers from deceptive ticket resale practices by prohibiting resellers from selling tickets they do not actually possess.\n\nDuring the event, Senator Luj\u00e1n held a roundtable conversation with nonprofit promoters, small venue leaders, artists, and community members to hear directly about the challenges they face in the ticketing marketplace. Senator Luj\u00e1n discussed speculative ticketing, local and federal ticketing issues, and his efforts to protect consumers while supporting artists and independent venues.\n\n\u201cThis week in Taos, I was proud to announce my new legislation to protect ticket buyers because when New Mexicans spend their hard-earned money on a concert or event, they deserve to know the ticket they are buying actually exists,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cToo often, fans are misled into purchasing tickets from resellers who don\u2019t even have them. I was grateful for the conversation and the opportunity to hear directly from local leaders about the challenges facing fans, artists, and venues. That\u2019s why I introduced the GHOST Act to protect consumers, hold bad actors accountable, and bring greater transparency and fairness to the ticket marketplace.\u201d\n\nToo often, consumers unknowingly purchase \u201cspeculative\u201d or \u201cghost\u201d tickets listed by resellers who do not actually have the tickets they are advertising. In some cases, buyers may not learn until shortly before an event that their tickets are unavailable, leaving them with little time to find legitimate replacements that may be sold out or significantly more expensive. Currently, there is no federal law specifically prohibiting speculative ticketing. The GHOST Act would establish nationwide protections to prevent resellers from advertising and selling tickets they do not possess.\n\nSpecifically, the GHOST Act would:\n\nBan ticket resellers from selling tickets they do not have actual possession of;\n\nEmpower the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action against violators and seek injunctive and monetary relief;\n\nRequire the FTC to establish a website where consumers can report potential violations of the GHOST Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016; and\n\nAllow state attorneys general to bring actions to enforce the law.\n\nThe legislation is supported by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).\n\nFull bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-joins-grand-opening-of-dreamtrees-new-resource-center-and-housing-shelter-in-taos-made-possible-with-15-million-he-secured", "Heinrich Joins Grand Opening of DreamTree\u2019s New Resource Center & Housing Shelter in Taos, Made Possible with $1.5 Million He Secured", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "PHOTOS\n\nTAOS, N.M. \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of DreamTree\u2019s NEST Resource Center, a new space in Taos dedicated to helping New Mexicans access emergency housing, basic necessities and internet access, employment opportunities, connections to healthcare providers, case management services, and help navigating federal and state benefits.\n\nHeinrich secured a $1.5 million Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grant in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations funding for DreamTree to complete the final phase of renovations to the NEST Resource Center and purchase land for future on-site permanent supportive housing.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, joins a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of DreamTree\u2019s NEST Resource Center, August 28, 2026.\n\n\u201cThis economy has been pretty tough. A lot of folks are having a hard time, and they're having to make some really difficult decisions here in Taos and around the country. And that is where an incredible organization like DreamTree comes in \u2013 by breaking the stigma of receiving support in the first place. Through a culture of care and compassion, DreamTree is taking care of hundreds of Taose\u00f1os and helping them find clean clothing and warm food, and, most importantly, a pathway to stability,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\nHeinrich continued, \u201cThroughout my career, I've always advocated for funding to address housing and homelessness. It's because I truly believe that as a society, that we should be judged by how we treat those who are most in need, and I believe that every person deserves dignity and a real shot at a stable life, including the basics like food and shelter.\u201d\n\nHeinrich continues to lead efforts to lower housing costs, help New Mexico families become first-time homeowners, and expand housing options for New Mexicans experiencing homelessness:\n\nLast month, Heinrich announced that the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law. Heinrich supported this bipartisan legislation as it made its way through Congress. Provisions specifically championed by Heinrich will expand access to affordable housing, streamline the construction of new homes, and preserve affordable housing in rural communities. The legislation will make it easier for families to access Housing Choice Vouchers, strengthen federal investments in affordable housing and homeownership, cut red tape for rural housing development, and protect affordable rental units in small towns and rural communities. For more information on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, click here.\n\nHeinrich has highlighted how the housing crisis has been exacerbated by Wall Street landlords artificially decreasing the housing supply and driving up home prices and rents, and President Trump\u2019s broad, cost raising tariffs on critical homebuilding materials.\n\nFor more background on Heinrich\u2019s actions to lower housing costs, address homelessness, and build more housing for New Mexico working families, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-wyden-klobuchar-demand-answers-from-trump-official-who-diverted-federal-firefighting-resources-to-private-ranch", "Heinrich, Wyden, Klobuchar Demand Answers from Trump Official Who Diverted Federal Firefighting Resources to Private Ranch", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Amid record wildfire season in Western U.S., top Trump official at USDA diverted scarce firefighting resources to a 7 acre fire near his private ranch in Idaho\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding answers from the Trump administration following reports that USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment Michael Boren diverted federal firefighting resources away from active wildfires, in order to fight a seven acre fire near his personal ranch in Idaho.\n\n\u201cMr. Boren\u2019s actions constitute potentially a misuse of taxpayer funds and put American families at further risk by diverting scarce resources from high-priority wildfires threatening communities elsewhere in the region and country,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cWe request a full investigation into the nature and extent of Boren\u2019s involvement in response to the Cabin Creek Fire and a detailed accounting of the safeguards the agency has implemented or plans to implement to prevent political interference and conflicts of interest in wildfire response.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, it was reported that Mr. Boren used his position to pressure U.S. Forest Service personnel to divert already scarce firefighting resources away from other fires to suppress a small fire near his 480-acre ranch in the Sawtooth National Forest.\n\nNine aircraft were reportedly assigned to the fire, an extremely high number for a fire of this size. Western states are already facing a shortage of firefighting personnel and resources as a direct result of the Trump administration\u2019s staffing and funding cuts. During this record setting fire season, fires of much larger size threatening American lives and homes have not received even a fraction of the same commitment of resources.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators requested details on how the Department would prevent similar interference by administration officials for personal gain in the future and requested the findings of a Department investigation of the incident be provided to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below.\n\nSecretary Rollins:\n\nWe write to express serious concern regarding reports that Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment Michael Boren used his position to remove firefighting personnel and resources from active fires elsewhere to suppress a fire near his private ranch in Idaho. We request a full investigation into the nature and extent of Boren\u2019s involvement in response to the Cabin Creek Fire and a detailed accounting of the safeguards the agency has implemented or plans to implement to prevent political interference and conflicts of interest in wildfire response.\n\nEarlier this month, The Washington Post reported that Mr. Boren used his position to pressure U.S. Forest Service personnel to divert much-needed resources away from other fires to instead suppress a fire near his own property. The Cabin Creek Fire began on July 12, 2026, near Mr. Boren\u2019s 480-acre ranch on the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho. The fire burned seven acres before it was fully contained. During that time, nine aircraft were reportedly assigned to the fire, an extremely high number for a fire of this size. Mr. Boren reportedly called Forest Service officials multiple times \u2013 questioning why more aircrafts were not deployed to fight the fire and asking when more assets would arrive at the scene. One official quoted in the Post\u2019s report described Boren\u2019s interactions as \u201cputting pressure on [staff] to throw more resources\u201d to fight the fire.\n\nDuring this record setting fire season, fires of much larger size have not received even a fraction of the same commitment of resources. For example, the Grasshopper Fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest is over 90,000 acres and less than 50% contained with a similar number of aviation resources assigned to it. The personal interests of political employees should not be a factor that influences the allocation of wildfire resources to communities threatened with devastation. Most states are already lacking the sufficient personnel and resources needed for this historic fire season due to the Trump administration\u2019s own budget and staffing cuts and illconceived reorganization plans. Mr. Boren\u2019s actions constitute potentially a misuse of taxpayer funds and put American families at further risk by diverting scarce resources from high-priority wildfires threatening communities elsewhere in the region and country.\n\nAs Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Boren\u2019s duties include overseeing the Forest Service. His history of conflict with the agency is well documented and came up during the pendency of his nomination before the Senate. In fact, Mr. Boren was pointedly asked during the nomination process whether he would commit to recusing himself from matters involving his properties. Those concerns now appear to be validated by this incident. It has been nearly a year since Mr. Boren was confirmed by the Senate to serve in his current role. We must ask what, if any, safeguards have the administration put in place to ensure against this type of reported abuse of power. Political interference in wildfire response jeopardizes lives, property and federal resources.\n\nWe request that you respond by Thursday, September 10th detailing how the Department will prevent this type of inappropriate interference, or even the appearance of it, in wildfire response going forward. Additionally, we request transparent communication of the findings of the investigation to all members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter.\n\nSincerely\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-colleagues-oppose-ice-rollout-of-electric-shock-gloves/", "Luj\u00e1n, Colleagues Oppose ICE Rollout of Electric Shock Gloves", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 14 Senate colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to abandon its reckless plan to outfit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with gloves that deliver painful electric shocks. Their letter also demands that if ICE proceeds with this purchase, it first provide Congress with answers and documentation for over 30 questions about how these devices will be used, the protocol for using them, safety guardrails, and accountability measures.\n\nOn August 10, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice concerning ICE\u2019s planned acquisition of the CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E., a glove designed to deliver a painful electric shock. The notice estimates the potential value of the acquisition between $10 million and $20 million.\n\n\u201cWe write to express deep concern about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that deliver electric shocks,\u201d the Senators began. \u201c\u2026The blatant and tragic misuse of force in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, Maine, and other locations around the country raises significant skepticism about the agency\u2019s professional capability to safely deploy a new tool that could be used to harm Americans without cause. Therefore, we urge ICE to cancel the contract and reconsider the purchase.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe proposed acquisition raises serious questions about necessity, proportionality, medical safety, training, accountability, and constitutional rights,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThose questions are particularly important given the significant public scrutiny surrounding ICE\u2019s excessive use of force. A device capable of delivering an electrical shock through direct contact with an individual presents substantial risks if deployed during civil arrests \u2013 even more so if it is deployed without clear limits, appropriate training, and comprehensive oversight.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when the American people have demanded de-escalation in immigration enforcement, it is not clear why existing tools and tactics are insufficient for the agency,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cIn the past year, DHS has repeatedly spent millions of taxpayer dollars on purchases it ends up not using, including $464 million for airplanes, $700 million on warehouses, and more than $2.25 million for SUVs wrapped with ICE branding. Many of these ICE transactions, including the planned electric-shock glove purchase, are completed through no-bid contracts that circumvent the normal competitive procurement process without a sufficient rationale.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf ICE proceeds with purchasing $20 million worth of electric-shock gloves, Congress needs a clear understanding of the device\u2019s safety and authorized uses,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senators Luj\u00e1n and Cortez Masto, the letter was signed by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).\n\nThe full text of the letter, including the demands from the Senators should ICE proceed with this plan, can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-colleagues-urge-blm-to-stop-rollback-of-waste-prevention-rule", "Heinrich, Colleagues Urge BLM to Stop Rollback of Waste Prevention Rule", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, in opposing BLM\u2019s proposal to overturn the 2024 Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule (the 2024 Waste Prevention Rule).\n\nThe BLM\u2019s reversal of this commonsense rule will increase pollution on public lands, reduce domestic energy supply, expose nearby communities to avoidable health risks, and waste publicly owned natural gas, costing Americans tens of millions in foregone revenue.\n\n\u201cReversing these common-sense standards will waste publicly owned natural gas, cost the American people tens of millions in foregone revenue, and increase pollution on our public lands,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\n\u201cWe strongly urge BLM to reject this proposed rescission and maintain the 2024 Waste Prevention rule. The oil and gas resources on these lands belong to the American public and Tribal nations, and they deserve to benefit from the full value and benefits of responsible resource stewardship,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nRead the full text of the letter HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Burgum and Director Pearce,\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) proposed rule to overturn the 2024 Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule (the \u201c2024 Waste Prevention Rule\u201d). Reversing these common-sense standards will waste publicly owned natural gas, cost the American people tens of millions in foregone revenue, and increase pollution on our public lands.\n\nBetween 2012 and 2021, operators lost an estimated 300 billion cubic feet of natural gas on federal lands to flaring and venting, valued at nearly $950 million, and resulting in a loss of between $76 and $135 million in potential taxpayer revenue. Routine venting and flaring of natural gas is unnecessary and harmful, turning natural gas into a waste product instead of a valuable energy commodity.\n\nIn addition to creating this financial loss, rolling back the 2024 Waste Prevention Rule would reduce our domestic energy supply and expose nearby communities to avoidable health risks. Methane is a greenhouse gas over 20 times as powerful as carbon dioxide. In addition to methane, the primary component of natural gas, venting and flaring releases volatile organic compounds that are carcinogenic, increase ground-level ozone, and lead directly to illness for both individuals and communities exposed.\n\nMany states across the country have already demonstrated that limiting venting and flaring is compatible with robust energy production. Colorado adopted regulations in 2020 and New Mexico in 2021 that ended almost all venting and flaring. In addition, many major oil and gas producers have voluntarily agreed to avoid routine flaring on new wells by 2030. Furthermore, cost-effective technologies to detect and reduce methane waste, such as satellite monitoring, drones, and infrared cameras, are widely used across the oil and gas industry. Reversing the 2024 Waste Prevention Rule would prolong years of regulatory uncertainty, penalizing proactive operators that have invested in efficient operations while rewarding those that have not.\n\nWe strongly urge BLM to reject this proposed rescission and maintain the 2024 Waste Prevention rule. The oil and gas resources on these lands belong to the American public and Tribal nations, and they deserve to benefit from the full value and benefits of responsible resource stewardship.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-visits-boundary-waters-canoe-area-wilderness-meets-with-local-nonprofits-advocates-and-tribal-leaders-vows-to-continue-to-fight-to-protect-public-lands", "Heinrich Visits Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Meets with Local Nonprofits, Advocates, and Tribal Leaders, Vows to Continue to Fight to Protect Public Lands", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "PHOTOS HERE\n\nELY, MINN. \u2014 Last week, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, visited gateway communities to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), where he met with local advocates, volunteers, non-profit leaders, and the Three Chippewa Bands, on how Senate Republicans and President Trump\u2019s plan to allow sulfide-ore copper mining near the BWCAW will open up the pristine wilderness to permanent pollution, harming Tribes, local communities, and businesses in the area. Heinrich saw the proposed mining sites firsthand and observed how the mining pollution would affect the community and the watershed.\n\nHeinrich\u2019s visit comes as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that his administration is taking steps to constrain future sulfide-ore copper mining development in the Rainy River Headwaters, slowing Twin Metals\u2019 path forward to mine near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.\n\n\u201cI come from a mining family. I'm not against every mine everywhere. My dad worked for Anaconda Copper, and my grandfather was a gold miner. But I learned, negotiating with big companies over natural resource damages, that there are smart places to put mines \u2014 and there are places where they really don't belong. And you don't know which is which unless you get out on the landscape and see it. I think it's really hard to look at maps and listen to rhetoric in Washington, D.C., and make a good decision,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\nHeinrich continued, \u201cTo put a mine where we went this week just seems insane to me. It would put at risk one of the last great wilderness areas in North America \u2014 not just the Boundary Waters, but the Boundary Waters, Quetico and Voyageurs. This is one of those last great landscapes in North America. I don't think these battles are ever won in one fell swoop. It takes decades. But I can tell from the passion of people on the ground, the polling I\u2019m seeing in Minnesota, and the elected leaders who have stepped up and staked out a position that this is on a trajectory where I believe that the watershed is going to be protected. I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, as somebody who truly believes in the value and the importance of public lands and wilderness: thank you all for protecting this very special place.\u201d\n\nIn April, President Trump signed into law H. J. Res 140, rolling back protections for the watershed, allowing for mining and mineral extraction in the headwaters of the wilderness area.\n\nHeinrich has consistently pushed to protect the Boundary Waters from mining. In February, Heinrich called on Americans to use their voices and oppose H.J. Res. 140. In April, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor, urging his colleagues to oppose H.J. 140. When the resolution passed the Senate, Heinrich delivered remarks, blasting his colleagues for gutting protections for the Boundary Waters.\n\nIn his April remarks, Heinrich emphasized that the Boundary Waters are not simply a Minnesota issue, but an issue for the entire country, calling the area part of our \u201cshared inheritance.\u201d He also argued that there are many places where mining can be done responsibly, but that the Boundary Waters is not one of them.\n\nHeinrich began his trip with a boat tour through Birch Lake and the proposed Twin Metals mining sites, where he spoke with staff from Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS), a nonprofit outdoor education organization that has been operating adjacent to the proposed sulfide-ore copper site since 1964, underscoring how mining in the area will adversely impact its operations.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaks to local nonprofit staff on how mining in the Boundary Waters will impact their operations, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.\n\nAdditionally, Heinrich toured YMCA Camp Widjiwagan, which provides wilderness experiences for youth, and met with the camp\u2019s Executive Director, Ben Hoffman, to discuss the camp\u2019s history and the extensive outdoor education opportunities that rely on the Boundary Waters.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, tours YMCA Camp Widjiwagan and speaks with camp Executive Director Ben Hoffman, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.\n\nNext, Heinrich met with Tribal officials from the Three Chippewa Bands to discuss how mining in the Boundary Waters will threaten their treaty rights to hunt, fish, and gather in their ancestral homeland.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, meets with the Three Chippewa Bands about how mining in the Boundary Waters threatens Tribes and their ancestral homeland, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.\n\nFollowing his meeting with Tribal leaders, Heinrich spoke at a dinner at Ely Folk School, a community center that provides learning experiences that celebrate the heritage, art, history, and culture of northern Minnesota, and thanked advocates for fighting to protect the Boundary Waters.\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaks at dinner, thanking advocates for fighting to protect Boundary Waters, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.\n\nAfter his visits on Wednesday, the Senator launched into the Boundary Waters from Snowbank Lake to Ima Lake, spending the next two days exploring the local ecosystem, hunting and fishing culture, and native history before paddling to Ensign Lake on Saturday.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-visits-frijoles-fire-command-center-meets-with-firefighters-and-incident-commanders", "Heinrich Visits Frijoles Fire Command Center, Meets with Firefighters and Incident Commanders", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "PHOTOS and VIDEOS\n\nSANTA FE, N.M. \u2014 This week, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, visited the Frijoles Fire Command Center to receive a briefing on the operations and status of the fire and meet with Incident Commanders, firefighters, first responders, and support staff working to contain the blaze. The Frijoles Fire has burned 15,333 acres and is 59% contained, with 803 personnel currently engaged in the firefighting effort.