url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-report-rep-stansbury-celebrates-2022-accomplishments,New Report: Rep. Stansbury Celebrates 2022 Accomplishments,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Helped steer over $1 billion in federal grant funding to N.M.-01 to build critical infrastructure, invest in lower healthcare costs, stimulate economic development, and more.

Secured over $18 million in FY2023 Community Funded Projects to address New Mexico’s biggest challenges surrounding public safety, housing, hunger, behavioral health, and economic development.

Secured over $10 million for FY2022 Community Funded Projects to address public safety and gun violence, support firefighters and rural communities, fund youth programs, and invest in economic development.

Secured $84.5 million for critical New Mexico water infrastructure investments to help our communities navigate our biggest water challenges through sustainable water projects and programs.

Joined New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation to secure $3.95 billion to support New Mexicans impacted by the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfires.

Passed the Honoring our PACT Act to extend coverage to nearly 3.5 million veterans nationwide – marking the biggest expansion in veterans’ benefits in generations.

Passed the Inflation Reduction Act to cut the cost of health insurance premiums, expand healthcare coverage, reduce prescription drug costs, and make the largest-ever investment in climate.

Supported New Mexico’s STEM economy through her Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in July as part of the CHIPS and Science Act.

Introduced nine pieces of original legislation to stimulate New Mexico’s economy, protect our public lands and waters, act on climate change, and improve education.

Fought alongside the Democratic Women’s Caucus to protect abortion rights by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act in the House.

Joined Senator Heinrich and members of the New Mexico Delegation to introduce legislation to authorize New Mexicans’ historic investment in early education from the state Land Grant Permanent Fund. The legislation passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Budget.

Cosponsored over 445 pieces of legislation to act on New Mexico’s priorities, from caring for our veterans, to improving healthcare, to defending our democracy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-delivers-new-mexico-big-wins-fy-23-omnibus-spending-bill,Rep. Stansbury Delivers for New Mexico With Big Wins in FY 23 Omnibus Spending Bill,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced major wins for New Mexico in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations, which passed the House of Representatives and now heads to the President’s desk.

Among the most significant wins in the bill are major educational provisions for the state, including passage of language allowing early childhood education funding to proceed, as authorized by New Mexico voters in November, as well as $90 million to replace the To’Hajiilee Community School. Rep. Stansbury also secured $18 million for community projects to address homelessness, hunger, and to help get fentanyl off the streets. The omnibus bill also includes funding and authorizations secured by Rep. Stansbury in partnership with U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.)and Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.), and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) to add an additional $1.45 billion to New Mexico fire recovery efforts, authorize investments in drought conservation, and rename a U.S. Post Office in Belen in honor of Senator Dennis Chavez.

“I came to Congress to deliver for New Mexico and our communities, and I am proud that the major wins we secured today do just that. Thanks to the tireless work of my office and our Delegation, this omnibus delivers on our promises to New Mexicans,” said Rep. Stansbury. “The provisions we secured will deliver a new school for our children, invest in quality education for our young people, support communities recovering from devastating wildfires, encourage sustainable water management across the West, and fund 15 key projects to address some of New Mexico’s biggest challenges.”

The provisions secured by Rep. Stansbury include:

$90.4 million to replace and rebuild the To’Hajiilee Community School, which has been severely impacted by flooding and a BIE construction backlog. This critical funding for To’Hajiilee Community School comes on the heels of Rep. Stansbury’s efforts to push for an increase in Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school construction funding.

Language to unlock a historic investment in early childhood and K-12 education through New Mexico’s Land Grant Permanent Fund. The New Mexico Education Enhancement Act, led by Rep. Stansbury and Senator Martin Heinrich, honors the voices of New Mexicans and provides congressional approval for New Mexico’s Constitutional Amendment to invest additional Land Grant Permanent Fund dollars into early childhood education.

$1.45 billion in additional funding to support New Mexicans impacted by the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfires. In September, Rep. Stansbury joined members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation to secure $2.5 billion in aid to support residents impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fires.

Reauthorization of the Colorado River System Conservation Pilot Program. The Colorado River Basin Conservation Act, introduced by Rep. Stansbury in October, funds projects to encourage voluntary water conservation and avoid mandatory cuts to 40 million Colorado River water users, which has major impacts on New Mexico water supplies, including in the Rio Grande.

A provision designating the U.S. Postal Service facility at 400 North Main Street in Belen, New Mexico, as the “U.S. Senator Dennis Chávez Post Office”. In July, Rep. Stansbury and the New Mexico congressional delegation introduced legislation to rename the Post Office in honor of former U.S. Senator Dennis Chávez, the first American-born Hispanic Senator.

$18 million for 15 key projects in New Mexico’s First Congressional District to help address the state’s biggest needs surrounding public safety, veterans’ and youth homelessness, behavioral health, and economic development.

Among the projects, Rep. Stansbury prioritized 15 community project requests, from an unprecedented pool of over 200 applications. She secured funding for each of these projects in the FY23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.

The 15 projects Rep. Stansbury secured include:

Projects to Address Public Safety, Behavioral Health, and Healthcare

$2.8 million for N.M. Department of Public Safety Mobile Crisis Teams, to provide mental and behavioral health crisis services in communities across the state

$410,721 for Fentanyl and other Drug Detection Technology to assist law enforcement in helping to get fentanyl and other dangerous drugs off the street

$1.45 million for Sandia Pueblo Fire Station to provide enhanced emergency services for the Pueblo.

$1 million for Behavioral Health Expansions at First Nations Community HealthSource to help increase integrated services for more than 15,000 Indigenous community members without access to care

$2.2 million to the Albuquerque Sobering Center to create a first of its kind facility in Albuquerque to help individuals struggling with addiction to have a safe place to access treatment, housing, and other needs

$422,000 for Mobile School-Based Health Centers to provide medical, dental, and mental health care services to Albuquerque Public School students and their families.

Projects Tackling Veterans and Youth Homelessness, Hunger, and Water Security

$1.5 million for Albuquerque Homeless Youth Center to provide the first dedicated facility for young people experiencing homelessness, including a safe, transitional environment.

$300,000 for the first Veterans Transitional Housing Campus in New Mexico to include 42 beds for Veterans and their families experiencing housing insecurity.

$750,000 for Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless to expand health care and social services.

$712,500 to expand the East Mountain Food Pantry to help address food insecurity in the East Mountains, Torrance, and Sandoval Counties.

$3 million to the Town of Mountainair to improve wastewater treatment facilities and address long overdue water challenges in the community.

Projects to Grow New Mexico’s Economy, Jobs, and Rural Opportunities

$1.5 million for UNM/Sandia Labs STEM Pipeline Program to expand UNM’s capacity to train future STEM leaders in cybersecurity and data science and prepare them for STEM careers

$600,000 for the Albuquerque Adult Learning Center to grow adult literacy and job training programs for communities in the International District.

$1.5 million to the Sandoval County Animal Clinic to provide emergency veterinary care to rural and tribal communities in Sandoval County and grow more rural jobs and opportunities

$650,000 for Families First Economic Justice Project to support community development and grow local businesses, particularly in the South Valley.

In addition to these New Mexico-specific priorities, the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill funds federal programs that will deliver for New Mexicans while making historic investments in our families, workers, and communities:

Health Care Victories:

Medicaid and CHIP funding-Ensuring permanent, mandatory and continuous coverage for the 40 million children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

Historic funding for the critical Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting initiative, which improves health outcomes for parents and young families who live in underserved communities.

Strong guardrails to prevent disruption to families’ health coverage, as states resume Medicaid recertifications next year.

New investments in mental health services, which will improve access to treatment, expand our mental health workforce and increase coverage of mental health services.

Improving diversity in FDA clinical trials.

Passing the PREVENT Pandemics Act, which uses lessons learned from COVID-19 to improve our preparedness for future public health emergencies.

A $21 billion increase for veterans’ health care to honor our sacred duty to care for our veterans – including supporting the VA as it implements the landmark PACT Act for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.

Additional key victories include:

Creating a nationwide permanent Summer EBT Program so that 29 million kids can get healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer.

For the first time in more than a decade, more funding for the National Labor Relations Board, which helps defend workers’ rights to organize.

Emergency disaster support to help victims of hurricanes and wildfires throughout our country, to address the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and $1 billion for Puerto Rico’s electrical grid.

Reforming the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which will help thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power like we saw on January 6th.

A $125 million increase in funding for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, funding critical programs at $700 million to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and expand resources to support survivors.

A pay increase for our service members and additional funding to meet the needs of our military families.

A $5.1 billion advance appropriation for the Indian Health Service to provide budgetary certainty for Tribal and Pueblo communities.

A 9% increase in BIE funding to support nearly 57,000 students in Tribal schools and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

$186 million for Western drought programs including water conservation, reuse, and desalination.

A $68 million increase in funding for clean energy to reduce emissions and work towards a clean energy economy.

$9.6 million for acequia infrastructure under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A $2.5 million increase for the Rio Grande Pueblos Project to improve Pueblo irrigation infrastructure.

Nearly $4 billion for rural development including increases in funding for rural broadband expansion, rural housing loans and rental assistance, and business and industry loans to assist businesses in rural areas.

A $55 million increase in farm programs, including emergency loan programs that ensure the sustainability of family farms and ranches.

An $30 million increase for entrepreneurial development programs to help start the next generation of small businesses.

$4.2 billion for wildland fire management to help communities respond to more frequent and intense wildfires.

Section-by section summaries of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill can be found as follows for:

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies | Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies | Defense | Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies | Financial Services and General Government | Homeland Security | Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies | Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Legislative Branch | Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies | State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs | Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-tohajiilee-community-celebrate-90-million-new-school-passes,"Rep. Stansbury, To’Hajiilee Community Celebrate as $90 Million for New School Passes the Senate",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and community leaders of the To’Hajiilee Chapter of the Navajo Nation announced that the FY2023 Omnibus Budget voted out of the Senate includes over $90.4 million to replace the To’Hajiilee Community School in a major victory after years of advocacy by the community.

The To’Hajiilee Community School is a Tribally-Controlled School and the only school in the community serving grades K-12. Built in 1935 on a flood plain as a U.S.-government run Indian Boarding School, the To’Hajiilee community has sought to rebuild the new Tribally-Controlled school on higher ground. The school has experienced regular flooding, sections of the facility have been deemed unsafe by inspectors, and the school has been forced to shutter classrooms and cancel instruction.

“I am truly overjoyed to have helped secure this funding after years of work by the community. This $90 million will enable To’Hajiilee to build a state-of-the-art school, rooted in the values, culture, and language of the community that will serve families for generations to come,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Persistence, leadership, and community partnerships matter. I have been honored to fight alongside To’Hajiilee Chapter and community school leadership and am grateful to Secretary Haaland, Leadership in the House and Senate, House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro,our Congressional delegation, BIE leadership and staff, and the many dedicated public servants who saw this injustice and have been working to correct it. As we celebrate this huge victory, we continue the fight to fund Tribal and BIE schools across the country. We have a lot of work ahead.""

“As Vice President of To’Hajiilee Navajo Community, I would like to give thanks to Congresswoman, Melanie Stanbury and her Staff for advocating on behalf of To’Hajiilee Navajo Community, as well as the rest of the working Legislators in Washington, D.C., for their hard work and working diligently to approve $90.4 Million dollars for a new school for our To’Hajiilee Navajo Scholars,”said Nora J. Morris, Vice President of the Cañoncito Band of Navajos.“We all have been working alongside local government leaders and To’Hajiilee Navajo Community School Board, Inc., and meeting with the Governmental Agency and Delegation advocating for funding for our school. We will continually work together as one team to make this happen. This is the greatest news in a long time for the People of To'Hajiilee, a new school. Thank you so much on behalf of our children, as we know they will be very excited and happy, as we all prayed for our children to be safe and warm in standardized buildings. Our Children deserve a new school, and we appreciate the funding and all your help. Ahéhee'.”

“I am excited and relieved that our children, teachers, and staff will soon have a new, safe, and beautiful school to grow in for generations to come. Support for this was not overnight! We invited anyone and everyone willing to listen and visit our campus so that we could show them the rapidly deteriorating foundation, the excessive damage from multiple floodings, and the shifting walls,”said To’Hajiilee Community School Board Vice President Paulene Abeyta. “Visitors would leave our campus with overwhelming concern of the conditions they witnessed. Our Board & Administration worked tirelessly with local chapter leadership and Congresswoman Stansbury & former Congresswoman Haaland to get the support needed to make this happen. We can't thank them enough!” A lifelong To’Hajiilee Community resident, Abeyta is a mother of four children currently attending To’Hajiilee Community School and has served on the Board for six years.

“We have been looking forward to this day to hear the wonderful news about our students getting a new school. Within the past four years the local To'Hajiilee Community School Board and Administration team have been voicing our flooding and structural facility concerns. We now can say our voices have been heard,”said Willinda Castillo, To’Hajiilee Community School Chief School Administrator. “Our instructional staff will now be able to teach without worrying about flood issues. Our students will now be able to focus on their academics with no interruption of school closure due to their school getting flooded. We thank Congresswoman Stansbury and her staff for addressing BIE school construction for To'Hajiilee Community School. Ahéhee’! (Thank you.)”

“We are extremely grateful to the top management of the Interior Department. We are also grateful to our Congresswoman and staff from their untiring work on behalf of our school,”said Larry Holman, To’Hajiilee Community School Administrative Service Specialist. “We are also grateful for the support from the Senate Appropriations Committee.”

Background

Rep. Stansbury has been fighting for funding to build a new To’Hajiilee Community School since she was sworn into office in June 2021. During budget negotiations in August 2021, she led efforts to expand Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) construction funding and personally fought to ensure this $90 million for To’Hajiilee was included in the FY2023 Budget.

In April 2022, Stansbury led 27 colleagues in a bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies urging the Committee to address the historic injustice of inadequate funding for BIE.

During a June 2022 House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples hearing, she secured a commitment from BIE Director Tony Dearman to work directly with To’Hajiilee community leadership and the To’Hajiilee Community School Board to address the community’s needs. Rep. Stansbury formerly worked on education policy and funding issues for BIE asastaffer in the White House Office of Management and Budget.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-applauds-federal-court-ruling-requiring-transfer-alamogordo,Rep. Stansbury Applauds Federal Court Ruling Requiring Transfer of Alamogordo Chimpanzees to Chimp Haven,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON –U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement after a federal judge ruled that more than two dozen chimpanzees currently housed at the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF) be transferred to a chimpanzee sanctuary:

“This court order is a major victory after years of advocacy on behalf of the chimps held at the Alamogordo Primate Facility. The facility currently houses over 30 chimpanzees that have not been used for research in over two decades in conditions that are ill-equipped to meet their needs. As our closest living relatives, we have an ethical and legal responsibility to ensure these chimps are able to live out the remainder of their lives with dignity and care. That’s why I have been working closely with advocates, Senator Heinrich, and other members of Congress—building on the work of Ambassador Tom Udall and Secretary Deb Haaland—to ensure these animals can be safely transferred to a federal sanctuary. Earlier this year, I led a bicameral, bipartisan letter calling on the Director of the National Institutes of Health to facilitate the transfer of these chimpanzees to Chimp Haven and held follow-up conversations with the Director of Research and other staff at the NIH. This last week, a federal judge has finally ruled that the surviving chimps must be transferred to the sanctuary as Congress intended when it passed the CHIMP Act. I applaud the work and persistence of Animal Protection New Mexico and the Humane Society of the United States in helping to lead this effort, and I look forward to the rapid and safe transfer of these chimpanzees to the Chimp Haven sanctuary.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-stansbury-leger-fernandez-urge-congress-prevent-looming-medicare-cuts,"Reps. Stansbury, Leger Fernández Urge Congress to Prevent Looming Medicare Cuts",2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03), joined 113 Members of Congress in a bipartisan letter to President Biden and House and Senate leadership urging swift action to prevent looming Medicare cuts.

Reps. Stansbury and Leger Fernández joined their colleagues urging action to prevent Medicare reimbursement cuts of over 8%. The cuts would cut back on the health care that the over 440,000 Medicare recipients in New Mexico depend on, particularly devastating to rural communities. The lawmakers’ letter comes as workforce shortages, supply chain issues, and the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to have a significant impact on the capacity of health care providers across New Mexico and the nation.

“We have heard from provider organizations that if these additional Medicare cuts are not prevented, medical groups and integrated systems of care would be forced to eliminate services, furlough staff, implement hiring freezes, and delay population health initiatives,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The combination of skyrocketing expenses, significant staffing shortages, and looming cuts to Medicare payments will only make a bad situation far worse – especially for seniors in rural and underserved areas who continue to face health care access issues,” the lawmakers concluded. “Physicians, in particular, do not receive inflationary updates in the Medicare program and, as a result, we urge Congressional intervention to prevent the entirety of these cuts. Anything short of this is still a cut that hurts providers and the patients that they treat.”

Reps. Stansbury and Leger Fernández joined the letter by led by Representatives Susan Wild (D-Pa.-07) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-Iowa-02) alongside a bipartisan group of 111 colleagues.

The following organizations support this letter: the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the Surgical Care Coalition, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH), the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Society of Interventional Radiology, Iowa Hospital Association, Lehigh Valley Health Network.

The full text of the letter is available below:

Dear President Biden, Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy,

We write today as a bipartisan group of lawmakers urging you to act quickly to prevent the more than 8 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement that will directly impact patients in this country. Reducing Medicare payments by more than 8 percent, which comes on the heels of the 2 percent sequestration cut resuming earlier this year, would directly harm our nation’s medical groups, physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers who care for our communities.

As you know, in addition to the 2 percent Medicare sequestration cut that went into full effect in July, these drastic reimbursement reductions are being driven by the 4 percent Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) requirement and the 4.47 percent cut to the Medicare conversion factor which affects many health care providers, including physicians. Compounded by workforce shortages, increased costs and supply chain issues, and the ongoing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, these cuts will impact the ability of providers to care for their patients. In fact, we have heard from provider organizations that if these additional Medicare cuts are not prevented, medical groups and integrated systems of care would be forced to eliminate services, furlough staff, implement hiring freezes, and delay population health initiatives. Congress must ensure that Medicare providers continue to have the necessary financial support to care for our nation’s seniors who rely on Medicare.

Providers will face cuts of more than 10 percent to Medicare payments on Jan. 1, 2023, which includes the 2 percent sequestration policy already in effect. We are opposed to paying for preventing these cuts with additional provider cuts. The combination of skyrocketing expenses, significant staffing shortages and looming cuts to Medicare payments will only make a bad situation far worse – especially for seniors in rural and underserved areas who continue to face health care access issues. Physicians, in particular, do not receive inflationary updates in the Medicare program and, as a result, we urge Congressional intervention to prevent the entirety of these cuts. Anything short of this is still a cut that hurts providers and the patients that they treat. We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and look forward to working together to ensure these cuts are prevented.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-clean-government-contracting-process,Rep. Stansbury Votes to Clean Up the Government Contracting Process,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON– Last night, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the bipartisan Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act to support the responsible use of taxpayer dollars and prevent federal contract awardees from gaming the system to benefit private client interests.

“New Mexicans should feel confident that their government spends taxpayer dollars for the public good—not to line the pockets of already successful corporations. The federal government’s reliance on contractors can create the potential for conflicts of interest that undermine governmental accountability and put the health and wellbeing of our communities at risk,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Last night, I was proud to vote to pass the bipartisan Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act to promote transparency and ensure that our government works in the best interest of every New Mexican.”

Recently, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform released a report detailing significant and long-running conflicts of interest between McKinsey and Company, a management consulting firm often hired by the federal government, which frequently completed conflicting work for the FDA and opioid manufacturers. The report, which calls into question whether consultants from McKinsey were providing biased advice to the FDA, and whether that advice was influenced by their relationship with the drug makers whose business practices are a root cause of the opioid epidemic, highlights the need for increased regulation over consulting companies contracted by the federal government.

The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act would help to mitigate and prevent conflicts of interest for entities receiving federal contracts by directing the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to:

Identify contracting methods, types, and services that raise heightened concerns for potential organizational conflicts of interest beyond those currently addressed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Revise the FAR to address organizational conflicts of interest and require executive agencies to take certain actions relating to conflict-of-interest procedures

Rep. Stansbury’s vote to pass the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act builds on her work to support good government and protect the future of our democracy. Previously, Rep. Stansbury voted to pass the Preventing a Patronage System Act to preserve merit-based civil service. She has also voted to pass the Presidential Election Reform Act to prevent future attempts at decertifying the presidential election.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-calls-passage-fy23-budget-she-votes-prevent-government-shutdown,Rep. Stansbury Calls for Passage of the FY23 Budget as She Votes to Prevent a Government Shutdown,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Tonight, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) released the following statement after voting to pass a Continuing Resolution. The resolution will keep the U.S. federal government open until December 23, 2022 as budget negotiations continue:

“Tonight, we voted for a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government operational in the coming days as we continue to fight for and negotiate budget that funds our communities’ priorities. That means passing a comprehensive budget for Fiscal Year 2023 that invests in the well-being of our communities and which delivers the $18 million in funding for community projects we helped secure for New Mexico. These projects are critical to help get fentanyl off the streets, improve public safety, address housing and homelessness, invest in behavioral health, and support economic development. We are working hard to make sure Congress makes good on its responsibility to fund these programs and get these dollars out the door.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/major-win-nms-economy-and-service-members-rep-stansbury-passes-pay-raises-and,"In a Major Win for N.M.’s Economy and Service Members, Rep. Stansbury Passes Pay Raises and Secures $9 Million in Projects for NM-01 in Defense Bill",2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—In support of New Mexico’s economy, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) today helped secure over $9 million in funding to establish and expand command offices at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB). This funding, included as part of the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act, also includes a 4.6% pay raise for service members, $22.8 million in new funding for KAFB, and $600,000 for the New Mexico Army National Guard.

The $9.1 million secured by Rep. Stansbury in project funding will help build new headquarter facilities for key offices at KAFB, including new space capabilities and additional missions. Rep. Stansbury also supported a request for $600,000 for the New Mexico Army National Guard.

“From our airmen and women at Kirtland Air Force Base to our scientists at Sandia Labs and AFRL, New Mexico plays a vital role in serving our country and national security,” said Rep. Stansbury. “This year, I’m proud to have secured key facility investments so that Kirtland can continue to be a leader in national security. This National Defense Authorization Act also provides a pay raise to our hardworking service members, and invests in the health and well-being of our service members and their families.”

Rep. Stansbury also voted to pass critical provisions in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act for New Mexico including:

A 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilians, in addition to supporting inflation bonuses for many service members and civilians

Behavioral health service expansion to improve access to behavioral health services for military service members and their families

Over 20% increase in basic research funding, strengthening the pipeline of future innovation

An extension of National Guard support for the Fireguard program until 2029.

The $22.8 million in new funding for Kirtland Air Force Base in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act will support:

$4.7 million for a new Joint Navigation Warfare Center Facility Planning and Development

$4.4 million for a new Space Rapid Capabilities Office Headquarters Facility Planning and Development

$4.1 million for F-16 Formal Training Unit Airfield Requirements Planning and Development

$15 million for High Speed Test Track Planning and Development

Nearly $11.2 million for the 58 SOW/PJ/CRO Pipeline Dorm Planning and Development

$2 million for ADAL Systems & Digital Engineering Lab Planning and Development

$540,000 for Explosives Operations Building Planning and Development

The full text of the FY 2023 can be found here. A text summary can be found here.

The FY2023 NDAA also:

Supports Military Service Members and Families

Adds $210 million for commissary to help reduce costs.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Adds funds to decrease BAH reduction by 2% and requires a report on a more transparent, fair, and flexible way to calculate the basic allowance for housing. Increases eligibility for BAH to cover more servicemembers.

Childcare: Requires the Secretary of Defense to complete a pay study and adjust the pay of child development center employees as compared to similarly trained and qualified public elementary school employees.

Spouse change of station reimbursement: Authorizes financial reimbursement for moving expenses for spouses with home businesses.

Access to behavioral health: The bill includes several provisions that:

Increase opportunities to grow the number of available behavioral health providers.

Require analysis of the number of providers needed to support care delivered at military treatment facilities and embedded in operational units.

Establish a program to better train civilian behavioral health providers to meet the unique challenges of service members and their families.

Expand license portability for providers delivering non-medical counseling.

Require the Government Accountability Office to review whether TRICARE conforms with the requirements of certain mental health parity laws.

Supports Addressing Issues Related to Wildfires

Extends the National Guard support for the Fireguard program until 2029.

Allows the DoD to transfer aircraft to other departments for the purposes of aiding search and rescue operations or emergency operations related to wildfires.

Adds the “National Interagency Fire Center” to the list of agencies that the National Guard should consult with during wildfire training

Accelerates Innovation Across the Science and Technology Ecosystem

Authorizes a 22.8% increase in basic research funding, strengthening the pipeline of future innovation.

Authorizes $300 million to create a new class of biomanufacturing capabilities and facilities, providing a crucial capability to transition products successfully proven in the lab to commercial scale.

Authorizes an additional $100 million to strengthen the domestic supply chain for critical elements of microelectronics production.

Continues Efforts to Address PFAS and PFOA Contamination

Requires the DoD to implement Comptroller General recommendations to set goals for the timely clean-up of formerly used defense sites that fall under the Military Munitions Response Program.

Modifies a prize program created in the FY21 NDAA created to incentivize private sector development of AFFF alternatives to include research on PFAS-free personal protective firefighting equipment.

Expands the list of non-essential items containing PFAS that DoD is prohibited from procuring for use within the DoD.

Supports Europe and Ukraine’s Capabilities to Counter Russia

Fully funds the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) budget request and invests in additional capabilities that support deterrence in the European Command area of operations, totaling over $6 billion for EDI purposes.

Includes $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Expresses the Sense of Congress in strong support of U.S. commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance and European partners.

Combats reliance on Russian energy: Requires all main operating bases in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility to adopt installation energy plans to increase energy resiliency and sustainability in order to reduce reliance on Russian energy and sets a DoD goal of eliminating their use of Russian energy entirely.

Supports and Empowers HBCUs and Other Minority Serving Institutions",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-secures-845-million-new-mexico-water-infrastructure,Rep. Stansbury Secures $84.5 Million for New Mexico Water Infrastructure,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in the House of Representatives, sending the $84.5 million she secured for critical New Mexico water infrastructure investments to the Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Rep. Stansbury secured funding for five of her proposed community-driven projects and programs in this year's WRDA to support New Mexico’s communities in their response to historic drought and unprecedented hydrologic change.

“Water is ground zero for climate change, and communities across New Mexico and the West are facing rapid hydrologic change,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Today, I was proud to secure $84.5 million to invest in programs to support New Mexico with sustainable water projects and programs that will help our rural and Tribal communities in navigating our biggest water challenges to build a more resilient future.”

These projects include a $7.5 million funding authorization increase for the Tribal Partnership Program, a $50 million funding authorization increase for Section 593 infrastructure projects in central New Mexico, a reduced cost-share for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Project from Bernalillo to Belen, $27 million for the restoration and preservation of acequia systems, and an updated hydrologic analysis for Estancia, New Mexico.

Every two years, the biannual WRDA provides authorization for activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in their work build sustainable infrastructure to meet New Mexico’s water management needs, support the restoration of our ecosystems, and reduce the damages caused by floods.

In addition to the investments secured by Rep. Stansbury, the omnibus legislation includes a provision championed by Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) in the Senate to increase funding for the Western Rural Water Program by $365 million to provide communities across New Mexico and the West with funds for critical drinking, waste, and storm water projects.

The community-driven projects for which Rep. Stansbury secured funding are as follows:

Tribal Partnership Program Funding

The Tribal Partnership Program is the only Corps authority that specifically directs partnerships with Tribes, facilitating vital funding for much-needed projects to promote environmental justice and equity.

In addition to the $7.5 million funding authorization increase she secured in this year’s WRDA, Rep. Stansbury helped to secure provisions directing the Corps to provide technical assistance to Tribes to prepare for flooding, drought, and extreme weather events, establish a Tribal Liaison who will serve as the direct line of communication between the Secretary and Tribal communities, and provide a full cost-share waiver at the discretion of the Secretary.

Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Cost Share

Rep. Stansbury also secured a provision for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Cost Share, which will direct the Corps to honor the original cost-share authorization of 25% for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico project.

Increased Funding for Section 593

Rep. Stansbury’s request to increase funding by $50 million under the Section 593 Authorization and include water reuse projects was also included in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act. This increase will fund critical projects to protect the water security of New Mexicans, ensure access to clean drinking water, and ensure responsible management of water infrastructure projects in New Mexico’s First Congressional District and across the state.

Acequia Resiliency and Tribal Acequia Program Funding

Rep. Stansbury also secured a $27 million funding increase for the Acequia Irrigation System in a provision that restores and preserves acequia systems by supporting critical infrastructure improvements of river diversion structures, increasing local capacity to manage and prevent invasions of plant species, and supporting the research and development of management solutions for invasive aquatic plants.

Updated Hydrologic Analysis Study for the Town of Estancia

Rep. Stansbury secured authorization for a feasibility study of an updated hydrologic analysis for the town of Estancia. The town of Estancia, as a rural, underserved community, is facing imminent threats of water shortages. A hydrologic analysis was completed in 2001 by the Corps, but the town has been unable to request funding for critical projects without an updated Hydrologic Analysis. Updating this hydrologic analysis will help the town of Estancia build much-needed infrastructure to divert and preserve water, protect agricultural production, and reduce flood hazards.

The 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) will also support New Mexicans’ water infrastructure and management needs through funding and project authorizations that include:

$22 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Española

$15.5 million for water infrastructure in Farmington

$2.9 million for wastewater infrastructure in Mora County

$21 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Santa Fe

A project authorization for water supply in the Lake Farmington Dam

A project authorization for dam supply improvements in the McClure Dam

Harmful algal bloom activities in the Rio Grande",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-protect-marriage-equality,Rep. Stansbury Votes to Protect Marriage Equality,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement celebrating House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act:

“Every person should be able to marry the person they love, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect this fundamental right. In a concurring opinion in the Dobbs decision, Supreme Court Justice Thomas made it clear that that fundamental freedoms and rights to privacy could be on the chopping block in addition to reproductive rights – including the right to same-sex and interracial marriage.

“The right to marry the person you love is a fundamental human and civil right. Love is love, and I am proud to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to ensure every state recognizes marriages of other states and repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. As this critical legislation makes its way to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law, we know that the Supreme Court’s recent decision places other fundamental rights under attack. In Congress, I will continue to fight to defend our rights to make decisions about our own bodies and protect our privacy.”

While marriage equality remains constitutionally protected, the Supreme Court’s majority decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade relied on arguments that could threaten other fundamental rights, including the right to marriage equality. In a concurring opinion on Dobbs, Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly cited decisions protecting other fundamental rights, including the right to same-sex marriage recognized in Obergefell v. Hodges.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-congratulates-new-congressional-leadership,Rep. Stansbury Congratulates New Congressional Leadership,2022-11-30,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement after the unanimous election of a new slate of Democratic Leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Democratic Caucus elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.-08) as Democratic Leader, Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.-05) as Whip, and Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.-31) as Caucus Chair:

“On this historic day in the House, the Democratic Caucus has unanimously elected a new generation of leaders representing the strength and diversity of the American people. I am deeply proud of the work of the Democratic Caucus in advancing game-changing legislation for our communities, and I will continue the fight alongside Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Chair Pete Aguilar.

“Following on two decades of historic leadership by Speaker Pelosi, Leader Jeffries becomes our nation’s first African American party leader. He brings his incredible leadership and experience uniting lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to tackle the issues that matter most to the American people. Standing with Leader Jeffries, Whip Clark brings leadership and a moral voice for our families and care economy to the critical role as Whip. And, Chair Aguilar makes history, becoming our first Latino Chair. He brings his tireless work defending our democracy on the January 6th Committee and advocacy for working families to our leadership team.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-adopt-tentative-agreement-sick-leave-rail-workers,"Rep. Stansbury Votes to Adopt Tentative Agreement, Sick Leave for Rail Workers",2022-11-30,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass a deal to advance rail worker protections and prevent a nationwide strike, including two resolutions that would adopt a Tentative Agreement and require seven days of paid sick leave for rail workers:

“As the daughter of a union strong family, I know that workers built this country and are the backbone of our economy. After extensive consultation with local and national rail workers and labor organizations, I was proud to advance legislation to protect rail worker benefits and help prevent a national strike. This deal and Tentative Agreement in the House will help protect our workers and keep rail freight moving during this critical time.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/lujan-nm-congressional-democrats-introduce-legislation-protect-chaco-canyon,"Luján, N.M. Congressional Democrats Introduce Legislation to Protect Chaco Canyon",2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON– Today,U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) reintroduced the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act to protect Chaco Canyon and the greater landscape surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. This legislation will prevent future leasing and development of oil, gas, and minerals on federal lands that are located within a 10-mile buffer zone around the park. This proposed Chaco Protection Zone will preserve the ancestral sites and cultural patrimony within Chaco Canyon and the surrounding landscape.

Recently, the Biden administration has moved forward with an Administrative Withdrawal of the 10-mile buffer zone. This legislation would provide urgently needed permanent protections by banning oil, gas, and mineral development on federal lands in the Greater Chaco Region.Additionally, this legislation would codify protections for private, state, and Tribal entities, including Navajo allottees, ensuring that existing rights are preserved as the area is protected.

“Since I was elected, protecting Chaco Canyon’s precious environmental and cultural resources has been my top priority. After leading a successful effort to pass my legislation in the House, I’m proud to reintroduce legislation in the Senate to continue those efforts to preserve this sacred landscape that has been the center of so much history and heritage for Pueblos and Tribes in New Mexico,” said Luján. “My team and I have continued meeting with all rights holders and local groups and listening to the surrounding communities impacted. With such important historical and cultural significance, my legislation ensures the Greater Chaco Region will be permanently protected and preserved for generations to come.""

“Chaco Canyon is one of the most culturally significant landscapes on Earth and holds deep meaning for Tribes, Pueblos, and communities in northern New Mexico. I am grateful for all of the New Mexicans who have worked to preserve the integrity of the Chaco Canyon landscape. I’m proud to once again cosponsor this legislation to permanently protect the critical cultural sites and the sacred landscape of the greater Chaco region for future generations,” said Heinrich.

“Simply put, Chaco Canyon and the Greater Chaco region are special, especially for the many Indian Tribes and Pueblos that revere and hold it sacred. From the multi-story buildings that are still standing to the many roads and communication sites that are still visible, these lands’ cultural resources and history are irreplaceable. I am introducing the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act so that we can further honor Chaco and ensure the federal lands located there are protected for generations to come. I have listened to Pueblo and Navajo leaders, Navajo allottees, and others about Chaco and I will continue to listen with an open heart,” said Leger Fernández.

“For decades, Pueblo and Tribal leaders have fought to protect the sacred and ancestral lands of Chaco Canyon,” said Stansbury. “Last year’s decision by Secretary Deb Haaland and the Biden Administration to begin consultations on protecting Chaco Canyon from resource extraction was a watershed moment in these efforts. Today, I am proud to join Tribal leaders and the New Mexico delegation in introducing legislation to protect these sacred lands and sites for generations to come by permanently protecting the Greater Chaco Canyon region.”

“Chaco Canyon and the significant structures and sacred landscape spreading throughout the Greater Chaco Region have existed for thousands of years. The Great Houses and Kivas serve as an example to the world of the vast traditional knowledge Indigenous peoples held in the past and currently maintain in the present. Those structures are the footprints of our ancestors, and they continue to keep us grounded in who we are today. The All Pueblo Council of Governors and member Pueblos have long advocated for protection of our traditional ecological knowledge and, with the introduction of this bill, we have an opportunity to maintain our traditions, languages, and cultures. We thank Senator Luján and Congresswoman Leger Fernandez as well as Senator Heinrich and Congresswoman Stansbury for serving as our Congressional champions, and we look forward to working with Congress to make this law,” said Mark Mitchell, Chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-honors-speaker-pelosis-decades-service-and-leadership,Rep. Stansbury Honors Speaker Pelosi’s Decades of Service and Leadership,2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) released the following statement:

“Speaker Pelosi is one of the greatest leaders in American history. It is impossible to overstate how much New Mexico and the nation have benefitted from her service to our country. From shattering glass ceilings as the first woman to hold the Speaker’s gavel in the House of Representatives to mentoring a new class of women leaders, to leading our Caucus with grace and distinction, Speaker Pelosi’s accomplishments are unparalleled and will last for generations to come.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-highlights-new-mexicos-contributions-james-webb-space,VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Highlights New Mexico’s Contributions to James Webb Space Telescope,2022-11-16,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK:Watch here.

WASHINGTON– During a House Committee of Science, Space and Technology hearing this morning that examined the initial findings and discoveries of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)highlighted New Mexico’s contributions to the fields of aerospace, science, and technology, and the critical learning opportunities the James Webb Space Telescope provides for New Mexico’s students.

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks touched on the work of University of New Mexico professors who helped construct elements of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and emphasized how the telescope is creating critical opportunities for scientists and students across New Mexico to learn and pioneer new fields. Rep. Stansbury spoke to the importance of collaboration and student input in STEM fields before questioning the witness panel which included Dr. MarkClampin, Astrophysics Division Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Division (NASA), Dr. Steven L. Finkelstein, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Houston, and Dr. Natalie Batalha, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Director of Astrobiology at the University of California Santa Cruz.

“In my home state of New Mexico, which is a powerhouse in science, technology, and aerospace, we could not be more excited about Webb,” said Rep. Stansbury.“The discoveries of this telescope not only will tell us more about the universe and our place in it, but are helping to excite and energize a whole new generation of aerospace engineers, scientists, and thinkers about the universe.”

Rep. Stansbury continued by questioning the witness panel on the scientific discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope.“What are you personally most excited about and surprised about what we're learning from the telescope? What is the next chapter of exploration, and what are we learning from the Webb project that is telling us where we need to extend the frontiers of science and knowledge?”

Dr.Clampinresponded, stating, “I think the next big challenge is the search for life, and I spoke briefly in my initial remarks about how we will address the National Academies Decadal Survey by trying to build a six meter or more space telescope, that will look for habitable exoplanets around solar type stars.”

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks as delivered can be found below:

Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the committee for letting me participate today. As folks have noted already on this hearing this morning, we're not only celebrating the findings of the Webb telescope, but also the successful launch of Artemis One, and as a woman in STEM, I want to just note that it's being led by an amazing group of women, including Charlie Blackwell Thompson, who is the first woman ever in American history to oversee a NASA countdown and launch, and so this is long overdue in history making along with all of the scientific discoveries that we're talking about this morning.

And I too want to add to the chorus of everyone who's been working on the Webb telescope, and the science that's coming out of it. After three decades of bipartisan work, dedicated collaboration by our extraordinary scientists and engineers at NASA, our space industries, and of course, scientists across the world, this amazing telescope launched last December and I want to say on a personal note, I was among the millions of people who stayed up late through the night and into the morning on Christmas morning to watch the launch of this telescope, and had the extraordinary opportunity when I was working on Space Policy at OMB as a staffer to actually see the assembly of the telescope at Goddard.

And so it's really been an exciting journey to see the telescope launch and everything that's coming out of it. In my home state of New Mexico, which is a powerhouse in science, technology and aerospace, we could not be more excited about the Webb telescope, and what it's teaching us about the origins of the universe and our place in it, but also helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers, who are not only engaged in this work, but also the students who we've been talking about this morning, who are inspired by what we're finding from this project.

In particular, Professor Tony Hull, who's a professor at the University of New Mexico, was part of the team that helped to polish the telescope's mirrors, which are bringing these extraordinary images back to us, and other scientists at our major flagship university, including Professor Dragomir is working as part of a team to explore exoplanets and unique phenomenon outside of our solar system.

As we've been discussing this morning, the discoveries of this telescope not only will tell us more about the universe and our place in it, but are helping to excite and energize a whole new generation of aerospace engineers and scientists and thinkers about the universe, and so I want to use the remainder of my time to ask each of our three panelists two questions.

The first is, what are you personally most excited about and surprised about what we're learning from the telescope? And the second is what is the next chapter of exploration, what are we learning from the Webb project that is telling us where we need to extend the frontiers of science and knowledge? So starting with Dr. Clampin? Maybe could you share your thoughts on what are you personally most excited and surprised about and what the next chapter is?

So I've been most excited by the transmission spectra from exoplanets that Dr. Batalha showed. I think they're really excitingand I'm looking forward to seeing observations that the TRAPPIST-1 system come in. As far as what where we go next, I think the next big challenge is the search for life, and they talked briefly in my initial remarks about how we will address the National Academies Decadal Survey by trying to build a six meter or more space telescope, that will look for habitable exoplanets around solar type stars, and then characterize them to look for evidence of life. So that's kind of where I think we're going next.

Thank you. And Dr. Finkelstein?

So I think for the near future, what I'm most excited about is to look even deeper. The early release science images I've shown you they're very shallow, they're less than an hour of exposure time. And in cycle one, there are a number of deeper programs including a public deep field called NG Deep that will be observed at the beginning of February. And so soon we will have the Debussy equivalent of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Into the future, in the not-too-distant future. I'm extremely excited about the potential of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. One of the exciting things we're finding is that the early universe has big bright galaxies and that telescope although it has a smaller mirror, has a much larger camera. It's optimized for finding these massive, rare beasts in the early universe and it's going to be fantastic to have that capability very soon.

Amazing. And Dr. Batalha?

Yeah, I will echo what Dr. Clampin said but I wanted to add one thing about the exoplanets. The most common type of planet known to humanity right now is a kind of planet we don't even have in our own solar system. It's intermediate to the rocky terrestrials and the big gas giants. We call them Super Earths but actually we don't really understand their nature. Is this more real estate for life? That's a big question on our mind. And this is a class of planets that JWST will be able to characterize and shed light on exactly their nature. Very excited to see that happen.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-announce-beginning-fema-claims-process-public,"N.M. Congressional Democrats Announce Beginning Of FEMA Claims Process, Public Comment Period For Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act",2022-11-15,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) announced that New Mexicans impacted by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire can now submit a Notice of Loss form to signal interest in beginning the claims process with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA expects to start contacting those who submitted Notice of Loss forms and begin paying claims in early 2023.

New Mexico’s Congressional Democrats successfully secured the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act and $2.5 billion for FEMA to establish and carry out the requirements of the bill in September. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act was introduced by Senator Luján and Representative Leger Fernández, and co-sponsored by Senator Heinrich and Representative Stansbury.

FEMA has published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register implementing the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act on November 14 and is now seeking public comment on this Interim Final Rule. The public comment period will run from Nov. 14, 2022, through Jan. 13, 2023, and comments can be submitted atRegulations.gov.

The Hermit’s Peak/Canyon Fire Assistance Act provides compensation for those impacted by the fire. The compensation may cover eligible loss, including personal injury, loss of property, business loss or financial loss.

FEMA’s Interim Final Rule guides the claims process and describes necessary documentation, evaluation criteria and compensation available for those impacted by the fire and subsequent flooding. The rule also provides additional guidance for appeal rights, arbitration and judicial review.

Notice of Loss forms can be submitted to FEMA by:

Email:fema-hermits-peak@fema.dhs.gov

Mail: FEMA Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, P.O. Box 1329, Santa Fe, NM 87504

The Notice of Loss form to submit to FEMA can be foundhere.

Once the Claims Office reviews the Notice of Loss form and confirms completeness, FEMA will have 180 days to determine the amount to be paid to the claimant. The FEMA Claims Office is expected to be fully operational in early 2023, which is when they will begin to respond to claims.

FEMA will hold four in-person public meetings to solicit public feedback about the Interim Final Rule.

FEMA will hold meetings on the below dates.

November 17, 2022 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. MT at Old Memorial Middle School, 947 Legion Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701;

December 1, 2022 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. MT at the Mora High School, 10 Ranger Road, Mora, NM 87732;

December 15, 2022 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. MT at Old Memorial Middle School, 947 Legion Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701; and

January 5, 2023 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. MT at the Mora High School, 10 Ranger Road, Mora, NM 87732.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-one-year-later-infrastructure-law-delivering,"N.M. Congressional Democrats: One Year Later, The Infrastructure Law Is Delivering Billions In Historic Infrastructure Investments For New Mexicans",2022-11-15,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) are highlighting billions of dollars in historic infrastructure investments on the first anniversary of the landmark Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act becoming law.

“One year ago today, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act championed by Democrats was signed into law. We delivered billions in historic investments for New Mexico to rebuild and strengthen our roads and bridges, water and energy infrastructure, high-speed internet delivery, and so much more,”said Heinrich. “These investments mean good-paying jobs and ensure that New Mexico’s infrastructure meets 21st century needs. Now, matched with the successes of the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and yearly Appropriations, Democrats are truly making smart, long-term investments that will increase opportunities for every New Mexican and change the very course of our nation’s future.”

“Here in New Mexico where our scientific laboratory research fuels our power grids, our crop fields feed our nation, and our roads connect millions of Americans from the East to the West, updated infrastructure is absolutely essential,”said Luján. “The extraordinary investment the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made one year ago today has set off a domino effect of much needed improvements to our nation’s infrastructure and created countless good-paying jobs. Today will be the first of many anniversaries to come in celebrating this lasting and historic once-in-a-generation investment.”

“Today, I am proud to celebrate one year of critical investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has already touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans,”said Stansbury. “Through billions of dollars of funding for our roads, broadband, water, climate resilience, and wildfire response, and more, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already creating good-paying union jobs across our state. I look forward to continuing our work in the years to come to maximize the full potential of this funding to build climate resilience and an economy that works for all New Mexicans.”

“One year ago, we made the biggest investment in our infrastructure in a generation. The bipartisan infrastructure law has already gone to work in New Mexico, and these projects will directly benefit our comunidades,”said Leger Fernández. “High speed broadband for our rural vecinos, investments that protect our precious water resources, and expansion of renewable energy will both lift our economy and put New Mexico on track to success.”

The Infrastructure Law is set to invest $3.7 billion in formula funding alone for a range of vital projects in New Mexico. Some of the projects and priorities receiving federal funding from the Infrastructure Law include:

$1.1 billion for New Mexico’s Roads and Bridges.

$379 million over five years, based on formula funding, for New Mexico’s public transit. To date, New Mexico has been allocated $73.5 million to improve public transportation options across the state in fiscal year 2022.

$311 million for Clean Drinking Water.

$241 million for infrastructure resilience, including $18.7 million through the Army Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation.

$160 million, the first installment of funding from the Infrastructure Law, to support the completion of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System pipeline in eastern New Mexico.

$146,987,149 to help Tribes deploy broadband infrastructure.

$123 million this year for the Navajo-Gallup Water Project, which includes the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

$46 million for capping orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaiming abandoned mine lands and $3.9 million has been allocated to cleaning up Superfund and brownfield sites.

$38 million over five years, based on formula funding, to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.

$36.1 million for clean energy, energy efficiency, and power.

$24 million for airports across New Mexico.

$18.1 million for Clean School Buses and Low Emission Buses.

142,000 New Mexicans Saving on Broadband: If you think you might qualify for internet programs, find out atGetInternet.gov.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-recognizes-veterans-day,Rep. Stansbury Recognizes Veterans Day,2022-11-11,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), released the following statement honoring veterans in New Mexico and across the nation:

“From the Navajo Code Talkers to the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, New Mexicans have a long and proud tradition of service that extends throughout our communities. Today and every day, we take the time to honor our veterans in New Mexico and across the nation for their service and sacrifice to defend our democracy, our freedoms, and the ideals that we strive for as we work to form a more perfect union.

“As we express our deep gratitude to our veterans for their service, we must act to fulfill our sacred obligations to those who have served. In Congress, I was proud to vote to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act to expand health care access for 3.5 million veterans as I fought alongside our delegation to keep the doors of New Mexico’s rural veterans’ clinics open. Now, I am preparing to return to Washington, D.C. to get funding across the finish line for the first all-veteran transitional housing service in the First Congressional District. It is humbling to serve our veterans and their families. I will continue to work hard support our veterans by passing meaningful legislation to expand access to health care and PTSD care, dedicated housing support, and economic opportunities that take advantage of the important skills our veterans bring home with them.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-announce-545099-inflation-reduction-act-american,"N.M. Congressional Democrats Announce $545,099 In Inflation Reduction Act, American Rescue Plan Funding For New Mexico Air Monitoring Projects",2022-11-07,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) announced $545,099 in federal funding under the Inflation Reduction Act and American Rescue Plan to enhance air quality monitoring in marginalized communities.

The Fiscal Year 2022 funding supported by New Mexico Congressional Democrats and awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is as follows:

The Pueblo de San Ildefonso will receive $485,466 to install air monitors to measure the levels of pollutants and to monitor smoke and dust concentrations near the Pueblo. The data from these monitors will help with developing strategies to minimize residents’ exposure to harmful pollutants.

The New Mexico Energy Department received $59,633 to monitor several pollutants in the Carlsbad area and study health impacts. Data will be used to determine appropriate, effective strategies to reduce emissions.

“Thanks to historic investments secured by Democrats in the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act, New Mexico is on a path to enjoying cleaner and healthier air. That means fewer children with asthma and fewer seniors with breathing conditions,”said Heinrich. “Securing this federal funding for the New Mexico Environment Department will further our understanding of harmful air pollutants, allowing us to create better strategies to mitigate the impacts on public health and improve air quality. I’m also pleased to see these laws support the establishment of air quality monitoring programs for Tribes like the Pueblo de San Ildefonso, so that they too can reap the benefits of cleaner air.”

“Harmful air and pollutants are an environmental injustice that affects millions of Americans every day,” said Luján. “I’m proud to welcome this funding that will establish air quality monitoring to sensor the smoke and dust quality throughout New Mexico and the San Ildefonso Pueblo. Air quality monitoring is essential in protecting our communities from harmful pollutants by minimizing future exposure and health risks.”

“I’m excited to learn that the New Mexico Environment Department and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso will be awarded key funding for projects to conduct air monitoring in our communities, reduce emissions, and safeguard the health of our communities,”said Stansbury. “For far too long, Tribes, Pueblos, and historically underserved communities across our state have suffered the impacts of environmental pollution and poor air quality. I’m proud that the Inflation Reduction Act is supporting investments that will help us to protect our environment while decreasing pollution and protecting the health and wellbeing of our communities across New Mexico.”

“The Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue plan are working in New Mexico. I am pleased to see these grants awarded to the state’s Environment Department and San Ildefonso Pueblo,”said Leger Fernández. “Better air quality monitoring and data give us the solutions to reduce harmful pollution. This is how we keep our communities healthy and create a more prosperous future para todos. We will be seeing more awards benefiting New Mexico directly to protect our natural resources.”

Heinrich, Luján, Stansbury, and Leger Fernández fought to secure over $30 million in that Inflation Reduction Act that added to the original $20 million from the American Rescue Plan, which has allowed the EPA to double the number of projects by community-based nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and Tribal governments to conduct air monitoring in communities, particularly in communities that are underserved and historically marginalized.

“I’ve traveled across the country and visited communities who’ve suffered from unhealthy, polluted air for far too long. I pledged to change that by prioritizing underserved communities and ensuring they have the resources they need to confront longstanding pollution challenges,”said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The air monitoring projects we are announcing today, which include the first EPA grants funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will ensure dozens of overburdened communities have the tools they need to better understand air quality challenges in their neighborhoods and will help protect people from the dangers posed by air pollution.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-deliver-over-228-million-federal-funding-nm-prevent,"N.M. Congressional Democrats Deliver Over $22.8 Million In Federal Funding For N.M. To Prevent Crime, Increase Safety",2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) announced a total of $22,840,294 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that was supported by the lawmakers in the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. These federal investments will support community solutions to prevent crime, increase public safety, provide services for victims of violent crime, and enhance Tribal services.

“Every New Mexican deserves to feel safe. That’s why I fought so hard to pass major gun reform legislation earlier this year. And it’s why I’m proud to deliver this federal funding for proven solutions that will prevent crime and make our communities safer,”said Sen. Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Until we all feel safe in our homes and neighborhoods, I will keep working to secure funding for effective, community-driven solutions.”

“Communities in New Mexico look out for one another,”said Sen. Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to welcome these federal investments to support community led solutions to increase public safety, support victims, and prevent crimes. Community-led solutions will prioritize New Mexicans and address the root cause of crime to ensure a safe and protected New Mexico.”

“Every New Mexican should feel safe, which is why I am working hard in Congress to secure the federal resources that we need,”said Rep. Stansbury. “I’m proud that the over $22 million in funding we’re announcing today will send vital resources to our State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies, prevent violence, help address the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and relatives, and help fund our court systems. I will continue working with our delegation to bring more public safety resources home to New Mexico.”

“This funding will help our communities bolster their public safety programs and improve the lives of Nuevo Mexicanos,”said Rep. Leger Fernández. “I’m especially pleased by the funding for tribal governments to prevent sexual assault and violence against women. When we invest in our comunidades and do a better job of preventing and responding to crime, we invest in a better future.”

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Funding

DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is delivering a total of$6,338,500 in federal funding to support local efforts to purchase of equipment and technology, hire additional law enforcement officers, and promote school safety. These investments are a result of funding included in the FY22 Consolidated Appropriations Act and passed into law by New Mexico Congressional Democrats. For more information on the projects secured by New Mexico Congressional Democrats clickhere.

COPS Technology and Equipment Program (TEP):

$1,471,000 and $435,000 for the City of Albuquerque

$1,000,000 for Rio Arriba County

$866,000 and $379,000 for Sandoval County

$575,000 for the City of Carlsbad

$350,000 for Dona Ana County

Funding under TEP is provided for congressionally directed spending projects designed to develop and acquire effective equipment, technologies, and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime.

COPS Hiring Program (CHP):

$375,000 for the City of Rio Rancho to hire three officers.

$250,000 to help the City of Clovis to hire two officers.

CHP grants provide 75% of the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of each newly hired and/or rehired full-time officer for three years, up to $125,000 per officer position, to be expended over a five-year grant period.

COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP):

$375,000 for Raton Municipal School District 11

$262,500 for the City of Farmington

The COPS Office will provide funding for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures providing a significant improvement in security.

Office of Violence Against Women Funding

The DOJ’s Office of Violence Against Women is awarding a total of$4,178,078 to several New Mexico entities. These investments are a result of funding included in the FY22 Consolidated Appropriations Act and passed into law by New Mexico Congressional Democrats.

The Indian Tribal Governments Program:

$1,000,000 to the Mescalero Apache Tribe

$999,306 to Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council

$868,098 to the Pueblo of Nambe

The Indian Tribal Governments Program assists Tribal governments and authorized designees of Tribal governments to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in their communities.

The Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program:

$375,000 to Casa Fortaleza in Albuquerque

$299,920 to Enlace Comunitario in Albuquerque

The Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program supports culturally specific community-based organizations in addressing the critical needs of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking victims in a manner that affirms a victim’s culture.

Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program:

$299,999 for the University of New Mexico

This program encourages a comprehensive coordinated community approach that enhances victim safety, provides services for victims, and supports efforts to hold offenders accountable. The funding supports activities that develop and strengthen trauma informed victim services and strategies to prevent, investigate, and respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

The Tribal Coalitions Program:

$335,755 to the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women

This program helps increase awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault against Native women; enhance the response to violence against Native women at the federal, state, and Tribal levels; identify and provide technical assistance to coalition membership and Tribal communities to enhance access to essential services to Native women victimized by domestic and sexual violence, including sex trafficking; and assist Tribes in developing and promoting state, local, and Tribal legislation and policies that enhance best practices for responding to violent crimes against Native women, including the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking.

Office of Justice Programs

The DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs is awarding Tribes in New Mexico a total of$4,206,437. These investments are a result of funding included in the FY22 Consolidated Appropriations Act and passed into law by New Mexico Congressional Democrats.

Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Grant Program:

$873,297 for the Pueblo of Pojoaque

$609,751 for the Pueblo of Zuni

$609,751 for the Pueblo of Santa Clara

$504,456 for the Pueblo of Acoma

$504,456 for the Pueblo of Isleta

$410,246 for the Pueblo of Nambe

$347,240 for the Pueblo of Santa Ana

$347,240 for the Pueblo of Zia

This funding from the Office for Victims of Crime will help Tribes improve services for victims of crime.

The DOJ’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Programis awarding local government entities in New Mexico a total of $2,909,476. These investments are a result of funding included in the FY22 Consolidated Appropriations Act and passed into law by New Mexico Congressional Democrats.

The DOJ is awarding Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program funding for the following:

$1,953,303 to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety

$687,375 to the City of Albuquerque

$14,809 to the City of Carlsbad

$21,842 to the City of Clovis

$48,602 to the City of Farmington

$48,630 to the City of Gallup

$21,728 to the City of Hobbs

$59,381 to the City of Las Cruces

$13,609 to the Village of Los Lunas

$13,180 to the City of Rio Rancho

$27,017 to Valencia County

The Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program provides states, territories, Tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement; prosecution and court; prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment and enforcement; planning, evaluation, and technology improvement; and crime victim and witness initiatives. It also provides funding support for mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs such as behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams.

DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) awards to the following Tribes in New Mexico:

$900,000 for the Pueblo of Acoma

$899,204 for the Pueblo of Santa Ana

$899,737 for the Pueblo of Zia

$500,000 for the Pueblo of Zia

DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services has awarded Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) awards to the following Tribes in New Mexico:

$642,831 for the Pueblo of Acoma

$670,048 for the Pueblo of Jemez

$695,983 for the Pueblo of Pojoaque

The total funding of$5,207,803 is a result from discretionary funding included in the FY22 Consolidated Appropriations Act and passed into law by New Mexico Congressional Democrats.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-joins-president-biden-cnm-highlight-efforts-lower-costs-new,Rep. Stansbury Joins President Biden at CNM to Highlight Efforts to Lower Costs for New Mexico Families,2022-11-03,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) joined Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (N.M.) to welcome President Joe Biden to New Mexico. During an event at the Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), Rep. Stansbury highlighted President Biden’s efforts to relieve up to $20,000 in student debt relief to New Mexicans and addressed the importance of Governor Lujan Grisham's work to create a more affordable higher education system for every New Mexican.

A graduate of CNM, Rep. Stansbury received technical certifications in wastewater management, fire science, and solar installation. During the event, Rep. Stansbury addressed an audience of educators, school administrators, and state legislators as she highlighted efforts to bring student debt relief to over 200,000 New Mexicans alongside Governor Lujan Grisham, Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03), and CNM President Tracy Hartzler.

“The pursuit of the American Dream through higher education shouldn’t come with a lifetime of debt. Today, I am proud to stand alongside President Biden and Governor Lujan Grisham to highlight our efforts to lower costs and bring up to $20,000 of student debt relief to New Mexicans,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Nearly 216,000 borrowers in New Mexico will benefit from President Biden’s decisive action to bring relief to our working families. I’m proud that New Mexico is leading the way for the nation by creating a future where every student can succeed.”

In Congress, Rep. Stansbury led the introduction of the College Completion Fund Act with Rep. Joe Neguse (Colo.-02) and Rep. André Carson (Ind.-07). The legislation is designed to promote college completion and address longstanding inequities in college access and success by funding comprehensive programs to support students in their educational needs.

Rep. Stansbury is also a cosponsor of the College for All Act, which would eliminate public university tuition and required fees for eligible students, revise the Pell Grant Program, and reauthorize certain programs to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks as delivered can be found below.

It's wonderful to be here with you this morning. I am Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, and I am so proud to represent New Mexico's First Congressional District. And you all are right here in the heart of our Congressional District. And we are so proud, honored and excited to welcome our incredible President today to New Mexico.

I also just wanted to share on a personal note, as an alum of our Central New Mexico Community College, I'm so excited to be here with so many of our faculty, the leadership, the President, and also I see a lot of our friends in the audience from labor. I am a proud graduate of a number of our trades programs, and went to CNM back when it was called the Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute and took trades classes.

And in fact, in this very building, I got my wastewater, OSHA, and hazardous waste certifications here at TVI. I took welding and fire science, and I even took a solar engineering and electronics class. And I don't want to brag, but I do wire a mean circuit!

So I am well prepared for the economy of the future, and that's exactly what CNM does, is prepare our students and our tradespeople for our economic opportunities. Not only for their families, but also to help spur innovation and economic development for our state. And I couldn't be prouder than to be here today to celebrate the incredible accomplishments not only of our President, but also of our Governor, and our Legislature, and our Congress in helping to support trades education and college.

In fact, our state, the state of New Mexico is the very first state in the United States to guarantee a free college and trades education for every single New Mexican! That would not have happened without our Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, and her incredible vision for our state, and the work that our President is doing tirelessly since he took office to address student debt.

In fact, thousands of New Mexicans, over 200,000 New Mexicans are going to receive debt relief and the vast majority of those individuals are working New Mexicans who work every single day. That is putting money back into the pockets of our families and all of our folks who have gone out there and gotten an education and who are working hard to contribute to our community.

I want to say: this is a big deal. Millions of Americans, hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans, are going to see debt relief. Every single New Mexican who wants to pursue a trades education or a higher education degree now has the opportunity to do this.

We are about to make a historic investment in early childhood education this year, and I am proud to be a sponsor of the bill in Congress to help provide congressional authority. New Mexico is leading. We are at the forefront. We are caring for our families.

Our Governor, our President, our legislature, our congressional delegation, are fighting for New Mexico families to ensure that every single New Mexican gets an education, has the opportunity to pursue their dreams, has the opportunity to thrive, and has the opportunity to pay it forward and invest in our economy.

In addition to that, we have passed game-changing legislation to invest in our communities, passing one of the largest bipartisan infrastructure bills ever in American history. It's going to rebuild our roads and our water infrastructure and provide opportunities to build broadband all across the state so our communities can connect.

We passed the CHIPS Act, which is investing in our innovation and our STEM economy. And, it included my very first bill that I filed when I got to Congress, that is a bill that Senator Luján has been championing for years to create partnerships between our national labs, our community colleges, our Tribal colleges, and HBCUs to harness the brilliance, creativity, and innovation inside our communities to tackle our biggest challenges, climate change, and clean energy. That is what leadership looks like. That is how we are delivering for our people, for our families and for our communities.

So I could not be prouder than to have our President, our Governor, our Delegation, and local leaders here with us today to celebrate all of the things that we are doing to serve our communities, because it will transform our communities and the opportunity of every child and every student in New Mexico.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-releases-new-small-business-toolkit-during-first-week-national,Rep. Stansbury Releases New Small Business Toolkit During the First Week of National Entrepreneurship Month,2022-11-02,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –During the first week of National Entrepreneurship Month,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)released a new Federal Small Business Toolkit that her office created as a one-stop shop for New Mexico’s small business owners to find federal resources and assistance.

New Mexico’s small businesses are the foundation of the state’s economy, accounting for 99 percent of the state’s businesses and employing over 54 percent of the state’s workforce. Last year, thanks to federal support for small businesses driven by the Democratic majority in Congress, New Mexicans filed 24,300 small business applications, up from a pre-pandemic average of 15,000 annual applications.

“I grew up right here in New Mexico digging irrigation trenches and bussing tables for my family’s small businesses – I know firsthand that our entrepreneurs need federal support to continue serving our communities,” said Rep. Stansbury.“In Congress, I have been working hard to bring resources home for our small businesses and cut red tape to help small businesses compete in our economy. During National Entrepreneurship Month, I’m proud to release my office’s new Small Business Toolkit to empower small business owners and entrepreneurs with the information and support they need to access key funding opportunities, technical assistance, workforce development programs, and trainings.”

BACKGROUND:

This year, Rep. Stansbury helped pass five bills to support and expand federal services for small business owners and entrepreneurs. In April, Rep. Stansbury celebrated the first year of New Mexico’s first Minority Business Development Agency, which she helped establish permanent funding for through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Rep. Stansbury also voted to pass the Relief for Restaurants and Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022, legislation she cosponsored, which would replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund with $42 million and establish $13 billion in the Hard Hit Industries Award Program to assist New Mexico small businesses that continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July, Rep. Stansbury voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 budget out of the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes $1.1 billion for the Small Business Administration to support small businesses through Small Business Development Centers, technical assistance, and technology partnership programs.

Rep. Stansbury’s Small Business Toolkit is availablehere.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-releases-new-report-demonstrating-historic-job-growth-new,Rep. Stansbury Releases New Report Demonstrating Historic Job Growth in New Mexico’s First Congressional District,2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)released a new report from the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee that shows the policies she has championed during her time in office have helped to create 24,400 jobs in New Mexico’s First Congressional District during the past two years alone. During the same period, 10 million new jobs have been created nationwide, bringing unemployment to historically low levels.