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to the firefighters, Incident Commanders, and support and medical crews who are working around the clock to protect New Mexico communities from the Frijoles Fire,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cI also want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Randy Lupe, who tragically lost his life supporting the response. Everyone who responds to wildfires puts themselves in harm\u2019s way to keep our communities safe, and we have a responsibility to make sure they have the resources, equipment, and support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, meets with firefighters and emergency responders at the Frijoles Fire Incident Command Center, August 27, 2026.\n\nDuring the visit, Heinrich received a briefing from the Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 4, which is managing the firefighting operations, and met with crews and support staff.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nHeinrich has led efforts to strengthen the nation\u2019s wildland firefighting workforce, improve wildfire preparedness and response, and ensure New Mexico communities have the federal resources they need in wildfire emergencies.\n\nLast month, Heinrich sent a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that communities in New Mexico and nationwide receive the federal resources they need to respond to and prevent wildfires, including by promptly approving and distributing Fire Management Assistance Grant and post-fire mitigation funding.\n\nIn June, Heinrich introduced legislation to support the development of next-generation, PFAS-free protective gear to better protect firefighters from the dangers of their work.\n\nIn May, Heinrich criticized the Trump Administration\u2019s cuts to the Forest Service workforce and its plans to reorganize federal firefighting efforts during wildfire season. He warned that losing staff who support incident command teams and wildfire response undermines the nation\u2019s ability to prepare for and fight fires.\n\nIn February, Heinrich urged U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum to halt efforts to create the Department\u2019s new U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), citing potential life-or-death consequences that could come as a result of decoupling wildfire management from land management agencies, and emphasizing a number of concerns related to recent reductions in staffing, combined with improperly severing wildfire management from land stewardship.\n\nIn February, Heinrich pressed Associate Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Christopher French about the impact of workforce cuts on wildfire preparedness and asked whether federal firefighters are paid enough. Heinrich pointedly asked French if firefighters were being paid enough; French acknowledged that they are not, citing longer fire seasons and growing demands on firefighters and their families.\n\nLast December, Heinrich led his colleagues in demanding answers from the Forest Service about staffing cuts that had left the agency approximately 38% behind on hazardous fuels reduction work compared with recent years, warning that the decline posed serious risks to public safety and wildfire prevention.\n\nLast September, Heinrich cosponsored the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, bipartisan legislation that will expand health care coverage and benefits for first responders who become permanently disabled from service-related cancers and the families of those who pass away from these cancers.\n\nLast August, Heinrich secured $1.1 million for Rio Arriba County to purchase radios and repeater towers for Rio Arriba County Volunteer Fire Departments to facilitate communications when firefighters are on duty.\n\nLast July, Heinrich sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and DOI Secretary Doug Burgum following reports that staff reductions have required the deployment of fire personnel to fill administrative gaps, leaving fire crews understaffed and overwhelmed. In the letter, Heinrich urged the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to provide adequate resources and support to wildland firefighters. .\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich\u2019s Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025, legislation to strengthen the aerial wildfire suppression fleet and better combat the year-round threat of catastrophic wildfire, was signed into law after passing the U.S. Senate in April.\n\nIn September 2023, Heinrich cosponsored the bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, legislation to permanently increase wildland firefighter pay and establish incident response premium pay to account for the 24/7 nature of the work.\n\nIn June 2022, Heinrich helped secure a temporary pay increase for the wildland firefighter workforce, funded by $600 million from the Infrastructure Law. He led calls for the administration to implement the pay increase, which ultimately raised federal wildland firefighter pay by up to $20,000 or 50% of base salary, whichever was less.\n\nIn May 2022, Heinrich secured over $15 million to improve wildfire response capabilities at Kirtland Air Force Base to upgrade facilities to allow the use of Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) to fight wildfires throughout the state and region.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-advance-responsible-international-nuclear-energy-cooperation", "Heinrich Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Advance Responsible, International Nuclear Energy Cooperation", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, along with Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.), introduced the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Act to codify the U.S. State Department\u2019s FIRST program advocating for the responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy around the world.\n\n\u201cNuclear energy is an important part of our clean energy future, and the United States should lead in advancing its safe and responsible deployment around the world. By working with our allies and partners through the FIRST program, we can strengthen energy security, support American innovation, and promote the highest standards for nuclear safety and nonproliferation,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\n\u201cNuclear energy is a source of clean and abundant power, and its growth in the U.S. and around the world will lower costs for consumers and combat climate change,\u201d said Coons. \u201cRight now, too many nations that want to embrace nuclear power need to buy Chinese and Russian technology at huge cost, trapping them in debt. The United States should offer an alternative that keeps us on the cutting edge, strengthens our relationships around the world and keeps Americans safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe responsible development of civil nuclear energy, on an international scale, contributes to U.S. national security and bolsters our economy. The FIRST program has been a productive way for our nation to partner with good-faith actors who are building their nuclear arsenals, and continuing to leverage these public and private partnerships will help us advance our own energy dominance. Since North Carolina is a leader in next-generation nuclear technology, I am proud to partner with Senator Coons to bring this bipartisan solution forward and codify this program that will expand markets for our great innovators into law,\u201d said Budd.\n\nLaunched in 2019, the FIRST program has worked to leverage U.S. public-private partnerships and expand our nuclear energy programs to bolster the United States\u2019 position as a nuclear energy industry leader with partner countries. Currently, the State Department\u2019s FIRST program partners with over 50 countries that are working towards exploring civil nuclear energy solutions and looking to achieve energy security through small modular reactors. The program also helps establish sustainable financial partnerships that support reactor financing to avoid debt-trap influence. This bill will solidify the goals of the FIRST program as a priority for the Department of State to build a better, safer, and cleaner infrastructure for nuclear energy.\n\nThe FIRST ACT would:\n\nPromote responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy internationally\n\nAdvocate bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements and forums for civil nuclear energy projects\n\nEngage in diplomacy with partner governments prioritizing the highest safety, security, and nonproliferation standards\n\nProvide consultation to partner countries regarding best practices of licensing, legal, and regulatory frameworks\n\nSupply early-stage commercial project development support critical to launching United States commercial civil nuclear projects abroad\n\nCooperate with partner countries in the areas of training programs, technical resource sharing, and potential coordination of codes and standards\n\nThe legislation is led by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.). Alongside Heinrich, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).\n\nThe FIRST Act is endorsed by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), ClearPath, Breakthrough Institute (BTI), and Third Way.\n\nThe full text of the bill here.\n\nAdditional Background on Heinrich\u2019s Efforts to Develop Nuclear Energy Responsibly:\n\nHeinrich has long championed policies that develop nuclear energy responsibly, modernize and improve facilities that handle nuclear waste, and provide compensation and support for communities and workers harmed by radiation exposure.\n\nIn April, Heinrich pressed National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) officials on addressing the housing shortage around Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), accelerating cleanup of the hexavalent chromium plume near the Lab, strengthening public-private partnerships to advance America's fusion capabilities, and modernizing critical nuclear security infrastructure at Sandia National Laboratories.\n\nIn April, Heinrich cosponsored legislation to amend the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act to ensure sustained, inflation-adjusted funding for New Mexico communities to maintain vital infrastructure projects, such as road maintenance and repairs, for the duration of WIPP\u2019s operation.\n\nIn January, Heinrich secured $10 million in the FY2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill to improve roads leading to and from WIPP through recommended payments from the DOE to the State of New Mexico. This investment was the first time that funds had been appropriated for this purpose since 2014.\n\nLast November, Heinrich introduced the No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act, legislation to ensure that no president can unilaterally resume explosive nuclear testing in response to President Trump announcing that the United States would resume testing nuclear weapons, a practice that the U.S. abandoned in 1992.\n\nLast November, Heinrich and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) led Senate Democrats in urging President Trump to reverse course on resuming explosive nuclear weapons testing, warning that restarting tests would endanger public health, undermine global nonproliferation efforts, and needlessly increase national security risks.\n\nAfter more than a decade of advocacy, Heinrich helped secure the expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) into law last July, finally providing compensation to New Mexico's Trinity Downwinders, uranium workers, and other communities harmed by radiation exposure. Heinrich reintroduced legislation to extend and expand RECA since his first Senate term, starting in 2013.", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-joins-colleagues-in-fight-against-rescission-of-key-energy-leasing-that-will-harm-access-to-americas-public-lands", "Heinrich Joins Colleagues in Fight Against Rescission of Key Energy Leasing That Will Harm Access to America\u2019s Public Lands", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, in denouncing the BLM\u2019s proposal to rescind the 2024 Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (the 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule). The recission, if approved, will harm public lands, reduce community input, increase pollution, and raise taxpayer costs.\n\nThe 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule ensured that the concerns of states, Tribes, and local communities were included in decision-making and was a long-overdue correction to decades of BLM policies that favored oil and gas development over other uses and led to tens of thousands of dangerous abandoned wells that became the financial responsibility of taxpayers instead of the oil and gas companies. This rule had immense public support and established a balanced framework that saved taxpayer money, ensured multi-use management of public lands, and protected cultural resources and rural communities that depend on public lands.\n\nIn this letter, the lawmakers ask that the administration specifically reconsider oil and gas bonding requirements; public participation, Tribal consultation, and landowner involvement; and leasing preference criteria.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our strong opposition to the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) proposal to rescind the 2024 Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (\u201c2024 Leasing Rule\u201d). The proposed replacement undermines the agency\u2019s multiple-use mandate, promotes irresponsible oil and gas leasing, and fails to protect American taxpayers and private landowners,\u201d the lawmakers began.\n\n\u201c[\u2026] BLM\u2019s newly proposed rule threatens to dismantle this common-sense progress. We are deeply concerned that the proposed changes shift cleanup liabilities back to the public, restrict community and private landowner participation, and distort the balance required to manage America\u2019s public lands responsibly,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nRead the full text of the letter HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Burgum and Director Pearce,\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) proposal to rescind the 2024 Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (\u201c2024 Leasing Rule\u201d). The proposed replacement undermines the agency\u2019s multiple-use mandate, promotes irresponsible oil and gas leasing, and fails to protect American taxpayers and private landowners.\n\nOur public lands support diverse economies rooted in fishing, hunting, livestock grazing, energy development, and outdoor recreation. For decades, as documented in the Department of Interior\u2019s 2021 Report on the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Program, BLM\u2019s policies and management favored oil and gas development at the expense of other multiple uses. The 2024 Leasing Rule provided a long-overdue correction by directly addressing Government Accountability Office findings showing that BLM\u2019s outdated leasing practices shortchanged the American public, invited speculation, and left taxpayers to foot the bill for cleaning up toxic, dangerous orphaned wells.\n\nAs the first comprehensive update to the onshore oil and gas program in nearly forty years, the 2024 Leasing Rule was finalized after robust public engagement, with 99 percent of the 260,000 public comments in support. It established a balanced framework that saves taxpayer dollars, ensures multi-use management, and protects cultural resources and rural communities that depend on public lands.\n\nBy contrast, BLM\u2019s newly proposed rule threatens to dismantle this common-sense progress. We are deeply concerned that the proposed changes shift cleanup liabilities back to the public, restrict community and private landowner participation, and distort the balance required to manage America\u2019s public lands responsibly. In particular, we request that you reconsider the following provisions:\n\nOil and Gas Bonding Requirements\n\nThe bonding requirements in the 2024 Leasing Rule represent a pragmatic, responsible approach to public land stewardship. Modernizing individual and statewide lease bonds is a fiscal necessity to ensure the \u201ccomplete\u201d and \u201ctimely\u201d reclamation of federal well sites, as required by the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA). Reverting to outdated 1950s-era bonding levels is fiscally irresponsible, going against the wishes of Western states, many of which are increasing bonding rates for state lands, not decreasing them. Lowering bonding levels could also allow companies to abandon wells and shift hundreds of millions of dollars in clean-up costs to the American public. Furthermore, reinstating nationwide bonds allows operators to cover vast, multi-state liabilities, potentially up to thousands of wells, with a single, inadequate financial assurance. We urge BLM not to reauthorize nationwide bonding.\n\nOver 89% of Westerners believe that energy developers, not taxpayers, should pay to clean up their own drilling sites. Weakening these federal bonding requirements ignores this overwhelming majority and the potential $753 billion in clean-up liability across 200 million acres of federal lands that would shift to taxpayers.\n\nPublic Participation, Tribal Consultation, & Landowner Involvement\n\nPublic participation and meaningful consultation with states, Tribes, and local stakeholders enables the agency to produce better, more thoughtful leasing decisions. Truncating public notice and comment periods unnecessarily and unfairly sidelines the Tribes, rural communities, hunters, anglers, and local business owners who know these lands best. Restricting public input does not streamline operations. It reduces transparency and degrades the quality of land-use decisions.\n\nFurther, it is illegal, as federal courts have specifically rejected efforts to cut the public out of the oil and gas leasing decision-making process. We urge BLM to maintain robust public comment and Tribal consultation periods.\n\nIn addition, there are over 57 million acres across the country of \u201csplit-estate\u201d lands, where the federal government owns oil and gas resources, but the surface lands are privately owned. Since 2009 BLM has required oil and gas companies to identify the owners of split-estate lands prior to leasing, a requirement based on a recommendation from the George W. Bush administration. This proposed rule eliminates the long-standing notification requirements for private landowners, stripping ranchers, farmers, and homeowners of their ability to negotiate on how developers access and use their land while leaving them vulnerable to the permanent surface disruptions of industrial drilling.\n\nLeasing Preference Criteria\n\nThe leasing preference criteria, adopted to ensure BLM\u2019s multi-use mandate, have been highly effective at proactively directing leasing away from critical wildlife habitats and high-value recreation and livestock management areas, providing certainty to local communities, energy developers, ranchers, and local businesses. Erasing these clear criteria will inevitably revive conflicts between users, leading to costly litigation and regulatory uncertainty. A predictable leasing framework benefits everyone, and abandoning it is a step backwards.\n\nFor these reasons, we strongly oppose BLM\u2019s proposal to rescind the 2024 Leasing Rule and urge BLM to maintain and continue to implement the current, balanced regulations. The 2024 Leasing Rule brought much-needed fiscal responsibility and balance for federal land management. The proposed rollbacks would jeopardize Western economies, abandon fiscal discipline, and undermine BLM\u2019s multi-use mandate.\n\nThank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-joins-ribbon-cutting-for-new-blackve-headquarters-and-manufacturing-facility-highlights-job-training-for-new-mexicans-living-with-disabilities-joins-groundbreaking-celebration-for-new-pacific-fusion-facility_leads-panel-with-former-google-ceo-on-unlocking-americas-clean-energy-future", "Heinrich Joins Ribbon-Cutting for New BlackVe Headquarters & Manufacturing Facility, Highlights Job Training for New Mexicans Living with Disabilities, Joins Groundbreaking Celebration for New Pacific Fusion Facility & Leads Panel with Former Google CEO on Unlocking America\u2019s Clean Energy Future", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined events in Albuquerque celebrating BlackVe\u2019s new 30,000-square-foot headquarters and satellite manufacturing facility at MaxQ and Pacific Fusion\u2019s new $1 billion state-of-the-art facility that positions New Mexico at the forefront of the emerging fusion energy industry.\n\nHeinrich began the day at BlackVe\u2019s new facility, which will support the rapid design, production, integration, and operation of next-generation spacecraft \u2014 creating 200 high-quality jobs and strengthening New Mexico\u2019s leadership in the space industry.\n\nABOVE: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) attends a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open BlackVe\u2019s new 30,000-square-foot headquarters and satellite manufacturing facility, August 25, 2026. Additional pictures here.\n\n|\u201cBlackVe is a homegrown company committed to staying, building, and growing right here in New Mexico. Its brand-new manufacturing facility in Albuquerque will produce satellites and defense technology that will help keep our country safe, while creating more than 200 high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I\u2019ll continue working to bring more investments to New Mexico that strengthen our leadership in space and defense technologies, grow our local workforce and businesses, and give the next generation the opportunity to build their careers right here at home.\u201d\n\nHeinrich\u2019s support of BlackVe includes continued funding for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) satellite and space technology at Kirtland Air Force Base, helping the company expand local manufacturing in New Mexico, and meetingwith BlackVe workers.\n\nPrior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Heinrich joined students from the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy (ASLA) to highlight a $300,000 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grant he secured to develop the Adult Workforce Training Program Hub. The funding helped ASLA refurbish a trolley into a coffee bar to bolster career opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and students with disabilities.\n\nABOVE: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joins students from the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy to discuss a $300,000 CDS grant he secured to bolster career opportunities for deaf, hard of hearing, and students with disabilities, August 25, 2026. Additional pictures here.\n\nHeinrich also joined a groundbreaking celebration for Pacific Fusion\u2019s new $1 billion state-of-the-art facility that cements New Mexico\u2019s role as a national leader in advanced energy innovation. At the groundbreaking, Heinrich led a panel discussion with former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, on fusion energy\u2019s potential to strengthen America\u2019s national security and unlock our clean energy future. The panel was moderated by Pacific Fusion Co-Founder and CEO, Eric Lander. The full video of the panel discussion led by Heinrich and Schmidt is here.\n\n\u201cPacific Fusion\u2019s $1 billion investment in New Mexico is a testament to the strength of our state\u2019s workforce and national labs. This high-yield, high-gain fusion facility will advance our understanding of what it will take to bring fusion power to the grid, while supporting Albuquerque\u2019s economy, creating 200 permanent jobs, and cementing New Mexico\u2019s leadership in energy innovation,\u201dsaid Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and founder of the Senate Fusion Caucus.\u201cFusion has the potential to transform how we power our economy, in addition to its role in strengthening our national security. I\u2019m excited to see Pacific Fusion and New Mexico leading the way in turning that potential into reality.\u201d\n\nHeinrich helped Pacific Fusion choose New Mexico as the new home for its state-of-the-art fusion facility.", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-releases-statement-on-110th-anniversary-of-the-national-park-service-celebrates-national-park-week", "Heinrich Releases Statement on 110th Anniversary of the National Park Service, Celebrates National Park Week", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement celebrating the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS) today, August 25, 2026, during National Park Week, which runs from August 22 to August 30 this year. All entrance fees to national parks are waived for U.S. citizens and residents today, August 25, 2026.