“I grew up in a working family right here in New Mexico, and I know what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month. That’s why I have worked alongside Governor Lujan Grisham and President Biden to create jobs. In Congress, I helped pass historic legislation to sustain 24,400 new jobs right here inNew Mexico,while cutting costs for our workers, families, and small businesses facing the impacts of global inflation,” said Rep. Stansbury.“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Actare helping to create good-paying jobs and lower costs for household essentials.”

The new report from the Joint Economic Committee shows:

Historically Strong Job Creation:Data show that 24,400 jobs have been created in New Mexico’s First Congressional District since President Biden came into office, and 66,200 jobs have been created statewide.

Clean Energy Jobs:Last year, 53,000 workers in New Mexico’s First Congressional District were employed in clean energy and emerging sectors of the economy, and 25,000 more worked in occupations that will be increasingly in demand as the United States transitions to cleaner, more secure energy.

Manufacturing Jobs:As of September, 1,000 manufacturing jobs have been created in New Mexico’s First Congressional District since President Biden came into office. Statewide, more than 2,400 manufacturing jobs have been created.

Business Growth:Last year, 9,900 applications to start a new business were filed in New Mexico’s First Congressional District, up from an average of 5,900 per year pre-pandemic. There were 24,300 business applications filed in New Mexico, up from an average of 15,000 per year before the pandemic.

Among the many job-creating measures that Rep. Stansbury has helped pass are the CHIPS and Science Act, which includes Rep. Stansbury’s Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act to boost New Mexico’s STEM economy; the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes historic investments in affordable, clean, secure American energy, cuts prescription drug costs, and reduces out-of-pocket health care costs for seniors and families; and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is rebuilding our roads, bridges, and transit systems, expanding broadband for rural communities, and replacing lead pipes to clean up drinking water.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-welcomes-vice-president-harris-new-mexico-calls-action-codify,"Rep. Stansbury Welcomes Vice President Harris to New Mexico, Calls for Action to Codify Abortion Rights Into Law Nationwide",2022-10-25,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) joined Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to New Mexico. Ahead of Vice President Harris’ discussion on reproductive rights with the governor, Rep. Stansbury echoed their call for immediate action to codify the right to an abortion into law nationwide.

Rep. Stansbury addressed an audience of reproductive health advocates, health care providers, and New Mexico state legislators alongside Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller,University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes, and HHS Regional Director SimaLadjevardianas she discussed the challenges facing abortion providers in New Mexico, the work of the Biden-Harris administration, and the fight to defend reproductive health care.

“New Mexico is leading the way to protect reproductive rights, and that is why Vice President Harris is here. I am proud to stand alongside Vice President Harris, Governor Lujan Grisham, Senator Luján, Mayor Keller, and local leaders to fight for our right to reproductive healthcare and abortion access,”said Rep. Stansbury. “New Mexico’s action to protect safe and legal abortion offers a clear path forward for the rest of the nation. And, we are only leading the nation because of the countless advocates and health care workers, who have fought for decades to protect reproductive care. Today, I’m standing with our communities and our leadership to call for immediate action at a national level to defend our fundamental right to choice and ensure that essential reproductive healthcare services are available to every community.”

In Congress, Rep. Stansbury voted to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act out of the U.S. House of Representatives, which would establish a federal statutory right for abortion into law. Rep. Stansbury also voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act out of the House of Representatives to protect access to contraception and the right to travel to receive abortion care.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-mayor-hart-moriarty-firefighters-break-ground-new-fire,"VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury, Mayor Hart, Moriarty Firefighters Break Ground on New Fire Station",2022-10-24,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) joined Moriarty Mayor Ted Hart, Fire Chief Todd Hart, and State Representatives Matthew McQueen (HD-50) to break ground on the new Moriarty Fire Station. Rep. Stansbury celebrated how the $5.25 million in funding she secured for the Fire Station on her very first day in office will support local first responders and decrease emergency response times for rural communities in the East Mountains.

On her first day in office, Rep. Stansbury secured over $10 million in funding for Community Projects in New Mexico’s First Congressional District that combat crime and invest in public safety, economic development, education, and youth programs for communities across New Mexico. The $5.25 million secured for the Moriarty Fire Station was included in the larger FY 2022 budget signed into law by President Biden in March.

“Our brave firefighters in Moriarty deserve a top-of-the-line Fire Station as they work hard to serve communities across the East Mountains,” said Rep. Stansbury. “On Day One in office, I got straight to work to secure this funding and invest in our rural communities, and I am so proud to be breaking ground on Moriarty’s brand-new Fire Station today. I am determined to continue working to secure investments like these for our rural communities in Congress.”

“Our first responders deserve a station that they’re proud to call home, and I am glad I’ve been able to contribute to a new Fire Station for the City of Moriarty,” said State Rep. McQueen. “I am thankful to our Congresswoman for stepping up in a big way to make this happen, and I want to thank our first responders for everything they do each day.”

“I want to thank Congresswoman Stansbury and Representative McQueen for helping us get the funding we need for this facility—a state-of-the-art facility for a rural area that can be utilized throughout the entire county,” said Mayor Hart.

“We started this project a little more than five years ago,” said Fire Chief Hart. “With this new facility, our firefighters will have living conditions that are the same as their homes, because let's face it, this is their home away from home. The new facility will offer a decontamination room where carcinogens will stay out of the living areas, and be in the areas that are contained, to keep them safe and reduce the risk of cancer.”

The groundbreaking is the result of a years-long effort by members of the community to bring the project to fruition. The $5.25 million that Rep. Stansbury secured for the new facility provided the additionally funding to add onto $950,000 in capital outlay funding secured by State Rep. McQueen and state funding that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham made available to local fire departments in the Fire Protection Fund. The new fire station will incorporate an improved air circulation system and decontamination facilities to protect firefighters from the carcinogens they are exposed to in the line of duty.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-announce-usda-will-cover-100-cost-share-producers,N.M. Congressional Democrats Announce USDA Will Cover 100% Of Cost Share For Producers Impacted By Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire,2022-10-20,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is waiving cost-share program requirements for agricultural producers and landowners impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Wildfire.

With funding supported by New Mexico Congressional Democrats in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Continuing Resolution, USDA will offer a 100% cost share through theEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP),Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), andEmergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).

New Mexico Congressional Democrats recently secured the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act in the FY22 Continuing Resolution and an additional $2.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish and carry out the requirements of the bill. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act is led by Senator Luján and Representative Leger Fernández, and co-sponsored by Senator Heinrich and Representative Stansbury.

New Mexico Congressional Democrats have been proactive in their engagement with the Biden administration and state and local officials to provide impacted New Mexicans with the assistance and support they need.

In June, after calls from Senators Heinrich and Luján and Representatives Leger Fernández and Stansbury, the USDA announced the department would cover 100% of the costs through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program for debris removal and other measures to address watershed impairments in designated areas of New Mexico impacted by recent wildfires.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-urges-biden-administration-include-voices-tribal,Congresswoman Stansbury Urges Biden Administration to Include Voices of Tribal Nations in Key Climate Summit,2022-10-14,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – As communities across New Mexico and the nation face existential threats from the impacts of climate change, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples, sent a letter to the Biden administration calling for the federal government to consult with Tribal Nations ahead of the United Nations’ 27th Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 27). In the letter, Rep. Stansbury asks the administration to develop a path forward to include Indigenous representation at the annual global climate conference.

“Indigenous communities have lived on and managed lands and waters since time immemorial and continue to be at the forefront of combatting climate change and protecting these precious lands, waters, and coastlines,” Rep. Stansbury wrote. “Indigenous leadership on climate action must be included at the highest levels of global decision making.

“I humbly request that, ahead of this year’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties, your Administration organize meetings to consult with and center the leadership of Indigenous nations and hear the visions, priorities, and concerns of leaders and technical representatives from national, regional, and local Indigenous organizations and representatives,” Rep. Stansbury continued.

Rep. Stansbury concluded her letter by asking the Biden administration to pursue five interrelated goals to increase the U.S. federal government’s Nation-to-Nation climate resilience consultation. The aim of this consultation is to ensure that Indigenous communities in the United States have a platform to air their concerns in future United Nations-convened climate conferences.

“Tribal and Indigenous consultation and participation are necessary for meaningful climate change action and policy. Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities are not only on the front lines of climate change, but also hold the solutions to heal our earth and climate. The National Congress of American Indians urges the Biden Administration to engage in meaningful dialogue and constructive consultation before, and during, the upcoming 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt—keeping in line with principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, and the fundamental rights established by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said Larry Wright, Jr. (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska), NCAI Executive Director.

The full text of the letter, including Rep. Stansbury’s five goals for Tribal consultation, is available here and below:

Dear President Joseph R. Biden,

I am grateful for the strong commitment that you and your Administration have demonstrated to strengthening our Nation-to-Nation relationships and consultation with Tribal governments. During your first week in office, you signed a Presidential Memorandum committing to fulfill our federal trust and treaty responsibilities, respect Tribal sovereignty, and conduct regular, meaningful, and robust Tribal consultations. The Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with Congress, has taken historic actions to address climate change and infrastructure needs across the United States and Indian Country, including the passage of the largest investments in climate action ever in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act and historic investments in climate resilience in Indian Country. Over $13 billion in Tribal set-asides in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will support Tribal Nations in building critical infrastructure, including climate resilience across all sectors. I am proud to work in partnership with the Administration to honor our commitment to Tribal Nations and elevate Tribal sovereignty and voices and write to request actions to further amplify Indigenous Nations and voices on a global scale as we are working to address the impacts of climate change.

As your Administration has demonstrated through the biggest investment in climate action in history, climate change is the single greatest threat that we face globally. We must act now, act boldly, and act on a global scale. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is designed to bring together important stakeholders across the globe to address the impacts of climate change. I write to request greater representation of voices from Indigenous Nations and communities in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including during the upcoming 27th session of the Conference of the Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh.

From rising seas and storm surges that threaten Indigenous communities in the Arctic, South Pacific, and coastal regions to dwindling snowpack and river flows that threaten the livelihoods and ways of life of Indigenous communities in the Rocky Mountains and Southwest, our Indigenous communities face existential threats from the growing impacts of climate change. In the face of these threats, our Indigenous communities are resilient, and traditional knowledge and practices passed down for generations are critical to global resilience. Indigenous communities currently protect 80 percent of our global biodiversity. Indigenous communities have lived on and managed lands and waters since time immemorial and continue to be at the forefront of combatting climate change and protecting these precious lands, waters, and coastlines. Indigenous leadership on climate action must be centered at the highest levels of global decision-making.

I humbly request that, ahead of this year’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties, your Administration organize a meeting to consult with and center the leadership of Indigenous Nations and hear the visions, priorities, and concerns of leaders and technical representatives from national, regional, and local Indigenous organizations and representatives.

Specifically, I would like to see this meeting:

Ensure inclusive, meaningful, and adequately resourced Indigenous consultation and engagement that prioritizes collaborative planning and participation in decision making;

Share information and jointly develop recommendations and meaningful actions to reduce global emissions and address local climate resilience;

Jointly develop recommendations and meaningful actions to create or dedicate funding to support climate-vulnerable Indigenous communities;

Jointly develop meaningful approaches to increase representation of Indigenous Peoples across the world and support their positions as leaders on climate action at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences of Parties and other climate activities; and

Provide local and regional views, perspectives, and proposals on the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/stansbury-lesko-lee-lead-bipartisan-introduction-colorado-river-basin,"Stansbury, Lesko, Lee Lead Bipartisan Introduction of Colorado River Basin Voluntary Water Conservation Program to Improve Western Water Security",2022-10-12,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), Debbie Lesko (Ariz.-08), and Susie Lee (Nev.-03) along with Reps. Joe Neguse (Colo.-02), Dina Titus (Nev.-01), Jason Crow (Colo.-06), and Diana DeGette (Colo.-01) introduced the Colorado River Basin Conservation Act.

As the Colorado River is facing historic challenges in meeting the water needs of millions of people living in the West, this legislation reauthorizes the System Conservation Pilot Program, as part of the Upper Colorado River Commission’s Five-Point Planto avoid mandatory cuts to Colorado River water users. The program is critical to helping keep water in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, reservoirs that are part of a system providing water to more than 40 million people across the Western United States. The program supports Colorado River users for voluntarily conserving water.

“New Mexicans know that water is life and that we must act now to ensure our water supply for generations to come,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Our communities, farmers and ranchers are already facing impossible choices. We must do everything within our power to keep water flowing to our communities and avoid mandatory cuts to Colorado River Basin states—which means that the Interior must have the resources and flexibility to support responsible stewardship of our water. I’m proud to fight for this program with Representatives Lesko and Lee and will be working hard to get this bill across the finish line.""

“Arizonans have been faced with substantial reductions in their water allocation, even though Arizona has been leading the way in water conservation efforts,” said Rep. Lesko. “I am pleased to work with my Congressional colleagues on this bipartisan legislation to encourage water conservation across all Colorado River Basin States and protect our water supply to help avoid more drastic cuts to Arizonans’ water usage.”

“After years of suffering a mega-drought, the arid southwest is facing an unprecedented water crisis that requires swift and aggressive action,” said Rep. Lee. “While Nevada has long been a leader in water conservation, this bipartisan legislation will incentivize Colorado River water users to conserve more precious water resources. All of us who rely upon the Colorado River must work together to conserve every drop of water we can. Time is running out—that is why this legislation is so critical.”

“As record-breaking drought conditions worsen it is imperative that we use programs that are proven to support and conserve our critical water sources. The System Conservation Pilot Program increases drought preparedness for Coloradans and communities across the West, and I’m proud to join this legislation which would reauthorize the important program,”said Rep. Neguse.

“Nevada has been a leader in implementing sensible water conservation measures that use less water despite our tremendous growth,” said Rep. Titus. “Reauthorizing the System Conservation Pilot Program will help prop up levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell by compensating states for doing their part to save water. I will continue to work to combat receding water levels in the Colorado River Basin so that we can ensure the sustainability of our communities.”

“Colorado faces the driest climate in U.S. history. That’s why I’m proud to work with Representatives Stansbury, Lesko, and Lee to empower community water conservation efforts in response to the drought,” said Rep. Crow. “Reauthorizing water conservation programs with proven success keeps water flowing to millions of users and fulfills our promise to protect the lifeblood of our state.”

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation concluded in the agency's 2021 report to Congress that the System Conservation Pilot Program has been successful. The report further noted that the program can serve as a platform for future collaboration on system conservation activities to help mitigate drought in the Colorado River Basin.

This legislation is a companion to the Colorado River Basin Conservation Act, sponsored by Senators John Hickenlooper (Colo.) and John Barasso (Wyo.) that has passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-recognizes-indigenous-peoples-day-0,Rep. Stansbury Recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day,2022-10-10,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE–Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, released the following statement recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day before joining celebrations at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the UNM Kiva Club:

“Today and every day, we celebrate the cultures and traditions of Indigenous peoples across New Mexico and our nation. New Mexico’s Tribes and Pueblos have passed down their languages, traditions, and ways of life across generations, shaping New Mexico’s rich cultural fabric since time immemorial. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we are lifting up and celebrating the contributions of Indigenous peoples across our state – from our history, cultures, and languages to our arts, economy, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurship.

“As we celebrate the power and recognize the sovereignty of Indigenous nations, our work continues to confront the difficult and painful history of our nation’s treatment of Indigenous peoples and address the legacies of this history head-on. Indigenous voices must be at the forefront of our policy decisions. I look forward to continued work to defend Tribal sovereignty in full consultation with Tribal governments, to address the needs of our Tribes and Pueblos, and to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for generations to come.”

Representative Stansbury cosponsors the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act (H.R. 5473), which would designate this day as a national holiday. Rep. Stansbury has also introduced and cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation in consultation with Tribal communities to advance federal trust and treaty responsibilities. Rep. Stansbury’s WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act, which would unlock millions of dollars of funding to help address urgent Tribal water management needs, passed the House of Representatives in July.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-votes-send-hermits-peak-fire-relief-new-mexico-and,Congresswoman Stansbury Votes to Send Hermits Peak Fire Relief to New Mexico and Pass Short-term CR,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), with the New Mexico delegation, secured $2.5 million in federal relief for New Mexicans affected by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire in the Continuing Resolution passed today.

“Today, I was proud to help secure over $2.5 billion for New Mexicans affected by the largest wildfire in our state’s history, while voting to keep the government running and provide needed disaster relief to communities across the country affected by storms and flooding. I am particularly proud to have worked alongside our delegation to help secure resources New Mexicans need to recover and rebuild.

“The House has done our Constitutional duty to keep our agencies funded for the coming weeks, but more work and a full-year budget remains, including passing the over $18 million in funding I secured for community projects for New Mexico. These projects will help get fentanyl off our streets and address public safety, invest in behavioral health care, and tackle homelessness, housing, and food insecurity. It’s time for the Senate to deliver for New Mexicans by passing the Fiscal Year 2023 budget so we can get these critical dollars out the door to our communities.”

The Continuing Resolution will keep key government agencies funded until December 16, 2022.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-secure-25-billion-aid-new-mexicans-impacted-hermits,N.M. Congressional Democrats Secure $2.5 Billion In Aid For New Mexicans Impacted By Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) secured $2.5 billion to support New Mexico residents and business owners impacted by this year’s Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon fires. The aid for New Mexico was included in the Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government funded until December 16, 2022, which passed the Senate and House and now heads to the President to become law.

New Mexico’s Congressional Democrats successfully included the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act and $2.5 billion for FEMA to establish and carry out the requirements of the bill. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act is led by Senator Luján and Representative Leger Fernández, and co-sponsored by Senator Heinrich and Representative Stansbury.

“The Hermit’s Peak-Calf Canyon Fire destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, and it displaced thousands of New Mexicans for weeks and months on end. When I have visited impacted communities throughout this year, I have met personally with residents who were forced to flee their homes and with local leaders, volunteers, and firefighter crews. Their incredible resilience and willingness to serve their neighbors in such a difficult time embodies the best of what it means to be New Mexican,” said Heinrich. “That’s why I have done everything in my power to have their back. The federal government has a responsibility to provide compensation and assistance to New Mexicans whose lives and livelihoods have been upended by this fire. Senator Luján and I talked to every single senator who would listen to make sure we would have the votes to deliver the resources that New Mexicans need to rebuild in the aftermath of the worst fire in our state’s history. I know that passing this funding is just the start of this process. I remain determined to leave no stone unturned in making sure that we restore the health of our forests and watershed and that New Mexico families and communities are made whole.""

""Today, Congress has made it abundantly clear that the federal government has a moral obligation to do right by New Mexicans by passing my legislation that will deliver an expected $2.5 billion in relief to New Mexico,"" said Luján. ""This legislation secures federal funding in assisting New Mexicans who have lost everything, items that can't be replaced as a result of a wildfire started by the federal government. Thanks to the dedication of the New Mexico Delegation, the passage of my Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act means more opportunities for New Mexicans and small businesses who have struggled to rebuild in the months following the fire. I look forward to President Biden signing this legislation to get this relief out to our communities as quickly as possible to move our recovery forward.”

""Today, we secured $2.5 billion for our ranchers, acequia members, students, and families. For our forests, lands, precious waters, and all we lost in this fire. $2.5 billion begins the long, slow road to healing and recovery. For months, I carried the pain and sorrow of our gente and how they lost what they hold dear. I heard stories from our communities who shared how the fires and floods ravaged and destroyed the places they called home and where they expected to see future generations thrive,"" said Leger Fernández. ""But I was also inspired by the strength and resiliency of the survivors. I've been carrying their stories, voices, hopes, and hardships with me to Congress. I promised to pursue every possible opportunity to seek justice, and we successfully passed the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act not once but three times through the House.""

""Today, the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act will be signed into law so that our communities who have lived in these areas for hundreds of years can continue to live, work, and learn there for generations. In the next 45 days, we will work closely with FEMA and the affected communities to set up a process that works and is easy for survivors to process their claims. The new office at FEMA must understand the unique aspects of the claims that will be made. I am hopeful that the first claims can be processed before the new year,"" concluded Leger Fernández.

“Today’s vote for funding to help those impacted by the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires is a major victory for New Mexico. While our communities are resilient, the federal government has a responsibility to address the harm caused by the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history,” said Stansbury. “We have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with our delegation and the administration to secure the resources New Mexicans need to rebuild, and I am proud that this funding is on its way to the President’s desk. We will do everything we can to get this funding to our communities and ensure New Mexicans are made whole again.”

Beginning April 6, 2022, the Hermit’s Peak Fire started as a result of an approved prescribed fire plan ignited by the U.S. Forest Service fire personnel in the Santa Fe National Forest. Hermit’s Peak Fire subsequently merged with the Calf Canyon Fire - a holdover fire from a prescribed pile burn conducted by the U.S. Forest Service - to become the largest fire in New Mexico’s history. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires resulted in evacuations of more than 25,000 individuals in San Miguel and Mora Counties, destroyed 900 homes and structures, and scorched 341,735 acres (534 square miles) of land.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-attends-historic-white-house-hunger-conference,Rep Stansbury Attends Historic White House Hunger Conference,2022-09-28,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the bipartisan House Hunger Caucus, attended the firstWhite House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in 50 years as an invited guest. At the conference, Rep. Stansbury joined President Biden, fellow members of the House Hunger Caucus, and national leaders on hunger to identify solutions to address food insecurity and support healthy communities across New Mexico and the nation. During the conference, Rep. Stansbury hostedKaty Anderson, Chief Programs Officer at Roadrunner Food Bank, in Washington, D.C.

Currently,one of every six people and one of every four children experience hunger in New Mexico. As a former school lunch kid, Rep. Stansbury is a leader in New Mexico on hunger and nutrition issues, voting to pass theKeep Kids Fed Act to protect children’s access to school meals and co-sponsoringa number of bills to address childhood hunger and food insecurity.

“The White House Hunger Conference is the first conference to tackle hunger that our U.S.government has had in over 50 years since 1969, which was a game-changing conference that helped our government focus its attention on combatting hunger, and helped Congress lead the way in passing some of the most significant anti-hunger legislation ever in our country’s history,”said Rep. Stansbury.“As we know in New Mexico, one in four children and one in six families are experiencing hunger – this is an issue that cuts near and dear to our hearts in our state. We’re here today to commit to ending hunger in the United States.”

During her service in the New Mexico State Legislature, Rep. Stansbury led a successful effort to eliminate school meal co-pays and expand school meals to thousands of children across New Mexico. She also sponsored legislation to convene and fund the Governor’s Hunger Task Force.

During herservice in Congress, Rep. Stansbury has taken her fight to tackle hunger to the national level.She recently secured$875,000 for the East Mountain Food Pantry to expand their services through a purpose-built facility through House-passed budget bills in June. She has also cosponsored key legislationto address childhood hunger and food insecurity across New Mexico, including:

H.R. 3115,the Universal School Meals Program Actto eliminate school lunch debt and permanently provide 3locally-sourced meals a day and a snack to all schoolchildren, regardless of income.

H.R. 5177,the Schools Preventing Hunger in At Risk Kids (SPARK) Act, a bipartisan bill to make sure kids living with relatives or family friends can enroll in school meals. This would connect nearly 400,000 kids nationwide to the food they need to learn and grow.

H.R. 5048,the Streamlining Nutrition Assistance Paperwork Act, a bill that would cut red tape for New Mexicans seeking food assistance by allowing them to sign up for food assistance over the phone.

H.R. 6272,the College Student Hunger Act, a bill that would expand the eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-fight-include-25-billion-new-mexicans-impacted,N.M. Congressional Democrats Fight To Include $2.5 Billion For New Mexicans Impacted By Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires In Government Spending Proposal,2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – As Congress finalizes negotiations on a stopgap government funding bill, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) are fighting for $2.5 billion to support New Mexico residents and business owners impacted by this year’s Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon fires. New Mexico’s Congressional Democrats are working to include the funding, along with the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, in a Continuing Resolution proposal to ensure the federal government remains funded.

The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act is led by Senator Luján and Representative Leger Fernández, and co-sponsored by Senator Heinrich and Representative Stansbury. While Senate Democrats are fighting for inclusion of the bill in the funding legislation, Senate Republicans have not yet agreed. This proposal still must be voted on in both the Senate and the House this week.

“The Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fires have had an immeasurable impact on lives, livelihoods, and cherished landscapes. As the fires spread and in their aftermath, we witnessed as the people affected worked day and night to save their homes and their neighbors. They have embodied the tenacity and resilience that is characteristically New Mexican – and now they need the resources to right the wrongs of these fires. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am working to pull every lever possible to deliver the resources these New Mexicans need and deserve. With many negotiations still ahead, I’m proud to be working with our Congressional Delegation and Democratic leadership in the Senate and House to do everything we can to get this funding across the finish line,”said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

“New Mexico experienced the largest wildfire in state history that was started by the federal government and wreaked havoc on homes, businesses, and communities. The federal government has a moral obligation to make New Mexicans whole and help communities recover and rebuild. As the Senate sponsor of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, I am glad that this vital legislation will be included in the upcoming continuing resolution,” said Luján. “I am grateful for the partnership of Rep. Leger Fernández and our delegation colleagues. As we work to keep the government funded this week, we will continue fighting hard to get this legislation across the finish line.”

“Yesterday, I heard stories from students, ranchers, acequia members and families who shared how the fires and floods ravaged their treasured places where they expected to see future generations thrive,”said Leger Fernández. “I’ve seen the damage, felt the pain, and heard the sorrow. But I was also inspired by the strength of those affected by the fires. I’ve been carrying their stories; their hopes and their hardship with me to Congress. I vowed that I would pursue every possible opportunity to seek justice and we successfully passed the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act twice through the House. We know that including it in the budget is difficult. Yet justice is on our side and the stories of our New Mexican fire survivors resonate in the halls of Congress.”

“The inclusion of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon relief funding in the budget proposal is an important step forward to heal the wounds the fire caused. Many families have lived in these areas for hundreds of years and we are fighting to make sure they can continue to live, work, and learn there for generations. We are hopeful the budget proposal will pass with the funding intact, but understand there are many uncertainties. While we monitor final passage of the budget proposal, I will not let up my fight to get compensation for our fire victims signed into law,”concluded Leger Fernández.

“The inclusion of funding in the continuing resolution to help those impacted by the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires is a major victory for New Mexico. While our communities are resilient, the federal government has a responsibility to address the harm caused by the largest wildfires in New Mexico’s history,”said Stansbury. “We have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with our delegation and the administration to secure the resources New Mexicans need to rebuild, and I am proud that this funding is included in the must-pass funding bill announced today. We will do everything we can every day to get this over the finish line to ensure New Mexicans are made whole again.”

Beginning April 6, 2022, the Hermit’s Peak Fire started as a result of an approved prescribed fire plan ignited by the U.S. Forest Service fire personnel in the Santa Fe National Forest. Hermit’s Peak Fire subsequently merged with the Calf Canyon Fire - a holdover fire from a prescribed pile burn conducted by the U.S. Forest Service - to become the largest fire in New Mexico’s history. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires resulted in evacuations of more than 25,000 individuals in San Miguel and Mora Counties, destroyed 900 homes and structures, and scorched 341,735 acres (534 square miles) of land.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-passes-crime-and-public-safety-package,Rep. Stansbury Passes Crime and Public Safety Package,2022-09-22,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass four public safety bills that to help address crime and public safety in New Mexico.

The bills will provide grant funding to support training, recruitment, and retention for small public safety forces, especially important for rural and Tribal departments in New Mexico, will support victims of crime and help stop cycles of violence, and make it easier for state and local governments to send trained mental health professionals when an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis.

“Every New Mexican should feel safe. My job in Congress to help ensure that our communities can access public safety resources, so that our state, local, and Tribal governments can address crime, public safety, and behavioral health needs across our communities. Today, I was proud to pass a package of bills that will do just that,” said Rep. Stansbury. “This legislation, including the Mental Health Justice Act of 2022, of which I am a proud co-sponsor, will help to address the causes of crime while supporting victims, interrupting cycles of violence, assisting small law enforcement agencies and supporting the mental and behavioral health needs of New Mexicans as we continue to work to address our public safety in a holistic manner.”

The legislation Rep. Stansbury helped pass includes:

The Invest and Protect Act of 2022 (H.R. 6448), provides a grant program to support small police departments with recruitment, training, and mental health resources they need.

The VICTIM Act of 2022 (H.R. 5768), establishes a Department of Justice grant program to hire, train, and retain detectives and victim services personnel to investigate crimes and support victims.

The Mental Health Justice Act of 2022 (H.R. 8542), cosponsored by Rep. Stansbury, establishes a HHS grant program to pay for hiring, training, salaries, benefits, and additional expenses for first responder mental health provider units.

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act (H.R. 4118), authorizes federal grants to communities for evidence-based community violence intervention and prevention programs designed to interrupt cycles of violence.

On her first day in office, Rep. Stansbury helped secure $1 million in funding to support the Violence Interruption Program at the City of Albuquerque’s first Trauma Recovery Center. This program deploys proven models to break cycles of violent crime and increase access to wraparound services.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-helps-pass-bill-defend-democracy-and-electoral-count,Rep. Stansbury Helps Pass Bill to Defend Democracy and Electoral Count,2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—To prevent future attempts at decertifying the presidential election like the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the bipartisan Presidential Election Reform Act (H.R.8873) out of the House of Representatives.

The bill clarifies the role of the Vice President of the United States in the vote certification process as purely ministerial, prevents states from submitting competing slates of electors, and raises the threshold for Members of Congress to object to electors to prevent frivolous objections.

“The future of our democracy is at stake, and Congress must act to ensure our elections are secure and that every American has access to the ballot box,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Like so many New Mexicans, I watched in horror on January 6th as a violent mob invaded the U.S. Capitol and attempted to subvert our democratic process and as duly elected lawmakers voted to decertify the 2020 presidential election and the will of the people. Today, I was proud to vote to pass this important legislation and urge the Senate to pass this bill without delay alongside other critical bills to safeguard our democracy, including the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

The Presidential Election Reform Act would reform and modernize the outdated 1887 Electoral Count Act to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state’s public vote for President. It would replace ambiguous provisions of the 19th-century law with clear procedures that maintain appropriate state and federal roles in selecting the President and Vice President of the United States as set forth in the U.S. Constitution.

Key Provisions of the Presidential Election Reform Act include:

Single, Conclusive Slate of Electors. Includes a number of important reforms aimed at ensuring that Congress can identify a single, conclusive slate of electors from each state:

Identifies Official to Submit Slate. PERA sets a deadline by which governors must transmit their states’ electoral appointments to Congress. If a governor fails to do so, or if he or she transmits inaccurate certificates of appointment, PERA authorizes candidates to obtain a federal court order requiring the governor to transmit the states’ lawful certificate. If the governor refuses, then the court shall order another appropriate state official to issue the lawful certificate. The governor’s certificate (or the certificate of the other state official, as the case may be) shall be conclusive for Congress’ purposes at the electoral count.

Role of the Vice President. Affirmatively states that the constitutional role of the Vice President, as the presiding officer of the joint meeting of Congress, is solely ministerial and that he or she does not have any power to solely determine, accept, reject, or otherwise adjudicate disputes over electors.

Higher Objection Threshold. Raises the threshold to lodge an objection to electors to at least one-third of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This change would reduce the likelihood of frivolous objections by ensuring that objections are broadly supported. Currently, only a single member of both chambers is needed to object to an elector or slate of electors.

Protection of Each State’s Popular Vote. PERA requires states to conduct presidential elections under state laws as they exist prior to Election Day, which will clarify that there is no legal authority allowing state legislatures to “take back” their electoral appointment power after the election if they do not like the results. The Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the United States Constitution prohibit election officials from willfully refusing to count ballots or certify elections in accordance with state election laws that exist on Election Day. PERA allows presidential candidates to seek federal injunctive relief against election officials to enforce these constitutional requirements in presidential elections if necessary.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-joins-heinrich-leger-fernandez-introduce-bicameral-bills-approve,"Rep. Stansbury Joins Heinrich, Leger Fernández to Introduce Bicameral Bills To Approve Water Rights Settlements For Four Pueblos",2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON –U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) to introduce two bills to approve the water rights claims of the Pueblos of Acoma, Jemez, Laguna, and Zia, as well as participating non-Tribal parties.

Both pieces of legislation introduced in the Senate and House would implement two fund-based water settlements: one between the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties; and another between the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties. The settlements are strongly supported by all parties involved.

“Water is life, and for the Pueblos and Tribes of New Mexico, it is sacred,” said Stansbury, a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States. “The water rights settlements we introduced in Congress are decades in the making and will provide a framework and resources to protect Pueblo water rights and meet community water needs. I am humbled to carry this process forward with members of New Mexico’s delegation, and will continue to work in partnership with Pueblo and Tribal leaders and our acequias, land grants, state, local, and federal stakeholders to get these crucial bills to the president’s desk.”

“The U.S. government has a responsibility to make good on these legal commitments, and I’m proud to introduce legislation to do just that. These bills will finally unlock critical water infrastructure funding from these settlements and ensure these Pueblos have the autonomy to ensure their communities can access the water they need. The timing is especially important as water—our most precious resource in New Mexico—continues to be threatened due to the climate crisis,”said Heinrich.

“The Pueblos have revered water since time immemorial. Leading by example, they have conserved and treasured this precious resource for generations. We must honor our trust responsibilities and fulfill the agreements made to them to access and protect our waters for the future,”said Leger Fernández. “Today’s legislation is a product of years of negotiations and collaboration between tribal and non-tribal water users, local, state, and federal government, and many more. These bills move us toward greater equity and water security for tribes, acequias, local communities, and all New Mexicans - I’m proud to introduce and advance them in Congress.”

The Pueblos of Jemez and Zia Water Rights Settlement Act would approve the water rights claims of these respective Pueblos and other parties in a fund-based settlement for the Jemez River Stream.

The Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna Water Rights Settlement Act would approve the settlement of water rights claims of these respective Pueblos in the Rio San José Stream System in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Both bills are cosponsored by U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and have received strong support from the Pueblos, non-Tribal organizations, and state and local entities.

“Introduction of this water settlement legislation is not only of great importance to the Pueblo of Acoma, it also benefits the other water users in our basin. Resolving these outstanding water claims facilitates management of the State’s water resources in a way that assures water security for decades to come. This legislation also rights some historical wrongs that we have experienced with the illegal appropriation of our water by upstream users. I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of the New Mexico delegation, and thankful for Senator Heinrich’s and Rep. Leger Fernandez’s lead sponsorship, along with the strong support of Rep. Stansbury, in moving this bill forward. This legislation is a great example of how the Pueblos, the State, the Federal government and local communities can work together to lay the foundation for the future well-being of all New Mexico citizens,”said Pueblo of Acoma Governor Randall Vicente.

“This is a long awaited settlement the Pueblo has worked very hard over many years of negotiations. It resolves 39 years of litigation while providing the Pueblo and its members sufficient water and water rights now and for the future. The settlement will provide a reliable supply of water to maintain its agricultural practices while maintaining relations with the water users in the basin,”said Pueblo of Jemez Raymond Loretto.

“This historic legislation will resolve water supply problems more than a century in the making. It will support efforts to retain traditional agriculture, which the Pueblo of Laguna relied upon since time immemorial. It will provide resources for more water, and protect the sacred resource, to ensure the health safety, and economic future for the people of Laguna, and provide water security to surrounding communities for decades to come. This settlement agreement, and the historic legislation that implements it, would not have been possible without the hard work and compromise of major stakeholders in the Rio San José basin. We thank Senator Heinrich and Congresswomen Leger Fernandez and Stansbury for their advocacy and leadership on this vitally important New Mexico issue,”said Pueblo of Laguna Governor Martin Kowemy, Jr.

“The Pueblo of Zia is extremely pleased that legislation was introduced today by Senator Heinrich and Representatives Leger Fernández and Stansbury. If passed by Congress, the legislation will ratify a comprehensive agreement settling our water rights in the Jemez River basin. The settlement agreement is the product of years of negotiations and resolves a host of water-related issues that continued litigation of our water claims would not resolve. We thank the representatives from the state, the non-Indian parties who live in the Jemez River basin, the federal government, and Jemez Pueblo for their hard work and collaborative efforts in getting us to this point, and we hope that Congress will promptly consider and pass the settlement legislation,”said Pueblo of Zia Governor Gabriel Galvan.

“These agreements settle long-standing water disputes before the courts and provide certainty for the four Pueblos and surrounding communities regarding their water future to better cope with persistent drought and the effects of the changing climate,""said New Mexico State Engineer Mike Hamman. “I commend all the parties for their commitment to collaboration and mutual benefit.”

Support for the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia Water Rights Settlement Act:

“This settlement will end decades of litigation in the Jemez Valley and provide much needed water supply for the Pueblos, Acequias and other water users,”said Juanita Revak, president of the association of Jemez acequias that signed the settlement agreement. “We are grateful to Senator Heinrich and Representatives Leger Fernández and Stansbury for supporting this critical settlement.”

“I am so pleased this finally happened in my lifetime,”said Gilbert Sandoval, Revak’s father and former acequia association president. Sandoval worked to resolve the case for forty years. He turned 87 this year.

Support for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna Water Rights Settlement Act:

“The City of Grants has participated in negotiations with the Pueblos, the State, the United States and other stakeholders for many years, and we are pleased that the parties have been able to craft a settlement that benefits everyone and protects the water rights of Grants now and in the future,”said City of Grants Mayor Erik Garcia. “We hope that the funding provided to the Pueblos will enable them to spur economic growth for the entire region. The state funding component will directly benefit Grants by upgrading its infrastructure.”

“The Village of Milan appreciates Senator Heinrich and Representatives Leger Fernández and Stansbury’s support for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna Water Rights Settlement Act. Passage of the Act is a necessary step for completion of the Rio San Jose Stream System Settlement which would protect the Village’s water rights from Pueblo priority calls and the impacts of new Pueblo water uses. The Settlement also provides for State funding of necessary repairs and improvements to the Village’s water and wastewater infrastructure,”said Village of Milan Mayor Felix Gonzales.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-defends-tribal-sovereignty-and-solicits-tribal-input,VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Defends Tribal Sovereignty and Solicits Tribal Input to Respond to Castro-Huerta Decision,2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK: Watch here.

WASHINGTON–Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, asked Tribal witnesses to help Congress identify a path forward to defend Tribal sovereignty in light of the Supreme Court’s Oklahoma v. Castro-Huertadecision.

During the oversight hearing, Rep. Stansbury and the Subcommittee heard witness testimony from three panels to examine the implications of the recent Castro-Huerta ruling. The 5-4 decision issued in June erodes bedrock protections for Tribal sovereignty and disregards two centuries of legal precedent.

“I believe that this decision made by the majority of our Supreme Court is a direct affront to Tribal sovereignty and to Tribal nationhood, and upends generations of settled law, the U.S.-Tribal relationship, hundreds of treaties, and is an affront to our Constitution in which we recognize Tribal sovereignty as inherent to our Tribal Nations,” said Rep. Stansbury. “I strongly believe that we need to support the Tribal Nations who would like to see a legislative fix to this decision.”

Rep. Stansbury then asked the panel of Tribal witnesses, including Hon. Jonodev Chaudhuri, Ambassador of the Muscogee Creek Nation, to describe their thoughts on the best ways to build a reasonable consensus at the congressional level to pave a path forward for legislation to protect Tribal sovereignty.

“We do believe that action is needed now, and we support something that addresses things collectively. We don’t call it a fix, we call it strengthening public safety issues in Indian country. Thank you so much for the question,” said Hon. Jonodev Chaudhuri.

Rep. Stansbury concluded her questioning, noting “We’re hearing the need to get more resources to support Tribal courts and to beef up DOJ and BIA law enforcement. We know that this is a huge and immediate need across Indian Country. We stand with you, and we will be working very closely with Tribal Nations to address this issue.”

In June, Rep. Stansbury released a statement condemning the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, which casts aside more than two centuries of precedent recognizing Tribal sovereignty.

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks as delivered can be found below.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. And I want to start by saying thank you to all of our Tribal leaders, and welcoming you to our Committee and to Washington, DC. It's great to see so many old friends and wonderful to have you here, and thank you to Chairwoman Leger Fernández and our Ranking Member for this important hearing.

I want to start with my position on this issue, which is that I believe that this decision by the majority of our Supreme Court is a direct affront to Tribal sovereignty and to Tribal nationhood, and upends, of course, generations of settled law, the U.S.-Tribal relationship, hundreds of treaties, and is an affront to our Constitution in which we recognize Tribal sovereignty as inherent to our Tribal nations. And so, I strongly believe that we need to support the Tribal nations who would like to see a legislative fix to this decision.

But my concern and the question I want to direct to our Tribal leaders who are here today, and to those who are listening across our Tribal nations in the US, is how do we build a process at the Congressional level to get to some form of consensus about the legislative path?

I know some of the previous questions have touched on this. I served on a panel just last week with a couple of dozen Tribal leaders asking the question, “What should the legislative fix look like?” and received at least six different answers based on six different legal theories and basis. You know, I've heard more expansive responses that would like to overhaul and fix previous case law and statutory problems with how justice systems are supported in our Tribal nations. I've seen more narrow fixes.

And so my question for our panelists today is really a process question more than a substance question which is, is there a need to seek an immediate fix that reaffirms McGirt or addresses a fatal flaw before the end of this Congress, while we engage in a much more robust consultation process with the executive branch so that we can hear from all of our Tribal nations, and your thoughts about how we build a reasonable consensus on a legislative path forward.

And I think if it's okay, Madam Chair, just going in the order of the witnesses testimony, starting with our Honorable Ambassador from Muscogee Creek.

Thank you so much, and mindful that I actually have run out of time here with this, I'm going to submit this, Madam Chairwoman, as a question for the record to all of our witnesses. And as I stated, we would love to hear from Tribal nations across the country about how to build that consensus process, and the question about acting expediently before the end of this Congress, and whether it's a both and, doing something now, as well as doing something more extensive.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-votes-protect-federal-workers-political-interference,"Congresswoman Stansbury Votes to Protect Federal Workers from Political Interference and Support Good Government, Workers’ Rights",2022-09-15,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the Preventing a Patronage System Act (H.R. 302) to protect the over 20,000 federal employees across New Mexico and civil servants across the United States from political interference in their jobs.

“Our civil servants selflessly serve this nation every day, delivering for our communities in education, defense, healthcare, veterans affairs, and countless other programs. We must maintain the integrity of the civil service and ensure it is based on the merit, skills, and dedication of our federal workers – and not their political connections,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Our civil servants the backbone of our democratic institutions. Today, I was proud to vote to pass the Preventing a Patronage System Act to protect the livelihoods and rights of millions of federal employees who have dedicated their lives to serving our country.”

In 2020, former President Trump issued a far-reaching executive order which stripped protections for federal government employees from political interference and politically-motivated hiring and firing practices. Though this executive order has since been nullified, the Preventing a Patronage System Act would protect the integrity of the civil service from future political manipulation. Rep. Stansbury’s vote to protect federal workers across New Mexico and the nation is part of her wider legislative work to support good government and protect our American democracy, including the Protecting our Democracy Act (H.R. 5314), the Freedom to Vote Act (S.B. 2747), and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansburys-statement-recognizing-21st-anniversary-911,Congresswoman Stansbury’s Statement Recognizing the 21st Anniversary of 9/11,2022-09-11,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury released the following statement recognizing the 21st anniversary of 9/11:

“Today, we join together to remember the 2,977 individuals we lost to the 9/11 terrorist attacks 21 years ago. In New Mexico, we are honoring Alfred Marchand – a flight attendant from Alamogordo who was tragically killed when his assigned flight crashed into the World Trade Center. As we continue to mourn these devastating losses, we extend our deepest gratitude to our first responders whose bravery and courage saved so many lives 21 years ago. In Congress, I will continue to fight for the resources that our heroic first responders need to care for their visible and invisible wounds.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-under-secretary-torres-small-celebrate-57-million,"VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury, Under Secretary Torres Small Celebrate $57 Million in Broadband Funding Headed to Rural and Tribal Communities in New Mexico",2022-09-07,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK:Accessible video can be found here. A fact sheet on broadband investments can be found here.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) joined Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development (USDA-RD) Xochitl Torres Small, New Mexico State Infrastructure Advisor Martin Chávez, Village of Los Ranchos Mayor Don Lopez, and Pueblo of Santa Ana Governor Joseph Sanchez for a press conference to celebrate over $57.6 million in federal funding to connect homes across New Mexico to broadband. The officials also highlighted the extensive USDA-RD water management funding available to rural and Tribal communities across the state.

Following the press conference, Rep. Stansbury and Under Secretary Torres Small met with local leaders to discuss the federal resources available to rural and Tribal communities, and to learn more about how the federal government is supporting the grant, funding, and development needs of communities across New Mexico.

“We are proud to welcome home New Mexico’s own Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small and to celebrate the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s delivery of vital broadband and other infrastructure dollars to rural and Tribal communities in New Mexico,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Access to high-speed internet, resilient infrastructure, and the tools to manage our water sustainably are critical to the economic development of our communities, supporting thriving small businesses, farmers, and ranchers, and ensuring our kids have every opportunity to realize their potential. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering resources to our communities to do just that.”

“The Biden-Harris Administration understands that rural America cannot reach its full potential unless we invest in rural infrastructure and these investments put us on that track. Thanks to the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Members of Congress like Congresswoman Stansbury, USDA can help build opportunity and prosperity for the people who call rural America home,” said Under Secretary Torres Small.

“The bare minimum on the return on investment in our infrastructure is three to one—oftentimes more than that,” said Infrastructure Advisor Chávez. “When you invest money in infrastructure comes back at you in jobs, in dollars, and in opportunity for young New Mexicans.”

“As a former State Engineer of New Mexico, I know on a personal level that water is fundamental to our economy and our ways of life in Los Ranchos,” said Mayor Don Lopez. “We need to deploy federal resources and funding to best manage our water so we can continue to thrive for generations to come.”

“Broadband in Indian Country is essential for growing our economy, caring for our elders, community and growing our businesses and educating the future leaders of my Pueblo and other Tribes,” said Governor Sanchez. “Broadband is the key. Because without that, we can't be as successful as we need to be. We're not on the same playing field as everyone else.”

The $57 million in broadband funding comes as part of $34 million in funding distributed by USDA Rural Development that has supported rural economic development, key government services, and critical infrastructure in every corner of New Mexico’s First Congressional District.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansburys-statement-celebrating-labor-day,Rep. Stansbury’s Statement Celebrating Labor Day,2022-09-05,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the House Labor Caucus, issued the following statement celebrating Labor Day:

“Today on Labor Day, as the daughter of a union strong family and former Operating Engineer and Boilermaker, I am celebrating our workers who are the backbone of our economy. Years of organizing by the labor movement, have given us the eight-hour workday and five-day work week, workplace safety standards, good paying jobs and benefits for many workers and so much more. Just as workers organized before, the labor movement is again galvanizing during this historic moment as we are working to rebuild our nations’ economy and infrastructure.

“I am proud to stand with workers everywhere across the country—from our teachers, firefighters, construction trades and retail workers—such as Starbucks workers organizing today—to the halls of Congress where our staff are organizing to collectively bargain for the first time history. In my own office, I am proud to recognize my staff’s right to unionize and am deeply proud they are among the first seven offices on the Hill to make this announcement. It’s a privilege to stand in solidarity with our workers, and today we double down on our commitment to ensure every worker is paid a living wage, has safe working conditions, and benefits that will allow our families, communities, and economy to thrive.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-stansbury-welcome-over-113-million-enhance-services-and,"Heinrich, Luján, Stansbury Welcome Over $11.3 Million To Enhance Services And Assistance For Victims Of Crime, Reduce Cycle Of Violence",2022-09-02,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) are welcoming $11,379,976 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) aimed at supporting victims of crime and breaking the cycle of violence.

“New Mexico’s Congressional Democrats and the Biden administration are delivering federal investments to reduce violence in our communities. I’m pleased to welcome substantial DOJ funding from for New Mexico’s Victims Reparation Commission to ensure that victims of crime have the services and financial support they need to recover,”said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. “The Violence Intervention Program has also demonstrated clear success in reducing incidents of gang and gun violence. Their intervention strategies head off retaliation shootings and break the cycle of criminal activity. I’m proud to welcome these federal investments that build off of the funding we secured in the FY22 Appropriations process, and will continue fighting to bring in additional investment to support community-based efforts.”

“It is critical to empower local communities by funding public safety projects such as the Violence Intervention Program,”said Luján. “I’m pleased this grant will provide support to victims of violent crime through financial assistance and services to reduce health disparities. The community-based focus of the Violence Intervention Program addresses the root causes of gun violence to ensure safety throughout New Mexico.”

“We must tackle our crime problems head-on and ensure every New Mexican can feel safe in their communities. That is why I have been aggressively pursuing funding to support our law enforcement and services to address violent crime in Albuquerque, and I am proud to have helped secure this vital funding alongside Senators Heinrich and Luján,” said Stansbury. “This funding will support victims of violent crime, while helping to address underlying causes of crime and trauma in our community. As we return to session in September, I will be fighting to increase public safety resources for our communities.”

DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs has awarded the following federal funding:

A total of $10,379,796 in grants has been awarded to the State of New Mexico’s Crime Victims Reparation Commission which provides financial assistance to victims of violent crime. The funding is comprised of:

$9,376,796 to enhance services available through the state’s Crime Victims Fund.

$1,003,00o to support payments to eligible crime victims.

$1,000,000 for the City of Albuquerque's Violence Intervention Program (VIP). This federal funding expands the scope of the Albuquerque Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) to serve victims of violent crime with a focus on reducing health disparities and providing services to communities of color, under-served and unserved victims of violence.

Senator Heinrich led an effort supported by Senator Luján and Representative Stansbury to secure $1,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations funding for Albuquerque’s Violence Intervention Program to target the root causes of crime and break the cycle of violence in the local community.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-answers-constituent-questions-and-discusses-lowering,Congresswoman Stansbury Answers Constituent Questions and Discusses Lowering Health Care Costs During Ninth Telephone Town Hall,2022-09-01,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"AUDIO LINK: The full telephone town hall recording can be accessed here.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Last night, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) conducted her ninth telephone town hall in office to answer constituent questions and outlined how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower energy, health care and prescription drug costs for all New Mexicans.

Over 3,000 New Mexicans tuned in to last night’s town hall.

“The Inflation Reduction Act will help to ease some of those big challenges around our economy, especially around health care, energy costs, and prescription drugs,” said Rep. Stansbury. “This legislation will expand insurance, impacting thousands of New Mexicans, and also expand Medicaid and Medicare. It will also lower prescription drug costs across the board for our elders who are on Medicare and cap out-of-pocket costs.”

Rep. Stansbury answered constituent questions during the one-hour telephone town hall on topics ranging from crime and public safety, housing and homelessness, energy and climate change, and the urgent work to defend democracy and free and fair elections.

The Inflation Reduction Act:

Allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and caps out-of-pocket costs to $2,000

Lowers health insurance premiums by thousands of dollars for New Mexicans for millions of Americans

Enacts historic deficit reduction to fight inflation

Lowers energy costs, increases cleaner production, and reduces carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030

Closes tax loopholes so the biggest corporations and ultra-wealthy pay their fair share

Does not raise taxes on families making $400,000 or less and no new taxes on small businesses",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-welcome-over-25-million-federal-investments-nm,"N.M. Congressional Democrats Welcome Over $2.5 Million In Federal Investments For N.M. Airports, Major Funding For Emissions Reductions Heading To ABQ Sunport",2022-09-01,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) are welcoming $2,568,244 in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to three New Mexico airports.

“Airports are pillars of opportunity – and that’s exactly what this federal funding is going to bring. Opportunities to improve the air quality around the Albuquerque Sunport with zero-emissions technologies. Opportunities to renovate aging infrastructure at the Española Municipal Airport. And opportunities to use historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to revitalize 30,000 square yards of pavement at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport. I’m proud to welcome this federal funding and will continue fighting for investments that build up and strengthen every opportunity available for New Mexico airports and the communities they support,”said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

“New Mexico’s local airports are essential in supporting our state’s economy and connecting our communities,”said Luján. “I’m glad this grant from the Department of Transportation will modernize our runways and reduce emissions — ensuring safer and energy efficient travel for those coming in and out of New Mexico.”

“Our airports are crucial to our economic development, bringing billions of dollars to New Mexico and providing tens of thousands of good-paying jobs for communities across our state,”said Stansbury. “I’m proud that over $2.5 million in federal funding is coming to our airports – including the Albuquerque International Sunport – to cut emissions and build a clean and efficient airport for every traveler.”

""I am so pleased to see this grant funding go towards connecting our Northern New Mexico communities with improvements to airports in Santa Fe and Ohkay Owingeh,""said Leger Fernández. ""Our people deserve high-quality infrastructure, and I am grateful to see this funding go toward our pueblos and municipal airports. I will work to lift our economy and connect our gente.""

Federal funding announced by the FAA:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-hosts-reproductive-rights-roundtable,Congresswoman Stansbury Hosts Reproductive Rights Roundtable,2022-08-31,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) convened a roundtable with New Mexico-based reproductive rights advocates and organizations to discuss the impact of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision on their ongoing work to protect abortion access and reproductive health care.

In June, the Supreme Court issued Dobbs, overturning Roe v. Wade andupending five decades of precedent protecting the constitutional right to an abortion. During the roundtable, Rep. Stansbury heard from health care providers and community organizations about how the decision has strained resources for New Mexicans seeking reproductive health care and the need for federal protections and funding for holistic abortion care nationwide.

“I’m proud to stand with local advocates and organizations fighting for reproductive health care and abortion access,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Because of the Supreme Court’s decision to undermine decades of legal precedent and overturn the protections afforded by Roe v. Wade, the lives and well-being of millions of women and pregnant people across our nation hang in the balance. Every day, I will continue to work alongside our communities and my colleagues in Congress to protect access to safe and legal abortion for New Mexicans – it’s time for the Senate to do their part to protect the health and wellbeing of our communities by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify abortion rights into law.”

The organizations at the roundtable included Indigenous Women Rising, Southwest Women’s Options, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Tewa Women United, and the Mariposa Fund.

In 2021, Rep. Stansbury was part of the majority in the New Mexico State Legislature that voted to pass legislation that repealed the state’s antiquated abortion ban from the books, protecting access to reproductive health care for New Mexicans and communities across the region.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:50:00Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansburys-statement-death-torrance-county-detention-facility,Rep. Stansbury’s Statement on Death in Torrance County Detention Facility,2022-08-29,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—After news that Kesley Vial, an immigrant from Brazil seeking asylum in the United States, died in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Torrance County Detention Facility operated by CoreCivic in New Mexico, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement:

“We are heartbroken at the news of Kesley Vial’s death at the Torrance County Detention Facility and are holding Vial’s loved ones and everyone impacted by his passing in our hearts during this difficult time. My office and I will continue our oversight efforts to ensure that the public fully understands the causes and circumstances surrounding this death and are here to support the community.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-applauds-nearly-19-million-additional-federal-school-meal,Rep. Stansbury Applauds Nearly $19 Million in Additional Federal School Meal Funding,2022-08-26,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON –Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced that school meal programs, as well as child and adult day care providers in New Mexico will receive an estimated $18,990,000 in additional funding this school year through theKeepKids Fed Act.

In June,Rep.Stansburytook to the House floorto urge her colleagues toprevent a “hunger cliff” facing students without the extension of federalschool mealwaivers. She laterhelped pass theKeep Kids Fed Actto ensure that schools can continue providing meals for students despite ongoing supply chain issues. The legislation allowed the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional assistance to child nutrition programs by reimbursing them at a higher rate as they continue to serve healthy meals.

“No child should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from.While we have made significant progress in our recovery from the pandemic,one in four children across New Mexico still face food insecurity,”said Rep.Stansbury.“That’s why Icalled on my House colleagues topass the Keep Kids Fed Act,which will delivernearly$19 million inadditionalfederalassistance this year to ensure that schools across New Mexico can continue to provide students with the healthy food they need to learn and grow.”

Under the bipartisanFamilies First Coronavirus Response Act(FFCRA), Congress provided the USDA with key flexibilities to help child nutrition programs continue serving children during the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief helped feed hungry students during the school closures, virtual learning, and social distancing that disrupted traditional meal service. Without theKeep Kids Fed Act, important flexibilities provided under FFCRA would have expired on June 30, 2022.

Rep. Stansbury is a member of the bipartisanHouse Hunger Caucusand led efforts inthe New Mexico State Legislature to eliminate school meal copays and convene the state’s Hunger Task Force.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-mayor-keller-celebrate-nearly-115-million-bipartisan,"Rep. Stansbury, Mayor Keller Celebrate Nearly $11.5 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for Downtown Trail Project",2022-08-23,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Mayor Tim Keller welcomed U.S. Department of Transportation Under Secretary Carlos Monje to celebrate nearly $11.5 million in federal investments from DOT to expand economic development in Downtown Albuquerque. The funding will help construct a mile long, multi-use urban trail going north to south through the heart of Downtown as part of the city’s larger Albuquerque Rail Trail project.

The Albuquerque Rail Trail project is designed to transform Downtown Albuquerque’s rail corridor into a vibrant and artistic urban trail that creates opportunities for economic development, healthy recreation, and cultural expression. Rep. Stansbury asked DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg to prioritize the project in a call in March and joined New Mexico’s Congressional Democrats in an April letter urging the inclusion of the project in DOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.

""At the Department of Transportation, we believe that no matter where you live or how you travel, everyone deserves to get around affordably and safely,"" said Under Secretary Carlos Monje Jr. ""We're proud to award Albuquerque $11.4 million to build the Albuquerque Rail Trail--a one mile urban trail that will reduce emissions, prevent deadly crashes, and give people who bike a better, safer way to get around their community.""

“I’m grateful that Under Secretary Monje was able to see firsthand how the Albuquerque Rail Trail project will help to connect our communities, support our economic growth, and revitalize downtown Albuquerque,” said Rep. Stansbury. “I’m excited that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has unlocked over $11 million to fund this key project that will celebrate the rich culture and history of downtown Albuquerque while supporting equitable public transit, employment opportunities, and creative new spaces for our families. I’m thrilled that this investment will help make the vision of Mayor Keller and the City of Albuquerque a reality.”

“Coupled with the $10 million investment the state announced last month, the funding provided by the Department of Transportation today will go a long way toward making this project a reality,"" said New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “The Rail Trail will continue to revitalize Albuquerque’s downtown and build new and safer recreation options for residents and visitors.”

“Together, we are creating a landmark for the City of Albuquerque,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This is a major investment in our city and I am grateful to Under Secretary Monje, Secretary Buttigieg and President Biden for their partnership on this project to bring new vitality to our downtown core. Not only will this pedestrian parkway be a defining project for the City, but an amenity that will help attract and retain a modern workforce and young families. The Rail Trail will be a destination, a mode of transportation, and a celebration of our history and culture.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-holds-town-hall-listening-session-mark-just-over-one-year,Rep. Stansbury Holds Town Hall Listening Session to Mark Just Over One Year of Accomplishments for New Mexico,2022-08-19,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—On the heels of passing the biggest climate action investment in world history and reducing health care premiums for all New Mexicans, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) convened an in-person town hall at the County Commission Chambers to hear from New Mexicans about their thoughts, concerns, and priorities.

During the town hall listening session, Rep. Stansbury outlined her legislative work on behalf of New Mexicans after her vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and barely one month after passing four of her bills out of the House of Representatives on water security and STEM economic growth. Rep. Stansbury also solicited feedback on her legislative work and answered questions from around 30 constituents who attended, who spoke about issues including water and drought, rent and affordable housing, and action to address climate change.

“Hearing from New Mexicans about their concerns, hopes, and dreams helps guide my work in Congress and in our communities,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Over the past year, it’s been the honor of a lifetime to fight to deliver key funding for New Mexico communities and pass historic legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for New Mexicans.”

Over the past year, Rep. Stansbury has:

Legislated for New Mexico

Secured over $10 million for public safety, economic development, and youth programs on her first day in office.

Secured over $18 million to get fentanyl off the streets, invest in economic development, housing, and initiatives to address veterans’ homelessness out of the House of Representatives.

Passed four bills out of the House of Representatives, one of which has become law, to turbocharge New Mexico’s STEM economy and address critical water security needs.

Introduced seven pieces of original legislation—majority bipartisan—to promote New Mexico’s economic development, act urgently on water security, advance equitable water resources for Tribes, protect public lands, and invest in education from cradle to college and beyond.

Cosponsored over 300 pieces of legislation on New Mexico’s priorities including health care access, public safety, climate action, economic development, veterans affairs, good government, and community well-being.

Passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to send over $3.7 billion to New Mexico to build roads, bridges, broadband, water infrastructure, and more.

Passed the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce health care premiums by thousands of dollars, cut prescription drug costs, and reduce carbon pollution by 40% by 2030

Listened to New Mexicans

Convened dozens of community roundtables to put New Mexico’s concerns into action in Washington, beginning with her 11-session District Listening Tour from Meadow Lake to To’Hajiilee.

Held eight telephone town halls to hear from New Mexicans across the district on their priorities from health care to infrastructure, public safety, and behavioral health.

Convened and attended over 170 meetings with constituents and local organizations about their concerns.

Lifted Up New Mexicans’ Concerns",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/banks-rio-grande-rep-stansbury-calls-senate-pass-urgent-water-security,"On the Banks of the Rio Grande, Rep. Stansbury Calls on the Senate to Pass Urgent Water Security Legislation",2022-08-17,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO: Click here to view the press conference livestream.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) held a pressconference on the banks of the Rio Grande with New Mexico State Engineer Mike Hamman, Acting Director of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and State Geologist Michael Timmons and Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Chair Stephanie Russo Baca to celebrate the House passage of her game-changing water security legislation and call on the Senate to bring this urgently-needed legislation across the finish line.

Rep. Stansbury has worked to pass legislation to address water needs across the West throughout her career, and recently secured the passage of the Rio Grande Water Security Act, the Water Data Act, and the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act. Rep. Stansbury fought to pass the three bills during her first term in Congress as the West faces the worst drought in 1,200 years.

“Just a few weeks ago, we saw stretches of the river behind us go dry for the first time in decades, as our wildlife biologists and water conservationists were scrambling to save endangered species out of the river,” said Rep. Stansbury. “This is not sustainable long term and that is why we need to pass the Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act out of the Senate.”

Rep. Stansbury was joined by Board Chair Russo Baca, who highlighted the impact of the funding that the Rio Grande Water Security Act will have for the needs of the Rio Grande Conservancy District. Acting Director Michael Timmons outlined how New Mexico’s Water Data Act, which Rep. Stansbury sponsored during her service in the state legislature, is already helping water managers plan for resilience. State Engineer Hamman also highlighted his support for the legislation, emphasizing the necessity of Rep. Stansbury’s suite of water legislation during a time of extreme drought in New Mexico.

Rep. Stansbury was also joined by over 30 representatives from the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, Conservation Voters of New Mexico, Trout Unlimited, and the New Mexico Farm Bureau who expressed their support of her slate of water security legislation.

“What we cannot measure, we cannot effectively manage, and what we cannot manage, we cannot proactively plan for and adapt to rapidly changing conditions,” said State Engineer Mike Hamman. “The Water Data Act and the Rio Grande Security Act represent important steps toward standardizing the collection, use, and access to the critical water data we need, as well as providing resources and direction to assist states, tribes, and communities within the Rio Grande basin with the growing crises of water shortages and environmental impacts.”

“The demands on our water resources continues to stress this delicate natural system and the health and livelihoods of millions,” said New Mexico Bureau of Geology Acting Director Mike Timmons.“From the perspective of the science agency, we need the resources and coordination across multiple jurisdictions to bring the very best data and science to the water management table. And the Rio Grande Water Security Act will bring vital coordination and resources to address water security needs across the Rio Grande. I want to thank Representative Stansbury for her leadership on both of these critical water initiatives.”

“The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is pleased to support and congratulate Congresswoman Stansbury on her legislation: the Water Data Act, The Rio Grande Security Act, and WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act.” said Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board Chair Stephanie Russo Baca. “Congresswoman Stansbury’s national leadership in addressing drought and water security is appreciated by the MRGCD board and staff andI urge the Senate to take up and pass this legislation.”

The first-of-its-kind Water Data Act (H.R. 7792) will unlock the power of data and technology to transform water management across the country through the creation of a Water Data Council to establish a framework for standardizing water data across federal agencies so the data is interoperable and openly accessible to water managers and communities.

The landmark Rio Grande Water Security Act (H.R. 7793) will bring game-changing support to the communities of the Rio Grande River Basin, one of the West’s most iconic rivers. For the first time in history, the Rio Grande Water Security Act will create the resources and authorization needed to develop a plan to address the water security needs of the region. The bill will also reauthorize a vital lifeline to address the irrigation infrastructure needs of Pueblos who have used and managed these waters for countless generations.