\n\n\u201c110 years ago, President Woodrow Wilson signed the law creating the National Park Service to protect some of the most treasured places in our country and ensure they belong to all Americans.\n\n\u201cOur national parks and public lands are part of our shared identity. They are literally the anvil on which our collective identity was forged. They preserve the stories of generations who came before us, give everyone a place to explore and connect with the outdoors, and serve as an economic engine for communities across the country. In 2024 alone, visitors to our national parks spent $29 billion in communities near parks, supporting 340,000 jobs and generating more than $56 billion in economic activity.\n\n\u201cBut as the National Park Service celebrates 110 years, our parks face a $24 billion maintenance backlog and severe staffing shortages. The Trump administration has forced out thousands of employees, proposed deep cuts to the agency, and taken steps to erase history at our parks.\n\n\u201cInstead of working to address these maintenance needs and keep visitors safe and our parks accessible, the administration is making hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars available for the President\u2019s vanity projects. That\u2019s bullshit. We should be investing in the national parks that belong to all of us \u2013 not a golden ballroom for the President.\n\n\u201cThis week, I encourage every American to get outside, enjoy a national park or public land, and help protect these national treasures for generations to come.\u201d\n\nAs Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich is leading the fight in Congress to protect our public lands, expand access to national parks, and hold the Trump administration accountable for its attacks on these treasured places \u2014 from efforts to erase history in our national parks and divert funding to Trump\u2019s vanity projects, to the President\u2019s proposed golden White House ballroom, his botched Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool rehabilitation project, and his actions that make our national parks less safe for visitors.\n\nThis month, Heinrich joined top Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown to audit and assess the full scope and cost of the White House ballroom project.\n\nAlso, this month, Heinrich sent a letter requesting that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Inspector General Caryl Brzymialkiewicz investigate what Department officials knew \u2013 and when they knew it \u2013 about engineering failures at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and whether DOI employees withheld evidence from federal prosecutors.\n\nIn July, Heinrich criticized legislation that removes protections for public lands, emphasizing the need for bipartisan collaboration within the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Heinrich additionally fact-checked Trump administration actions that undo protections for the Chaco Canyon Cultural Protection Zone. You can read about Heinrich\u2019s actions to protect Chaco Canyon here and here.\n\nIn July, Heinrich sent a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S Park Chief of Police Scott Brecht demanding answers and transparency about the U.S. Park Police\u2019s new vehicle pursuit policy following news reports that an innocent bystander, Nolberto Armando Sanabria Meza, a 46-year-old food delivery driver, was hit and tragically killed in D.C. by a driver being chased by U.S. Park Police.\n\nIn June, Heinrich helped advance the America the Beautiful Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Angus King (I-Maine) to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, out of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\n\nIn June, Heinrich sent a letter demanding answers from DOI Secretary Doug Burgum about the Trump administration redirecting tens of millions of dollars from fees paid to the NPS to fund President Trump\u2019s vanity projects in Washington, D.C. \u2013 including redirecting funds collected at New Mexico sites such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Bandelier National Monument.\n\nIn April, during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine the Trump administration\u2019s Budget Request for the DOI Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), Heinrich grilled DOI Secretary Doug Burgum about the Department\u2019s draconian staff cuts at the NPS.\n\nIn March, Heinrich joined lawmakers in filing an amicus brief that would put a stop to President Trump\u2019s plan to construct a commemorative arch on federal property. The amicus brief argues that the President\u2019s plan is illegal unless Congress authorizes it.\n\nIn March, Heinrich led his colleagues in delivering remarks on the Senate floor in condemning and drawing attention to the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to erase American history from public lands.\n\nIn March, Heinrich sent a letter to DOI demanding answers from the NPS following reports that NPS staff across the country are removing signage from national parks about slavery, Tribal history, and climate change.\n\nIn February, Heinrich led his colleagues in calling on DOI Secretary Doug Burgum to halt efforts to create the Department\u2019s new U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), citing potential life-or-death consequences that could come as a result of decoupling wildfire management from land management agencies, and emphasizing concerns related to recent reductions in staffing, combined with improperly severing wildfire management from land stewardship.\n\nLast December, during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks hearing to consider 26 pending bills, Heinrich criticized the Trump administration for removing fee-free admission on Juneteenth and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.\n\nLast October, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor, criticizing Republicans for pushing forward Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval targeting Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plans (RMPs) that would undo protections for national parks, including the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.\n\nLast October, during the government shutdown, Heinrich urged the DOI Secretary Doug Burgum to classify the Department\u2019s staff as essential during the Republican government shutdown to maintain the health and safety of Americans who visit public lands, wildlife refuges, and national park sites.\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich successfully fought Senate Republican provisions to sell off public lands in the Big Bad Bill, lead an amendment to prevent the privatization of our public lands, hosted a roundtable and sounded the alarm about New Mexico public lands that were at risk of being sold off by Republicans, continuously uplifted New Mexicans\u2019 voices who called his office to raise their concern with Republicans\u2019 plan to sell off these lands, and released a statement immediately criticizing Senate Republicans\u2019 plan to sell off public lands following the release of the reconciliation text.\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich blasted the Trump administration for its plans to transfer national park units to state control, criticizing the administration for \u201ccutting off our access to public lands and devastating state economies in the process, overwhelming state budgets and dismantling the systems that keep public lands running.\u201d\n\nIn June of 2025, Heinrich grilled the DOI Secretary Doug Burgum over the Trump administration\u2019s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget request for the Department, which slashes funding for national parks and guts staffing for the agency.\n\nIn May of 2025, Heinrich sent a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum, demanding answers from the Trump administration regarding its plans to transfer National Park System units from federal management. The letter follows Heinrich\u2019s questioning of Secretary Burgum during a Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, where Burgum failed to provide sufficient answers on the Trump administration\u2019s plan to transfer hundreds of sites managed by the NPS to the states.\n\nIn January of 2025, Heinrich\u2019s Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act and Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act, which extends free access to national parks and other public lands to all American fourth grade students and their families through 2031 \u2014 were signed into law as part of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The broader bipartisan package bolsters outdoor recreation and promotes public lands in New Mexico and across the United States.", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-northwest-new-mexico-lujan-highlights-efforts-to-strengthen-care-for-seniors-and-protect-nutrition-assistance-for-new-mexicans/", "In Northwest New Mexico, Luj\u00e1n Highlights Efforts to Strengthen Care for Seniors and Protect Nutrition Assistance for New Mexicans", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "NORTHWEST NEW MEXICO \u2013 Last week in Farmington and Grants, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) held events highlighting his efforts to expand access to home and long-term care for older New Mexicans and people with disabilities and protect nutrition assistance for New Mexico families.\n\n\u201cWhether it\u2019s making sure our parents and grandparents can receive care in the place they call home or ensuring families have enough food on the table, New Mexicans deserve the support they need to live healthy lives with dignity,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cLast week, I heard directly from local leaders and providers about the challenges facing families in Northwest New Mexico. I\u2019ll continue fighting to strengthen home-based care, support caregivers, and protect SNAP from attacks that would make it harder for families to get the food they need.\u201d\n\nSupporting Care for Older New Mexicans in Farmington\n\nIn Farmington at the Native American Disability Law Center, Senator Luj\u00e1n met with local leaders and providers to learn more about their work providing home- and community-based care in San Juan County. Senator Luj\u00e1n heard directly from providers about the challenges facing rural and Tribal communities and discussed how his recently introduced Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Access Act would expand access to long-term care for older adults and people with disabilities.\n\nFighting to Protect Nutrition Assistance in Grants\n\nIn Grants at the Grants Community Pantry, Senator Luj\u00e1n met with local food and nutrition leaders to discuss the impact of Republican cuts to SNAP on families and communities in Northwest New Mexico. During the event, Senator Luj\u00e1n heard directly about the challenges facing SNAP recipients and the local organizations that serve them. Senator Luj\u00e1n also highlighted his efforts to fight back against cuts to nutrition assistance and protect SNAP for New Mexico families, including families in rural and Tribal communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-ranking-member-heinrich-on-supreme-court-allowing-continued-construction-for-president-trumps-ballroom", "ICYMI: Ranking Member Heinrich on Supreme Court Allowing Continued Construction \tfor President Trump\u2019s Ballroom", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "MEMORANDUM\n\nTo: Reporters and Editors\n\nFrom: Caty Payette, Office of U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)\n\nDate: August 24, 2026\n\nRe: ICYMI: Ranking Member Heinrich on Supreme Court Allowing Continued Construction for President Trump\u2019s Ballroom\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, published the following post online, reacting to the news that the Supreme Court has allowed President Trump to continue construction for his $400 million ballroom:\n\n\u201cThis doesn\u2019t change the fact that Congress never authorized spending YOUR hard-earned taxpayer dollars on Trump\u2019s golden ballroom.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll keep fighting to ensure taxpayers aren\u2019t footing the bill for Trump\u2019s vanity projects while the cost of everyday expenses continues to soar.\u201d\n\nRanking Member Heinrich has led the fight to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to fund President Trump\u2019s ballroom.\n\nEarlier this month, Heinrich sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown, calling for the GAO to audit and assess the full scope and cost of the White House ballroom project.\n\nIn June, Heinrich sent a letter demanding answers from U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on the Trump administration redirecting tens of millions of dollars from fees paid to the National Park Service (NPS) to fund President Trump\u2019s vanity projects in Washington, D.C. \u2013 including redirecting funds collected at New Mexico sites such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Bandelier National Monument.\n\nIn May, Heinrich?successfully blocked Senate Republicans from funding Trump\u2019s ballroom project through their partisan reconciliation budget bill, arguing it violated the Byrd Rule \u2014 a Senate rule designed to prevent unrelated policy provisions from being jammed into reconciliation bills that can pass with a simple majority instead of the usual 60-vote threshold.\n\nLast October, Heinrich demanded that President Trump follow the rule of law and for Congress to have oversight over the demolition of the East Wing of the White House and the ongoing construction of the ballroom in its place.", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-cosponsors-legislation-to-combat-maternal-health-crisis", "Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation to Combat Maternal Health Crisis", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), alongside U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) in reintroducing the Mamas First Act, legislation that would address the maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, Tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. These services have been proven to reduce C-sections, decrease maternal anxiety, and improve communication between pregnant women and their health care providers.\n\n\"By expanding access to trusted providers like doulas, midwives, Tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this legislation can help make sure mothers get the care they need. That\u2019s especially important in New Mexico, where more than half of all births are covered by Medicaid,\u201d said Heinrich.\u201cThe Mamas First Act will particularly help mothers in rural and Tribal communities to access quality care before, during, and after childbirth \u2013 because every mother deserves the support she needs to have a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery.\u201d\n\n\u201cInstead of slashing healthcare for millions of Americans like Republicans in Congress are hellbent on doing, we should be expanding access to care to protect every momma and baby,\u201d said Warren. \u201cIt\u2019s unthinkable that the richest country in the world would also have one of the highest maternal mortality rates. The Mamas First Act will help fix this crisis by improving access to high-quality care and rooting out the deep disparities and systemic racism in our health care system.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Mamas First Act meets a crisis that is costing mothers their lives\u2014especially Black and Indigenous women who walk into delivery rooms carrying risks no family should bear,\u201d said Booker. \u201cBy ensuring Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this bill delivers the trusted care that keeps mothers safe and babies alive. Congress must act now.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Mamas First Act would:\n\nAmend the Social Security Act to allow doulas, midwives, Tribal midwives, and lactation support providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid.\n\nImprove access to care before, during and after delivery for underserved and under-resourced communities.\n\nConnect mothers and babies to culturally competent and patient-centered care to facilitate better health outcomes.\n\nIn addition to Heinrich, Warren, and Booker, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).\n\nIn addition to Moore, Dingell, Adams, Underwood, and Pressley, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Homes Norton (D-D.C), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Adelita Grijalva (D- Ariz.), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).\n\nIt is endorsed by Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community, the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, the National Health Law Program, Health Connect One, BMMA Inc. (Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Incorporated), Futures Without Violence, Every Mother Counts, the American Association of Birth Centers, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Birth Center Equity, Families USA, and the What to Expect Project.\n\n\u201cThe Mamas First act will help address our country\u2019s devastating maternal health crisis, which is causing vast, disproportionate harm to Black and Indigenous mothers and newborns, by ensuring that Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, and other birthing care workers for vitally important care they provide,\u201dsaid Esta Soler, President and Founder of Futures Without Violence. \u201cWe thank Senator Warren and Representative Moore for championing this legislation, which will ensure these critical providers can continue providing quality care to the millions of people who rely on Medicaid for coverage. We urge leaders in both the House and the Senate to prioritize its passage.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Mamas First Act recognizes a simple but important truth: better support leads to better outcomes for mothers and babies,\u201d said Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Families USA. \u201cBy expanding access to trusted community-based providers, including doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this legislation will help ensure that more families receive the high-quality, culturally congruent care they deserve during a time of immense change, vulnerability and excitement. Families USA is proud to endorse it.\u201d\n\nTo read a one pager on the bill, click here.\n\nTo read the full text of the bill, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-gallup-lujan-holds-forum-to-raise-awareness-of-expanded-reca-compensation-for-new-mexicans/", "In Gallup, Luj\u00e1n Holds Forum to Raise Awareness of Expanded RECA Compensation for New Mexicans", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Gallup, N.M. \u2013 On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) led a public outreach forum in Gallup to raise awareness about expanded compensation available through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and help New Mexicans understand how they can apply for the compensation they deserve.\n\nDuring the forum, Senator Luj\u00e1n joined local leaders and advocates to provide information about expanded eligibility under RECA and the resources available to help New Mexicans apply for compensation. The forum included a presentation on how eligible individuals can submit claims through the U.S. Department of Justice and access resources to assist with the application process.\n\n\u201cFor generations, New Mexicans have carried the burden of our nation\u2019s nuclear legacy, and for far too long, many were denied the recognition and compensation they deserved,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cAfter fighting alongside survivors, uranium workers, and their families, we secured a historic expansion of RECA to finally deliver justice to more New Mexicans. Now, we have to make sure every eligible New Mexican has the resources they need to apply. I will continue working to ensure no New Mexican who sacrificed for our national security is left behind.\u201d\n\nMore information regarding RECA eligibility and the application process can be found here.\n\nSince being elected to Congress, Senator Luj\u00e1n has played a leading role in advancing legislation to strengthen the RECA program, introducing RECA legislation in every Congress and twice passing it through the Senate.\n\nIn January, Senator Luj\u00e1n announced that DOJ launched a new online portal for RECA claims. In September of last year, Senator Luj\u00e1n and the New Mexico Delegation sent an open letter to New Mexico\u2019s holders of health care records, birth and death records, tax records, school records and any other necessary records to request their full cooperation in delivering long overdue justice for New Mexicans exposed to radiation. Last year, Senator Luj\u00e1n announced that he secured clear guidance to provide claimants the instructions they need to apply for and receive compensation through RECA.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-condemning-trump-administration-proposal-to-repeal-the-roadless-rule-remove-protections-for-millions-of-acres-of-public-lands", "Heinrich Statement Condemning Trump Administration Proposal to Repeal the Roadless Rule, Remove Protections for Millions of Acres of Public Lands", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement reacting to the Trump administration\u2019s announcement that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has filed a proposed rule to rescind the Roadless Rule.\n\nEstablished more than 20 years ago, the Roadless Rule protects nearly 45 million acres of public lands administered by the USFS. The Trump administration is proposing to repeal the Roadless Rule, which would increase the risk of wildfires in these areas, carve up wildlife habitat, degrade opportunities for recreation, and threaten the headwaters that communities across the country rely on for clean drinking water.\n\nThe public has until September 21 to submit comments on the Trump administration\u2019s proposed rule. This comment period is the last chance for Americans to voice their opposition to the Trump administration\u2019s proposal to repeal the Roadless Rule before it is enacted, and help keep millions of acres of public lands in public hands.\n\n\"Hunters, anglers, and public land lovers of all stripes will not take the Trump administration\u2019s assault on the Roadless Rule sitting down. These are our backcountry campsites, our wild trout streams, and the security habitat where we chase elk in the fall,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cThese roadless areas are irreplaceable, and the Roadless Rule is what protects them. Americans have been clear \u2013 repeatedly and across party lines \u2013 that we don\u2019t want President Trump screwing with our public lands. Someone needs to tell him to get out of his golf cart and touch some grass.\u201d\n\nAs Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich is leading the fight in Congress to protect the Roadless Rule and keep public lands in public hands.\n\nEarlier this summer, Heinrich hosted a press conference on Senate Republicans\u2019 efforts to repeal the Roadless Rule and spoke out against the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to rescind the Roadless Rule.\n\nAdditionally, Heinrich wrote an op-ed in Outside News about how the Roadless Rule helps conserve our public lands and prevent wildfires \u2013 and how it represents years of input from Americans who have made it clear they want the Roadless Rule to stay in place.\n\nIn May, Heinrich and the N.M. congressional delegation urged New Mexicans to voice their opposition to the looming Roadless Rule repeal.\n\nIn February, Heinrich attended the \u201cCamo at the Capitol Day\u201d rally in the Roundhouse where he stated, \u201cIt makes me incredibly proud to be a New Mexican. They\u2019ll never take our public lands from our public hands.\u201d\n\nLast September, Heinrich and the N.M. congressional delegation sent a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins requesting that New Mexico be excluded from the Trump administration\u2019s proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule.\n\nDuring a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee hearing to examine pending legislation, Heinrich brought attention to the Trump administration\u2019s refusal to take public opinion into account prior to repealing the Roadless Rule.\n\nIn June 2025, Heinrich released a statement slamming USDA Secretary Rollins\u2019 efforts to rescind the roadless rule.", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-wyden-demand-accountability-from-doi-following-report-that-agency-officials-destroyed-official-records", "Heinrich, Wyden Demand Accountability From DOI Following Report that Agency Officials Destroyed Official Records", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum demanding answers on whether DOI complies with federal records retention requirements, calling for accountability and transparency regarding the agency\u2019s records preservation processes.