The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act (H.R. 6238) will unlock millions of dollars of funding to help address Tribal water management needs. This bipartisan legislation will give the U.S. Secretary of the Interior the authority to waive or reduce cost-share requirements for Tribes for WaterSMART, a suite of programs under the Bureau of Reclamation designed to improve water security across the West.

A fact sheet on the Water Data Act is available here. The full text of the Water Data Act can be found here.

A fact sheet on the Rio Grande Water Security Act is available here. The full text of the Rio Grande Water Security Act can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-mayor-keller-welcome-almost-115-million-federal,"N.M. Congressional Democrats, Mayor Keller Welcome Almost $11.5 Million In Federal Investments For Albuquerque Downtown Trail Project",2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators MartinHeinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03), and City of Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller are welcoming $11,466,938 in federal investments from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to construct a mile long, multi-use urban trail going north to south and through the heart of Downtown Albuquerque. This is part of the city’s largerAlbuquerque Rail Trail project.

“From economic growth to pedestrian and cyclist safety, this new trail will help grow so many opportunities in our city,”saidHeinrich. “I have fought for years to make sure federal dollars like the RAISE grant reach communities like ours - I am thrilled to see the results of that here. Mayor Keller and the City of Albuquerque have put so much effort into this project; this federal investment will help get it funded.”

“This federal investment marks a critical step forward for this innovative project that will add more economic opportunities and expand recreation while shining a light on Albuquerque’s rich culture and history,”said Luján. “I’m honored to join my colleagues and Mayor Keller to announce this funding from the Department of Transportation that will help support the Rail Trail project, connect communities, and boost our local economy.”

“The Albuquerque Rail Trail project will help reconnect our community and revitalize downtown Albuquerque,” said Stansbury, who asked DOT Secretary Buttigieg to prioritize the projectthis March. “We’re excited that over $11 million is coming to Albuquerque to fund this important project that will support local economic development and jobs and creative new spaces for New Mexico families. I’m thrilled that this investment will help make the hard work of Mayor Keller and the City of Albuquerque a reality.”

“In addition to the wonderful grant money we received to complete our own Rail Trail in Santa Fe, I am pleased that this additional $11 million investment is going toward this project in Albuquerque,”said Leger Fernández. “Trails for bicycles, pedestrians, and families are vital to our comunidades, and I am thrilled to see these projects coming to our beautiful New Mexico.”

“We are grateful to our congressional delegation for their support in creating a landmark for the City of Albuquerque,”said Keller. “This pedestrian parkway will be an amenity that changes the way we experience downtown, helping to attract and retain a modern workforce, something our families will love for generations. This is a defining project for our city, a celebration of our history and culture.”

New Mexico Congressional Democrats sent aletter to DOT Secretary Peter Buttigieg supporting the City of Albuquerque’s FY2022 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant application.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-sends-historic-climate-and-health-care-investments-presidents,Rep Stansbury Sends Historic Climate and Health Care Investments to the President’s Desk,2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"August 12, 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act is the biggest investment in climate action in U.S. history and will reduce health care and prescription drug costs for New Mexicans by thousands of dollars per year

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation to address the climate crisis, cut prescription drug costs, lower health insurance premiums, and help create nine million clean energy jobs over the next 10 years. The legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The Inflation Reduction Act will cut carbon pollution by 40% by 2030, a massive step forward in addressing global climate change. The legislation will also reduce health insurance premiums for New Mexico families on employer-based plans by nearly $3,500 per year, reduce prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, and cap seniors’ out-of-pocket expenses at $2,000 per year.

“The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic step forward for our country and for our planet,” said Rep. Stansbury. “This bill makes the most significant investments in climate action ever in our nation’s history, reduces the price of healthcare, and will help ensure New Mexico’s seniors can afford their prescription drug costs. As we continue the work on the ground, I am headed back to New Mexico knowing we just took a giant step forward in creating a more just, equitable, and resilient world for our communities.”

The Inflation Reduction Act will help New Mexicans:

Afford the medications they need by capping Medicare recipients’ out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year and the cost of insulin at $35 per month

Reduce health care premiums by as much as $3,500 per year for families on employer-based health care plans

Deliver on climate action by cutting carbon pollution by 40% by 2030

Cut their utility bills by $350 per month

Purchase electric vehicles with a $7,500 rebate towards a new EV

Access new job opportunities from the 9 million jobs that clean energy investments will create over the next 10 years...

All without raising taxes a single cent for anyone making less than $400,00 per year by closing tax loopholes for big corporations and those who cheat on their taxes

Specific Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act include:

HEALTH CARE

Enhanced financial assistance for ACA Marketplace coverage will expand access to free or nearly free premiums.

Medicare will begin directly negotiating the cost of the most expensive prescription drugs. Seniors on Medicare will have their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000 per year

ENERGY

$30 billion in targeted grant and loan programs for states and electric utilities to accelerate the transition to clean electricity.

$9.7 billion to provide assistance to rural electric cooperatives to promote resiliency, reliability and affordability while decreasing emissions from rural electric systems.

Tax incentives to promote the U.S. manufacturing of solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines.

Wind and solar investment tax credit extension for 10 years.

A tax credit extension to help low-and moderate-income (LMI) households afford renewable energy and efficiency projects.

Tax incentives for very low-carbon hydrogen production for transportation, energy, and industrial use.

$1.55 billion for a methane emissions reduction program to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.

$27 billion for greenhouse gas reduction fund, otherwise known as a “green bank.”

$5 billion for pollution reduction plans and implementation grants, which will help local and Tribal governments take action on climate in a way that’s best for each community.

WATER

$550 million for household water supply projects in disadvantaged communities.

$4 billion to mitigate the effects of drought in Western states like New Mexico.

AGRICULTURE

Over $20 billion for climate smart agriculture by funding successful but oversubscribed conservation programs.

Over $1 billion for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses acquire renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.

WILDFIRE & FORESTRY

$5 billion for wildfire protections and climate-smart forestry to prevent catastrophic fires and protect the health of our forests.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

$3 billion for environmental and climate justice block grants to reduce pollution in communities that have been hit the hardest.

$250 million for wildlife recovery and habitat restoration in national and state wildlife refuges.

SCIENCE

$2 billion to invest in infrastructure at our National Laboratories.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/stansbury-leger-fernandez-explain-what-inflation-reduction-act-means-new,"Stansbury, Leger Fernández Explain what the Inflation Reduction Act Means for New Mexicans",2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO: Clickhere to view a recording of the press conference.

WASHINGTON— Today,U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) andTeresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03)hosted a virtual press conference celebrating the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Rep. Stansbury highlighted the landmark benefits headed to New Mexico from the legislation, including the largest ever investment in climate, the creation of good-paying jobs in the clean energy sector, and decreased costs for prescription drugs and health care.

“I returned to Washington last night to work on passing the Inflation Reduction Act, because this bill is absolutely crucial to the future of our communities,”said Rep. Stansbury.""This bill makes the largest single investment in climate action that has ever been seen in the United States and frankly, the planet. This bill is going to help us cut carbon by 40% by 2030. It makes game-changing investments in good paying jobs that will help us to tackle the climate crisis, and it’s going to help us lower healthcare costs and prescription drug costs for every New Mexican.”

""I've talked to New Mexicans across our beautiful state. I’ve talked to veterans, seniors, farmers, ranchers, business owners, Tribal communities, and our wonderful young families that we need to take us into the future. And what we're doing is placing people over profit, people over politics, and we're going to keep building on the progress this bill represents,”said Rep. Leger Fernández. ""The Inflation Reduction Act is going to help battle inflation and lower costs for our gente, for our Nuevo Mexicanos.""

TheInflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376)will invest in local energy generation and industry, reduce carbon emissions by nearly 40% by 2030, and make a historic down payment on deficit reduction to fight inflation. The package will also extend the expanded Affordable Care Act program for another three years and allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs and lower prices throughout the market.

In New Mexico, the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to save New Mexican families with employer-based health insurance an average of $3,490 per year, additionally capping prescription drug costs at $2,000 for seniors and community members with coverage through Medicare.

The Inflation Reduction Act:

Enacts historic deficit reduction to fight inflation

Lowers energy costs, increases cleaner production, and reduces carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030

Allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and caps out-of-pocket costs to $2,000

Lowers ACA health care premiums for millions of Americans

Makes the biggest corporations and ultra-wealthy pay their fair share

There are no new taxes on families making $400,000 or less and no new taxes on small businesses – we are closing tax loopholes and enforcing the tax code.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-hails-key-veterans-health-care-bill-becoming-law,Rep. Stansbury Hails Key Veterans’ Health Care Bill Becoming Law,2022-08-10,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“Today, we tooka critical step to honor ournation’s heroes with more than just words.The bipartisan Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 will improve health carefor 3.5 million veterans, the single biggest increase inservices for veterans who have been exposed to dangerous substances in over 30 years.

“We owe it to our soldiers to provide them the healthcare they need to recover from conditionsthey were exposed to while serving our country.After breathing toxic fumes from burn pits, too many veteranshave had tolive withcreeping andunexplainedillnesses while being denied care by the nation they served so honorably. I’m proud that the PACT Act will strengthen health care and benefits for our veterans,and I will continue the work to honor our sacred pact to our nation’s veterans in Congress.”

Rep. Stansbury has fought for our nation’s veterans throughout her service in Congress, voting to passthe Honoring our Pact Act of 2022in March.Rep. Stansbury has also joined members of New Mexico’scongressionaldelegationto fight against the closure of rural VA outpatient clinics that provide critical healthcare toNew Mexico’sveterans.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-highlights-875000-secured-east-mountain-food-pantry,"Rep. Stansbury Highlights $875,000 Secured for East Mountain Food Pantry",2022-08-10,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) toured the East Mountain Food Pantry to learn more about their critical work to feed local families. During the tour, Rep. Stansbury highlighted the $875,000 in funding she secured to expand the food pantry, funding construction for a new, purpose-built facility that will support efficient service tomore households.

During her visit, Rep. Stansbury spoke to volunteers and staff, learned more about the challenges the food pantry isfacing, and heard first-hand accounts of the need for more dedicated resources to combat hunger and food insecurity in the region.The East Mountain Food Pantry provided food for over 625,000 meals during 2021.

“I’m proud that we were able to secure $875,000 in funding that will support the East Mountain Food Pantry as they expand their critical efforts to keep our communities fed,”said Rep. Stansbury. “Too many hardworking families across New Mexico are facing food insecurity and struggling to make ends meet. No child should ever have to wonder where their next meal is coming from – that’s why I’m proud that the funding we secured for the East Mountain Food Pantry will facilitate the construction of a new facility that allows them to better serve the needs of our local communities.”

The $875,000 Rep. Stansbury secured in the FY 2023 Budget for the East Mountain Food Pantry will be used to construct a new, purpose-built 6,000-10,000 square foot facility that will make it possible for the organization to efficiently serve more households across the region.

In July, Rep. Stansbury securedover $18 million for key 15 Community Funded Projects to improve public safety, housing, economic development, and community well-being in New Mexico’s First Congressional District as part of the FY 2023 budget. Rep. Stansbury chose projects that reflected the diverse needs of communities across New Mexico, including the East Mountain Food Pantry, which was selected as a funding recipient from a pool of over 200 organizations that submitted projects to Rep. Stansbury’s office for consideration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-celebrates-stem-jobs-new-mexico-president-biden-signs-chips-act,Rep. Stansbury Celebrates STEM Jobs for New Mexico as President Biden Signs the CHIPS Act into Law,2022-08-09,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the followingstatement celebrating President Biden’s signature of the CHIPS and Science Act into law:

“I am so proud that today, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law. This packageincludesthe Partnerships for Energy and Security Act–the first piece of legislation that I introduced in Congress. Our state is the proud home of two of our nation’s leading research laboratories where scientists push the envelope of innovation in science and technology every day. This bill will boost New Mexico’s STEM economy and leverage the billions of dollars that the labs contribute to our state’s economy. And, as a former STEM educator, I’m proud this legislation will help students of all backgrounds succeed in STEM careers at our Labs.

“The wider CHIPS and Science Act is a much-needed boost to the people and ideas that keep America’s science and technology strong. By investing billions in domestic manufacturing, this bill will lower costs for New Mexico’s familiesbuying dishwashers to cars to everything in between while creating good jobs. This legislation also funds critical infrastructure upgrades to our National Labs in New Mexico to ensure that our Labs can continue driving innovation across the United States. Now that this important package has become law, we are ready for the hard work of maximizing the benefits this legislation will bring to all New Mexicans.”

TheCHIPS and Science Act invests $52 billion to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing, with the remaining $280 billion targeted to federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to boost public-private partnerships that turbocharge American science and technology innovation. The legislation also includes $800 million to upgrade critical infrastructure at National Laboratories, including Sandia and Los Alamos.

Last year, Rep. Stansbury introduced her bipartisanPartnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Actto stimulate innovation and local economic development in New Mexico. Earlier this month, Rep. StansburyjoinedU.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) andBen Ray Luján (N.M.), andU.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) in urging the Biden administration to choose New Mexico as a STEM and semiconductor hub for the National Semiconductor Technology Centers (NSTC) and the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) created in the CHIPS and Science Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansburys-statement-recent-attacks-albuquerque,Congresswoman Stansbury’s Statement on Recent Attacks in Albuquerque,2022-08-05,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement after Albuquerque law enforcement reported on Thursday that the shooting of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain may be connected with the recent shootings of Mohammad Admadi and Aftab Hussein.

“As we are grieving the unthinkable loss of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain this week, new information has come to light that his shooting may be linked with the deaths of two other members of our community, Mohammad Admadi and Aftab Hussein. As investigators continue to investigate these horrific shootings, we are working closely with federal, state, and local partners to prioritize the safety of our Muslim, immigrant, and Middle Eastern communities and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. My thoughts and prayers are with the families, and everyone grieving, and the entire Muslim community during this difficult time. Our communities will not tolerate hate in any form.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansburys-statement-honoring-muhammad-afzaal-hussain,Congresswoman Stansbury’s Statement Honoring Muhammad Afzaal Hussain,2022-08-03,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) released the following statement:

“I am devastated and heartbroken by the news that our community has lost Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a beloved son and brother, urban planner, and shining light, to senseless gun violence. For those who knew Muhammad, his smile and passion lit up a room. I was fortunate enough to have the privilege of working with Muhammad during our Campaign for Congress, where his work as a field organizer for our campaign inspired countless people with his compassion and dedication to working in partnership with our communities, and as one of the kindest and hardest-working people I have ever known.

“New Mexico is lucky that Muhammad chose our state as his home after immigrating from Pakistan. His contributions to our communities stretch beyond what we can say here. As a dedicated urban planner for Española, he was committed to making our public spaces work for every person and cleaning up legacy pollution. Our team was privileged every day to witness firsthand Muhammad’s passion for lifting up the voices of our community members and celebrating their contributions, accomplishments, and dreams.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-stansbury-welcome-over-1-million-federal-funding-support,"Heinrich, Luján, Stansbury Welcome Over $1 Million In Federal Funding To Support Chronic Disease Prevention In Tribes",2022-08-02,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are welcoming $1,240,625 in federal funding heading to the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc., to support healthy behaviors and emphasize strategies to reduce chronic disease risk factors in Tribes.

“Federal investments play a key role in empowering Tribal health providers and advocates to better address the chronic disease risk factors that disproportionately impact Native Americans,” said Heinrich. “That’s why I’m proud to welcome this federal investment that will provide Tribes with the resources they need to promote healthy living and chronic disease prevention.”

“The health of Native communities in New Mexico must remain a top priority as their risk for chronic diseases remains disproportionately high,”said Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “I'm pleased this investment of more than $1 million will support the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board in developing and providing stronger preventative disease services and will help keep Indigenous communities healthy.”

“Many chronic disease risk factors disproportionately impact Tribal communities across New Mexico,“said Stansbury. “Today, I’m proud to welcome over $1 million in federal funding that will help local Tribes to support their communities with expanded and holistic resources to encourage healthy lifestyles, improve Tribal health, and prevent chronic diseases.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-urge-biden-administration-support-nm-hub,N.M. Congressional Democrats Urge Biden Administration to Support N.M. as Hub of Semiconductor Innovation,2022-08-02,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON– Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) wrote to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to express strong support for New Mexico as a potential site for the National Semiconductor Technology Centers (NSTC) and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP).

“New Mexico has long been at the cutting edge of the semiconductor industry, and with a culture of innovation and a diverse pool of talent, New Mexico is well-positioned to rapidly advance national goals for semiconductor innovation,” wrote the lawmakers. “Establishing National Semiconductor Technology Centers (NSTC) and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) sites in New Mexico would not only reap benefits from our state’s research and development sector, but would also provide opportunities to a demographic that is underrepresented in STEM but that has the skills and training to make advancements in this field.”

“Our state is a hub of semiconductor innovation, brimming with diverse and talented people and the right industries poised for growth. We strongly urge you to consider sites in New Mexico for the National Semiconductor Technology Centers and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program,” the lawmakers concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Secretary Raimondo and Secretary Granholm:

As the CHIPS and Science Act heads to the President’s desk, we write to express our strong support for New Mexico as a potential site for the National Semiconductor Technology Centers (NSTC) and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). New Mexico has long been at the cutting edge of the semiconductor industry, and with a culture of innovation and a diverse pool of talent, New Mexico is well-positioned to rapidly advance national goals for semiconductor innovation.

New Mexico is a Leader in Semiconductor R&D

New Mexico has a long history of leadership in the semiconductor industry. Our state is home to world-class research and development institutions and successful startups that continue to revolutionize the semiconductor industry. Sandia National Laboratory has been at the forefront of research and development since 1957, from patenting the laminar flow clean room and developing radiation-hardened microelectronics to designing extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) and pioneering advances in nanoscience at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT). Intel recently announced a $3.5 billion investment in New Mexico, and Albuquerque-based 3D Glass has set new world records in speed with their unique glass-based wafer that could transform the future of this industry.

New Mexico’s two Department of Energy National Laboratories represent a major source of continuing innovation, and their research infrastructure capabilities and personnel resources have been developed for a broad spectrum of semiconductor types and are ready to advance the US microelectronics industry. These capabilities span device testing, characterization, and fabrication and integration facilities as well as broad-based materials, physics, and computing competencies. Staff and external users at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies have immediate access to a comprehensive suite of nanofabrication techniques in a dedicated class-100 cleanroom with full silicon processing which, unlike industry cleanrooms, is designed for the study of a wide variety of unconventional materials.

There are over 100 companies operating in New Mexico in the space industry alone, and the state performs significant R&D around materials and electronics in extreme or unique environments. For example, the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico has worked with United Semiconductors, a small business, since 2005 to grow large-diameter semiconductor crystals with high optical quality, which have uses in several key U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force systems, including in-space manufacturing of advanced materials. In-space manufacturing and other microgravity advancements can potentially reduce the cost and schedule required to build sensors.

This combination of breadth across many microelectronics technologies coupled with top-tier multi-disciplinary research capabilities makes New Mexico a unique national resource, eager to support key national priorities.

The Land of Enchantment is a Welcoming Home to a Skilled and Diverse Workforce

Establishing National Semiconductor Technology Centers (NSTC) and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) sites in New Mexico would not only reap benefits from our state’s research and development sector, but would also provide opportunities to a demographic that is underrepresented in STEM but that has the skills and training to make advancements in this field.

In making these new investments, the CHIPS and Science Act emphasizes that the Commerce department must “increase participation of and outreach to economically disadvantaged individuals, minority owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses.” This directive aligns with President Biden’s Day-1 executive order (#13985) to support underserved communities with actions by every federal agency. With the highest percentage of Hispanic or Latino-identifying residents in the country and one of the largest Native and Tribal constituencies, New Mexico prides itself on our unique and diverse population, and they are ready for this promise to be realized through major new investments.

According to Census data, New Mexico has the highest proportion of Hispanic small business ownership and the third highest proportion of women-owned small businesses[1]. In New Mexico, female-founded tech startups outraise those based in other states, with an average of $9.8 million in venture capital secured per fundraising round – the third highest in the country[2]. There are also dozens of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in New Mexico, including our three largest research universities. When your respective agencies designate a liaison for MSI outreach, as required by CHIPS and Science Act, we ask that you ensure the full diversity of our many MSIs, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), have a seat at the table. New Mexico is breaking barriers in innovation, and new federal investments would empower our communities to model that success for the nation and the world.

New Mexico is affectionately known as the Land of Enchantment. It is a wonderful place to live – full of art, heritage, natural beauty, and amazing food – and it is brimming with talented communities that have far too often been left behind in the innovation economy. In 2021, Business Facilities ranked Albuquerque, NM, one of the top 10 Tech Hubs for Growth Potential[3], and the online magazine Livability ranked the city in the top 5 Best Cities for STEM Workers[4]. It’s clear that New Mexico is a prime location to create new, equitable opportunities and power America’s leadership in semiconductor advances.

New Mexico is Interconnected and Fast-Growing

New Mexico is at the heart of the fastest-growing region in the United States. Our state is well-connected to the rest of the country and the world: it has several large airports, is bisected by three major highways, and has three international ports of entry, including the Santa Teresa Port of Entry on the US-Mexico border. The industries of aerospace and defense, advanced manufacturing, data centers, logistics and distribution, and technology commercialization – all of which are deeply invested in semiconductors and electronics – already have a very strong presence in New Mexico and would be excellent partners for the Commerce Department’s new initiatives.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/big-step-forward-water-security-three-congresswoman-stansburys-groundbreaking,"In a Big Step Forward for Water Security, Three of Congresswoman Stansbury’s Groundbreaking Bills Pass the House",2022-07-29,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"July 29, 2022

Each of Rep. Stansbury’s comprehensive water bills she introduced this Congress, the Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act, passed as part of the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.

WATCH: Congresswoman Stansbury Celebrates Passage of Key Water Security Bills

WASHINGTON—As the nation faces the worst drought in 1,200 years and communities battle devastating wildfires across New Mexico and the country, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced that her three game-changing water security bills, the Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and the WaterSMARTAccess for Tribes Act passed the House of Representatives as part of the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.

Rep. Stansbury secured House passage of the bills just over a year after taking office representing New Mexico’s First Congressional District, building on a career in climate and water policy.

“Last week, I was heartbroken to watch our beautiful Rio Grande dry across significant reaches of our state. We must act as our communities experience a millennial drought and devastating wildfires. As we adapt to the effects of climate change, this package represents a historic moment for water management,” said Rep. Stansbury. “In addition to a long-deserved pay raise for our wildland firefighters and other vital wildfire prevention measures, I'm proud that the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act includes three of my water bills: the Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act. This trio of bills will assist Tribal communities in gaining access to vital funds for water security and conservation, enhance water management throughout the Rio Grande Basin, and transform our water data systems. This will give our communities the tools they need to address our nation's toughest water challenges.”

Together, Rep. Stansbury’s bipartisan water bills will transform water management across the United States and give communities in New Mexico and the nation the tools they need to address water security.

The Water Data Act (H.R. 7792) will create a Water Data Council to establish a framework standardizing water data across federal agencies so the data is interoperable and easily accessible to water managers and communities.

The Rio Grande Water Security Act (H.R. 7793) will bring game-changing support to the communities of the Rio Grande River Basin, one of the West’s most iconic rivers. For the first time in history, the Rio Grande Water Security Act will create the resources and authorization needed to develop a plan to address the water security needs of the region. The bill will also reauthorize a vital lifeline to address the irrigation infrastructure needs of the Pueblo nations who have used these waters for countless generations.

The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act (H.R.6238) will give the U.S. Secretary of the Interior the power to waive or reduce cost-share requirements for Tribes for WaterSMART, a suite of programs under the Bureau of Reclamation to improve water security across the West.

The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act also includes key investments to prepare New Mexico for further drought and wildfires, including:

Wildfire response:

Establishes new hiring authorities and a minimum basic pay rate (approximately $20/hour) for wildland firefighters, as well as mental health leave and hazard pay.

Authorizes a 10-Year National Wildfire Response Plan for landscape-scale projects across the country.

Provides tools and resources to assist communities' wildfire activities, including prescribed fires, and supports opportunities for Tribes and Conservation Corps in wildfire activities.

To improve drought resiliency, the WRDR Act:

Provides $500 million to prevent key reservoirs of the Colorado River from declining to unsafe levels.

Invests in innovative drought-proof water infrastructure, including water recycling and desalination projects.

Improves water reliability for Indian Country, by advancing Tribal water rights settlements, investing $1 billion in Tribal clean water access, and supporting technical assistance for tribal water needs.

Supports the development of modern water management data and technology.

Protects and restores important ecosystems and wildlife populations that have been impacted by drought and climate change.

To ensure a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to wildfire and drought, the WRDR Act also:

Improves wildfire-related programs at the Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fire Administration and provides improved assistance and relief for communities that have been impacted by recent wildfires.

Establishes the National Disaster Safety Board and directs the President to establish a National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program.

Advances environmental justice for communities that have been disproportionately harmed by environmental discrimination and climate change-induced wildfire and drought.

A fact sheet on the Water Data Act is here and the full bill text is here. A fact sheet on the Rio Grande Water Security Act is here and the full bill text is here. The full text of the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act can be found here. The full text of the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/heinrich-stansbury-lead-nm-congressional-delegation-bill-rename-belen-post,"Heinrich, Stansbury Lead N.M. Congressional Delegation On Bill To Rename Belen Post Office In Honor Of Former U.S. Senator Dennis Chávez",2022-07-29,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office facility located at 400 North Main Street in Belen, New Mexico, in honor of former U.S. Senator Dennis Chávez. Senator Chávez, the first American-born Hispanic Senator, worked to further civil rights, education, conservation, and economic development in New Mexico and across the nation.

The legislation is supported by Senator Chávez’s family, the Belen City Council, New Mexico Chapter of the American Postal Workers Union, and the local Postmaster in Belen.

“During his decades-long career in public service, Senator Chávez worked tirelessly to advance the interests of every New Mexican,”said Heinrich. “His legacy continues to impact and inspire my work in the Senate today. I am proud to introduce this legislation to commemorate his service to New Mexico.”

“As the first Hispanic senator to serve in the U.S. Senate, Senator Dennis Chávez did not just break barriers—his commitment to justice, civil rights, and honoring New Mexico’s communities made a lasting difference for our state,”said Stansbury. “Known as ‘El Senador’ by his colleagues, Senator Chávez never backed down from defending what he knew to be right, whether it was championing organized labor and our communities or being the first to speak out against dangerous anti-democratic smear campaigns. I am proud to introduce this bill honoring his legacy—so that all who enter the Senator Dennis Chávez Post Office in Belen can honor and remember one of New Mexico’s finest public servants.”

Senator Heinrich and Representative Stansbury are joined by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.).

“Senator Dennis Chávez's career stands as a shining example of a trailblazer who gave our communities hope as he fought tirelessly for civil rights and labor protections for hardworking families in New Mexico,”said Luján. “This legislation to rename the Belen Post Office in Senator Chávez’s honor is just a small token of gratitude for his long career of service to the people of New Mexico. I’m honored to follow in his footsteps as a Hispanic U.S. Senator, and I will continue to champion those same issues he did and be a voice for the voiceless.”

“I am glad we have the opportunity to honor America’s first Hispanic senator, Dennis Chavez,”said Herrell. “In Congress he fought for veterans, for hard-working American families, and for the people of the young state of New Mexico. May his legacy of public service inspire new generations of New Mexicans to help their fellow citizens and strengthen our great nation.”

“New Mexico selected Senator Chávez as one of our two commemorative statues in the Capitol for a reason,” said Leger Fernández. “His work ethic and philanthropy during his service between 1936 and 1962 represent a grand legacy that speaks of his love for service and his passion for working tirelessly for New Mexicans. I am honored to support the first Hispanic senator to serve in the U.S. Senate and rename the Belen Post Office in his honor.”

Senator Chávez dropped out of school at age of 13 in order to help support his family. However, he continued his education independently, and eventually gained admission to Georgetown University Law School.

Senator Chávez began his political career in 1922 when he was elected to the New Mexico State House of Representatives. In 1930, he was elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he sat on the Public Lands and Indian Affairs Committees. Senator Chávez was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1936. In 1950, he was selected to be the Chairman the Senate Committee on Public Works. As Chairman, he oversaw critical advancements in our nation’s infrastructure, including expansion of the interstate highway system, improvements to water infrastructure, and construction of federal buildings, including post offices.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/boost-nms-stem-economy-rep-stansburys-first-bill-will-become-law,"In Boost to N.M.’s STEM Economy, Rep. Stansbury’s First Bill Will Become Law",2022-07-28,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"July 28, 2022

Rep. Stansbury’s Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act was included in the groundbreaking CHIPS and Science Act, which passed the House this evening to invest in American manufacturing.

WASHINGTON —Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01),a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, passed the first piece of legislation that she introduced in Congress with the House passage of the bipartisanCHIPS and Science Act. The CHIPS Act is designed to advance the nation’s global competitiveness, boost semiconductor manufacturing in New Mexico, and lower costs for working families. Rep. Stansbury secured her bill, thePartnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, in the broader CHIPS Act. The package now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) championed the bill in the Senate and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (N.M.) was named to the wider conference committee that negotiated provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act.

“I am so proud to announce that my first-ever piece of legislation that I introduced in Congress is on its way to becoming law to boost New Mexico’s STEM economy. Our state is the proud home of two of our nation’s leading research laboratories where scientists push the envelope of innovation in science and technology every day,”said Rep. Stansbury. “This is our moment to leverage the billions of dollars that the labs contribute to our state’s economy, help students of all backgrounds succeed in STEM careers harness next-generation science and technologies for wider social and commercial uses. I’m so proud that this bill will help grow our STEM economy and tackle our biggest challenges in science, innovation, and clean energy economy of the future.”

ThePartnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Actwill create a nonprofit foundation for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that channels research and innovation to higher education institutions and private sector partners in alignment with DOE’s mission. The foundation’s mission would also focus on bringing energy innovations to markets serving rural and underserved communities and facilitate the commercialization of technologies like next-generation materials and high-efficiency batteries.

The nonprofit DOE foundation created by Rep. Stansbury’s bill will prioritize partnerships with institutions like Hispanic-ServingInstitutions,Tribal Colleges and Universities, Historically BlackColleges andUniversities, andMinority-ServingInstitutions.

The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act includes key investments in the country’s STEM workforce and in American manufacturing of semiconductor chips, an initiative which is expected to create nearly 100,000 new jobs nationwide, lower our dependence on foreign manufacturers, and lower costs for hard working families across New Mexico. The package also strengthens our national security, supports our growing economy, and invests in numerous victories in science and technology for workers and families across the nation.

The CHIPS and Science Act:

Lowers costs for American consumers – by making more critical semiconductor components in America, helping end the shortage of chips that have driven up the price of everything from cars to consumer goods.

Creates 100,000 new good-paying jobs – creates strong, good-paying jobs building high-tech manufacturing facilities here in America.

Ends our dangerous dependence on foreign manufacturers – bringing critical semiconductor manufacturing back to America instead of overseas where it can be threatened by our adversaries.

Turbocharges American R&D – powering America’s preeminence in both basic research and next-generation technologies and ensuring that the technologies of the future are made here in America.

Diversifies and expands the innovation workforce – broadening the pool of brainpower and talent so that we are embracing the full potential from all our communities, helping to diversify our STEM workforce and advancing regional technology hubs to ensure communities across the country can help in American research and development.

This legislation also includes strong guardrails to ensure that federal semiconductor investments go straight into New Mexico's economyinstead of corporations or overseas. The CHIPS and Science Act will:

Prohibit companies from using chips funding for stock buybacks or dividend payments.

Bar funding recipients from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in countries of concern.

Require strong oversight and tight Congressional control over the use of federal funds

The full text of the Partnerships for Energy Innovation and Security Act is availablehere.

The full text of the CHIPS and Science Act is availablehere.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/heinrich-leger-fernandez-stansbury-introduce-legislation-strengthen-tribal,"Heinrich, Leger Fernández, Stansbury, Introduce Legislation To Strengthen Tribal Food Sovereignty, Increase Access To Free School Meals For Native Children",2022-07-26,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) introduced the Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act to promote Tribal food sovereignty and make it easier for Native children to access free meals at school.

“We owe it to every child to provide equitable access to the kind of nutritious foods that promote lifelong health and wellbeing,”said Heinrich. “Far too many Tribal communities across the country currently lack the resources necessary to ensure Native children have consistent access to healthy meals. This legislation will help mitigate the economic, health, and food challenges that Tribes face while promoting efforts to strengthen and protect Indigenous food systems.”