\n\nThe letter follows reporting that DOI officials have destroyed official documents and used encrypted mobile applications with disappearing message configurations to avoid preserving records. These actions would violate the Federal Records Act, which requires the head of each federal agency to properly preserve all records documenting the organization, policies, and functions of the agency.\n\n\u201cWe write to request information regarding the Department of the Interior\u2019s compliance with federal records retention requirements. We are deeply concerned by recent reports that officials at the Department have reportedly engaged in actions in violation of the Federal Records Act,\u201dthe Senators began.\n\n\u201cIt is imperative that all employees at the Department \u2013 regardless of title or position \u2013 understand and comply with federal records retention requirements. Government must be transparent and accountable to the American people,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nThe Senators concluded the letter by demanding Burgum provide clarity on DOI's record retention policies and procedures, how these procedures relate to encrypted mobile devices and mobile applications on government devices, and whether he has ever directed, ordered, or been aware of any DOI official destroying or concealing federal records.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below.\n\nSecretary Burgum:\n\nWe write to request information regarding the Department of the Interior\u2019s compliance with federal records retention requirements. We are deeply concerned by recent reports that officials at the Department have reportedly engaged in actions in violation of the Federal Records Act.\n\nAccording to a recent report in Politico, officials at the Department have reportedly destroyed official documents and used encrypted mobile applications equipped with disappearing message configurations to avoid preserving records. One employee quoted in the article stated, \u201c[t]hey\u2019re [Department officials] terrified of written records.\u201d\n\nUnder the Federal Records Act, the head of each federal agency is required to \u201cmake and preserve records containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions of the agency\u2026.\u201d The Federal Records Act broadly defines \u201crecord\u201d and includes \u201call recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, made or received by a Federal agency under Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business and preserved or appropriate for preservation by that agency.\u201d Any employee that conceals or destroys a federal record may be subject to fine or imprisonment.\n\nIt is imperative that all employees at the Department \u2013 regardless of title or position \u2013 understand and comply with federal records retention requirements. Government must be transparent and accountable to the American people. We therefore request that you clearly communicate to all employees their legal obligation to comply with the Federal Records Act. Additionally, in light of the serious nature of this matter, we request you provide responses to the following questions by September 2, 2026:\n\nPlease describe the Department\u2019s record retention policies and procedures. Since the start of this Administration, please provide all guidance the Department has shared with employees regarding their obligation to comply with federal records retention requirements.\n\nPlease describe the Department\u2019s policies and procedures related to encrypted mobile applications, including whether the Department permits the use of such applications on government devices. Since the start of this Administration, please provide all guidance the Department has shared with employees regarding their obligation to comply with federal records retention requirements when using encrypted mobile applications.\n\nPlease provide responses to the following questions:\n\nHave you directed or ordered any Department employee to destroy or conceal a federal record?\n\nAre you aware of any Department official destroying or concealing a federal record?\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-trump-administration-rescinding-roadless-rule/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Trump Administration Rescinding \u201cRoadless Rule\u201d", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the Trump administration\u2019s announcement that it will end the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule:\n\n\u201cNew Mexicans are facing another devastating fire season, and the Trump administration needs to listen to the communities living with these impacts every day. The Roadless Rule protects nearly 1.6 million acres, preserving our forests and the outdoor recreation economy that supports nearly 30,000 jobs and brings billions of dollars to our state. As fires continue to threaten our state, adding roads and increasing development could make communities even more vulnerable to the impacts of wildfire. New Mexicans must be heard.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-joins-schiff-senate-colleagues-in-demanding-epa-drop-efforts-to-weaken-health-protections-for-millions-of-americans", "Heinrich Joins Schiff, Senate Colleagues in Demanding EPA Drop Efforts to Weaken Health Protections for Millions of Americans", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.\u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demanding the agency withdraw their proposal to roll back drinking water protections \u2013 which, if finalized, would remove federal public health limits on the amount of certain PFAS compounds in drinking water.\n\nThe senators emphasized in the letter to EPA administration Lee Zeldin that removing these health limits will expose Americans to unsafe levels of chemical that have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, immune suppression problems, developmental harm, thyroid disease, pregnancy complication, and liver damage.\n\n\u201cSafe drinking water is not a partisan issue. Families across the country expect that when they turn on the tap, their water is safe to drink. Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure EPA relies on the best available science to protect public health \u2013 not to weaken existing protections once the sciences has been established,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nDespite the Trump administration\u2019s \u2018Make America Healthy Again\u2019 agenda, if enacted, EPA\u2019s proposal would rescind the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFAS and delay compliance for the PFOA and PFOS standard until 2031, putting the health of millions of Americans at risk.\n\n\u201cAs far back as the 1950s, scientists observed that PFAS compound could accumulate in human bloodstreams. It took decades of advocacy and heroic scientific research to reach the historic moment in 2024 when EPA finally promulgated the very first national drinking water standards for PFAS compounds. We cannot afford to go backwards and make Americans\u2019 health worse,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nHeinrich has led efforts to protect New Mexicans from PFAS contamination. Most recently, Heinrich introduced legislation to support the development of next-generation, PFAS-free protective gear to better protect firefighters from the dangers of their work. In February, Heinrich announced he had successfully secured $159 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations legislation for PFAs testing and remediation, supporting six military sites in New Mexico suspected of contamination from DOD activities.\n\nIn addition to Heinrich, the letter was signed by Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and U.S. Senators Tammy Bladwin (D-Wis.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumental (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D- R.I.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dick Durbim (D-Ill.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nDear Administrator Zeldin:\n\nWe write in strong opposition to EPA\u2019s proposal to rescind the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and the Hazard Index mixtures, while also delaying compliance for the PFOA and PFOS standards until 2031. These actions would reverse the first-ever national drinking water protections for six of the most dangerous and well-studied PFAS chemicals, despite overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrating that there is no safe level of exposure to many of these chemicals. Furthermore, there is a strong case to be made that this proposal contravenes the Safe Drinking Water Act\u2019s anti-backsliding provision.\n\nThe agency\u2019s proposal is inconsistent with both the scientific record and EPA\u2019s own prior findings. The 2024 drinking water standards followed years of scientific review, public input, and economic analysis. EPA concluded that the standards would protect up to 105 million people from exposure to toxic PFAS in drinking water, prevent thousands of premature deaths, reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses, and generate billions of dollars in public health benefits.\n\nPFAS contamination is one of the most widespread public health concerns facing our nation. Nearly every American has PFAS in their blood, and millions of people continue to rely on drinking water contaminated with these persistent chemicals. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, immune suppression, developmental harm, thyroid disease, pregnancy complications, and liver damage.\n\nEPA has repeatedly stated that protecting Americans from PFAS is a top priority. Yet these proposed rollbacks move in the opposite direction. In addressing revisions to drinking water regulations, the Safe Drinking Water Act itself states that \u201ceach revision shall maintain, or provide for greater, protection of the health of persons.\u201d Rather than strengthening protections, the proposal eliminates enforceable standards for four PFAS entirely and delays protections for the two most prevalent PFAS. Communities living with contamination should not be forced to wait additional years for clean drinking water while polluters and regulated entities receive regulatory relief.\n\nYour agency has suggested that regulating only PFOA and PFOS is sufficient because these chemicals are often found alongside other PFAS. However, EPA\u2019s own scientific record demonstrates otherwise. Other PFAS occur independently, contribute to cumulative health risks, and warrant their own enforceable protections. Removing standards for these contaminants will leave significant gaps in public health protections and create unnecessary uncertainty for water systems and states that have already begun compliance planning.\n\nMoreover, many utilities and states have already invested substantial resources to comply with the 2024 standards using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and other federal assistance. Weakening the standards now undermines those investments, creates regulatory uncertainty, and penalizes communities that have acted responsibly to protect public health.\n\nSafe drinking water is not a partisan issue. Families across the country expect that when they turn on the tap, their water is safe to drink. Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure EPA relies on the best available science to protect public health\u2014not to weaken existing protections once the science has been established.\n\nWe therefore urge EPA to withdraw its proposal to rescind the 2024 drinking water standards for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and the Hazard Index mixtures, reject the proposed delay for the PFOA and PFOS standards, and fully implement the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations as finalized.\n\nAs far back as the 1950s, scientists observed that PFAS compounds could accumulate in human bloodstreams. It took decades of advocacy and heroic scientific research to reach the historic moment in 2024 when EPA finally promulgated the very first national drinking water standards for PFAS compounds. We cannot afford to go backwards and make Americans\u2019 health worse. Thank you for your consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-huffman-thompson-and-hernandez-want-answers-on-puerto-ricos-water-crisis-from-government-watchdog", "Heinrich, Huffman, Thompson, and Hernandez Want Answers on Puerto Rico\u2019s Water Crisis from Government Watchdog", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, along with Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez (D-P.R.), Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a briefing and a full investigation into Puerto Rico\u2019s drinking water shortage, the condition of its water and wastewater systems, and what federal agencies are doing to help.\n\n\u201cPuerto Rico is experiencing drinking water supply shortages and service interruptions affecting households and economic activity,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cFailing pipelines and infrastructure regularly leak about half of the territory\u2019s treated water.\u201d\n\nAlmost 3.2 million people on the island depend on that system for the water they drink, cook with, and bathe their kids in. Half of what gets cleaned and treated for them leaks away before it reaches a single home, and nine years of federal repair funding has yet to stop it.\n\nThe lawmakers point to nearly a decade of federal spending that has yet to produce a reliable system. Puerto Rico\u2019s water utility, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) runs 21,000 miles of pipeline along with dams, filter plants, and tanks that supply most of the island. Since Hurricane Maria in 2017, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) \u201chave provided almost $9 billion to pay for much of the PRASA infrastructure repair,\u201d while earthquakes in 2020 and additional hurricanes in 2022 and 2023 further damaged facilities and contributed to delaying repairs.\n\nThe utility finished a strategic plan, a Capital Investment Plan, and a new rate structure in 2025. The lawmakers write that those plans \u201cidentify what the territory and water utility need to do to rebuild from disaster and prepare for future challenges such as drought and flooding. However, these projects are long-term capital projects and do not help resolve the immediate water crisis facing Puerto Rico.\u201d\n\nThe letter asks GAO to answer, at a minimum:\n\nThe members also request a deeper review covering the conditions and resilience of reservoir, treatment facilities, pumping stations, and distribution networks; the reliability of the wastewater system; how much federal funding has been obligated disbursed, and expended; the status and completion dates of federally funding projects; and the extent to which funded projects are expected to reduce water losses.\n\nThey close by asking GAO to look at \u201clegislative, regulatory, administrative, or operational recommendations that could improve project delivery, accountability and long-term water system reliability in Puerto Rico.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nActing Comptroller General Williams Brown:\n\nPuerto Rico is experiencing drinking water supply shortages and service interruptions affecting households and economic activity. Failing pipelines and infrastructure regularly leak about half of the territory\u2019s treated water. In mid-July, the Puerto Rico government announced rationing to preserve water supplies. The archipelago is facing drought and high temperatures from the current El Ni\u00f1o weather pattern. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) drought monitor, the current drought will extend through the fall, and NOAA anticipates that the Caribbean region will continue to experience drought and dry periods from stronger El Ni\u00f1o weather and increasing temperatures in the future.\n\nPuerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) is the public entity responsible for providing water and wastewater for the majority of the territory. It manages eight dams, 112 filter plants and intakes for drinking water supply, 50 wastewater plants, 3,800 tanks and other facilities, and 21,000 miles of pipelines. It serves almost 3.2 million people. It is overseen by the Puerto Rico Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which administers the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act.\n\nPuerto Rico has been repairing damaged water facilities since 2017, when Hurricane Maria damaged many water treatment buildings, tanks, pipelines, and equipment. Federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the EPA, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Department of Agriculture (USDA) have provided almost $9 billion to pay for much of the PRASA infrastructure repair. Additional hurricanes in 2022 and 2023, and earthquakes in 2020, further damaged facilities and contributed to delaying repairs.\n\nIn 2025, PRASA completed a strategic plan for repairing and replacing deteriorating and failing infrastructure for fiscal years 2026-2029. It also completed a Capital Investment Plan and established a new rate structure. Together, these plans identify what the territory and water utility need to do to rebuild from disasters and prepare for future challenges such as drought and flooding. However, these projects are long-term capital projects and do not help to resolve the immediate water crisis facing Puerto Rico.\n\nGAO recently reported on the recovery of Puerto Rico\u2019s electric grid, finding that progress in spending federal recovery funds is slow.1 We request that GAO conduct work to respond to the following questions about Puerto Rico\u2019s water systems.\n\nFirst, we request a briefing that covers the following questions at a minimum:\n\n(1) What are the causes of Puerto Rico\u2019s drinking water shortages and rationing? What is known about the reasons that the distribution system is in an advanced state of disrepair despite federal funding and PRASA\u2019s creditworthiness? What is the relative contribution of drought?\n\n(2) What are federal agencies doing to help address Puerto Rico\u2019s drinking water supply shortage, in the short-term and long-term? What have federal agencies done to help address drinking water supply shortages in other parts of the U.S. in the short-term and long-term?\n\nWe are also requesting a more in-depth examination of the following questions:\n\n(1) What challenges, including infrastructure, operational, and management decisions within PRASA, are contributing to Puerto Rico\u2019s water service interruptions?\n\n(2) What is the condition and resilience of Puerto Rico\u2019s potable water infrastructure, including its reservoirs, treatment facilities, pumping stations, transmission systems, and distribution networks?\n\n(3) What are the principal issues affecting the reliability and performance of Puerto Rico\u2019s wastewater system, including its sanitary sewer lines, pumping stations, treatment facilities, and discharge systems?\n\n(4) What financial assistance have FEMA, HUD, EPA, and USDA provided to support Puerto Rico\u2019s water system recovery since 2017, and how has this contributed to building infrastructure that is resilient to hurricanes, drought, and other natural hazards?\n\n(5) What is the status of federally funded water infrastructure projects, including:\n\na. Total federal funding obligated, disbursed, and expended;\n\nb. The number and value of completed, ongoing, and planned projects;\n\nc. Project implementation schedules and anticipated completion dates; and\n\nd. The extent to which funded projects are expected to reduce water losses or improve reliability of potable water system reliability and resilience?\n\n(6) To what extent have federal and commonwealth agencies coordinated and what factors have hindered progress in recovery, modernization, and resilience of Puerto Rico\u2019s water system?\n\n(7) What are legislative, regulatory, administrative, or operational recommendations that could improve project delivery, accountability, and long-term water system reliability in Puerto Rico?\n\nWe look forward to your help in putting the people of Puerto Rico on a path to water security.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-lujan-highlights-fight-to-lower-costs-protect-nutrition-assistance-and-expand-access-to-health-care-across-albuquerque/", "This Week, Luj\u00e1n Highlights Fight to Lower Costs, Protect Nutrition Assistance, and Expand Access to Health Care Across Albuquerque", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Albuquerque, N.M. \u2013 This week, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) held a series of events across Albuquerque to highlight how he is fighting to protect nutrition assistance, expand affordable housing, and defend access to health care for New Mexicans.\n\n\u201cFrom putting food on the table to finding an affordable place to call home and accessing quality health care, New Mexicans deserve the support and resources they need to thrive,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThis week, I heard directly from local leaders about the challenges facing our communities and highlighted how I\u2019m fighting in Washington to lower costs and deliver for New Mexico. I will continue fighting to protect SNAP, expand access to affordable housing, and defend quality, affordable health care for all New Mexicans.\u201d\n\nAt the South Valley Economic Development Center, Senator Luj\u00e1n met with local nutrition and agricultural organizations to examine the impact of Republican cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in New Mexico and highlight his efforts to protect and expand nutrition assistance for New Mexico families. During the event, Senator Luj\u00e1n highlighted his efforts to protect SNAP and reinforced his commitment to working on the Senate Agriculture Committee to deliver a Farm Bill that addresses devastating cuts to nutrition assistance and supports families, farmers, and ranchers. In the Senate, Senator Lujan leads legislation to reverse the devastating Republican cuts to SNAP.\n\nAt Calle Cuarta Apartments, Senator Luj\u00e1n toured affordable housing units and met with housing leaders, experts, and advocates to discuss solutions to lower housing costs and increase access for New Mexicans. During the visit, Senator Luj\u00e1n heard from housing leaders and highlighted his efforts to deliver more affordable housing for New Mexico, including helping pass the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, affordable housing legislation that President Trump refused to sign into law.\n\nAt Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, Senator Luj\u00e1n met with hospital leadership and staff to highlight how Republican cuts to critical health programs threaten hospital services and access to care for New Mexicans. During the discussion, Senator Luj\u00e1n heard directly from health care leaders about the impacts of these cuts and outlined his efforts to fight back and protect access to quality, affordable health care across the state.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-calls-for-a-full-gao-audit-of-trumps-ballroom-project", "Heinrich Calls for a Full GAO Audit of Trump\u2019s Ballroom Project", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined top Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown to audit and assess the full scope and cost of the White House ballroom project.\n\nAfter Heinrich successfully defeated Republicans\u2019 attempt to gift President Trump $1 billion in federal funding through their partisan reconciliation bill in June, and although President Trump repeatedly claimed that the ballroom and demolition of the East Wing would be privately funded, reporting shows that the administration has inappropriately and illegally diverted more than $300 million in federal funding for the President\u2019s White House ballroom project.\n\n\u201cCongress has neither authorized nor appropriated funding for the \u2018East Wing Modernization Project,\u2019 nor has Congress been provided any planning details or justifications that would allow for informed consideration of the White House\u2019s plans that would be a prerequisite for authorization or appropriation of funds. The lack of congressional authorization has been central to the ongoing litigation challenging the ballroom project, National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States v. National Park Service. This month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed that President Trump lacks the legal authority to construct a White House ballroom without congressional authorization,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cSimply put, no president has the authority to unilaterally demolish and remodel the country\u2019s White House in such a significant manner without congressional approval,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration has not provided transparency into the use of federal funds for the East Wing project, and they have limited congressional oversight, meaningful public input, and adherence to established federal processes,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe ballroom is part of a larger White House construction project that has ballooned to a cost of at least $900 million, the majority of which would be borne by American taxpayers.\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. In addition to Heinrich, the letter was co-signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (R-RI.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).\n\nAs Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich has led the fight to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not being spent on Trump\u2019s vanity projects, especially as working families are being squeezed by skyrocketing costs on everyday essentials due to the President\u2019s tariffs and reckless, illegal war with Iran.\n\nIn June, Heinrich led a letter demanding answers from U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum regarding the Department's rushed rehabilitation project of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. In August, he joined a letter with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Public Works Committee, calling for an investigation from DOI Deputy Inspector General Caryl Brzymialkiewicz into what Department officials knew about engineering failures at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and whether DOI employees withheld evidence from federal prosecutors.\n\nIn June, Heinrich also joined a letter with U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), where he pressed DOI Secretary Doug Burgum for answers on the Trump administration redirecting tens of millions of dollars from fees paid to the National Park Service (NPS) to fund President Trump\u2019s vanity projects in Washington, D.C. \u2013 including redirecting funds collected at New Mexico sites such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Bandelier National Monument.\n\nIn May, Heinrich successfully blocked Senate Republicans from funding Trump\u2019s ballroom project with $1 billion in taxpayer dollars through their partisan reconciliation budget bill, arguing it violated the Byrd Rule \u2014 a Senate rule designed to prevent unrelated policy provisions from being jammed into reconciliation bills that can pass with a simple majority instead of the usual 60-vote threshold.\n\nHeinrich has also voted to prohibit the construction of a \u2018\u2018Triumphal Arch,\u2019\u2019 proposed by President Trump in 2025.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nDear Acting Comptroller General Williams Brown:\n\nMany of us in Congress have watched with alarm as the Trump administration unilaterally made the decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House\u2014an historic and symbolic structure\u2014without congressional authorization, meaningful public engagement, or following long-established practice for government facilities modernization and historic preservation. The subsequent construction of a new White House ballroom represents one of the most sweeping alterations to the White House complex in modern history. The scale of this project, the destruction of historic architecture, the opaque and unorthodox combination of public funds with private funding sources, and the absence of standard federal review processes raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and stewardship of this national landmark.\n\nCongress has neither authorized nor appropriated funding for the \u201cEast Wing Modernization Project,\u201d nor has Congress been provided any planning details or justifications that would allow for informed consideration of the White House\u2019s plans that would be a prerequisite for authorization or appropriation of funds. The lack of congressional authorization has been central to the ongoing litigation challenging the ballroom project, National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States v. National Park Service. This month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed that President Trump lacks the legal authority to construct a White House ballroom without congressional authorization. Simply put, no president has the authority to unilaterally demolish and remodel the country\u2019s White House in such a significant manner without congressional approval.\n\nPresident Trump repeatedly claimed that the demolition of the East Wing and construction of a dramatically expanded gilded ballroom would be carried out solely using private donations, and that no taxpayer funds would be used. Despite those assurances, the administration first tried and failed to secure $1 billion in federal funding for the ballroom through a partisan Republican reconciliation bill, then shifted tact to inappropriately and illegally pay for over half of the $600 million ballroom with previously appropriated funding not intended for this project. It has also been reported that the Trump Administration is utilizing a $500 million no-bid contract to fund the construction of the ballroom\u2014funding that Congress did not approve.\n\nThe Trump administration has not provided transparency into the use of federal funds for the East Wing project, and they have limited congressional oversight, meaningful public input, and adherence to established federal processes.\n\nTo support Congress\u2019s oversight responsibilities, we request that GAO conduct an audit and assessment of the White House ballroom project and related documentation, including the following:\n\nPlanning, Review and Approval Processes: What design, review, and construction approval processes are being applied to the ballroom project? How do these processes and timelines compare to those used for other similar federal construction efforts involving the White House, other historic properties, executive facilities, or national security sensitive sites? Please assess whether required architectural, preservation, environmental, and interagency reviews were conducted and whether any were bypassed, abbreviated or ignored. What documents, if any, were filed with required approval entities prior to initiation of work?\n\nFunding Sources and Cost Transparency: How is the project being funded, including appropriated funds, reconciliation funds, transfers, reprogramming actions, or donated materials and services? Was an initial cost estimate prepared and if so, by what agency or entity and what were the projections from that estimate? What are the total estimated project costs, how much has been obligated and expended to date, and what is the anticipated timeline for completion? What cost control measures were specified for use under this project? Are the funds that were transferred from U.S. Secret Service account to a \u201cWhite House Repair and Restoration\u201d account within the Executive Residence at the White House, as reported by the Office of Management and Budget, intended for use in the East Wing Modernization Project? Have any federal agencies involved in the East Wing Modernization Project included funding for this project in spend plans submitted to the Office of Management and Budget?\n\nSecurity Related Components and Interagency Roles: Which elements of the project have been designated as national security related, what criteria were used to make those determinations, and what funding sources are being used for those components? How have appropriate congressional committees been updated on cost and design planning considerations? What is the role of the U.S. Secret Service, the White House Military Office, the White House Communications Agency and the Department of Defense in planning, approving, and coordinating construction activities (including facility communications upgrades and installation of security equipment and other non-construction features), and how are these agencies collaborating among themselves and with other federal entities?\n\nPublic Input and Transparency: What opportunities, if any, were provided for public input, expert consultation, or stakeholder engagement prior to demolition of the East Wing and initiation of the ballroom project? Please assess whether federal agencies followed standard public notice and comment practices for major alterations to historic federal properties, whether relevant preservation and advisory bodies were consulted, and how the level of public transparency compares to similar federal construction projects involving historic or iconic sites.\n\nContractor Donations, Potential Corruption, and Safeguards: Recent public reporting indicates that several contractors and donors associated with the ballroom project have subsequently received substantial federal contract awards, reportedly totaling more than $50 billion. Please assess what safeguards, if any, federal agencies applied to prevent conflicts of interest, preferential treatment, or corruption related to contractors who donated materials, services, or funds to the project. Specifically, what controls exist to ensure that contributions to the project did not influence contract award decisions, and how do these safeguards compare to standard federal procurement integrity requirements? What evaluation criteria were used in identifying and selecting contractors for this effort? Please evaluate whether agencies documented their rationale for contract awards to donor contractors and whether any deviations from standard competitive procedures occurred.\n\nGiven the scale, visibility, and long-term implications of this project, an independent GAO review is essential to ensure accountability, transparency, and responsible management of federal resources and historic assets. We request that you provide an update on your proposed plan for this audit by no later than December 1, 2026, with subsequent updates and a final report to be provided at a mutually agreed upon date.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ranking-members-heinrich-and-huffman-call-for-gao-investigation-into-potential-conflicts-of-interest-and-preferential-treatment-in-trump-administrations-financing-of-private-mining-investments", "Ranking Members Heinrich and Huffman Call for GAO Investigation into Potential Conflicts of Interest and Preferential Treatment in Trump Administration\u2019s Financing of Private Mining Investments", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate use of taxpayer dollars to acquire financial stakes in private mining companies and the potential conflicts that could arise when the federal government serves as both an investor in and regulator of those companies.\n\nSince the implementation of Executive Order 14241 and the passage of President Trump\u2019s Big, Bad Bill, the federal government has actively acquired financial stakes in several mining firms. In their letter, Heinrich and Huffman raised concerns about whether the administration is adequately assessing the financial risks of those investments, protecting taxpayer dollars, and preventing conflicts of interest \u2013 particularly when these mining operations involve public lands.\n\n\u201cThe government\u2019s expanded use of these new financial tools has raised concerns that we request the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine, including whether and how the federal government is assessing financial risks, protecting taxpayer funds, and managing potential conflicts between its roles as investor and regulator,\u201d Heinrich and Huffman began.\n\n\u201cCiting Executive Order 14241, federal agencies have waived standard disclosure rules, which legally require public mining companies to demonstrate commercial viability. By bypassing these disclosures, agencies may be committing billions in taxpayer funds to speculative mining projects on federal lands without objective, documented verification of their economic viability,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\n\u201cThese equity acquisitions also create potential conflicts of interest for federal agencies because a significant portion of the planned mining operations are located on federal lands... As billions of public dollars flow into these private ventures, oversight is needed to ensure the transparency of these investments, manage inherent conflicts of interest, and protect taxpayer funds from potential fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption,\u201d the Ranking Members wrote.\n\nThe Ranking Members ended their letter asking GAO to investigate whether the proper safeguards, transparency mechanisms, and internal coordinating processes are in place to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected from potential fraud, waste, and abuse. Heinrich and Huffman have worked to hold the Trump administration accountable for potential conflicts of interest in dealings with mining companies. Last February, Heinrich and Huffman sent a letter to the U.S. Secretaries of Defense, Energy, Commerce, and the Interior demanding documents and a briefing on the Trump administration's unprecedented acquisition of equity stakes in multiple mining and mineral companies using taxpayer dollars.\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Ms. Williams Brown:\n\nIn response to Executive Order 14241 and authorities provided under Public Law 119-21 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), the federal government has actively acquired direct equity stakes, preferred stock, and warrants in several private mining firms. However, the government\u2019s expanded use of these new financial tools has raised concerns that we request the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine, including whether and how the federal government is assessing financial risks, protecting taxpayer funds, and managing potential conflicts between its roles as investor and regulator.\n\nCiting Executive Order 14241, federal agencies have waived standard disclosure rules, which legally require public mining companies to demonstrate commercial viability. By bypassing these disclosures, agencies may be committing billions in taxpayer funds to speculative mining projects on federal lands without objective, documented verification of their economic viability.\n\nThese equity acquisitions also create potential conflicts of interest for federal agencies because a significant portion of the planned mining operations are located on federal lands. With the executive branch now holding direct financial equity in these private mining operations, the federal government is required to act simultaneously as a mining investor and land-use regulator, an inherent conflict of interest.\n\nAs billions of public dollars flow into these private ventures, oversight is needed to ensure the transparency of these investments, manage inherent conflicts of interest, and protect taxpayer funds from potential fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption.\n\nAccordingly, we request that GAO examine:\n\nTo what extent did the National Energy Dominance Council, including its member federal agencies, implement transparency measures and assess financial risks to taxpayers\u2014including by evaluating independent economic feasibility studies\u2014prior to executing equity agreements for projects extracting minerals from federal lands? What role does the National Energy Dominance Council play in conducting due diligence on potential investments, and what due diligence is required of member federal agencies? Are those roles and procedures standardized? If so, how?\n\nWhat mechanisms and safeguards, if any, have the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and other relevant federal agencies established to manage potential regulatory and permitting conflicts of interest arising from the federal government\u2019s dual role as both an equity investor and regulator of mineral mining operations on federal lands? If mechanisms and safeguards exist, how are they being implemented?\n\nTo what extent has the National Energy Dominance Council, including its member federal agencies, designed and implemented internal controls to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud, waste, abuse, and conflict-of-interest risks associated with the structuring and execution of corporate equity investments involving the extraction of minerals from federal lands?\n\nTo what extent is the National Energy Dominance Council coordinating additional federal involvement or investment in minerals projects in which the federal government has taken an equity stake? Is the National Energy Dominance Council coordinating with the Export-Import Bank of the United States-funded Project VAULT to assess the impact of import-focused federal stockpiling on federal equity investments in domestic mining? To what extent, if at all, is the National Energy Dominance Council coordinating with the State Department and other relevant federal agencies to understand the impact of their activities upon federal equity investments in domestic mining? If so, how does this process interact with conflict-of-interest safeguards?\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-appointed-to-the-board-of-the-institute-of-american-indian-arts/", "Luj\u00e1n Appointed to the Board of the Institute of American Indian Arts", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Santa Fe, N.M. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, issued the following statement on being appointed to the Board of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) by U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.):\n\n\u201cAs the Senator for New Mexico, and as the longtime U.S. Representative for IAIA\u2019s home in Santa Fe, I\u2019m honored to be appointed to this important leadership position. I\u2019ve secured funding for IAIA\u2019s academic programs, fought back against dangerous budget cuts from the Trump administration, and I\u2019ll continue to be a strong advocate for this institution.\n\n\u201cThe innovation and creativity that IAIA inspires to solve some of our greatest challenges \u2013 both here at home and around the world \u2013 is why I\u2019m so proud to support this institution.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-leads-letter-opposing-interiors-wilderness-policy-review-another-ploy-by-the-trump-administration-to-weaken-public-lands-protections", "Heinrich Leads Letter Opposing Interior\u2019s Wilderness Policy Review, Another Ploy by the Trump Administration to Weaken Public Lands Protections", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Heinrich, colleagues: \u201cGiven this administration\u2019s obsession with development and disposal of public lands, it seems clear that this comment period is really just a ploy to weaken protections for public lands\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led nine colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum strongly opposing Interior\u2019s wilderness management policy review, which may threaten the wilderness character of public lands and disqualify them for future designation by Congress \u2014 undermining Congress\u2019 role in wilderness management, and placing nearly 200 million acres of public land at risk.\n\nHeinrich was joined by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).\n\n\u201cLands with wilderness characteristics, wilderness study areas, and designated wilderness areas protect millions of acres of intact habitat, watersheds, ecological and cultural resources, scenic and backcountry values. The undisturbed nature of the entire wilderness system protects whole swaths of habitat and protects migration corridors that aid in the protection of endangered species from the Canada Lynx to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker,\u201d Heinrich and his colleagues wrote. \u201cThese areas are some of the best places to fish, hunt, hike, or backpack. They are unparalleled and protected for the sake of solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation and are beloved lands.\u201d\n\nSince the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congress has had the authority to designate wilderness areas to protect and conserve some of this country\u2019s wildest places. Congress also has the authority to decide not to designate certain areas as wilderness and release them for general use. The agencies under Burgum\u2019s jurisdiction can identify lands with wilderness characteristics; but each agency is required to manage these lands with the goal of protecting their wilderness characteristics. But regardless of how they are selected, the final decision about designation rests with Congress.\n\n\u201cIt is atypical for the Interior Department to conduct land management planning by asking for comment on its agencies\u2019 general operating procedures. And given this Administration\u2019s obsession with development and disposal of public lands, it seems clear that this comment period is really just a ploy to weaken protections for public lands,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cThis sweeping review comes in addition to the Administration\u2019s efforts to strip protections from national monuments and cultural resource areas, sell vast amounts of public lands in the West, repeal Roadless Rule protections, and change how travel management is developed on public lands.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers went on, vocalizing concern that the Department\u2019s proposed management changes place nearly 200 million acres of public lands at risk, \u201cThe management changes that you are seeking will threaten the wilderness character of these lands and may disqualify them for future designation by Congress. Not only does this undermine Congress\u2019 role in wilderness management, but it places nearly 200 million acres of public land at risk. Further, we respectfully request that your Department consider the 60-year history of wilderness management in this country before taking extreme actions that will jeopardize some of our most valued lands. These lands must be managed at the non-impairment standard so that they can remain untrammeled.\u201d\n\nComment to protect America\u2019s wildest lands:\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Burgum,\n\nWe write to express our deep concern about the Interior Department\u2019s review of its wilderness management policies. Lands with wilderness characteristics, wilderness study areas, and designated wilderness areas protect millions of acres of intact habitat, watersheds, ecological and cultural resources, scenic and backcountry values. The undisturbed nature of the entire wilderness system protects whole swaths of habitat and protects migration corridors that aid in the protection of endangered species from the Canada Lynx to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. The security from pollution protects millions of acres of headwaters and clean water that benefit communities across the country. Further, wilderness and future wilderness areas contribute to the vastness of the outdoor recreation economy, inviting visitors to enjoy the wildness of the areas. These areas are some of the best places to fish, hunt, hike, or backpack. They are unparalleled and protected for the sake of solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation and are beloved lands.\n\nSince the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congress has had the authority to designate wilderness areas to protect and conserve some of this country\u2019s wildest places. Congress also has the authority to decide not to designate certain areas as wilderness and release them for general use. The agencies under your jurisdiction can identify lands with wilderness characteristics; but each agency is required to manage these lands with the goal of protecting their wilderness characteristics. But regardless of how they are selected, the final decision about designation rests with Congress.\n\nIt is atypical for the Interior Department to conduct land management planning by asking for comment on its agencies\u2019 general operating procedures. And given this Administration\u2019s obsession with development and disposal of public lands, it seems clear that this comment period is really just a ploy to weaken protections for public lands. This sweeping review comes in addition to the Administration\u2019s efforts to strip protections from national monuments and cultural resource areas, sell vast amounts of public lands in the West, repeal Roadless Rule protections, and change how travel management is developed on public lands. Opening five different comment periods for three different agencies to solicit changes to a myriad of wilderness policies only creates confusion. Soliciting comments on how designated wilderness is managed by the Bureau of Land Management is not in line with the Wilderness Act or the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.\n\nThe management changes that you are seeking will threaten the wilderness character of these lands and may disqualify them for future designation by Congress. Not only does this undermine Congress\u2019 role in wilderness management, but it places nearly 200 million acres of public land at risk.\n\nLands with wilderness characteristics and parcels that qualify for future designation need to be properly stewarded until Congress decides their permanent status. Each of these areas have management plan that were developed with public input and comments specific to the landscape. Opening a general comment period does not compare to the qualified review, public engagement, and specificity that each unit of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Fish and Wildlife Service receives in land management planning.