“Our kids should never have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Unfortunately, too many Indigenous children continue to lack access to affordable and nutritious meals. This bill will make sure that Indigenous students across the country are eligible to receive free school meals. It strengthens Tribal sovereignty by allowing Tribal Nations to authorize their own nutrition programs and include culturally appropriate foods, such as the Three Sisters of corn, beans, and squash”said Leger Fernández.“For far too long, the United States undermined Tribal nutrition by providing Native families the least nutritious foods. This bill makes sure Tribal nations have food sovereignty and remedy this historical mistreatment.”

Native American populations are more likely to experience poverty, food scarcity and nutrition-related health conditions. One in four Native Americans experience food insecurity, compared to one in eight Americans overall. In addition to this, nearly half of individuals living in Tribal areas have incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

The Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act seeks to address this inequity by allowing Tribes to ensure children within their communities have consistent access to a variety of nutritious meal options, including local Indigenous foods.

The bill establishes a two-year pilot program through the USDA, awarding funds to 10 Tribal entities that will directly administer the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. Eligible entities include Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, a consortium of Indian Tribes, or a partnership between an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization and a State or local education agency.

The Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act also makes Native children categorically eligible for free school meals and allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to adjust reimbursement rates for Bureau-funded schools and schools on or near a reservation.

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) is a cosponsor of the bill in the U.S. Senate. Senator Luján previously co-led the bill when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the House, the bill is co-led by U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), and Ruben Gallego. (D-Ariz.).

“For too long, communities on Tribal lands have faced some of the highest rates of food insecurity—impacting Native children at a time when food and nutrition is vital for their health and well-being,”said Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “Having previously co-led this effort in the House, I’m proud to continue fighting to expand access to healthy meals for students in Native communities while protecting Tribal sovereignty.”

“School meals play a vital role in helping to address hunger and food insecurity and helping to keep our kids healthy and strong. Ensuring our Tribes and Pueblos can provide school meals is critical to the well-being of our communities and I am proud to co-sponsor the Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act with Chairwoman Leger Fernández in the House,”said Stansbury, a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States. “In the New Mexico State Legislature I was proud to lead legislation with our Governor and Representative Willie Madrid to extend school meals to thousands of New Mexico kids and have seen firsthand the impacts these programs have on our kids and communities. This bill will enable Tribes and Pueblos to extend school meal programs and honor the sovereignty, needs, and food traditions of our tribal communities.”

“Every child in America deserves to have a free, nutritious breakfast and lunch as part of their school day,” said McGovern. “I’ve visited Tribal communities and seen firsthand the inequities and injustices of our current food system. That’s why I’m grateful to my colleagues, Senator Heinrich and Representative Leger Fernández, for introducing the Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act to help fight high rates of food insecurity among Tribal families and ensure Native children have access to free meals at school. We must continue fighting for a hunger free America where no child wakes up not knowing when their next meal will be.”

“Every child in our country should have access to affordable and nutritious food, regardless of their background or where they live,” said Gallego. “Unfortunately, Native families and their children often still face too many barriers to accessing school lunch programs which are a lifeline for so many. This bill will cut through the red tape to make every Native child automatically eligible for free school meals, ensuring every student in Indian Country can focus on learning, and not on if they have lunch the next day. It also bolsters Tribal sovereignty by expanding opportunities for Tribes to administer their own culturally responsive nutrition programs. I’m proud to join my Senate colleagues in this effort that will uplift so many Native children in Arizona and across the country.”

The Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act has received the support of the National Congress of American Indians and New Mexico Appleseed.

""The Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act would ensure American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth have access to financially sustainable, nutritious meals and that schools serving AI/AN students have the funding they need to adequately feed their children. This Act also provides substantial steps towards developing culturally relevant school nutrition programs and will create a pilot program for 10 tribal entities to directly implement school nutrition programs. We applaud Senator Heinrich for his leadership on this issue and continued support for providing the necessary tools for our AI/AN students and food producers,”said National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp.

“Native Americans have some of the highest rates of food insecurity ever recorded. The TNIA envisions sovereign tribal nations with adequate resources to feed their children culturally relevant and healthy food,”said New Mexico Appleseed Executive Director Jennifer Ramos.

“Taos Pueblos Education & Training Division receives CACFP reimbursements for the Taos Pueblo Head Start and Early Head Start program. As a recipient of this program we have experienced many challenges and barriers with the various requirements of the program. One of the major challenges are that there is not enough flexibility to include our traditional foods and locally sourced ingredients. Food is a major component of culture and through this program we are not able to really engage our students in the rich cultural teachings that could be happening through food. Among the many barriers that we have experienced including the amount of paperwork that is required, is not fully being able to administer our own program. Many tribes administer grants directly with the Federal Government and by not allowing us to directly administer our own programs is to not acknowledge our sovereignty,”said Taos Pueblo Education & Training Division Director Bettina Sandoval.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-delegation-calls-president-biden-grant-state-request-expand,"N.M. Congressional Delegation Calls On President Biden To Grant State Request To Expand, Extend Assistance Under Disaster Declaration",2022-07-25,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03), Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), and Yvette Herrell (N.M.-02) are calling on President Joe Biden to approve a request from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to include flooding impacts in New Mexico’s disaster declaration for counties affected by wildfires and extend the duration of the state’s disaster declaration with 100% federal cost coverage.

In a letter to President Biden, the lawmakers write “Due to the urgency and severe needs of this crisis, we urge you to approve the State of New Mexico’s requests as quickly as possible. It is imperative that the federal government provides full support to New Mexican communities to recover from the devastating wildfires.”

The New Mexico Congressional Delegation is requesting that the Biden administration approve the state’s request to:

waive 100% of total eligible costs for the entire disaster period under DR-4652-NM;

extend the duration of New Mexico’s disaster declaration;

include coverage of flooding impacts in the disaster declaration;

amend the major disaster declaration to include Los Alamos and Sandoval counties as designated disaster areas; and

approve direct temporary housing assistance for residents displaced by the disaster.

The New Mexico Congressional Delegation was successful in their previous call for FEMA to cover 100% of costs for emergency protective work and debris removal under the declaration. This request goes further by urging FEMA to cover 100% of the total eligible costs under the declaration for the entire disaster period.

Read the full text of the letter below or by clickinghere.

Dear President Biden,

Thank you for issuing a major disaster declaration as a result of the ongoing wildfires burning in New Mexico since April 5, 2022. While federal assistance has significantly aided our communities, the State of New Mexico needs the federal government’s full support to recover from the devastation of the wildfires. As such, we write in support of the State’s request for the federal government to 1) waive 100% of total eligible costs for the entire disaster period under DR-4652-NM; 2) extend the duration of New Mexico’s disaster declaration; 3) include coverage of flooding impacts in the disaster declaration; 4) amend the major disaster declaration to include Los Alamos and Sandoval counties as designated disaster areas; and 5) approve direct temporary housing assistance for residents displaced by the disaster.

Since April 5, 2022, wildfires related to DR-4652-NM have burned over 340,000 acres, forced thousands of New Mexicans to evacuate their homes and businesses, caused multiple fatalities, and destroyed over 900 structures – many in which residents and families had lived for generations. Much of the destruction has occurred in rural, high, and persistent poverty rate communities that simply cannot afford to take on the economic strain imposed by the wildfires. Given the severity and life and death nature of this crisis, we urge you to act without delay and approve the State of New Mexico’s request to provide 100 percent coverage of federal assistance for the entire disaster period and extend the duration of the disaster declaration beyond the initially approved 90 day period.

Additionally, New Mexico communities affected by the disaster are now facing potentially exacerbated risks of flooding and post fire debris flows. New Mexico’s monsoon season, which occurs from June through September on an annual basis has already led to flash floods and substantial precipitation events, including in the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar and the McBride burn scar in Lincoln County. The same communities that continue to recover from the initial impact of the disaster are now threatened by worsening monsoon rains and facing the potential for even more catastrophic damages. For these reasons, we urge you to approve the State of New Mexico’s request to include flooding impacts in the disaster declaration.

The State of New Mexico has also submitted requests to FEMA amend the major disaster declaration to include Los Alamos and Sandoval counties as designated disaster areas, and to provide temporary housing assistance to homeowners or renters to rent a temporary place to live if their home is unlivable due to the disaster. Due to the urgency and severe needs of this crisis, we urge you to approve the State of New Mexico’s requests as quickly as possible. It is imperative that the federal government provides full support to New Mexican communities to recover from the devastating wildfires.

Thank you for your consideration to this important request.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-stansbury-announce-875079-american-rescue-plan-funding-support,"Heinrich, Luján, Stansbury Announce $875,079 In American Rescue Plan Funding To Support Laguna Pueblo Businesses Along Route 66 Highway",2022-07-22,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced $875,079 in American Rescue Plan funding to Laguna Economic Advancement, LLC, to plan and design for a facility that will support economic and business opportunities for the Laguna Pueblo along the Route 66 tourism corridor.

“It’s great to see the American Rescue Plan continue helping Tribes rebuild and strengthen their economies,”said Heinrich. “Thanks to this federal funding, tourists hitting the road and traveling down the historic Route 66 highway will have more opportunities to stop by and show their support for Laguna Pueblo businesses.”

“Investments from the American Rescue Plan continue to lift up critical New Mexican communities, like our Tribes and Pueblos, as they recover and rebuild,”said Luján. “I’m glad this funding will support Laguna Pueblo in developing a facility for Tribal members to create and maintain successful businesses in their community.”

“I’m proud that the American Rescue Plan is continuing to support our Tribes and Pueblos with economic recovery to expand opportunities for local businesses,”said Stansbury.“I’m eager to see how the over $875,000 will expand opportunities for good-paying jobs for Laguna Pueblo members and grow our economy statewide.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-protect-access-contraception-nationwide,Rep. Stansbury Votes to Protect Access to Contraception Nationwide,2022-07-21,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision that forecasts threats to the right to contraception and other rights that stem from the right to privacy guaranteed under the 14th Amendment, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act (H.R. 8373) to ensure that neither individual states nor the Supreme Court can limit people’s access to contraceptives.

The Right to Contraception Act, which Rep. Stansbury cosponsors, establishes a federal statutory right to obtain contraceptives and protects health providers who provide contraception, contraceptives, and information related to contraception. The bill now moves to the Senate.

“It is inconceivable that in 2022 we have to act to protect our right to access contraception. Over the last several weeks, the Supreme Court’s activist conservative majority didn’t just overturn reproductive rights—it made clear that the right to privacy and the right to access contraception are in danger,” said Rep. Stansbury. “That’s why I cosponsored and helped pass the Right to Contraception Act today in the House and why I am urging the Senate to protect the rights of millions of Americans to access contraception and make basic health care decisions.

As Republican-led states refuse to rule out banning contraception as a next step following the decision in Dobbs, the Right to Contraception Act is critical to protecting contraception as fundamental to the health and human rights of all Americans.

The Right to Contraception Act:

Affirms contraception as a constitutional right and protects health care providers: Establishes a statutory right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception, and for health care providers to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information related to contraception.

Protects against restrictive state laws: Protects against any state laws that attempt to restrict access to contraceptives and affirms the Attorney General’s enforcement authority to bring civil actions against any state that attempts to do so.

Enforces our right to obtain contraceptives: Establishes a private right of action for individuals to enforce their right to obtain contraceptives and for health care providers to enforce their right to provide contraceptives and information related to contraception.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansburys-18-million-nm-projects-passes-house-budget-invests-american,Rep. Stansbury’s $18 Million for N.M. Projects Passes the House in a Budget that Invests in American Families,2022-07-20,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"July 20, 2022

Rep. Stansbury secured 15 projects to improve public safety, housing, economic development, and community well-being in addition to passing FY2023 budget bills increasing funding for N.M. priorities

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) secured over $18 million for 15 projects in New Mexico’s First Congressional District benefiting public safety, veterans’ homelessness, housing, behavioral health, and economic development. The projects passed as part of a six-bill government funding package for Fiscal Year 2023 that invest in the middle class, working families, and small businesses to tackle the nation’s biggest challenges. The bills are now moving to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Stansbury selected the projects from a pool of over 200 submission requests from across New Mexico’s First Congressional District, an unprecedented number. She shepherded the projects through the House Committee on Appropriations to ensure each of the 15 vital submissions would pass the floor.

“My first priority in Congress is to deliver federal resources for New Mexicans. I am proud to announce that we secured over $18 million to invest in 15 projects for New Mexico’s communities as part of a budget that works for the people of New Mexico,” said Rep. Stansbury. “These Community Funded Projects will help address critical needs for housing, Veterans’ homelessness, behavioral health, economic growth, and sustainability with key investments that support a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all New Mexicans.”

The 15 projects Rep. Stansbury secured include:

Projects to Address Public Safety, Behavioral Health, and Health Care Needs

$410,721 for N.M. Forensic Laboratories to get fentanyl and other drugs off the street.

$1.5 million for Sandia Pueblo’s EMS and Fire Station to decrease response times and enhance emergency response services for the Pueblo.

$2.8 million for the N.M. Department of Public Safety’s Mobile Crisis Team, which will provide acute mental health crisis stabilization services in communities across the state.

$6.8 million to the Albuquerque Sobering Center—a facility that will be the first of its kind in Albuquerque—to divert individuals with low acuity intoxication to a safe place to gain sobriety and access treatment, housing and other needs.

$1 million for the First Nations Community HealthSource Behavorial Health Clinic Expansion, which will help the clinic increase its integrated services to more than 15,000 urban Indigenous community members currently without access to care.

$400,000 for Two Mobile School-Based Health Centers that will provide medical, dental, and mental health care services to serve over 2,500 Albuquerque Public School students and their families.

Projects Tackling Veteran’s Homelessness, Housing, Hunger, and Water Security

$300,000 for the first all-veteran transitional housing campus in New Mexico that will include 42 beds for Veterans and their families.

$1.5 million for the Albuquerque Homeless Youth Center to provide the first dedicated facility for youth experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque, including a safe, transitional environment for unstably housed young people.

$1 million for Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless to expand health care and social services.

$875,000 to expand the East Mountain Food Pantry to help address food insecurity in the East Mountains, Torrance, and Sandoval Counties.

$2.5 million to the Town of Mountainair to improve its wastewater treatment facilities and address long overdue water challenges.

Projects Growing New Mexico’s Economy, Jobs, and Rural Opportunities​

$1.5 million to the Sandoval County Animal Shelter to provide emergency veterinary care to our rural communities in Sandoval County and to grow more rural jobs and opportunities.

$1.5 million for UNM/Sandia Labs STEM Pipeline to expand UNM’s capacity to train the next generation of STEM leaders in cybersecurity and data science.

$600,000 for the Albuquerque Adult Learning Center’s adult literacy and job training programs for communities in the International District.

$650,000 for Families First Economic Justice Project to support the Partners for Community Action to help families, particularly in the South Valley, access capital and grow businesses.

Additional highlights from the FY2023 government spending bill for New Mexico include:​

Community Well-Being

Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T-HUD)

Over $12.8 billion in funding for new affordable housing, critical health, safety, and maintenance improvements to ensure the safety and quality of public and low-income housing, including new support for manufactured housing, and community development activities, including $515.3 million to construct approximately 5,600 new affordable housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities, $1.7 billion in direct funding to states and local governments through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and increases the number of distressed neighborhoods that could be revitalized through the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative program.

Reduces the carbon footprint by investing more than $983 million across the Department to improve energy and water efficiency and increase resiliency in public and low-income housing

$31 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, a $3.7 billion increase from FY2022, including $1.1 billion to expand vouchers to more than 140,000 low-income families, including veterans, and $50 million for HUD-VASH

Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – The bill provides $100 million to support the storage and distribution of USDA Foods distributed through the TEFAP network of emergency feeding organizations. This is the highest ever level for the TEFAP program

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – The bill provides $6 billion in discretionary funding for WIC andvcontinues the authority to increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables in the WIC Food Package. In FY2023, WIC will serve an estimated 6.2 million women, infants, and children, including over 30,000 New Mexicans.

Child nutrition programs – The bill provides $28.6 billion in funding for child nutrition programs. This is an increase of $1.7 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. This funding will support roughly 5.6 billion school lunches and snacks. In addition, the bill provides $50 million for the Summer EBT program, $40 million for school kitchen equipment grants, $10 million for school breakfast expansion grants, and $12 million for farm to school grants.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – The bill provides $111.1 billion in mandatory spending for SNAP, including $3 billion for the SNAP reserve fund, which will serve more than 43.5 million people. The bill provides additional protections for SNAP recipients by providing a “such sums” appropriations for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 to ensure SNAP does not run out of money.

National Hunger Clearinghouse Hotline: Resources include to support the hotline

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – The bill provides a total of $135 billion in discretionary appropriations for VA, an increase of $22.8 billion above the 2022 enacted level.

$13.9 billion is for Mental Health Care, an increase of $743.8 million above the 2022 enacted level and $1.5 million above the budget request

Services for Military Families

$274.4 million for Child Development Centers, an increase of $49.7 million over the FY2022 enacted level. These funds will support increased capacity and better facilities for the 1.2 million children of active duty servicemembers worldwide.

$2.1 billion for Family Housing, an increase of $168.8 million above the budget request.

Climate, Water, and Environment

Confronts the climate crisis with more than $16 billion of transformative investments in clean energy and science, which will help develop clean, affordable, and secure American energy.

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Wildland Fire Management (WFM) – The bill provides $6.43 billion for WFM, which includes $2.55 billion in cap adjusted fire suppression funding. The total funding is $762.2 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The bill provides a total of $11.5 billion for EPA – an increase of $2 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. Of this amount, the bill includes:

$2.88 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, $113 million above the enacted level.

Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies

Bureau of Reclamation – The bill provides $1.891 billion, an increase of $476.7 million above the request. Within Reclamation:

The bill provides $451 million in additional funding for water resources projects, including those authorized in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.

The bill provides $189.3 million for WaterSMART programs, an increase of $49.8 million above the fiscal year 2022 level and $126.9 million above the request, to assist western states like New Mexico and communities as they respond to the historic drought.

Within additional funding, $54 million above the request is provided for rural water projects.

Department of Energy – For fiscal year 2023, the bill provides a total of $48.2 billion for the Department, an increase of $3.3 billion above the fiscal year 2022 level.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – The bill provides $4 billion, an increase of $800 million above the fiscal year 2022 level. This funding provides for clean, affordable, and secure energy and ensures American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy.

State and Community Energy Programs – The bill provides $562 million, an effective increase of $135 million above the fiscal year 2022 level. This funding will support Weatherization Assistance Program, Weatherization Readiness Fund, State Energy Program, Local Government Energy Program, and Energy Future Grants.

Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response – The bill provides $205 million, an increase of $19 million above the fiscal year 2022 level. This funding provides for efforts to secure the nation’s energy infrastructure against all hazards, reduce the risks of and impacts from cybersecurity events, and assist with restoration activities.

Electricity – The bill provides $350 million, an increase of $73 million above the fiscal year 2022 level. This funding will advance technologies to increase the resiliency and efficiency of the nation’s electricity delivery system with capabilities to incorporate growing amounts of clean energy technologies. ​

Economic Development

Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA

Rural Business Development Grants: Supports program funding of $37 million

Rural Broadband – The legislation invests over $560 million for the expansion of broadband service to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and healthcare services. This includes $450 million for the ReConnect program. This is in addition to the $2 billion investment in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Critical Infrastructure –The bill creates a 1 percent loan rate for distressed areas to make the loan more financially viable. An additional $7.9 billion in loan authority is provided for rural electric and telephone infrastructure loans.

Rural Housing Loans and Rental Assistance – The bill provides a total of $30 billion in loan authority for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. In addition, the bill includes over $1.5 billion for rental assistance and rental vouchers for affordable rental housing for low-income families and the elderly in rural communities to renew all existing rental assistance contracts, matching USDA estimates. These programs assist approximately 140,000 families.

Financial Services and General Government

$336 million for Community Development Financial Institutions, an increase of $41 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.

Small Business Administration (SBA) – The bill provides a total of $1.1 billion for SBA, an increase of $77 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. The bill includes $326 million, an increase of $36 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs, including:

$145 million for Small Business Development Centers;

$41 million for Microloan Technical Assistance;

$23 million for the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program, Growth Accelerators, and Regional Innovation Clusters; and

$30 million for Women’s Business Centers.

Honoring Commitments to Tribal Nations

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

$4.4 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Office of the Special Trustee, an increase of $778 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. Within this amount, the bill includes:

$2.2 billion for Bureau of Indian Affairs Operation of Indian Programs, an increase of $330 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.

$50 million for Indian Land Consolidation, an increase of $43 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.$181 million for Bureau of Indian Affairs Construction, an increase of $34 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.

$14 million for the Indian Guaranteed Loan Program, an increase of $2 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.

$1.2 billion for Bureau of Indian Education Operation of Indian Programs, an increase of $175 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.

$375 million to Bureau of Indian Education Construction, an increase of $111 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.

Fully funds Contract Support Costs and Payments for Tribal Leases.

$111 million for the Office of the Special Trustee, an increase of $2 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-defend-same-sex-interracial-marriage-following-supreme,"Rep. Stansbury Votes to Defend Same-Sex, Interracial Marriage Following Supreme Court Rulings",2022-07-19,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) cosponsored and voted to pass legislation to protect the marriage rights of same-sex and interracial couples and repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The Respect for Marriage Act (H.R.8404) has been brought to the House floor in response to recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions rolling back major constitutional rights and protections for the first time in modern history.

While marriage equality still remains constitutionally protected, the Supreme Court’s majority decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Waderelied on arguments that could threaten other fundamental rights, including the right to marriage equality. In a concurring opinion in Dobbs, Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly cited decisions protecting other fundamental rights, including the right to same-sex marriage recognized in Obergefell v. Hodges.

“Americans’ fundamental rights are under attack by a renegade Supreme Court—including not only abortion, but marriage equality, contraception, and other rights,” said Rep. Stansbury. “We cannot allow an extreme Supreme Court majority to send us generations backwards. I am proud to cosponsor and vote to pass the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act to protect the rights of same-sex and interracial couples to marry and enshrine marriage equality in federal statute. Every person should be able to marry the person they love and have the certainty that their families and their rights will be protected.”

The Respect for Marriage Act:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-advances-buffalo-tract-protection-act-committee-hearing,VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Advances Buffalo Tract Protection Act in Committee Hearing,2022-07-19,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK: Watchhere.

WASHINGTON— Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) testified in a House Natural Resources Committee hearing in support of herBuffalo Tract Protection Act. The bill protects the ecosystems and communities in Sandoval County and the ancestral lands of the Pueblos of Santa Ana and San Felipe from further mineral development. The committee also heard from Las Placitas resident and Chair of the Land Use Protection Trust,Mary-Rose de Valladares, who testified about the community’s public health and environmental concerns presented by additional gravel mining.

Rep. Stansbury led the Buffalo Tract Protection Act alongsideRepresentatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03), Jerry McNerney (Calif.-09),andJared Huffman (Calif.-02) last November. The Senate version of the legislation, led byU.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) andBen Ray Luján (N.M.) was recently heard before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. In May, Rep.Stansbury led a letter toSecretary of the Interior Deb Haalandasking for an administrative withdrawal of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in question while Congress works on a legislative solution.

“Last week, I was fortunate enough to meet with the Governor and leadership of Santa Ana Pueblo, who shared about the historical and cultural importance of these ancestral lands, which are tied to the origins of the Pueblo itself. When I speak to the residents of Placitas, Santa Ana, San Felipe, Bernalillo, and the other communities that are nearby, they are clear and unified in opposition to the development of these lands.,”said Congresswoman Stansbury. “It is criminal and unconscionable to put profits and the bottom line of multinational corporations between the cultural, historical, and environmental well-being of our communities. And that is why we have introduced this legislation, because legislative withdrawal is the best way to protect these lands permanently and to do exactly what we were asked to do when we were elected, which is to listen to and act on the will of our communities.”

New Mexico’s Sandoval County already contains six gravel mines, including four of the state’s largest. In 2012, the BLM’s Rio Puerco field office released a draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) that would allow additional mineral development, including gravel mining, on tracts of public land in several counties across New Mexico. The draft RMP received an unprecedented number of public comments in opposition to additional gravel mining.

The Buffalo Tract Protection Act aims to address these concerns and protect the public health of local communities, ancestral lands of surrounding Pueblos, and key wildlife corridors by withdrawing four BLM-owned parcels from any mineral development while keeping the BLM's ability to exchange, sell, or lease surface rights.

“The communityis in agreement about the extensive harmful impacts of existing mining. Migration to Placitas has suffered. Property values have suffered, not only of adjacent properties, but throughout Placitas,”said deValladeres. “Sandoval County's tax base has suffered. Residents of the larger Albuquerque area have suffered loss of land for potential low-impact recreation and we're also now at risk of losing sacred spaces.”

The Buffalo Tract Protection Act is reflective of the long-term needs of the communities in New Mexico, and will serve and benefit the land, the people, and the wildlife who have resided and continue to live around Las Placitas, New Mexico including the Pueblo of San Felipe and the Pueblo of Santa Ana.

The Buffalo Tract Protection Act has been endorsed by Santa Ana Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, the Town of Bernalillo, Sandoval County, San Antonio De Las Huertas Land Grant, Las Placitas Association, the Eastern Sandoval County Citizens Association,Pathways, the Placitas Chamber of Commerce and the Land Use Protection Trust. Statements of support for the legislation can be foundhere.

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks as delivered can be found below.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman,and also to the Ranking Member. And thank you so much for the opportunity this morning to discuss this legislation. And thank you, Mr. Nedd for your serviceand also for being here with your testimony today. The Buffalo Tract legislation is named for the shape of one of four parcels of land that communities in New Mexico's First Congressional District have been fighting for decades to protect and have withdrawn from further mineral development.

Sandoval County, New Mexico has six gravel mines, including four of the state's largest already in the area. These communities have been fighting for decades to protect these tracks from multinational companies who are seeking to come in and build a deeply unpopular gravel mine that will further pollute these communities and the surrounding landscape. Let me be clear, these lands are sacred. They are ancestral to the surrounding Pueblo tribes whose stories and history are tied directly to these lands. These lands are a vital wildlife corridor between two mountain ranges and the Rio Grande River. These lands are adjacent to the community of Placitas. And last word does land grant and will be heavily impacted.

Over the last year I havecriss-crossed my district and held town halls in the community of Placitas. And I have heard from hundreds of New Mexicans that are deeply concerned about this and other similar issues. In fact, last week, I was fortunate enough to meet with the Governor and leadership of Santa Ana Pueblo, who shared about the historical and cultural importance of these ancestral lands, which are tied to the origins of the Pueblo itself. When I speak to the residents of Placitas, Santa Ana, San Felipe, Bernalillo, and the other communities that are nearby, they are clear and unified in opposition to the development of these lands.

In fact, when BLM released their draft Resource Management Plan in 2012, the community mounted an unprecedented response, submitting more than 17,000 public comments in opposition to mining on these tracks. This number represents thousands more thanactually even submitted comments.

17,000 public comments in opposition to the development of these lands. Our local leaders, our Tribal leaders, our residents are gravely concerned about the cultural, environmental and public health impacts of this development. The location is especially dangerous as its intermixed with residential areas and the cumulative impacts of existing mines. It isaextremely beautiful landscape that has significant cultural importance, and has doubled its population size since 1992. It provides a wildlife corridor for deer, elk, wild turkey and pronghorn antelope that connects the Sandia and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. And these lands are Pueblo lands that have ancestral and important histories also tied to our land grants, sand and gravel mining in the area has already stripped the surrounding landscape.

It is clear this is not the right area for new development. And the Bureau in fact has already identified that there are ample supplies of gravel in surrounding and other sites in order to meet the needs of the Albuquerque area and other surrounding areas in New Mexico. We do not need to be mining in culturally and environmentally sensitive areas.

The community has said it loud and clear - they do not want these mines and the false economic promises that come with them. It is criminal and unconscionable to put profits and the bottom line of multinational corporations between the cultural, historical and environmentalwell being of our communities. And that is why we have introduced this legislation because legislative withdrawal is the best way to protect these lands permanently, and to do exactly what we were asked to do when we were elected, which is to listen to and act on the will of our communities.

Mr. Nedd, I deeply appreciate your testimony and the BLM and Department of Interior's testimony in support of this legislation. Madam Secretary Deb Haaland championed this bill and carried this bill when she sat in this seat, herself a descendant of a Pueblo in New Mexico. I know that the Department is committed to listening to our Tribes and our Pueblos. But I would like to ask you here today to reaffirm that commitment that you will listen to our communities and do everything in your power administratively and legislatively to protect these lands. And with that Mr. Chairman, I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/clinics-relocate-nm-rep-stansbury-votes-protect-right-travel-abortion-services,"As Clinics Relocate to N.M., Rep. Stansbury Votes to Protect the Right to Travel for Abortion Services",2022-07-15,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act–a bill she cosponsors—to safeguard the right of pregnant people across the nation to access legal, safe abortion care following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, undermining decades of legal precedent.

Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion clinics based in Texas and Mississippi–where trigger laws banning abortion have or will soon take effect–have announced they are relocating to New Mexico. The Ensuring Access to Abortion Act prohibits any person acting under state law, including private parties, from preventing travel or punishing Americans traveling for reproductive health care, which is protected by the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

“In the wake of the Supreme Court’s devastating decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which undermines decades of legal precedent, I voted today to protect the ability of individuals to access safe and legal care,”said Rep. Stansbury.“This bill helps to protect access to reproductive care by protecting the ability of individuals to travel across state lines to receive safe and accessible care in places like New Mexico, where care is still available. We know this measure is not enough, which is why we are also fighting for the Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which we passed in the House in September to codify access to reproductive health careinto law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-pass-bill-codify-abortion-access-nationwide,Rep. Stansbury Votes to Pass Bill to Codify Abortion Access Nationwide,2022-07-15,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON —Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturnRoe v. Wade,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted once again to pass a bill to establish a federal statutory right for abortion into law nationwide this morning. The Women’s Health Protection Act, which Rep. Stansbury cosponsored in its original form in September, solidifies access to abortion services and reproductive health care as a human and constitutional right.

Rep. Stansbury voted to pass the bill with 218 Members of the House of Representatives after Senate Republicans voted against the bill in the Senate in February. Since the Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent inDobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, several clinics from Mississippi and Texas have announced plans to relocate to New Mexico.

“We must act now to protect our fundamental human right to make decisions about our own bodies.”said Rep. Stansbury. “I am proud to say that abortion remains legal and accessible in New Mexico, but we must stand firm against the Supreme Court and the Republican Party’s attempt to turn back the clock on women and pregnant individuals’ fundamental rights. I urge my Senate colleagues to urgently eliminate the filibuster to protect abortion access nationwide.”

Following the recent Supreme Court decision to overturnRoe v. Wade, a wave of states have enacted antiquated abortion bans—some without exception for the life and health of the pregnant person—that prevent pregnant people from seeking their full health care options.

The Women's Health Protection Act:

Affirms reproductive justice as a human and Constitutional right:Protects a person’s ability to determinewhether or not to continue or end a pregnancy.

Protects health care providers:Provides federal protections for healthcare providers who provide these services free from medically unnecessary restrictions that interfere with a patient’s individual choice or the provider-patient relationship.

The House passed the Women’s Health Protection Act in September 2021. The legislation subsequently failed to pass in the Senate.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/stansbury-secures-over-9-million-new-mexico-votes-raise-servicemember-pay,"Stansbury Secures Over $9 Million for New Mexico, Votes to Raise Servicemember Pay in Defense Bill",2022-07-14,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"July 14, 2022

Rep. Stansbury secured two projects advancing Kirtland Air Force Base’s strategic contributions at the forefront of national defense

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) secured $9.1 million to build two new mission headquarter facilities at Kirtland Air Force Base. The funding will sustain the New Mexico base’s strong contributions to national security and benefit economic growth throughout the First Congressional District. Rep. Stansbury voted for the provisions and a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the House this evening.

Rep. Stansbury secured $9.1 million to build new headquarters facilities for the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (SPRCO) and the Joint Navigation Warfare Center (JNWC) at Kirtland. The funds for the SPRCO facility will support the new office’s mission to rapidly develop and field classified space capabilities at Kirtland AFB. The JNWC facility will support an increase of over 120 new personnel as the office carries out additional missions.

“From our servicemembers at Kirtland to scientists at Sandia Labs and AFRL, New Mexicans play a vital role in serving our country and national security,” said Rep. Stansbury. “This year, I’m proud to have secured investments in key facility investments so that Kirtland Air Force Base can continue to be a leader in national security. This National Defense Authorization Act provides a pay raise to our hardworking civilian Department of Defense employees, invests in the health and well-being of our servicemembers and their families, and raises the minimum wage for all employees and contractors.”

Rep. Stansbury also voted to pass critical provisions in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act for New Mexico including:

A 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilians, in addition to supporting inflation bonuses for many service members and civilians

A $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts

A 20% increase in basic research funding, strengthening the pipeline of future innovation

An extension of National Guard support for the Fireguard program until 2029.

Additional behavioral health providers

The FY2023 NDAA also:

Supports Military Service Members and Families

Adds $750 million for commissary to help reduce costs.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Adds funds to decrease BAH reduction by 2% and requires a report on a more transparent, fair, and flexible way to calculate the basic allowance for housing.

Creates a victims compensation fund to ensure survivors of interpersonal crimes have the financial resources they need for financial assistance, safe housing, and any property damage that may have occurred as a result of the crime.

Child care: Requires the Secretary of Defense to complete a pay study and adjust the pay of child development center employees as compared to similarly trained and qualified public elementary school employees.

Spouse change of station reimbursement: Authorizes financial reimbursement for moving expenses for spouses with home businesses.

Access to behavioral health: The bill includes several provisions that would:

Increase opportunities to grow the number of available behavioral health providers.

Require analysis of the number of providers needed to support care delivered at military treatment facilities and embedded in operational units.

Establish a program to better train civilian behavioral health providers to meet the unique challenges of service members and their families.

Expand license portability for providers delivering non-medical counseling.

Require GAO to review whether TRICARE conforms with the requirements of certain mental health parity laws.

Supports Addressing Issues Related to Wildfires

Extends the National Guard support for the Fireguard program until 2029.

Requires the DoD to reimburse states, post-enactment, for any firefighting costs related to wildfires started on lands controlled by the DoD.

Allows the DoD to transfer aircraft to other departments for the purposes of aiding search and rescue operations or emergency operations related to wildfires.

Adds the “National Interagency Fire Center” to the list of agencies that the National Guard should consult with during wildfire training

Accelerates Innovation Across the Science and Technology Ecosystem

Authorizes a 20 percent increase in basic research funding, strengthening the pipeline of future innovation.

Authorizes $500 million to create a new class of biomanufacturing capabilities and facilities, providing a crucial capability to transition products successfully proven in the lab to commercial scale.

Authorizes an additional $100 million to strengthen the domestic supply chain for critical elements of microelectronics production.

Continues Efforts to Address PFAS and PFOA Contamination

Requires the DoD to send a list of essential uses for PFAS. Also requires the DoD to report on its progress in minimizing the use of certain non-essential PFOS and PFOA containing items.

Requires the DoD to implement Comptroller General recommendations to set goals for the timely clean-up of formerly used defense sites that fall under the military munitions response program.

Modifies a prize program created in the FY21 NDAA created to incentivize private sector development of AFFF alternatives to include research on PFAS-free personal protective firefighting equipment.

Requires the DoD to adhere to the strictest relevant standard (state or federal) when conducting environmental remediation of PFAS contamination.

Expands the list of non-essential items containing PFAS that DoD is prohibited from procuring for use within the DoD.

Supports Europe and Ukraine’s Capabilities to Counter Russia

Fully funds the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) budget request and invests in additional capabilities that support deterrence in the European Command area of operations, totaling $4.6 billion for EDI purposes.

Includes $1 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces — an increase of $700 million above the budget request. Harmonizes USAI statutory authorities with changes made in the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, and the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, and allows for the replenishment of stocks of comparable ally and partner equipment provided to Ukraine.

Expresses the Sense of Congress in strong support of U.S. commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance and European partners.

Supports enhanced forward U.S. and allied posture to adapt to the new security environment created by Russia’s unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine.

Combating reliance on Russian energy: Requires all main operating bases in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility to adopt installation energy plans to increase energy resiliency and sustainability in order to reduce reliance on Russian energy and sets a DoD goal of eliminating their use of Russian energy entirely.

Supports and Empowers HBCUs and Other Minority Serving Institutions

Triples funding for HBCUs, to over $111 million.

Requires the DoD to submit a report on actions that may be carried out to increase the participation of minority-serving institutions in the research, development, test, and evaluation activities of the DoD following the release of the National Academies study on defense research capacity at HBCUs and other minority serving institutions.

Establishes the Dellums Fellowship Program to provide scholarships and internships for eligible students, particularly women of color, with high potential talent in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

Establishes a pilot program to increase research capacity at HBCUs and other minority serving institutions and implements a minority institution subcontracting requirement for UARCs.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-send-health-care-expansion-35-million-veterans,Rep. Stansbury Votes to Send Health Care Expansion for 3.5 Million Veterans,2022-07-13,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)voted to pass landmark legislation to expand health care access for veterans.The Honoring Our PACT Act, led byChair Mark Takano (Calif.-41), provides healthcare for as many as 3.5 million veterans by expanding access to earned benefits and health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits. The Honoring our PACT Act now returns to the Senate to resolve procedural differences.

“We have an obligation to support our veterans and ensure they get quality care and compensation they deserve,”said Rep. Stansbury.“Today, I was proud to vote to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act to care for our veterans by providing expanded access to health care and disability benefits for veterans harmed by toxic exposures during their service to our country. This landmark legislation will finally address the full range of issues impacting veterans harmed by the burden of toxic exposures and I hope the Senate will pass this crucial legislation without delay.”

The Honoring our PACT Act is a comprehensive legislative package that expands health care and benefits access for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. Under the provisions of this legislation, if a veteran served in a particular theatre at a particular time, they will be presumed to be exposed to toxic substances and therefore eligible for health care and benefits. Critically, this bipartisan legislation will also streamline the VA’s presumption decision making process, so that Congress does not have to keep intervening, and our veterans don’t have to wait decades for help.

The Honoring our PACT Act will:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-stansbury-announce-7-million-federal-funding-revitalize,"Heinrich, Luján, Stansbury Announce $7 Million In Federal Funding To Revitalize Albuquerque Sunport",2022-07-07,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) announced $7 million in federal investments from the Infrastructure Law heading to the Albuquerque International Sunport. This funding will be used to refurbish passenger boarding bridges and electric ground power units, which will enhance passenger access, airline operations efficiency, and energy efficiency.

“The Infrastructure Law is delivering major federal investments to New Mexico that will improve and modernize the Albuquerque Sunport and enhance the travel experience,”said Heinrich. “I’m especially pleased to see funding to expand access at the Sunport and refurbish electric ground power units that help reduce carbon emissions. I look forward to the many more opportunities the Infrastructure Law will create to grow our economy and revitalize communities across New Mexico.”

""The Albuquerque Sunport is a critical economic driver for our state's tourism and travel industry, and with this bold investment provided from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it will continue to do just that,""said Luján. ""I'm pleased this funding of $7 million—that I helped secure—will improve passenger boarding bridges and deliver other renovations to make the Sunport more energy efficient, and set our state up to combat the climate crisis while making flying more accessible to the public.”

“I am proud that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering results to the tune of $7 million for our Sunport,”said Stansbury. “Every New Mexican should have access to our state’s largest airport, which is why I am grateful that this funding expands ADA-accessible facilities and cuts carbon emissions to support New Mexico’s continued economic growth and environmental goals.”

New Mexico Congressional Democrats championed the Infrastructure Law, which created the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Terminal Program. This program invests in projects related to runways, taxiways, terminals, roadways, and airport transit. The funding announced today will support the implementation of new mechanical, electric, and lighting systems, as well as enhanced accessibility at Albuquerque International Sunport. These improvements will increase operational and energy efficiency and passenger access.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:20:25Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-hosts-seventh-telephone-town-hall,Congresswoman Stansbury Hosts Seventh Telephone Town Hall,2022-07-06,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"""In my office, we are heavily focused on a service model driven by the needs of New Mexico and our communities, and that’s why these town halls are so important to us,”said Rep. Stansbury.“This is a great opportunity for us to hear from all of you about what you’re concerned about, what you’re thinking about, and what you think we should be prioritizing as we’re doing our work here in the district, as well as back in D.C.

“Like so many New Mexicans and people across the country, I was shocked and outraged by the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade the Friday before last, and leadership in the House of Representatives is currently working to tee up a package of reproductive justice bills in the coming weeks that we will hopefully pass to codify Roe v. Wade in statute,” Rep. Stansbury continued.“However, we have already passed one of these bills, which I am proud to co-sponsor, which is the Women’s Health Protection Act, and it failed in the Senate. So in order to get these bills passed and to the President’s desk, we urgently need the Senate to pick that bill back up, to find the votes, and to break the filibuster to move that bill.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:20:25Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansburys-statement-celebrating-independence-day,Congresswoman Stansbury’s Statement Celebrating Independence Day,2022-07-04,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement celebrating Independence Day:

“Today, we celebrate our nation’s independence and the fundamental principle that all people are created equal. As we celebrate our independence and our democracy, this day is an important moment to reflect on what it means to defend our freedoms and our rights, including the democratic institutions our Founding Fathers created and the work of generations since to expand those rights and freedoms to all Americans.

“Our country was given long odds of achieving independence, but we persevered. Civil rights movements faced long struggles, but persevered. Today, as we honor our independence as a Nation and spend time with our loved ones, we must double down on our commitments to our democratic institutions and values, honor our veterans and all who have fought for freedom, and continue to focus on the important work ahead.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:20:25Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-supreme-court-gutting-climate-regulations,Congresswoman Stansbury on Supreme Court Gutting Climate Regulations,2022-06-30,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the House Natural Resource Committee and House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision gutting the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases is wrong and dangerous. The science is clear—climate change is here, and we must take urgent action to meet the moment. The Clean Air Act is one of our nation’s bedrock environmental laws and provides the EPA with clear authority to regulate air pollutants, which include greenhouse gas emissions. The Court’s decision sets a dangerous precedent, undermining decades of environmental law and a key tool for combating climate change. This decision, following on the heels of devastating decisions over the last week undermining Tribal sovereignty, reproductive rights, and community safety, provide a clarion call for Congress to act. We must redouble our efforts to pass meaningful climate legislation now that will prevent us from crossing a global tipping point, including a climate reconciliation package this year. As New Mexico’s communities experience devastating wildfires and drought, we must act now to address our global climate emergency and support our communities in preparing for a more resilient future.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-statement-todays-supreme-court-ruling-undermining,Congresswoman Stansbury Statement on Today’s Supreme Court Ruling Undermining Tribal Sovereignty,2022-06-29,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, released the following statement condemning the 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, which casts aside more than two centuries of precedent recognizing Tribal sovereignty:

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta is a direct assault on Tribal sovereignty and core tenets of American Indian law. The Court’s decision that a state government may prosecute crimes committed on Native lands upends years of settled law and legal precedent that date back to the U.S. Constitution, hundreds of treaties, and more than 200 years of statute and case law recognizing the sovereignty of Tribal Nations. This shocking decision erodes bedrock protections for Tribal sovereignty and has far-reaching implications for Tribal jurisdiction, public safety, and federal resources. Never in American history have we seen a Supreme Court show such blatant disregard for settled law and fundamental rights protected by our Constitution. This decision cannot stand. Congress must consult with our Tribal Nations to find a meaningful path forward. As Justice Gorsuch noted in his dissent, ‘a more ahistorical and mistaken statement of Indian law would be hard to fathom.’”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-urges-congress-fund-indigenous-schools,Rep. Stansbury Urges Congress to Fund Indigenous Schools,2022-06-28,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Watchhere.

WASHINGTON—During a joint oversight hearing of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)continued to lead calls for Congress to fully fund Indigenous schools.

Rep. Stansbury recentlyled a pushto increase Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school construction funding in the FY2023 federal budget in a bipartisan letter signed by 25 of her colleagues to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Currently, over 85 of 183 BIE schools are rated in poor condition, impacting the well-being and academic success of students attending BIE schools across New Mexico and in Tribal nations across the country.

""I have one message this morning, which is please fund BIE schools,”said Rep. Stansbury.“The federal government has a treaty, trust, and moral responsibility to fund these schools. We signed hundreds of treaties as a nation with our Tribal nations. We made commitments over the last 150 years that we would ensure that our Native children had not only an adequate education, but a brilliant education that would help to prepare them for their futures.”

Rep. Stansbury continued her remarks, highlighting the needs ofTribalschools in New Mexico-and securing a commitment from Director Tony Dearman to address the urgent needs ofTo'Hajiilee Community School.

“In my district, theTo’HajiileeChapter ofthe Navajo Nation has a school that desperately needs to be replaced. It was built in a floodplain as a boarding school, andit is no longer adequate. These kids have been sent home. There is not sufficient WiFi for these kids to be learning. And so, Director Dearman,my plea to you and my ask of you this morningis,will you commit today to make sure that we are meeting the needs ofTo’Hajiilee Community School, and we are prioritizing that school to get it rebuilt in a safe way so that our kids can go back to school?""said Rep. Stansbury.

“Yes, I’ll commit to that. And thank you for your support,” replied Director Dearman.

The Bureau of Indian Education estimates that over $4.5 billion is needed to address the critical construction backlog for K-12 facilities, with an additional $3.7 billion needed for Tribal Colleges and Universities. In New Mexico, the construction backlog has served as a barrier to quality education for Indigenous communities who for years have been fighting for an equitable and quality education.

Funding to clear the construction backlog would impact Indigenous communities across New Mexico, including theTo’Hajiilee Chapter of Navajo Nation as students, teachers, and administrators face disruptions to learning due to maintenance issues. An increase in Congressional funding for the Bureau of Indian Education would help fund salaries for educators, safe school infrastructure, equitable access to high-speed internet for students for virtual learning, and high-quality instruction in Indigenous languages and cultures.

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks as delivered can be found below.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you to both of our Chairpersons and our Ranking Members for holding this hearing today. And I want to say thank you to all of our educators who serve on these Committees, and to all of the educators out there who are listening, and thank you for serving our communities. Thank you for serving this vital role in helping lift up our children and help prepare them for their futures.

I have one message this morning, which is please fund BIE schools. The federal government has a treaty, trust, and moral responsibility to fund these schools. We signed hundreds of treaties as a nation with Tribal nations. We made commitments over the last 150 years that we would ensure that our Native children had not only an adequate education, but a brilliant education that would help to prepare them for their futures.

And we need to fund these schools. It is Congress' responsibility, in partnership with the Administration to ensure that we are doing that. And that is why myself and 25 colleagues sent a letter to the Appropriations Committee asking the committee to fully fund our schools, the construction backlog, and to provide support for Tribal Colleges and Universities. I know this is an oversight of the Administration's role in BIE, but we in Congress also have a fundamental moral responsibility, and a fundamental Tribal trust responsibility as well.

And so it's not only on our BIE colleagues who are here today, but on us. And so I really want to emphasize that this morning. I want to thank you, Director Dearman, for being willing to step up and to play this role as the director of these programs. During the Obama administration, I worked at OMB and was on the panel of individuals that was helping to bring forward some of the reforms for the BIE.

It's a long road, and I know that we will be working on these issues for many years. I'm grateful for your leadership and your dedication to the schools. As we've been talking this morning, these BIE schools provide vital education to over 40,000 Native students across the country. I want to emphasize, especially for my colleagues this morning who've been asking questions about school choice, some of these schools are in places where this is the only school that is available for hours of driving.

These schools are historic, they are in communities, they provide Tribally and culturally and linguistically appropriate education, and we need to be making sure that we're not only providing the administrative supports for the schools, but that they have adequate funding to replace decrepit buildings and maintenance issues, that they're able to hire these teachers that are from these communities, and that there is the proper bureaucratic structures in place to partner with Tribes, to consult with Tribes to ensure that we're meeting the needs of those students in those schools.

And that ultimately, if Tribal communities want to take control of these schools that they're able to and so all of that takes strong leadership, and addressing many of the issues that have been identified. I want to take just a moment here to emphasize the needs in my district. We have a number of Tribally controlled schools and BIE schools across New Mexico. In my district, theTo’Hajiilee chapter, the Navajo Nation has a school that desperately needs to be replaced. It was built in a floodplain as a boarding school. It is no longer adequate. These kids have been sent home.There is not sufficient Wi Fi for these kids to be learning. And so Director Dearman and my plea to you and my ask of you this morning, is will you commit today to make sure that we are meeting the needs ofTo’Hajiilee Community School, and we are prioritizing that school to get it rebuilt in a safe way so that our kids can go back to school?

Thank you. Thank you, Director. And I know that these are a priority, obviously, for you, for your staff. I want to thank your staff for their incredible commitment. We also have Pueblo schools across New Mexico that need facilities support, that need help getting staffing and teachers there. But again, before I sign off here with my time, I just want to emphasize, we must fund these schools adequately. This is not about school choice. This is not about having schools that invest too much money, this is about under investment of funds. This is about how the United States historically made commitments to Tribal communities that we would provide sufficient funding to educate Native children, and about ensuring that we make good on those promises, that we provide the funding that the US government promised that it would do so, and ensure that we are investing in those schools and all of the supports that our students need. So with that, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning and for holding this important hearing.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansburys-statement-supreme-court-decision-overturning-roe,Congresswoman Stansbury’s Statement on Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn five decades of precedent and rescind protections to the constitutional right to an abortion protected by Roe v. Wade:

“With this decision, the Supreme Court has disregarded nearly five decades of precedent, undermining the Constitutional and human rights of individuals to control their own bodies and destinies and to access critical care. This extreme and dangerous decision will prevent people across the country from getting the medical care they need and sets the clock back decades on human rights and gender equality. The U.S. Senate must immediately take up the Woman’s Health Protection Act, which I cosponsored in the House, to codify Roe v. Wade in statute—and if necessary break the filibuster to pass this urgent legislation.

“I want to be clear, access to abortion remains legal and available in New Mexico—and those in need of care should consult with a health care provider. I will be working with my colleagues in Congress, our health care providers, and our communities to support our reproductive care system, which has been so heavily impacted and strained by the decisions of surrounding states.

“While I am outraged by this decision, I believe we must turn our anger into action. New Mexico offers a clear path forward for the country. To protect access to care, New Mexicans organized in 2021 to pass a bill to overturn an antiquated abortion ban, which I was proud to vote for in the State Legislature. Now, it’s up to us to do the same nationwide and ensure we elect a pro-choice Congress that will stand with the majority of Americans and the millions who will be impacted by this decision.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-protect-nm-kids-and-pass-bipartisan-gun-safety-legislation,Rep. Stansbury Votes to Protect N.M. Kids and Pass Bipartisan Gun Safety Legislation,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted topass the first significant bipartisan gun safety legislation inthreedecades to betterprotectNew Mexico’s kids, communities, andsurvivors of domestic violence. The Safer Communities Act, which passed the Senate last night 65-33, will now head to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“After decades of inaction, Congress has finallytaken action on gun safety today. While I was proud to vote for this bill, we know it is not enough and that the work continues to protect our communities from gun violence,”said Rep. Stansbury. “This bipartisan legislation will invest billions in mental health and school safety, help prevent dangerous individuals from getting access to guns, prevent deaths from domestic violence, enhance background checks, and ban gun trafficking. We still have much more work to do, but this bill will help save lives. I am grateful to the activists, parents, students, and leaders like Senator Heinrich for helping get this bill done. The work continues to ensure that our communities are safe.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-votes-protect-childrens-access-school-meals,Rep. Stansbury Votes to Protect Children’s Access to School Meals,2022-06-23,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – As one in four kids in New Mexico face food insecurity, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the bipartisanKeep Kids Fed Act(H.R. 8150) to ensure that schools can continue providing meals for students despite ongoing supply chain issues. The bill allows the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional assistance to child nutrition programs by extending meal waivers and reimbursingproviders at a higher rate to keep children across New Mexico from going hungry this summer.

Last week, Rep. Stansbury spoke on the House floor alongside her colleagues to call for the urgent passage of legislation to extend pandemic anti-hunger funding to support reliable, healthy meals for children across New Mexico facing food insecurity.

“Our children should never have to wonder where their next meal is coming from, but one in four kids in New Mexico face food insecurity every day,” said Rep. Stansbury. “During the pandemic, Congress made a game-changing decision that no child should face bureaucratic obstacles to getting enough food to eat. That’s why I joined my colleagues in calling on Congress to hold a vote to extend these waivers last week and I am grateful to the Congressional leaders who found a way to move this bill forward to provide our kids with the meals they need to thrive.”

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Congress provided the USDA with key flexibilities to help child nutrition programs continue serving children during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This relief has helped feed hungry students during the school closures, virtual learning, and social distancing that disrupted traditional meal service. Without the Keep Kids Fed Act, important flexibilities provided under FFCRA were set to expire on June 30, 2022.

The Keep Kids Fed Act would:

Provide nationwide waiver authority for school meal flexibilities that do not increase costs;

Allow waivers related to the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option during the summer months;

Increase reimbursement rates for the 2022-2023 school year by an additional 15 cents per breakfast and 40 cents per lunch; and

Provide enhanced support to the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program.

During her service in the New Mexico State Legislature, Rep. Stansbury was a key sponsor of legislation to address hunger and food insecurity in New Mexico, including passing a law to eliminate school meal co-pays and expand school meals to thousands of children across New Mexico.

Rep. Stansbury is a member of the bipartisan House Hunger Caucus and has continued her fight to tackle hunger at a federal level, cosponsoring key legislation to address childhood hunger, including:

H.R. 3115, The Universal School Meals Program Act to eliminate school lunch debt and permanently provide 3 locally- sourced meals a day and a snack to all schoolchildren, regardless of income.

H.R. 5177, The Schools Preventing Hunger in At Risk Kids (SPARK) Act, a bipartisan bill to make sure kids living with relatives or family friends can enroll in school meals. This would connect nearly 400,000 kids nationwide to the food they need to learn and grow.

H.R. 5048, The Streamlining Nutrition Assistance Paperwork Act, a bill that would cut red tape for New Mexicans seeking food assistance by allowing them to sign up for food assistance over the phone.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-highlights-need-standardize-federal-pollution-data-avoid,VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Highlights the Need to Standardize Federal Pollution Data to Avoid Crossing Critical Climate Tipping Points,2022-06-23,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK:Watchhere.

WASHINGTON —Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01),a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, highlighted the need to standardize data collection on greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution across federal agencies to urgently address the global climate crisis. Rep. Stansbury additionally raised the possibility for Congress to act in coordination with the Biden administration to establish a network of carbon emission and sink monitoring to fight the ongoing climate crisis as New Mexico faces unprecedented wildfires and the worst drought in over amillennia.

In Congress, Rep. Stansbury is the author of the recently-introducedbipartisan Water Data Act, which would standardize federal water data across agencies to empower governments, farmers and ranchers, communities to manage their water resources most effectively.

“As we all know, we’re at a global tipping point,” said Rep. Stansbury.“We know that we have to take action as quickly as possible, and part of being able to take effective action on climate change requires that we know that the methods and tactics that we’re using to tackle emissions and sinks is actually effective and that we’re making the investments that have the biggest bang for our buck.”

Rep. Stansbury continued by questioning the witness panel, asking,“Are there things that we can do as a federal government, either as Congress or in the administrative branch that would help to standardize the way that we’re doing emissions tracking and that would help to being more coherence to all of the science that you all are talking about today?”

Dr. Eric K. Lin, Director of the Material Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology responded, stating, “It’s very difficult to pull all these multiple measurements and different points of view into a coherent whole that’s precise, transparent, and we have enough confidence in it. But a tremendous amount of progress has been made, and certainly there’s more room to go.”

Several federal research and development organizations are currently working to advance GHG monitoring, measuring, and verification. Analyzing and exploring entities such as Environmental Protection Agency, National Institutes of Standards and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, are currently partnering within an Interagency Working Group to create opportunities to coordinate necessary research to monitor and understand GHG emissions.

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks as delivered can be found below.

Thank you toall of our esteemed panelists for being here today. You know, we've been talking a lot this morning about the science specifically and how we address the issues around monitoring, around standardization of how we measure greenhouse gases. And then what do we do with that information to help inform our climate action?

And I want to kind of direct the panel towards the policy side of the equation now and specifically science policy. You know, we all know we're at a global tipping point–we know that wehave to take action as quickly as possible, and part of being able to take effective action on climate change requires that we know that the methods and the tactics that we're using to tackle emissions and sinks is actually effective and that we are making the investments that had the biggest bang for the buck.

Andso I know we've already touched on some of this this morning. But I want to ask each of the panelists as you sit in different agencies and work on these with your other agency partners, are there specific policy actions that you feel Congress or the federal government as a whole could take that would help to standardize the way that we do measurement, the way that we deploy instrumentation across the U.S. on measuring carbon emissions and sinks is a sort of network of monitoring? And as I said, standardizing the ways that we do it, and then how we deploy that information in terms of determining where to make investments is the federal government in bothemissions reduction and in sinks.So if we could, why don't we go ahead and start with the panelists from NASA and go down the line?

Thank you. And I know I'm out of time, Madam Chairwoman, but I just want to add that myself and other colleagues are very interested in looking at opportunities for Congress to partner with the administration to help bring a policy framework to coherence in how we measure and deploy different climate strategies.

Obviously, the most important pressing question of the day is how do we meet our goal of reducing our carbon emissions by 2035, 2040 so that we don't cross this catastrophic tipping point? Andso I look forward to working with all of you on that, as well as climate resilience and climate justice, and really thank all of you who are working in our federal agencies for your service in this area. You are doing some of the most important work on the planet and we thank you for your service.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-congress-expand-opioid-behavioral-health-substance-use,"Congresswoman Stansbury, Congress Expand Opioid, Behavioral Health, Substance Use Programs",2022-06-22,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"June 22, 2022

Rep. Stansbury is currently working with New Mexico officials and groups to develop a legislative framework to help tackle behavioral health, substance abuse, and community safety challenges New Mexico.

WASHINGTON—As New Mexico communities face intersecting opioid, mental health, and substance use crises, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass critical legislation expanding over 30 programs that collectively support opioid response, mental health care, and substance use disorder prevention across the nation. Statewide, just 12% of New Mexicans have access to behavioral health services.

Rep. Stansbury is also currently working on a legislative framework to bring a more holistic approach to addressing public safety, behavioral health, addiction recovery, and wraparound services in New Mexico communities.

“Our communities are facing an interconnected behavioral health, opioid, and public safety crisis,” said Rep. Stansbury. “As we work on behavioral health legislation that meets the needs of our communities, I am proud to vote today to strengthen over 30 programs to help address mental and behavioral health care, help our health care providers treat opioid addiction, and expand recovery and support services.”

The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act (H.R. 7666):

Strengthens Medicaid behavioral health services for children.

Supports additional adult suicide prevention services, and treatment for those with serious mental illnesses, mental health support for pregnant or postpartum women, and peer support—including virtual platforms.

Invests in the Community Mental Health Services Block Grants for states, territories, and Tribes to provide services for adults and children with serious mental health conditions—requiring that five percent of funding be used for crisis-care services and allowing, for the first time, up to five percent of the funds to be used for early intervention activities.

Eliminates barriers in access to methadone, another evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorders. These barriers can prevent patients from getting timely access to treatment.

Supports several programs intended to provide services for a range of ages and mental health needs from infant and early childhood mental health promotion to comprehensive community services for children with serious emotional disturbances.

Rep. Stansbury is a member of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, and recently convened a roundtable of 10 behavioral health providers and community organizations in Albuquerque’s International District to hear from practitioners and the community about their needs, challenges, and opportunities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansburys-statement-juneteenth,Congresswoman Stansbury’s Statement on Juneteenth,2022-06-19,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE—Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement celebrating Juneteenth:

“Today, we are celebrating Juneteenth as a long-overdue federal holiday, due to the tireless work and years of advocacy by community leaders across the country. Today, we celebrate and lift up the stories, resilience, and joy of Black New Mexicans and Black Americans across the United States.

“As we celebrate Juneteenth as a federal holiday, we take time to honor the day’s significance to our country and shared history. Black communities have celebrated Juneteenth for generations to mark the day that the last communities of enslaved people heard the news that they were free—recognizing that none of us are free until we all are free. On this day of celebration, we take the time to reflect, recommit ourselves to action, and examine the work that needs to be done–not just today, but every day–to ensure the promises this country was built on are experienced by all people living in this great nation. We must never forget our country’s history of slavery and how it affects our communities to this day. As we celebrate, we must also focus on the work for justice ahead.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-urge-agriculture-secretary-address-urgent-firewood,N.M. Congressional Democrats Urge Agriculture Secretary To Address Urgent Firewood Needs,2022-06-16,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03) and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to urge the Department to address critical firewood needs as a result of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. As counties in New Mexico rely on wood far more than the national average, the letter urges the USDA to work quickly to provide New Mexicans with additional wood resources, such as firewood banks, to help provide firewood to low-income communities.

The lawmakers wrote, “New Mexico is experiencing an historic wildfire season that is creating significant challenges for communities throughout the state. As part of ongoing post-fire response and recovery efforts, we urge the United States Department of Agriculture, including the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, to address firewood needs for communities in New Mexico who are impacted by catastrophic wildfires.”

“We ask that USDA work as quickly as possible to address critical firewood needs in impacted New Mexican communities. Specifically, we recommend that the Forest Service offer contracts to local logging businesses to cut trees suitable for firewood in National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) cleared areas and transport and unload this wood at pre-identified community locations. Sourcing wood from forests will address a critical home heating need while saving local residents from unnecessary and burdensome transportation costs,” the lawmakers continued. “Communities in New Mexico have a unique relationship with our state’s forests, and their needs must be a priority as we work to recover from the current wildfire season. Firewood banks are an important tool to safely and equitably rebuild from the impacts of ongoing wildfires, and we urge the rapid deployment of available resources to ensure New Mexicans can meet their energy needs.”

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

New Mexico is experiencing an historic wildfire season that is creating significant challenges for communities throughout the state. As part of ongoing post-fire response and recovery efforts, we urge the United States Department of Agriculture, including the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, to address firewood needs for communities in New Mexico who are impacted by catastrophic wildfires.

The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire is the largest fire in New Mexico’s recorded history, and prolonged extreme drought, worsened by a changing climate, increases the likelihood of continued catastrophic wildfires. So far this year, the acreage burned in the U.S. exceeds the prior 10-year average by 112%, and states in the Southwest are disproportionately impacted by severe wildfire and ongoing drought.1 Catastrophic wildfires have resulted in ecological damages, loss of homes, soil burns, and degradation of watershed health, and periods of elevated fire risk have resulted in restricted access to forests, limiting the ability of many communities to harvest necessary firewood.

Counties in New Mexico rely on wood far more than the national average. For example, according to the 2018 Census, nearly 39% of homes in McKinley County, NM, were wood-heated, while the national percentage was less than 2% for the same year.2 For many homes in northern New Mexico, firewood is the primary source of heat.3 Harvested firewood is especially important for small, rural, and low-income communities that rely on wood for heating during winter months as well as for cooking year-round. As a measure to combat the ongoing wildfires, access to National Forests in northern New Mexico has been severely limited, impeding communities’ ability to harvest firewood.

Part of post-fire recovery will involve combating heat insecurity for families impacted by wildfires. Firewood banks, modeled after food banks, provide firewood to low-income communities and are an essential form of fuel assistance while there are restrictions on forest access. Assistance like firewood banks will be fundamental to serving New Mexican communities in the aftermath of these historic wildfires.

We ask that USDA work as quickly as possible to address critical firewood needs in impacted New Mexican communities. Specifically, we recommend that the Forest Service offer contracts to local logging businesses to cut trees suitable for firewood in National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) cleared areas and transport and unload this wood at pre-identified community locations. Sourcing wood from forests will address a critical home heating need while saving local residents from unnecessary and burdensome transportation costs.

Communities in New Mexico have a unique relationship with our state’s forests, and their needs must be a priority as we work to recover from the current wildfire season. Firewood banks are an important tool to safely and equitably rebuild from the impacts of ongoing wildfires, and we urge the rapid deployment of available resources to ensure New Mexicans can meet their energy needs.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-congresswoman-stansburys-urgently-needed-drought-and-water-security,VIDEO: Congresswoman Stansbury's Urgently Needed Drought and Water Security Package Advances in Committee Hearing,2022-06-16,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK: Watchhere.