\n\nTherefore, we write in opposition to any policy changes that place congressionally designated wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, lands with wilderness characteristics, or lands that agencies have identified as eligible or suitable for designation, at risk. Further, we respectfully request that your Department consider the 60-year history of wilderness management in this country before taking extreme actions that will jeopardize some of our most valued lands. These lands must be managed at the non-impairment standard so that they can remain untrammeled.", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-albuquerque-lujan-highlights-key-new-mexico-investments-at-rotary-club-unveils-new-legislation-to-strengthen-stroke-prevention-at-unmh/", "In Albuquerque, Luj\u00e1n Highlights Key New Mexico Investments at Rotary Club, Unveils New Legislation to Strengthen Stroke Prevention at UNMH", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Albuquerque, N.M. \u2013 On Monday, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) joined the Rotary Club of Albuquerque and UNM Hospital & Health Sciences leadership to discuss critical investments he secured for New Mexico and unveil new legislation to strengthen stroke prevention in New Mexico and across the country.\n\n\u201cIn Albuquerque, I was honored to visit the Rotary Club and UNMH to hear from leaders and highlight how I am fighting for New Mexicans in Washington, D.C.,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cAt both the Rotary Club and UNMH, I was proud to speak with local leaders who are committed to improving the lives of those in their communities. From boosting funding for businesses developing next-generation technologies to championing legislation to strengthen stroke prevention, I was grateful for the opportunity to share some of the work I\u2019m leading in Washington to improve the lives of New Mexicans.\u201d\n\nAt the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, Senator Luj\u00e1n met with local business owners, nonprofit leaders, and professionals and delivered remarks highlighting critical investments he secured for New Mexico. Additionally, Senator Luj\u00e1n highlighted legislative efforts he is leading to bolster scientific innovation and boost broadband access in every corner of New Mexico.\n\nAt UNMH, Senator Luj\u00e1n, a stroke survivor, met with UNM Hospital & Health Sciences leadership and staff to spotlight his recently introduced Stroke Act, legislation that would improve stroke prevention, treatment, recovery, and data collection in New Mexico and across the United States. The legislation would invest in research, strengthen emergency response and rehabilitation services, expand access to care, and help people recognize stroke symptoms and seek lifesaving treatment. Additionally, Senator Luj\u00e1n discussed how Republican cuts to critical health programs are creating new barriers for New Mexicans to access care and highlighted his efforts to fight back against these cuts and protect and expand access to health care.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-leads-whitehouse-van-hollen-fetterman-and-king-in-urging-usda-secretary-to-reverse-course-on-efforts-to-slow-walk-clean-energy-development", "Heinrich Leads Whitehouse, Van Hollen, Fetterman, and King in Urging USDA Secretary to Reverse Course on Efforts to Slow-Walk Clean Energy Development", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Angus King (I-Maine), in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, urging the Secretary to make changes to the proposed Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) rule that would dramatically expand federal reporting requirements for land and infrastructure projects, including clean energy development, causing energy and food prices to go up further and risking our national security.\n\nThe Senators raised concerns that USDA\u2019s proposed rule goes far beyond AFIDA\u2019s original purpose of increasing transparency around foreign ownership of agricultural land by dramatically expanding the definition of \u201cagricultural land\u201d to include renewable energy facilities, pipeline corridors, conservation lands, and other infrastructure. They argued the proposal would create unnecessary barriers for energy developers, rural communities, and investors while doing little to improve national security.\n\n\u201cOn June 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule (Docket No. USDA-2026-0001) to update the regulations governing the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). If finalized, the proposed rule could have damaging consequences for national and energy security. We urge USDA to make changes to the proposed rule to address these serious impacts,\u201d the Senators began.\n\nIn the letter, the Senators acknowledged the importance of ensuring AFIDA provides transparency into foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land and helps protect against potential threats from foreign adversaries. However, they warned that USDA\u2019s proposed changes could impact national security and undermine efforts to address rising energy and food prices.\n\nThe Senators wrote, \u201cWe are concerned that USDA's proposed rule may exceed what is necessary to address those objectives, have unintended national security consequences, and may create substantial new compliance burdens on agricultural producers, landowners, infrastructure operators, energy developers, and investors that could undermine efforts to address rising energy and food prices without a corresponding national security benefit.\u201d\n\nThe Senators also raised concerns that USDA\u2019s proposal is built upon an expansive definition of \u201cagricultural land\u201d that would sweep in projects and facilities that have little connection to traditional agricultural production, including renewable energy projects and other critical infrastructure.\n\n\u201cCurrent definitions of agricultural production in the Code of Federal Regulations are narrowly focused on the plain understanding of the term, \u2018the cultivation, growing, or harvesting of plants and crops (including farming), breeding, raising, feeding, or housing of livestock (including ranching); forestry products, hydroponics, or nursery stock; or aquaculture.\u2019 It stretches credibility to suggest that, in enacting AFIDA in 1978, Congress envisioned something beyond this narrow commonsense definition to something so expansive as to include renewable energy production, pipeline corridors, warehousing, supply-chain facilities, or land that is currently under conservation,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nThe Senators additionally raised concerns about the potential unintended national security consequences of the proposed rule and its requirement for geospatial mapping information about energy and food processing infrastructure to be made available in an online database accessible to the nation\u2019s adversaries.\n\n\u201cRather than improving national security, we believe the proposed rule creates new serious vulnerabilities and national security risks by imposing significant new geospatial mapping compliance obligations. Companies would be required to provide detailed boundary mapping, land-use information, and amended filings within 90 days of assignments, transfers, ownership changes, or land-use conversions. The expansion of who must report and the requirement to disclose geospatial mapping information about energy production infrastructure and food processing facilities into a central online database essentially provides our adversaries with targeting information for critical infrastructure and unnecessarily exposes business sensitive information,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nThe Senators continued the letter by emphasizing the importance of both the threats from foreign adversaries and the high energy and food prices crisis that is hurting American workers and families: \u201cThe United States should continue to protect its agricultural land, food supply, and critical infrastructure from threats posed by foreign adversaries. At the same time, regulatory policy should be carefully calibrated to ensure that federal resources remain focused on genuine national security risks and that compliance burdens do not unnecessarily discourage lawful investment that supports American farmers, rural communities, and affordable energy and food.\u201d\n\nThe Senators concluded the letter by requesting a briefing from USDA on the proposed rule, its impacts on key sectors, the legal basis for expanding the definition of \u201cagricultural land,\u201d and the Department\u2019s plan to protect sensitive information.\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Rollins:\n\nOn June 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule (Docket No. USDA-2026-0001)1 to update the regulations governing the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). If finalized, the proposed rule could have damaging consequences for national and energy security. We urge USDA to make changes to the proposed rule to address these serious impacts.\n\nWe have a strong interest in ensuring that AFIDA effectively supports transparency about foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land and provides policymakers with accurate information necessary to protect America's food security and national security interests. We also recognize the legitimate need to ensure that foreign adversaries cannot exploit weaknesses in federal oversight of investments involving agricultural land and critical infrastructure.\n\nHowever, we are concerned that USDA's proposed rule may exceed what is necessary to address those objectives, have unintended national security consequences, and may create substantial new compliance burdens on agricultural producers, landowners, infrastructure operators, energy developers, and investors that could undermine efforts to address rising energy and food prices without a corresponding national security benefit.\n\nAt the foundation of the proposed rule is a dramatic expansion of the definition of \u201cagricultural land\u201d that goes well beyond the scope envisioned statutorily by AFIDA or the plain commonsense understanding of the phrase. The proposed rule would expand \u201cagricultural land\u201d to include renewable energy facilities, pipeline corridors, warehousing activities, conservation lands, agricultural research facilities, easements, leases, and rights-of-way. The underlying statute defines \u201cagricultural land\u201d as land \u201cused for agricultural, forestry or timber production purposes.\u201d Current definitions of agricultural production in the Code of Federal Regulations are narrowly focused on the plain understanding of the term, \u201cthe cultivation, growing, or harvesting of plants and crops (including farming) breeding, raising, feeding, or housing of livestock (including ranching); forestry products, hydroponics, or nursery stock; or aquaculture.\u201d It stretches credibility to suggest that, in enacting AFIDA in 1978, Congress envisioned something beyond this narrow commonsense definition to something so expansive as to include renewable energy production, pipeline corridors, warehousing, supply-chain facilities, or land that is currently under conservation.\n\nThe proposed rule also reduces the \u201csignificant interest or substantial control\u201d threshold regarding what transactions need to be reported from 50% to 10% aggregate non-U.S. equity interests, in any direct or indirect combination. Further, the rule redefines beneficial ownership to include any foreign person with decision-making authority over agricultural land under the expanded categorical definitions.\n\nThe 10% aggregate equity interest threshold is especially unworkable for a publicly traded company, because ordinary institutional trading could trigger AFIDA reporting without the company knowing the threshold has been crossed. Real-time foreign equity ownership is not something a public company can verify with accuracy, let alone within the 90-day window before penalties begin.\n\nEven more troubling is that the aggregate ownership test and the beneficial owner test contain no carve-out for allied capital. A Canadian pension fund or a European infrastructure investor triggers the same 10% threshold and the same no-floor beneficial owner standard as a known adversary-linked entity, despite posing none of the risk the rule is meant to address.\n\nRather than improving national security, we believe the proposed rule creates new serious vulnerabilities and national security risks by imposing significant new geospatial mapping compliance obligations. Companies would be required to provide detailed boundary mapping, land-use information, and amended filings within 90 days of assignments, transfers, ownership changes, or land-use conversions. The expansion of who must report and the requirement to disclose geospatial mapping information about energy production infrastructure and food processing facilities into a central online database essentially provides our adversaries with targeting information for critical infrastructure and unnecessarily exposes business sensitive information.\n\nThe cumulative impact of expanding who must report and what filers must disclose, along with increased penalties for compliance errors and delays will have a chilling effect on investment in both energy production and food processing at a time when families and small businesses are already struggling with high energy and food prices.\n\nThe United States should continue to protect its agricultural land, food supply, and critical infrastructure from threats posed by foreign adversaries. At the same time, regulatory policy should be carefully calibrated to ensure that federal resources remain focused on genuine national security risks and that compliance burdens do not unnecessarily discourage lawful investment that supports American farmers, rural communities, and affordable energy and food.\n\nWe respectfully request a briefing from USDA on the proposed rule, including its anticipated impacts on the energy, infrastructure, and agricultural sectors, the legal basis for expanding the definition of \"agricultural land,\" and how the Department intends to protect sensitive infrastructure and investor information collected under the rule. We also request a written response addressing the concerns raised in this letter.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-durbin-lead-colleagues-in-opposing-trumps-move-to-strip-protections-from-bears-ears-and-grand-staircase-escalante-national-monuments", "Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n, Durbin Lead Colleagues in Opposing Trump\u2019s Move to Strip Protections From Bears Ears & Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led 34 Senators in a letter to President Trump expressing strong opposition to his executive order reducing the boundaries and stripping protections from the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments in southern Utah. In the letter, the senators highlight how the executive order places irreplaceable cultural, historic, scientific, ecological, and recreational resources at risk of destruction and loss.\n\n\u201cBy attempting, yet again, to eliminate vast portions of these monuments, your Administration invites needless uncertainty to the stability that local communities, Tribes, land managers, scientists, recreation users, and businesses need. Not just in Utah, but for all local communities that rely on the stability of our national monuments,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cThe Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are national treasures. The American people deserve public lands policy grounded in law, science, respect for Tribal sovereignty, and stewardship\u2014not political decisions against the desires of the vast majority of Americans,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n, and Durbin, the letter was signed by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D- Hawai\u2018i), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).\n\nHeinrich is a leader in public lands protections and a staunch supporter of protecting and expanding Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Monuments.\n\nIn July 2026, Heinrich spoke out against the Trump administration\u2019s renewed efforts to strip protections from Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, describing it as a \u201cWar on the West\u201d and criticizing the removal of protections for the monuments.\n\nIn 2021, Heinrich led Senate Democrats in urging Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland and the Biden administration to restore Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, reversing the Trump administration\u2019s reductions. This move was ultimately successful, and President Biden restored both monuments.\n\nIn 2019, Heinrich spoke out against the Trump administration\u2019s final Bears Ears management plan, arguing DOI should not weaken protections while the legality of Trump\u2019s reductions remained in courts.\n\nIn 2018, Heinrich continued pushing back against the Trump administration\u2019s monument reductions, joining multiple letters urging the Interior to pause new management plans, preserve existing protections, and consult Tribal nations before imposing sweeping changes.\n\nHeinrich co-sponsored the ANTIQUITIES Act in 2018 to reaffirm that only Congress has the authority to reduce or revoke a national monument designation.\n\nFollowing President Trump\u2019s 2017 decision to shrink the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, Heinrich condemned the action for its attack on sacred lands and Tribal sovereignty, along with the precedent it sets for public lands across the country.\n\nIn 2016, Heinrich praised President Obama\u2019s designation of Bears National Monument, recognizing the years-long effort and co-management framework of Tribal nations to protect the landscape.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below.\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to your July 13, 2026, proclamations that stripped protections for Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. These actions attempt to remove nearly three million acres from monument protection and placed irreplaceable cultural, historic, scientific, ecological, and recreational resources at risk of destruction and loss.\n\nNational monuments have preserved our country\u2019s unique public lands, extraordinary history, and common culture for 120 years. Grand Staircase-Escalante, established in 1996, contains world-class paleontological resources, the ancestral and current homelands of multiple Tribal Nations, striking geologic formations, unique plants and animals, stunning dark night skies, and landscapes that support robust local outdoor recreation economies. Bears Ears, established in 2016, is America's first truly tribally-driven national monument. The proposal was led by five sovereign Tribal Nations.\n\nEach monument is a living cultural landscape with deep spiritual and ancestral importance to multiple Tribal Nations, including the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, and Ute Indian Tribe and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians. These places are not abstractions on a map; they are homelands and sacred sites that deserve enduring protection, and enhanced recognition secured by the previous monument declaration.\n\nWe are especially troubled that the Bears Ears proclamation disbanded the Bears Ears Commission, a landmark model of collaborative management between sovereign Tribal Nations and the federal government. Tribal leaders have made clear that Bears Ears is a sacred ancestral homeland, and that decisions affecting it must be made through meaningful government-to government consultation. The Department of the Interior had previously committed to meeting with the Bears Ears Commission if changes to the monument were under consideration; no such meeting occurred before these proclamations were signed. Any major policy action regarding these culturally important places requires meaningful government-to-government consultation.\n\nNational monuments enjoy widespread public support and serve as economic drivers across the United States. The outdoor recreation economy generates $1.3 trillion in gross output and accounts for $9.75 billion in Utah alone. The localities surrounding national monuments have seen growth in income and employment since their designations. We reject the premise that monuments are incompatible with rural prosperity or responsible public access. Despite your false claims that people cannot walk, hunt or fish in these monuments, monument designations support outdoor recreation, heritage tourism, hunting and fishing, scientific research, grazing under appropriate management, and durable local economies. At the same time, monument status prevents the loss of cultural and natural resources that cannot be replaced once damaged. By attempting, yet again, to eliminate vast portions of these monuments, your Administration invites needless uncertainty to the stability that local communities, Tribes, land managers, scientists, recreation users, and businesses need. Not just in Utah, but for all local communities that rely on the stability of our national monuments.\n\nThe Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are national treasures. The American people deserve public lands policy grounded in law, science, respect for Tribal sovereignty, and stewardship\u2014not political decisions against the desires of the vast majority of Americans. We stand with Tribal Nations, local communities, scientists, conservationists, outdoor recreation businesses, and Americans across the country who believe these landscapes should remain protected.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-opposing-todd-blanches-nomination-for-attorney-general", "Heinrich Statement Opposing Todd Blanche\u2019s Nomination for Attorney General", "2026-08-08", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in response to the Senate\u2019s confirmation of Todd Blanche, President Trump\u2019s former personal lawyer, to be the U.S. Attorney General.\n\n\u201cI voted against Mr. Blanche\u2019s nomination because he has repeatedly shown that his loyalty is to Donald Trump \u2013 not to the Constitution or the American people.\n\n\u201cHe has transformed the Department of Justice into the President\u2019s personal law firm, using it to enrich and protect Donald Trump and his family. Mr. Blanche also helped establish a nearly $2 billion slush fund that rewards President Trump\u2019s allies, including violent criminals who attacked cops on January 6. And he has withheld critical information related to Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s crimes at Zorro Ranch by refusing to provide full, unredacted investigative records from the Department of Justice to New Mexico law enforcement authorities. Time and again, Mr. Blanche has put politics and personal loyalty ahead of justice.\n\n\u201cThe Attorney General\u2019s job is to uphold the rule of law, deliver on public safety, and ensure that justice is applied fairly and independently. The American people deserve an Attorney General they can trust to do that. Todd Blanche has made it abundantly clear that he is not that person.\u201d\n\nHeinrich recently pressed Jay Clayton, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and current Director of National Intelligence (DNI), to provide evidence related to Jeffrey Epsein\u2019s alleged crimes at Zorro Ranch in New Mexico to the New Mexico Attorney General. Heinrich also questioned Clayton about his role in the unconscionable, improper public release of sensitive information belonging to Epstein survivors and his comments about President Trump\u2019s attempt to use a $1.8 billion slush fund to compensate violent criminals who beat up cops on January 6, 2021.\n\nHeinrich\u2019s questioning of Clayton followed a recent letter from New Mexico Attorney General Ra\u00fal Torrez to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and Associate Deputy Attorney General Diego Pestana, demanding that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately turn over unredacted Epstein records that the Department has held for years. In the letter, AG Torrez stated that \u201cmore than 130 days have now elapsed since the New Mexico Department of Justice\u2019s initial request\u201d for unredacted records and called the DOJ\u2019s delay \u201cunreasonable under any rule of reason.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-09T05:47:57Z", "2026-08-09T05:49:40Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-voting-against-trumps-personal-attorney-to-serve-as-ag/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Voting Against Trump\u2019s Personal Attorney to Serve as AG", "2026-08-08", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Blanche Recently Caught on Tape Saying He Will Restrict Reproductive Rights Nationwide\n\nLuj\u00e1n Introduced Epstein Files Transparency Act II and No Trump Immunity Act Ahead of Blanche\u2019s Confirmation\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after voting against Todd Blanche to serve as Attorney General:\n\n\u201cThe Attorney General\u2019s duty is to uphold the rule of law, defend the Constitution, and ensure that justice is applied fairly and equally to every American. Todd Blanche\u2019s record makes it clear that he cannot carry out those responsibilities independently of President Trump.\n\n\u201cThe survivors of Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s horrific crimes \u2014 and the American people \u2014 deserve transparency and accountability, not continued efforts to withhold information or shield those in positions of power. Under Todd Blanche\u2019s leadership, the DOJ will continue putting President Trump\u2019s personal and political interests ahead of justice and accountability for victims.\n\n\u201cTodd Blanche\u2019s confirmation will only further erode public trust in one of our nation\u2019s most important institutions. I will continue fighting to protect the independence of the DOJ and ensure that no one is above the law.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-09T05:47:57Z", "2026-08-09T05:49:40Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-voting-for-a-continuing-resolution-to-keep-the-government-funded/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Voting for a Continuing Resolution to Keep the Government Funded", "2026-08-08", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after voting to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government funded through December 11, 2026:\n\n\u201cThis continuing resolution averts another Republican government shutdown, provides stability for families and communities, and gives Congress time to negotiate bipartisan funding bills.\n\n\u201cCritically, it also prevents Trump from further politicizing and disrupting federal grants that communities across New Mexico rely on. I will continue fighting for a final funding agreement that protects critical investments, holds the administration accountable, and delivers for New Mexicans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-09T05:47:57Z", "2026-08-09T05:49:40Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-demands-doe-preserve-all-documents-and-records-regarding-the-illegal-cancellation-of-energy-project-grants-in-democratic-led-states", "Heinrich Demands DOE Preserve All Documents and Records Regarding the Illegal Cancellation of Energy Project Grants in Democratic-Led States", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright demanding the Department preserve all documents and records of the Trump administration's cancellation of more than $7.5 billion of energy project grants in Democratic-led states.\n\n\u201cI write to demand that you preserve all records and communications related to the administration\u2019s cancellation of more than $7.5 billion of energy project grants,\u201d Heinrich began.\n\n\u201cFollowing reports that the Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it terminated more than $7.5 billion of energy grants due to political motivations, I wrote to you along with 38 senators demanding the administration restore funding to those projects that were illegally canceled,\u201d Heinrich continued. \u201cToday, I write to request that you preserve all documents, communications, and records related to the termination of those energy projects. As you know, under the law, you are required to comply with records preservation requirements.\u201d\n\nIn his letter, Heinrich demands that the DOE preserve all forms of communications (including, but not limited to, e-mails, electronic documents, and data) since January 20, 2025, related to the termination of the above-mentioned energy projects. The letter also requests that all former DOE employees who may have access to such records are immediately identified and notified.\n\nHeinrich is leading the effort to secure accountability and transparency into DOE\u2019s illegal cancellation of energy project grants. Last week, following the Trump administration's admission that it canceled projects in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election, Heinrich led 38 Senators in demanding that funding be restored.\n\nIn October 2025, following the news that the Trump administration illegally canceled clean energy project grants, Heinrich led 36 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to DOE Secretary Chris Wright and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, demanding that they restore the projects\u2019 funding.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nSecretary Wright:\n\nI write to demand that you preserve all records and communications related to the administration\u2019s cancellation of more than $7.5 billion of energy project grants.\n\nFollowing reports that the Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it terminated more than $7.5 billion of energy grants due to political motivations, I wrote to you along with 38 senators demanding the administration restore funding to those projects that were illegally canceled. Today, I write to request that you preserve all documents, communications, and records related to the termination of those energy projects. As you know, under the law, you are required to comply with records preservation requirements.\n\nTo ensure that the records are produced to the Committee in potential future document requests without undue delay, I request that you do the following immediately:\n\nPreserve all records and communications, not limited to e-mail, electronic documents, and data, created since January 20, 2025, related to the termination of the above-mentioned energy projects; and\n\nIdentify and immediately notify any former employees, including contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and any other individuals or entities who may have access to such records. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this request.\n\nThank you in advance for your cooperation with this request.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-introduces-legislation-ending-outdated-tax-breaks-for-oil-and-gas-companies-to-drill-overseas", "Heinrich Introduces Legislation Ending Outdated Tax Breaks for Oil and Gas Companies to Drill Overseas", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the American Energy Independence & Tax Fairness Act, legislation to repeal outdated tax breaks that allow major oil and gas companies to reduce their U.S. tax obligations for overseas oil and gas production. The legislation would ensure the tax code no longer rewards companies for investing abroad instead of here at home, while strengthening American energy security and requiring some of the world\u2019s most profitable corporations to pay their fair share.\n\nThis legislation comes as the largest oil and gas companies continue to rake in record profits while American families feel the squeeze from rising energy costs. President Trump\u2019s reckless and costly war has driven up global oil prices and increased pressure on consumers at the pump, while outdated tax breaks continue to give some of the world\u2019s most profitable companies special treatment for overseas oil and gas production.\n\nRecent analysis by the FACT Coalition found that from 2017 to 2025, major U.S. oil companies paid $135 billion in foreign taxes while only paying $29 billion in U.S. taxes. At the same time, the oil and gas industry continues to report record profits. The disparity is driven by U.S. tax provisions that benefit overseas extraction. During this quarter, Exxon and Chevron alone reported more than $26 billion in combined net income, with Exxon doubling its profits and Chevron reporting one of its most profitable quarters ever.\n\n\"Oil majors shouldn\u2019t get a tax break for going overseas to produce energy, but that\u2019s essentially what our current tax policy does. That\u2019s where my American Energy Independence & Tax Fairness Act comes in. It will help put American energy development on an even playing field with energy development that\u2019s happening in the Middle East or anywhere else,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cAt a time when oil majors are making billions in profits per quarter, they can afford to pay their fair share.\u201d\n\nHeinrich's American Energy Independence & Tax Fairness Act would:\n\nEliminate preferential tax treatment for foreign oil and gas extraction income, ensuring overseas fossil fuels profits are treated like other foreign business income under the U.S. tax code;\n\nClose loopholes that allow companies to generate additional foreign tax credits from shale oil and tar sands development;\n\nReform foreign tax credit rules to prevent oil and gas companies from misclassifying payments to foreign governments as taxes rather than royalties in order to reduce their U.S. tax liability.\n\nFor decades, the U.S. tax code included incentives to encourage overseas oil and gas production. Today, the United States is the world\u2019s leading oil and gas producer and a net exporter of fossil fuels. And these outdated tax provisions provide special treatment to some of the world\u2019s most profitable companies. By closing these loopholes, the legislation will strengthen American energy security, support domestic job creation, and help accelerate the transition to a more reliable and affordable energy future.\n\nA one-page factsheet of the bill is here.\n\nA section-by-section summary of the bill is here.\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich has repeatedly pressed the Trump administration to reverse policies that raise energy costs for working families, and hold corporations accountable, through hearings, oversight letters, and direct engagement with the Trump administration officials:\n\nIn June, Heinrich hosted a roundtable and discussed how the Trump administration\u2019s policies, including the war with Iran, have driven up energy costs for families, consumers, communities, and small businesses.\n\nIn May, Heinrich hosted a roundtable with local small business owners, Roadrunner Food Bank, and Women\u2019s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team, Corp. (WESST) to discuss how President Trump\u2019s global tariffs and war with Iran are making gas, groceries, and everyday essentials more expensive for New Mexico families and businesses.\n\nHeinrich also wrote to the CEOs of the six biggest U.S. airlines seeking information on the current economic conditions of the airline industry as President Trump\u2019s war in Iran continues, requesting that the airlines detail their plan to address rising jet fuel costs, and whether companies will cap or reduce executive compensation to help offset rising costs.\n\nFor more information on Heinrich\u2019s actions to hold President Trump accountable for his illegal, costly, and reckless war on Iran, click here.\n\nFor more information on Heinrich\u2019s work to lower energy costs for New Mexico families, click here.\n\nFor more information on Heinrich\u2019s work to combat President Trump\u2019s tariffs and lower the cost of groceries and everyday essentials, click here.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-announce-committee-passage-of-legislation-to-transfer-a-portion-of-the-former-albuquerque-indian-school-campus-to-pueblos-for-the-indian-pueblo-cultural-center", "Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n Announce Committee Passage of Legislation to Transfer a Portion of the Former Albuquerque Indian School Campus to Pueblos for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced the Committee passage of their Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2026, legislation that places portions of the former Albuquerque Indian School campus and buildings, currently managed by the General Services Administration (GSA), into trust for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.\n\nThe legislation is led by Heinrich and cosponsored by Luj\u00e1n in the Senate and led by U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and cosponsored by U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.) in the House.\n\n\u201cOur legislation will help the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center expand its reach, create more economic opportunity, foster entrepreneurship, and support local small businesses,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cThose are important wins for the 19 Pueblos and everyone who calls New Mexico home. Now that my bill has passed out of Committee, I will continue working to get it across the finish line and signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cExpanding economic development and cultural education opportunities for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is critical for the 19 New Mexico Pueblos it serves. That is why I partnered with Senator Heinrich to introduce the Albuquerque Indian School Act, legislation that will help the center grow, support job creation, and generate new revenue for New Mexico\u2019s Pueblos and our communities,\u201dsaid Luj\u00e1n, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. \u201cI'm proud to see this legislation advance out of the Indian Affairs Committee, a vital step toward getting this bill across the finish line. I will continue working to ensure it passes the Senate and is signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe Albuquerque Indian School Act now heads to the full Senate for consideration.\n\nThe Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2026 builds upon a longstanding, bipartisan effort to transfer the former Albuquerque Indian School campus and surrounding buildings to the 19 Pueblos in New Mexico for the development and growth of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a nationally recognized museum and cultural institution owned and operated by the Pueblos, dedicated to both preserving and perpetuating pueblo history, culture, and art, while facilitating their future economic growth and long-term economic sustainability.\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\nEarlier this summer, Heinrich testified in support of the bill and urged his colleagues to advance the legislation out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Watch the full video of Heinrich\u2019s testimony here.\n\nIn 2015, Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n, and the rest of the N.M. Delegation successfully passed into law the Albuquerque Indian School Land Transfer Act, legislation to place four tracts of land from the former Albuquerque Indian School into trust for the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, consolidating the last parcels of the old school property into the Albuquerque Indian School campus. This followed several prior bipartisan efforts, from 1969 to 2008, led by former U.S. Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), and former U.S. Representative Manuel Luj\u00e1n Jr. (R-N.M.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-votes-to-sanction-russia", "Heinrich Votes to Sanction Russia", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after securing Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to impose sanctions on Russian President Valdimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, oligarchs, state-owned enterprises, and foreign companies for supporting and financing Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine.\n\n\u201cNew Mexicans stand with the Ukrainian people,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cWith this bill, we are sending a clear message to Vladimir Putin: You reap what you sow. End this war, work to achieve lasting peace with Ukraine, or face the consequences. The United States must continue to stand with Ukraine as it defends its freedom, its people, and the democratic values we share.\u201d\n\nThe bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.\n\nSpecifically, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act deprives Vladimir Putin of the revenue financing Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine by imposing mandatory sanctions on Russia\u2019s political leadership, financial institutions, energy sector, and sanctions evasion networks, while using narrowly scoped tariffs to pressure the world\u2019s largest purchasers of Russian energy to reduce their dependence on Moscow.\n\nThe legislation is led by U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-S.C.). Alongside Heinrich, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), David McCormick (R-Pa.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-La.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.).\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.\n\nHeinrich has staunchly supported the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom against Russia\u2019s unjustified, unprovoked, and unlawful invasion.\n\nHeinrich met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the U.S. Capitol last week and released a statement reaffirming his strong support for Ukraine.\n\nIn April 2025, Heinrich introduced legislation to impose primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and actors supporting Russia\u2019s aggression in Ukraine.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Defense Appropriations Bill to include $300 million in funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.\n\nIn February 2024, Heinrich passed an aid package that would strengthen America\u2019s national security by delivering aid to Ukraine.\n\nIn January 2024, Heinrich met with Ukrainian families living in Farmington, New Mexico, who fled their country following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.\n\nHeinrich also has an extensive history of standing up to Russia and Russian interference in the United States, detailed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-wyden-reintroduce-legislation-to-expand-pathways-to-health-careers-and-address-healthcare-provider-shortages", "Heinrich, Wyden Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Pathways to Health Careers & Address Healthcare Provider Shortages", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 This National Health Center Week, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, reintroduced their Pathways to Health Careers Act, legislation to create pathways to in-demand, high-quality healthcare careers and help address provider shortages in New Mexico, Oregon, and nationwide.\n\nIn New Mexico, 32 out of 33 counties are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for primary care, behavioral health, and/or dental health. New Mexico needs at least an additional 5,000 healthcare workers to address the current provider shortage.\n\nThe Pathways to Health Careers Act aims to address this shortage by restarting and modernizing the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program, which has a proven track record of preparing workers for jobs in the healthcare industry by providing career coaching, job placement, and a range of other support services.\n\n\u201cThe healthcare provider shortage in New Mexico isn\u2019t theoretical. It\u2019s an everyday reality. New Mexicans are being forced to either endure months-long appointment wait times or, if they can, paying the high costs of traveling out of state or going to the ER to get the health care they need, when they need it. Families in our state deserve better,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cOur Pathways to Health Careers Act helps address the healthcare provider shortage by strengthening the pipeline to high-quality healthcare careers, to get more New Mexicans the care they need to live healthy lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn June 2026 alone, nearly 900 health care workers across 11 states were laid off due to Republicans\u2019 shameful budget cuts,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cAt a time when communities are facing health care workforce shortages, it has never been more important to invest in the next generation of health professionals. This legislation would provide families in Oregon and nationwide with the resources they need \u2014 including job training, childcare, transportation and more \u2014 to begin well-paying careers in health care.\u201d\n\nCompanion legislation in the House is led by U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Senior Democratic Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.\n\n\u201cRestoring and strengthening the Health Profession Opportunity Grant program will connect a new generation of workers with career pathways to in-demand health care jobs while addressing barriers to employment that too often prevent the full potential of our work force - especially women and people of color - from being realized,\u201d said Davis.\u201cBefore its Republican-forced expiration, this proven initiative expanded economic opportunity for working families across America, which I saw first-hand in the work by Chicago State University. I am proud to lead this bill to create jobs and expand access to care with Senator Martin Heinrich, and I thank Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal and my Democratic colleagues for their continued support of this critical program.\u201d\n\nCreated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program stands out among other job training approaches because of its mix of career coaching, job placement, childcare, and post-employment support services included. The program aims to increase the number of qualified health professionals in rural, Tribal, and urban areas experiencing health professional shortages. Despite its success, the HPOG program expired in September 2021.\n\nThis bill would mandate that New Mexico receives a minimum of two HPOG awards. And further guarantees grant set asides for entities that are an Indian tribe, a Tribal organization, or a Tribal college or university.\n\nThe Pathways to Health Careers Act reauthorizes and modernizes the demonstration program by providing $435 million annually through 2031 to expand HPOG programs to every state in the country. The dozens of career pathways available through the HPOG program model include becoming a nurse, an emergency medical technician (EMT), a health information technician, a surgical technician, and beyond. The promising model includes:\n\nA Career Pathway Approach: Apprenticeships, stackable credentials, and ongoing training to support advancement;\n\nWork Supports: Childcare, transportation, stipends, work supplies, uniforms, and application fees; and\n\nCase Management: Goal setting, mentoring and career coaching, education planning, interview coaching, and job placement.\n\nTo date, the HPOG program has served over 60,000 participants in 32 programs across 23 states.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Michael Bennet (D-Col0.).\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the University of New Mexico Health System.\n\n\u201cThe healthcare workforce shortage is one of the most significant challenges facing our nation's health system. The Pathways to Health Careers Act invests in people who are ready to serve but often face financial and logistical barriers to entering the healthcare workforce. By supporting training alongside services like childcare, transportation and career coaching, this legislation helps build a stronger workforce and expands access to care where it is needed most,\u201d said Michael Richards, MD, MPA, Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences and CEO of the UNM Health System.\n\nA fact sheet of the bill is here.\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.\n\nFor more information on Heinrich\u2019s work to expand opportunities for New Mexico workers, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-kaine-lead-legislation-to-expand-access-to-home-and-community-based-care-for-older-adults-and-people-with-disabilities/", "Luj\u00e1n, Kaine Lead Legislation to Expand Access to Home and Community-Based Care for Older Adults and People with Disabilities", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Access Act, legislation to ensure older adults and people with disabilities have a real choice between receiving long-term care at home or in institutional settings. The legislation would make home and community-based care a mandatory Medicaid benefit, gradually eliminate waiting lists for services, strengthen the home and community-based care workforce, and provide greater support for family caregivers.\n\nUnder current Medicaid policy, many older adults and people with disabilities have access to nursing homes and other institutional care, but if they want to remain in their home and community, access to home and community-based services often depends on state waiver programs that can leave people waiting years \u2014 or even decades \u2014 for the care they need. The HCBS Access Act would expand access to home and community-based care and ensure that people who want to stay in their home and receive care can.\n\n\u201cEvery American deserves the opportunity to receive care in the place they call home,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cFar too many older adults and people with disabilities are forced into getting care in a setting far from home, not because it\u2019s what they want, but because it\u2019s the only option they have. My legislation would give families the freedom to choose the care that best meets their needs, while strengthening the caregiving workforce and providing critical support for family caregivers.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany Virginians want to age with dignity in their homes, where they can remain connected with their family, friends, and community,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cThe HCBS Access Act will help give millions of people the opportunity to receive essential at-home services, while boosting support for the family caregivers and direct care workers who make independent living possible. I\u2019m proud to support this legislation to help put at-home care within reach for more Virginians.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Home and Community-Based Services Access Act would:\n\nMake HCBS a mandatory Medicaid benefit, ensuring eligible individuals can choose between receiving care at home or in an institutional setting.\n\nEliminate the need for administratively burdensome Medicaid HCBS waiver programs.\n\nIncrease federal Medicaid funding for home and community-based services.\n\nProvide grants to help states expand their HCBS capacity and reduce waiting lists.\n\nStrengthen the direct care workforce by improving job quality, stability, and workforce availability.\n\nSupport states in providing caregiving workers with stable, quality jobs and living wages.\n\nExpand training and support for family caregivers.\n\nImprove oversight and quality assurance for home and community-based services.\n\nIn addition to Luj\u00e1n and Kaine the HCBS Access Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).\n\nThe Home and Community-Based Services Access Act is supported by Justice in Aging, National Health Law Program, PHI, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Caring Across, National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), Autism Society of America, The Arc of the United States, Well Spouse Association, Little Lobbyists, Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, CommunicationFIRST, Independence Center, Cure SMA, Lakeshore Foundation, American Association on Health and Disability, Care in Action, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), National Alliance for Caregiving, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD), Easterseals, Autism Speaks, ANCOR, ADAPT, and MomsRising.\n\nSupporting quotes can be found here.\n\nFull bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-cosponsors-cows-act-to-reduce-greenhouse-emissions-support-sustainable-waste-practices", "Heinrich Cosponsors COWS Act to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions, Support Sustainable Waste Practices", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration today cosponsored the Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act (COWS Act) reintroduced by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The COWS Act would help producers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air and water quality, and implement more sustainable alternative manure management practices. U.S. Representative Jim Costa (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cNew Mexico is the ninth-largest dairy milk producer in the country, and fifth in cheese production. It\u2019s important that our dairy and livestock producers have access the innovative alternative manure management tools they need to be resilient, support our local economies, and help us keep healthy and nutritious food on our tables,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cThe COWS Act will help equip New Mexico producers with cost-effective sustainable manure management practices that protect our air and water while strengthening their operations for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs California continues to provide food for families across the country, it\u2019s critical we equip our producers with resources and tools to ensure sustainable and cost-effective practices,\u201d said Padilla. \u201cYet, today\u2019s climate crisis demands that we adopt a more sustainable agricultural model. This bill would invest in long-term and low-cost pasture management treatments \u2013 ultimately supporting our family dairies, improving the quality of the air we breathe, protecting our environment, and keeping California\u2019s cows happy.\u201d\n\nThe COWS Act supports the adoption of manure management conservation practices, that will help the New Mexico livestock industry achieve three goals: (1) modernize technologies for manure management that help boost profitability; (2) improve water and soil quality; and (3) reduce methane and nitrogen oxide emissions by fostering climate-smart farming. The legislation also directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize awards for underserved communities and beginning farmers or ranchers.\n\nSpecifically, the COWS Act would:\n\nThis legislation is based on California\u2019s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), which was established in 2017 to support non-digester approaches to manage manure. The program has since supported 198 projects that are estimated to reduce 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over five years.\n\nIn addition to Heinrich, this bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).\n\nThe COWS act is also similar to Section 505 of Senator Heinrich\u2019s Agricultural Resilience Act, which proposes to create a stand-alone alternative manure management program at the USDA, as part of a larger more comprehensive package of programs and policies intended to help reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. agriculture by 2040.\n\nThe COWS Act is endorsed by California Dairies, California Dairy Campaign, Environmental Working Group, National Farmers Union, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Milk Producers Council, and the National Milk Producers Federation.\n\n\u201cThe COWS Act gives dairy farmers of all sizes practical tools to cut methane emissions, improve water quality, and generate valuable compost as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers. At a time when California dairies are under real economic pressure due to low milk prices and high input costs this kind of flexible, EQIP-backed support is exactly what family dairies need. The California Dairy Campaign is proud to support Senator Padilla\u2019s leadership on this bill,\u201d said Lynne McBride, Executive Director of California Dairy Campaign.\n\n\u201cMilk Producers Council strongly supports the COWS Act,\u201d said Kevin Abernathy, General Manager of Milk Producers Council. \u201cThe science has shown that the implementation of post-conservation practices in the dairy ecosystem helps improve soil health, provides cleaner air and water, and leads to healthier animals. California\u2019s Alternative Manure Management Program has been a model for smart conservation practices, and the COWS Act would help expand this model nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cDairy farmers do exceptional work on their farms to practice sound manure management, a critical conservation priority for maintaining healthy operations and protecting local land and water resources,\u201d said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation. \u201cYet despite that leadership, oversubscribed conservation programs limit farmers\u2019 access to the tools and support they need. Expanding these opportunities will recognize the great work farmers are already doing and improve their ability to innovate on a much greater scale. We thank Sens. Padilla, Schiff, and Heinrich for introducing the COWS Act, which will support the variety of manure management systems dairy farmers rely on.\u201d\n\nA one-pager of the bill is available here.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-leads-letter-urging-doe-to-withdraw-proposed-rule-for-the-efficiency-standards-program-that-would-raise-energy-prices-for-american-families", "Heinrich Leads Letter Urging DOE to Withdraw Proposed Rule for the Efficiency Standards Program that would Raise Energy Prices for American Families", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright urging DOE to abandon a proposal that would hamstring its long-standing efficiency standards program\u2014a move that could raise utility bills for American families by an estimated $150 a year.\n\nDOE claims that the proposed revision to the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program process rule, issued in July 2026, would effectively end the federal program that has helped lower energy bills and improve the efficiency of home appliances for nearly 40 years.\n\nHeinrich was joined by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), Angus King (I-Maine), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).\n\n\u201cAt a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, this administration should be focused on making energy affordable and increasing grid capacity \u2014 not hamstringing a program that has consistently reduced bills for American families,\u201d the Senators began.\n\n\u201cLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates that existing standards have reduced total U.S. energy consumption by 6.5 percent and saved the average households $576 per year. By eliminating this program going forward, the Trump administration would increase utility bills for households by $150 each year, increase peak electricity demand by 32 gigawatts (GW) in 2040, and increase cumulative CO2 emissions by nearly 1 billion metric tons through 2050,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cThe law requires DOE to adopt standards \u2018designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency..., which the Secretary determines is technologically feasible and economically justified,\u2019 and that results in \u2018significant\u2019 energy savings,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201cThe proposed rule undermines the letter and purpose of the appliance standards statute by the administration\u2019s own admission: the rule is designed to \u201cpermanently end\u201d appliance and equipment standards.\u201d\n\nThe Senators concluded the letter urging Wright to withdraw the provision and implement the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program as Congress mandated.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nSecretary Wright:\n\nWe write to express strong opposition to the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE\u2019s) proposed revision to the process rule for the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program. At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, this Administration should be focused on making energy affordable and increasing grid capacity \u2014 not hamstringing a program that has consistently reduced bills for American families.\n\nIn July, DOE issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to \u201cpermanently end home appliance and equipment mandates.\u201d This is concerning as energy efficiency standards save American families and businesses billions of dollars a year, and Congress explicitly directed DOE to carry out the program faithfully.\n\nThe efficiency standards program has been lowering utility bills and cutting emissions since the late 1980s \u2014 under Democratic and Republican Administrations alike. Since 1987, Congress has directed DOE to set efficiency standards for upwards of 60 products. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates that existing standards have reduced total U.S. energy consumption by 6.5 percent and saved the average households $576 per year. By eliminating this program going forward, the Trump Administration would increase utility bills for households by $150 each year, increase peak electricity demand by 32 gigawatts (GW) in 2040, and increase cumulative CO2 emissions by nearly 1 billion metric tons through 2050.\n\nUnder current statute, DOE is required to consider consumer impacts, manufacturer impacts, technological feasibility, and economic justification before finalizing a standard. The proposed rule would layer on needless additional requirements, including undue deference to industry-developed test procedures and an unlawful minimum savings threshold set at 2 quadrillion btus of source energy or 10% of a product\u2019s total consumption. The law requires DOE to adopt standards \"designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency..., which the Secretary determines is technologically feasible and economically justified,\" and that results in \"significant\" energy savings. The proposed rule undermines the letter and purpose of the appliance standards statute by the administration\u2019s own admission: the rule is designed to \u201cpermanently end\u201d appliance and equipment standards.\n\nWe therefore urge you to withdraw the proposed rule and implement the program as Congress originally mandated.", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-leger-fernandez-introduce-legislation-to-protect-chama-watershed-from-uranium-mining", "Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n, Leger Fern\u00e1ndez Introduce Legislation to Protect Chama Watershed from Uranium Mining", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013 Today, U.S. Senator U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, introduced the Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act, legislation to permanently withdraw the federal lands of the Rio Chama Watershed in Northern New Mexico from all forms of location, entry, and patent under the mining laws.\n\nThe Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act responds directly to a proposal by the Canadian-based uranium company, Gamma Resources Ltd. to conduct exploratory uranium drilling in the Carson National Forest near Canjilon \u2014 the first step in the company\u2019s publicly stated plan to extract uranium from a four-mile stretch of the Chama Basin. The bill will prevent new mining claims across the watershed, protecting the headwaters that sustain acequia communities, Tribal Nations, land grant communities, ranchers, and downstream water users throughout the Rio Grande system and ensuring these waters are never put at risk for the benefit of a speculative foreign mining venture.\n\n\u201cWe will not allow a foreign mining company to threaten the Chama Watershed with radioactive uranium waste. That is unacceptable,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cOur Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act sends a clear message: Back off. The Chama Watershed belongs to the acequia parciantes, Tribal communities, ranchers, and rural families who care for and depend on this landscape and its water \u2014 not a foreign mining company looking to exploit it for profit.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe communities of the Chama Valley \u2013 acequia farmers, Land Grant communities, Tribal members, ranchers, and rural families \u2013 have cared for their land and water for generations,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThese cherished lands and waters must be protected for future generations. That is why I\u2019m leading this legislation to permanently withdraw the Chama Watershed from mineral development. I remain committed to protecting the communities and waters of Northern New Mexico, and this legislation will do just that for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\"New Mexicans know the true cost of uranium mining,\u201d said Leger Fern\u00e1ndez. \u201cAcross our state, abandoned uranium mines have poisoned our land, threatened our water, and harmed generations of families. Before anyone talks about opening another uranium mine, we should finish cleaning up the mess that was left behind. The Chama watershed is too precious to sell off to a foreign corporation. At a time when every drop of clean water matters, we should protect the rivers that sustain our communities\u2014not open the door for a foreign mining corporation to profit from our public lands. The Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act protects our water, our people, and our future.\"\n\nHeinrich, Luj\u00e1n, and Leger Fern\u00e1ndez have been fighting to protect communities in Northern New Mexico and the Chama Watershed from uranium mining and mineral development.\n\nIn April, Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n, and Leger Fern\u00e1ndez wrote to Carson National Forest Supervisor James Duran expressing strong opposition to a proposal to conduct uranium drilling within the Carson National Forest.\n\nSupporting quotes for the Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act can be found here.\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.\n\nThe boundary map of the withdrawal area is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-nm-congressional-delegation-demand-answers-from-secretary-hegseth-on-the-dods-involvement-in-new-mexico-medical-plane-crash", "Heinrich, N.M. Congressional Delegation Demand Answers from Secretary Hegseth on the DoD\u2019s Involvement in New Mexico Medical Plane Crash", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and members of the N.M. Congressional Delegation, including U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) sent a letter demanding answers from U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Department\u2019s involvement in and response to the tragic May 13, 2026, medical plane crash in Lincoln County, New Mexico.\n\nJust before midnight on May 13, a Beechcraft King Air medical plane with a crew of four \u2014 two pilots and two flight nurses \u2014 took off from Roswell heading to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport in Ruidoso for patient pickup and transport to Albuquerque. According to reports, because the aircraft\u2019s GPS was jammed by U.S. military activities in the region, the flight overshot their landing pattern by 10 miles, leading the plane to crash into the side of the Capitan Mountains. As a result, all four crew members died, and the crash sparked a wildfire that took three weeks to contain.\n\nBy the time that wildfire was contained, it had burned 31,860 acres and at its peak had over 1,000 personnel assigned utilizing 7 helicopters, numerous bulldozers, water tenders and fixed-wing air tankers. This fire was New Mexico\u2019s first incident of the fire season that required a Complex Incident Management Team, and one of only two such complex fires this year. There were no structures lost but the fire forced evacuation orders that remained in place for several weeks, which cost taxpayers an estimated $37.7 million in fire suppression activities.\n\n\u201cBy any account, this crash was tragic. While this is reportedly the first time GPS jamming activities by the U.S. military have caused or contributed to the crash of a civilian plane, that does little to comfort the families of those lost in that crash or impacted by the wildfire it triggered,\u201d the lawmakers wrote to DoD Secretary Hegseth.\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201cAs the prevalence of drone warfare and electronic warfare grows globally and becomes central to our national defense, the risk of military and contractor activities disrupting civilian flights is likely to grow. In order to prevent future incidents and accidents, it is critical that we fully understand what happened on May 13 and 14, 2026, and what could have been done to prevent the accident.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf the DoD had not been jamming GPS in the region at the time of this crash it is very likely that the crash would have never occurred, four people would still be alive, and this wildfire would not have started. We owe those impacted by DoD\u2019s actions transparency and action,\u201d the lawmakers underscored.\n\nIn their letter, the N.M. Congressional Delegation urged Secretary Hegseth and the DoD to:\n\nFully cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s (NTSB) ongoing investigation into the crash;\n\nExpeditiously develop systems and protocols, in concert with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to prevent future, similar accidents; and\n\nWork with the FAA and any other relevant agencies to fully implement recommendations from the NTSB.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded their letter by demanding answers on whether or not the DoD will compensate the victims' families, and compensate federal, state, county, and local agencies for the resources expended in the response to the crash and subsequent wildfire. Additionally, the N.M. Congressional Delegation inquired if the DoD is aware of any other incidents involving civilian aircraft that were impacted by GPS jamming activities surrounding NAVFEST or other DoD technologies.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth,\n\nWe write to you requesting answers on the Department of Defense\u2019s (DoD) involvement in and response to the tragic May 13th medical plane crash in Lincoln County, New Mexico. This crash claimed the lives of all four on board the aircraft and sparked a wildfire that raged for three weeks and burned over 30,000 acres in the Capitan Mountain Wilderness area of the Lincoln National Forest.\n\nOn May 13, 2026, just before midnight a Beechcraft King Air medical plane with a crew of four, two pilots and two flight nurses, took off from Roswell, New Mexico heading to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport in Ruidoso, New Mexico, for patient pickup and transport to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Due to GPS jamming as part of the scheduled test event in the area, this routine medical ambulance flight overshot their landing pattern by 10 miles and crashed into the side of the Capitan Mountains at 12:15 AM on May 14th, destroying the plane, killing the four-member crew, and sparking a wildfire that took three weeks to contain.\n\nBy the time that wildfire was contained, it had burned 31,860 acres and at its peak had over 1000 personnel assigned utilizing 7 helicopters, numerous bulldozers, water tenders and fixed-wing air tankers. This fire was New Mexico\u2019s first incident of the fire season that required a Complex Incident Management Team, and one of only two such complex fires this year. There were no structures lost but the fire forced evacuation orders that remained in place for several weeks, all of which had a huge cost to taxpayers with all fire suppression activities totaling an estimated $37.7 million.\n\nBy any account, this crash was tragic. While this is reportedly the first time GPS jamming activities by the U.S. military have caused or contributed to the crash of a civilian plane, that does little to comfort the families of those lost in that crash or impacted by the wildfire it triggered.\n\nAs the prevalence of drone warfare and electronic warfare grows globally and becomes central to our national defense, the risk of military and contractor activities disrupting civilian flights is likely to grow. In order to prevent future incidents and accidents, it is critical that we fully understand what happened on May 13 and 14, 2026, and what could have been done to prevent the accident. To that end, we urge DoD to fully cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s (NTSB) ongoing investigation into the crash. We also urge DoD to expeditiously develop systems and protocols, in concert with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to prevent future, similar accidents. Upon completion of NTSB\u2019s investigation, it is imperative that DoD also work with the FAA and any other relevant agencies to fully implement recommendations from NTSB.\n\nWe further request DoD\u2019s responses to the following questions:\n\nWill the DoD compensate the victims' families of this terrible accident?\n\nWill the DoD compensate the federal, state, county, and local agencies for the resources expended in the response to the crash and subsequent wildfire?\n\nIs the DoD aware of any other incidents involving civilian aircraft that were impacted by GPS jamming activities surrounding NAVFEST in May 2026?\n\nIs the DoD aware of any other incidents involving civilian aircraft that were impacted by GPS jamming activities across the country prior to or after this incident that were unrelated to NAVFEST?\n\nIf the DoD had not been jamming GPS in the region at the time of this crash it is very likely that the crash would have never occurred, four people would still be alive, and this wildfire would not have started. We owe those impacted by DoD\u2019s actions transparency and action.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1640, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "NM"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1640, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 1640, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NM", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM", "results": [{"value": "NM", "label": "NM", "count": 1640, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 745, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM&year=2025", "selected": false}, {"value": "2026", "label": "2026", "count": 553, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM&year=2026", "selected": false}, {"value": "2024", "label": "2024", "count": 342, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM&year=2024", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2026-08-06,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eheinrich~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fheinrich-nm-congressional-delegation-demand-answers-from-secretary-hegseth-on-the-dods-involvement-in-new-mexico-medical-plane-crash", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NM&_next=2026-08-06%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eheinrich~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fheinrich-nm-congressional-delegation-demand-answers-from-secretary-hegseth-on-the-dods-involvement-in-new-mexico-medical-plane-crash&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 642.2480531036854, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}