WASHINGTON — Today, critical legislation to address devastating drought and transform federal water management advanced through the U.S. House of Representatives, asRepresentative Melanie Stansbury’s (N.M.-01)comprehensive water legislation received a legislative hearing before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. During the hearing, Rep. Stansbury outlined how her legislation would lay the groundwork for improving water management during an era of unprecedented hydrologic change in New Mexico and the West.

The two bills, combined in the Senate companion legislation asS.4236 and sponsored bySenators Martin Heinrich (N.M.)andBen Ray Luján (N.M.),were heard before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resourcesduring a legislative hearing on May 25.

The hearing comes as communities across New Mexico face the impacts of unprecedented early-season wildfires and the worst drought in 1,200 years. Last month, Rep. Stansbury introduced her bipartisan, bicameralWater Data Act(H.R. 7792) andRio Grande Water Security Act(H.R. 7793). Rep. Stansbury’s Water Data Act equips water managers, farmers, and communities with the tools they need to plan for water resilience by creating a national framework to standardize federal water data and make it publicly accessible in real time.

“The time to act is now,”said Rep. Stansbury.“Our river is anticipated to go dry this summer on significant stretches throughout New Mexico on the Rio Grande. If we are going to be able to meet the needs of our farmers, of our communities, of our Tribes, and of the ecosystems that provide life-sustaining support, we must act now. Congress must enact legislation to support these communities and their future resilience.”

During the hearing,New Mexico State Engineer Mike Hamman testified in support of the vital legislation, highlighting the benefits of the bills for communities and water managers across New Mexico and the success of New Mexico's Water Data Act that Rep. Stansbury authored during her service in the New Mexico State Legislature.

“I commend Representative Stansbury and the bill’s co-sponsors for proposing this legislation,”said State Engineer Mike Hamman. “I fully support these two bills and agree that their passage will assist New Mexico, the arid west, and the nation as we address impacts to our water resources resulting from the uncertain future of observed and modeled temperature increases resulting from global CO2 emissions. What we can measure, we can manage, and what we can manage, we can provide well-planned adaptation strategies for future water resource challenges.”

Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee Chair Jared Huffman(Calif.-02) also highlighted his support for the bipartisan bills during the hearing, emphasizing the need for comprehensive drought legislation as the West faces the impacts of historic drought.

“We’ll consider two water-related bills today from Rep. Melanie Stansbury, H.R. 7792 and H.R. 7793. These bipartisan bills advance several solutions to help communities continue to navigate unprecedented drought conditions that are fueled by climate change,” saidChair Huffman. “Rep. Stansbury’s bills will complement the work we’ve done [in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law] and provide additional support for communities.”

Rep. Stansbury’s Water Data Act equips water managers, farmers, and communities with the tools they need to plan for water resilience by creating a national framework to standardize federal water data and make it publicly accessible in real time.The Rio Grande Water Security Act will bring game-changing coordination and resources needed to address the water security needs of the region for the first time in history. The bill will also reauthorize an important program to address the irrigation infrastructure needs of the Pueblo nations who have used these waters for countless generations.

The Water Data Act is supported by a diverse coalition of water experts and organizations, farmers, and communities across the United States, including New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, National Groundwater Association, The Water Foundation, the Internet of Water Initiative, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, We the People of Detroit, the Interstate Council on Water Policy, and Family Farm Alliance. Since its introduction, the bill has gained momentum with 14 bipartisan cosponsors, includingReps. Burgess Owens (Utah-04)andSusie Lee (Nev.—03).

The Rio Grande Water Security Act enjoys support from a variety of water users and managers across the Basin, including the Pueblo of Sandia, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, Amigos Bravos, and Friends of Bosque del Apache. The bill has gained key bipartisancosponsorships fromRep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.-03),Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.-02),Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.-7), andRep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-2).

A fact sheet on the Water Data Act can be foundhere. The full text of the legislation can be foundhere.

A fact sheet on the Rio Grande Water Security Act can be foundhere. The full text of the legislation can be foundhere.

Rep. Stansbury’s remarks as delivered can be found below.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to the Ranking Member for holding this hearing today and allowing us the opportunity to talk about these two game-changing pieces of legislation that will help to transform water management across the West.

I want to start this morning by thanking everyone who helped to draft and contribute to H.R. 7792, the Water Data Act and H.R. 7793, the Rio Grande Water Security Act. These two bills are many, many years in the making and could not have been created without the input and support of colleagues on both sides of the aisle who made important contributions– our agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers, irrigation and conservation districts, acequias, state, tribal and local partners, federal agencies, researchers and scientists and conservation organizations, all of whom helped to shape and craft the legislation that's before us today.

I also want to offer a special thanks and a warm welcome to Mr. Mike Hamman, who is New Mexico’s State engineer, and is who is here to testify on behalf of these pieces of legislation, as well as our State Land Commissioner Ms. Stephanie Garcia Richards, who's also a great water and lands champion in our state.

In New Mexico and across the West, our communities are facing an unprecedented millennial drought and water issues that we know are unlikely to abatein the near future. As we know, water is life. And yet, we do not have the most basic information at our fingertips to manage water, information about groundwater needed for livestock wells, information about the flow of water in our acequias and our irrigation districts, water needed for conservation and the preservation of various species.

The bipartisan Water Data Act is designed to address this challenge, to unleash the power of big data and transform water management not only across the West, but across the United States, and is based on a similar framework that was undertaken two decades ago to transform and standardize geospatial data.

This bill, if enacted and put into place will literally help to transform water management across our nation by creating a national framework for sharing, integrating and utilizing water data. The other bill that I am here to present today is H.R. 7793, which is the Rio Grande Water Security Act to help address long-term water needs on one of the West's most iconic rivers.

The Rio Grande stretches 1900 miles from its headwaters in Colorado, down to southern Texas, where it empties into the Gulf. It crosses three states, international borders, dozens ofTribes, and countless communities serving millions of people across the West. And yet we do not have a single framework withinall of these stakeholders can work together to address their water needs in the short term as we face drought, and in the long-termas we face climate change.

This bill, which is also a bipartisan bill, and supported unanimously by our entire delegation, will bring a framework to the management and long-term resilience of theRio Grande river so that our communities who have lived there for countless generations will continue to be able to live resiliently into the future.

The bill also includes provisions to reauthorize the Pueblo Irrigation Fund, which is a crucial tool in helping our Pueblos which have used the waters of the Rio Grande since time immemorial, to help improve their infrastructure and address their water needs as we move forward into a climate change future. These bills are vital to the future of water in the West and particularly in my home state. That is why these bills are bipartisan, it is why they are supported by Congressmen and women across the aisle and across the West as well as in the Senate.

That is why they are supported by a wide swath of stakeholders including the Family Farm Alliance, the Farm Bureau of New Mexico, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, our states, Tribes, Pueblos, irrigation districts, and conservation districts, and many, many countless others.

The time to act is now. Our river is anticipated to go dry this summer on significant stretches throughout New Mexico on the Rio Grande. If we are going to be able to meet the needs of our farmers, of our communities, of our Tribes, and of the ecosystems that provide that life-sustaining support, we must act now. Congress must enact legislation to help support these communities and their future resilience. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-announce-federal-government-will-fully-cover,N.M. Congressional Democrats Announce Federal Government Will Fully Cover Emergency Watershed Program In Wake Of Historic Wildfires,2022-06-15,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON (June 15, 2022) – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are welcoming an announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will cover 100% of the costs through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program for debris removal and other measures to address watershed impairments in designated areas of New Mexico impacted by recent wildfires. EWP is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters. The waiver to cover 100% of cost is available in these areas: Cooks Peak Fire in Colfax County; Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire in Mora and San Miguel Counties; McBride Fire in Lincoln County; and Nogal Fire in Lincoln County.

Senator Heinrich requested that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack take this action during a key Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on May 10. Senator Luján also requested that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack take this action during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on May 26. Representative Leger Fernández also requested President Biden’s and Secretary Vilsack's commitment to cover 100% of the cost-share for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program in New Mexico.

""New Mexicans have learned all too well over the past decade that some of the hardest work to recover from wildfires occurs after they are extinguished. We are seeing the costly toll the climate crisis and these record-breaking fires are having on our communities, our forests, and our watersheds. That’s why I’m pleased to see the USDA follow through on my request to cover costs that will help rebuild our communities and prepare for floods,” said Heinrich.

“As New Mexico continues to battle historic wildfires, it’s critical that our communities are prepared for the flooding that is common after a fire. Today, I am glad that the USDA heeded my call to cover the cost-share requirement for the Emergency Watershed Program which will help New Mexico landowners make critical repairs, clean debris, and provide protection from flooding,” said Luján. “There is still more work to do to help New Mexicans recover from these devastating fires, and I am continuing to fight to pass my Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act to strengthen federal assistance for New Mexico families and businesses.”

“I’ve been to the burn scars, heard from the property owners directly and consulted with the acequia parciantes. Monsoon season brings a new threat – catastrophic flooding in the burn scar,” said Leger Fernández. “The federal government must take responsibility for the destruction that the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire inflicted on our communities. As I told President Biden, the fire destroyed many private ranches and farms, and these communities do not have the funds to pay for the work to protect their homes and property from erosion and flooding. The announcement today will save these communities millions of dollars and it is the right thing to do. The work needs to be done as soon as possible, and I’ll keep pushing to make that happen.”

“We were deeply honored to welcome President Biden to New Mexico this week, and I am grateful for his Administration’s swift response to New Mexico’s devastating wildfires in light of the federal government’s special responsibility to make our state whole again,” said Stansbury. “As our firefighters battle these unprecedented wildfires, we must protect our precious water resources and prevent floods. Today’s announcement that USDA will be sending vital infrastructure funding to New Mexico for watershed restoration will help our state send deeply needed funds to urgent watershed protection work on the ground.”

The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, a federal emergency recovery program, helps local communities recover after a natural disaster strikes. The program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-calls-avert-hunger-cliff-extend-school-meal-funding,"VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Calls to Avert Hunger Cliff, Extend School Meal Funding",2022-06-15,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK: Watchhere.

WASHINGTON —U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of theHouse Hunger Caucus, spoke on the House floor to call for the urgent passage of legislation to extend pandemicanti-hungerfundingto support theone infour children in New Mexico facing food insecurity.

During her remarks, Rep. Stansbury highlighted the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families across New Mexico, calling for an extension to pandemic waivers that provide school meals to more than 20 million children nationally and are set to expire at the end of June.

“Like so many children from New Mexico, I was a school lunch kid—which means that I qualified for 100% free and reduced-price lunch throughout my childhood,” Rep.Stansbury said.“In fact, one in four children in New Mexico face food insecurity. For many of these kids, school meals are the only reliable meal of the day.

“During the pandemic, Congress made a game-changing decision—to feed all children, without barriers and bureaucratic obstacles. This is about the dignity and well-being of our families and meeting the most basic needs of our children. Wehave the opportunity to chart a new path forward for our country.”

During her time in the New Mexico State Legislature, Rep. Stansbury was a key sponsor of legislation to address hunger and food insecurity in New Mexico, includingpassing a law to eliminate school meal co-pays and expand school meals to thousands of children across New Mexico.

Rep. Stansbury is a member of the bipartisan House Hunger Caucus and has continued her fight totackle hunger at afederal level,cosponsoring key legislation to address childhood hunger, including:

H.R. 3115, The Universal School Meals Program Act to eliminate school lunch debt and permanently provide 3 locally-sourced meals a day and a snack to all schoolchildren, regardless of income.

H.R. 5177, The Schools Preventing Hunger in At Risk Kids (SPARK) Act, a bipartisan bill to make sure kids living with relatives or family friends can enroll in school meals. This would connect nearly 400,000 kids nationwide tothefood they need to learn and grow.

H.R. 5048, The Streamlining Nutrition Assistance Paperwork Act, a bill that would cut red tape for New Mexicans seeking food assistance by allowing them to sign up for food assistance over the phone.

Rep. Stansbury’s full remarks as delivered are below:

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge this body to pass urgent legislation to help feed our kids.

If we do not act, millions of children across the U.S. and especially across New Mexico will lose access to vital school meals—breakfasts and lunches that are helping to address an epidemic of food insecurity that is impacting every corner of our state and our country.

Food insecurity has many faces.

Like so many children from New Mexico, I was a school lunch kid—which means that I qualified for 100% free and reduced-price lunch throughout my childhood. In fact, one in four children in New Mexico face food insecurity. For many of these kids, school meals are the only reliable meal of the day.

In New Mexico food is the center of our cultures and families, and yet so many of our families struggle every day to put food on the table. For every family this looks different—it may mean skipping meals, not being able to buy groceries every week, relying on school lunches and breakfasts, getting help from the local food bank or food pantry.

In many cases, we know that the pandemic, rising costs, and inflation have made the situation worse and hunger and food insecurity have intensified. That’s why the work of this body, here in Congress, to expand funding for nutrition programs and school meals—has quite literally provided a lifeline to our kids and families

.

But if Congress, and especially the Senate, does not act, millions of kids will lose access to the school meals that have carried them throughout the pandemic. This comes as the nation is grappling with the pandemic disruptions to supply chains and inflation that is putting even more stress on our families and schools.

In exactly one month, our country will be facing a hunger cliff as federal waivers for school meals are set to expire. We are talking about our kids losing access to 95 million meals across the country this summer.

I have worked on food and hunger issues throughout my career in public service. In New Mexico, we are working to reimagine our food system, to support and lift up our state’s diverse and crucial food and agricultural traditions, while supporting families who are struggling.

As a state legislator, I was deeply proud to partner with our Governor, my colleagues in the state house, and hunger advocates across the state to address food insecurity and pass a bill to end school meal co-pays.

Here in Congress, I am proud to continue this work alongside anti-hunger champions like yourself, Madam Speaker, and as part of the Hunger Caucus led by Chairman Jim McGovern.

I am also proud to cosponsor H.R. 3115, the Universal School Meals Program Act, which would address this crisis in by permanently providing three locally- sourced meals a day to all schoolchildren.

The time to act is now. Our kids are counting on us. During the pandemic, Congress made a game-changing decision—to feed all children, without barriers and bureaucratic obstacles.

This is about the dignity and well-being of our families and meeting the most basic needs of our children. We have the opportunity to chart a new path forward for our country. Will we decide to be a nation that lets our kids go hungry, or will we decide that no child in America should ever have to experience food insecurity again.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-rep-stansbury-highlights-need-federal-accountability-indian-boarding,VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Highlights Need for Federal Accountability for Indian Boarding School Policies,2022-06-15,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO LINK: Watchhere.

WASHINGTON — Asthe United States continues to reckon with the deeply traumatic legacies of Indian BoardingSchools,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01),a member of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, voted to pass theTruth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (H.R. 5444), legislation which she co-sponsors, out of the House Committee on Natural Resources.

During her remarks, Rep. Stansbury highlighted the ongoing impact of the genocidal legacy of Indian Boarding Schools, and the urgent need to pass this legislation as a means for the federal government to accept responsibility and take steps to begin accountability for egregious Indian Boarding School policies. The bipartisan legislation is led byRepresentatives Sharice Davids (Kans.-03) andTom Cole (Okla.-04), co-chairs of the House Native American Caucus.

Last year, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haalandannounced a Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive review of the troubled legacy of federal boarding school policies supervised by the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.

“In New Mexico’s First Congressional District, we have several boarding schools that were in operation for decades–for generations–that impacted the health, the wellbeing, the survival, and the cultural heritage of our communities,”said Rep. Stansbury.“This bill is critical to helping to tell the story of these schools, of the families, of the children, and the generations that were lost to this trauma.”

The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act would establish a formal Truth and Healing Commission to investigate and document these policies, including the Federal government’s attempted termination of cultures, religions, and languages of Indigenous peoples, assimilation practices, and human rights violations that occurred through the Indian Boarding School Policies.

In addition to investigating the impacts and ongoing effects of Indian Boarding School Policies, the commission would develop recommendations on ways to protect unmarked graves and accompanying land protections, support repatriation and identify the Tribal nations from which children were taken, and discontinue the removal of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Children from their families and tribal communities by state social departments, foster care agencies, and adoption agencies.

Rep. Stansbury’s full remarks as delivered are below:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

This bill, as was said, is long overdue. It’s about truth, healing, about moving forward, and about repatriation of the remains of lost children–generations of lost children.

In New Mexico’s First Congressional District, we have several boarding schools that were in operation for decades–for generations–that impacted the health, the well-being, the survival, and the cultural heritage of our communities. This bill is critical to helping to tell the story of these schools, of the families, of the children, and the generations that were lost to this trauma.

I wholeheartedly support this bill and I look forward to out of committee today. I’m particularly grateful to our Secretary of the Interior–Secretary Deb Haaland, who is helping to lead this work at a federal level in the administration, and I want to acknowledge the families who are still experiencing loss and trauma as a result of this dark chapter in our nation’s history.

And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/landmark-vote-nm-stansbury-passes-major-outdoor-economy-and-wildlife-bill,"In Landmark Vote for NM, Stansbury Passes Major Outdoor Economy and Wildlife Bill",2022-06-14,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) to invest billions in New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy and ecosystemsstatewide. Rep. Stansbury is a cosponsor of the legislative package, which represents the biggest investment in conserving America’s wildlife, fisheries, and habitats in a generation.

RAWA is led in the Senate by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (N.M.), where the legislation has gained significant bipartisan momentum and key committee hearings.

Existing federal funding currently fails to provide the resources required to meet the nation’s conservation needs. Species in New Mexico that currently lack necessary funding for management are expected to benefit from RAWA’s investment of over$28 million federal dollars to supportconservation management and the state’s Wildlife Action Plan. This investment will additionally benefit New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy that generates billions of dollars in economic growth each year and directly supports 26,000 jobs.

“New Mexico’s lands and waters are home to critical habitats for thousands of species of wildlife and sustain our thriving outdoor recreation industry. I’m proud to cosponsor the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to invest in conservation and preserve our wildlife for generations to come,”said Rep. Stansbury.“As we adapt to the climate crisis, we must invest in the resilience of our ecosystems and our communities. I am grateful for Senator Heinrich’s work championing this legislation in the Senate so states, territories and Tribes have more tools to dedicate $1.3 billion in annual funding for on-the-ground conservation efforts of wildlife, fisheries, and habitats across our country.”

The critical recovery work funded by RAWA will be guided by the wildlife conservation strategies and plans developed by states, territories, and Tribes. These science-based strategies would restore populations of species with the greatest conservation need. State, Territorial, and Tribal wildlife agencies have identified more than 12,000 species in need of conservation assistance.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act:

Funds conservation efforts for more than 12,000 species of wildlife and plants in need of assistance by providing $1.3 billion in dedicated annual funding for proactive, on-the-ground efforts across the country.

Provides Tribal nations $97.5 million annually to fund proactive wildlife conservation efforts on roughly 140 million acres of land.

Ensures wildlife recovery efforts will be guided by the Congressionally-mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which identify specific strategies to restore the populations of species of greatest conservation need.

Accelerates the recovery of 1,600 U.S. species already listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Includes improvements to ensure funds are appropriately targeted to the areas of greatest need and facilitate additional investments in protecting at-risk plant species.

RAWA is supported by a wide array of organizations representing Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Tribes, sportsmen, environmental and conservation advocates, and members of the outdoor recreation industry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-democrats-welcome-over-30-million-hhs-grants-improve-school,"N.M. Congressional Democrats Welcome Over $30 Million In HHS Grants To Improve School Readiness, Health Care In New Mexico",2022-06-14,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are welcoming more than $30 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This funding will support improvements to early education and family support, primary care services, and medical research across New Mexico.

“With these grants, the federal government is making an investment of tens of millions of dollars in our children, and in access to quality health care in our state,” said Heinrich.“This will provide critical support for research, primary care delivery, early learning and development, and family welfare. Improving access to quality education and medical care is a key step to ensure the health and wellbeing of all New Mexicans.”

“With more than $30 million coming to New Mexico to invest in education and health care, I am confident that these federal grants will help improve the lives of New Mexico children and families,” said Luján, a Head Start alumnus. “As a leader on the HELP Committee, I am committed to delivering investments that will better prepare students for the future, improve access to health care, and support our entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

“Our kids are our future, and we must invest in the programs that every family in New Mexico needs to thrive,” said Stansbury. “I’m proud to welcome over $30 million in federal funding to support the crucial work that organizations like YDI Inc. do for our kids and drive health research at UNM. We are working every day in Congress to expand on vital funds like these across our state.”

""As a little girl, I attended Head Start and fell in love with learning. I know what a difference these programs make; this is why I helped secure these $30 million in funding that will support programs to improve early education and healthcare for our communities,"" said Leger Fernández. ""When we invest in our children, we invest in the future of New Mexico.""

HHS is awarding more than $27 million Head Start Projects in New Mexico. The Head Start Program promotes school readiness for children from low-income families through early learning initiatives, health screenings, nutrition support and family wellbeing.

Additionally, HHS is providing a grant of more than $2.8 million through the Health Center Program to improve coordinated care management, implement quality improvement practices, and reduce health disparities.

HHS is awarding more than $575,000 to the University of New Mexico through the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation. This grant will fund research to improve our understanding of immunologic diseases and to develop new diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies.

HHS is also providing a grant of more than $240,000 for vision research through the Small Business Innovation Research program. This program provides funds to small businesses and startups to support federal research and development efforts.

HHS is awarding funding to the following:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-passes-critical-bill-lower-costs-new-mexicans-and-small,Rep. Stansbury Passes Critical Bill to Lower Costs for New Mexicans and Small Businesses,2022-06-14,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON– Last night,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)passed bipartisan legislation to cut costs for New Mexico’s families and small businesses.The Ocean Shipping Reform Act will crack down on the exorbitant feesthat international shipping companies are charging to transport the basic goods that New Mexico businesses and consumers need. Previously passed by the Senate, this legislation now heads to the President’s desk.

“Exorbitant fees being charged by internationalshipping companies have raised the cost of everyday necessities such as fuel, food, and other resources for families and businesses across New Mexico,”said Rep. Stansbury. “Voting to pass the Ocean Shipping ReformAct is just one of the ways that I am working hard to address the global trend of rising costs to make life easier for New Mexico’s small businesses and communities.”

Foreign-based shipping companies have driven up costs by impeding the ability of New Mexican farmers and small businesses to get their products to market. Exporters and importers continue to face unpredictable shipping itineraries, rising freight costs and even refusal by shipping companies to carry American cargo.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act will help level the playing field by empowering the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to strengthen oversight of the shipping market and lower costs for consumers. This legislation will boost funding for the FMC and implement several key measures:

Combating exorbitant shipping costs by strengthening FMC enforcement action against exploitative business practices.

Ensuring fairness in shipping by improving transparency and prohibiting ocean carriers from unreasonably refusing to transport American cargo.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act has been endorsed by a broad coalition of trade groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, American Association of Exporters and Importers, National Retail Federation, Association of Food Industries and Consumer Technology Association.

The passage of this legislation builds on Rep. Stansbury’s ongoing work to strengthen supply chains and bring down costs for working families across New Mexico. Rep. Stansbury previously voted to pass the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act to combat excessive industry gas price hikes. Earlier this year, Rep. Stansbury secured hercritical STEM innovation bill in the America COMPETES Act to strengthen the United States’ broken supply chains, support U.S. competitiveness, and prevent good shortages. Later this week, the House will vote on the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act to slash prices in the grocery aisle and at the gas pump by supporting our farmers and ranchers.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-welcomes-president-bidens-wildfire-funding,Congresswoman Stansbury Welcomes President Biden’s Wildfire Funding Announcement,2022-06-11,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"SANTA FE—U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) welcomed President Joe Biden’s announcement that the federal government would waive cost-share requirements for Categories A and B under the Major Disaster Declaration assistance wildfire response, fully fund the state’s recovery efforts, and authorize an initial $22 million to begin watershed restoration during a visit to New Mexico this afternoon.

Rep. Stansbury joined the full New Mexico delegation in requesting the cost-share waiver on May 4. New Mexico is currently experiencing the most extreme wildfires in the state’s history, the largest caused by a U.S. Forest Service prescribed burn.

“I am grateful for President Biden’s leadership and for his announcement today that the federal government will assume the full cost of responding to and recovering from the largest fire in New Mexico’s history. There is more work to be done, but we are grateful for this relief as we work to get legislative relief passed in Congress. I thank Governor Lujan Grisham for her incredible leadership in leading state’s response and in caring and advocating for our communities. The federal government bears a special responsibility to make our state and families whole again.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-votes-empower-communities-prevent-gun-violence-through,Congresswoman Stansbury Votes to Empower Communities to Prevent Gun Violence Through Extreme Risk Protection Orders,2022-06-10,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON– Yesterday,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)voted to empower communities to prevent incidents of gun violence. The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act empowers family members and law enforcement to seek a federal court order to temporarily remove access to guns from those who pose a danger to themselves or others, while incentivizing states to adopt their own so-called “red flag laws.""

The New Mexico State Legislature passed theExtreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act to give law enforcement a critical tool to prevent gun homicides and suicides.A study by Everytown for Gun Safety found that most mass shooters exhibit warning signs before carrying out an attack, but without an extreme risk law, family and law enforcement lack the ability to temporarily disarm individuals considering acts of violence.

“Our kids are asking us to take action, our parents are asking us to take action, andall over the country, American people want to see Congress take action,”Rep. Stansbury said. “Over the past 48 hours, I am proud that the House has acted to pass the Protecting our Kids Act and Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. Banning high-capacity magazines, bump stocks, ghost guns, addressing gun trafficking, sales, and safe storage, and putting into place risk protection measures—these bills will help save lives. Now, it’s time for the Senate to act.”

The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Actallows family members and law enforcement officers to petition a federal court for an extreme risk protection order, empowering federal judges to prevent tragic shootings by temporarily removing firearms from potentially dangerous individuals. Thelegislation willadditionallyestablish a new grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice, incentivizing more states to allow their courts to take this same life-saving action.

This week, Rep.Stansbury votedto pass theProtecting Our Kids Act, a robust legislative package of common-sense gun safety measures that will crack down on illegal gun trafficking, keep weapons of war out of the hands of teenagers, ban high-capacity magazines and bump stocks for civilian use, strengthen safe gun storage, impose background checks on untraceable “ghost guns” and more.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-secures-55-million-nm-water-infrastructure-funding,Congresswoman Stansbury Secures $55 Million in NM Water Infrastructure Funding in 2022 Water Resources Development Act,2022-06-09,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Yesterday,U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the2022Water Resources Development Act (WRDA),securing three of her requested community-driven provisions for New Mexico in the legislation.

The projects and program funding that Rep. Stansbury secured include a $5 millionfunding authorization increase for the Tribal Partnership Program, a $50 million funding authorization increase for Section 593 infrastructure projects in central New Mexico, and a reduced cost-share for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection project from Bernalillo to Belen. Rep. Stansbury championed her community-based proposals before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure during ahearing on March 16.

“As our communities face unprecedented drought, wildfires, and hydrologic change, I’m proud to have secured critical funding in the Water Resources Development Act to help build long-term water infrastructure for communities across our state,”said Rep. Stansbury. “New Mexicans are facing the worst drought in 1,200 years. The programs we helped secure in the WRDA bill will help to support critical infrastructure investments, provide funding for Tribal and Pueblo water projects and support flood control, drinking water, and other projects essential to communities across New Mexico.”

The biannualWRDA omnibus legislation authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works activities. The projects follow USACE’s focus on three primary purposes of improving navigation, reducing flood risk, and restoring aquatic ecosystems.

Tribal Partnership Program Funding

The Tribal Partnership Program is the only Corps authority that specifically directs partnerships with Tribes, facilitating vital funding for much-needed projects to promote environmental justice and equity. In addition to the $5 million funding authorization increase she secured in this year’sWRDA, Rep. Stansbury helped include provisions directing USACE to provide technical assistance to Tribes to prepare for flooding, drought, and extreme weather events, establish a Tribal Liaison who will serve as the direct line of communication between the Secretary and Tribal communities, and provide a full cost-share waiver at the discretion of the Secretary.

Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Cost Share

Rep. Stansbury also secured a provision for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Cost Share, which will direct the Corps to honor the original cost-share authorization of 25% for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico project.

Increased Funding for Section 593

Rep. Stansbury’s request to increase funding under the Section 593 Authorization and include water reuse projects was also included in the omnibus legislation. This increase will help to fund critical projects to protect the water security of New Mexicans, ensure access to clean drinking water, and ensure responsible management of water infrastructure projects across New Mexico’s First Congressional District and across the state.

The Senate version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, championed bySenators Martin Heinrich (N.M.)andBen Ray Luján (N.M.) also includes these key projects, in addition to a provision authorizing an increase in funding for the Acequia Resiliency and Tribal Acequia program. This increase in funding will allow for needed infrastructure improvements of river diversion structures, increased local capacity to manage and prevent invasions of plant species, and support research and development of management solutions for invasive aquatic plants.

In addition to the critical projects secured by Rep. Stansbury, New Mexico will benefit from other provisions in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) including:

$22 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Española

$15.5 million for water infrastructure in Farmington

$2.9 million for wastewater infrastructure in Mora County

$20.1 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Santa Fe

A project authorization for water supply in the Lake Farmington Dam

A project authorization for dam safety improvements in the Lake Farmington Dam

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) activities in the Rio Grande",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stansbury-passes-protecting-our-kids-act-following-uvalde-laguna-woods,"Rep. Stansbury Passes Protecting Our Kids Act Following Uvalde, Laguna Woods, Buffalo Mass Shootings",2022-06-08,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—As the country continues to experience an epidemic of gun violence and communities in Uvalde, Buffalo, and Laguna Woods mourn the children and individuals killed during tragic mass shootings, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the Protecting Our Kids Act (H.R. 7910) in the House of Representatives. The legislative package includes commonsense measures to crack down on gun trafficking, establish voluntary safe firearm storage assistance programs, ban dangerous bump stocks, and build on existing ghost gun regulations.

Every year, an average of 433 New Mexicans die from guns- the seventh-highest rate in the nation. The Protecting Our Kids Act adds to legislation passed by the House in March 2021 to establish universal background checks for gun purchases and close the so-called Charleston Loophole that are awaiting action in the U.S. Senate.

“Our kids are asking us to act. Parents are asking us to act. Americans are asking us to act. The time to end this epidemic of gun violence and mass shootings is now,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Today we passed the Protecting Our Kids Act in the House, which cracks down on gun trafficking, addresses the bump stock loophole and bans ghost guns, and would ensure 18-year-olds cannot purchase dangerous weapons. It’s time for the Senate to act. We cannot continue to live in a country where our children are afraid to go to school and where our community members can be gunned down at the grocery store or their houses of worship. The time to act is now.”

The Protecting Our Kids Act:

Raises the lawful age to purchase certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles from 18 to 21 years old.

Establishes a new federal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a large capacity magazines, with exceptions for certain law enforcement uses and the possession (but not sale) of grandfathered magazines; allow state and local governments to use the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to compensate individuals who surrender large capacity magazines through a buyback program.

Establishes new federal offenses for gun trafficking and straw purchasers and authorize seizure of the property and proceeds of the offense.

Establishes voluntary best practices for safe firearm storage; require most firearms to include a label that says “Safe Storage Saves Lives”; require dealers to provide a secure gun storage or safety device with the sale of a shotgun or rifle (as already required for handguns); and award grants for Safe Firearm Storage Assistance Programs.

Establishes requirements to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises and create criminal penalties for violation of the requirements.

Builds on ATF’s regulatory bump stock ban by listing bump stocks under the National Firearms Act (like machineguns) and statutorily banning the manufacture, sale, or possession of bump stocks for civilian use.

Builds on ATF’s regulatory ban of ghost guns by ensuring that ghost guns are subject to existing federal firearm regulation by amending the definition of “firearm” to include gun kits and partial receivers and changing the definition of “manufacturing firearms” to include assembling firearms using 3D printing.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/nm-congressional-delegation-calls-president-biden-grant-states-request-expand,"N.M. Congressional Delegation Calls On President Biden To Grant State’s Request To Expand Federal Assistance Eligibilities For Colfax, Mora, San Miguel Counties",2022-06-07,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.-03), Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), and Yvette Herrell (N.M.-02) are calling on President Joe Biden to approve a request from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for expanded federal assistance eligibilities for Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel Counties. The lawmakers continue to call on the administration to waive the 25% non-federal cost share requirement for federal assistance.

After requests from the New Mexico delegation and Governor Lujan Grisham, President Biden swiftly approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel, and Valencia Counties.

The State is now requesting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) immediately authorize federal funding for Category C-G damages in the Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel counties.

This would expand assistance to cover the following types of FEMA assistance:

Category C: Roads and bridges

Category D: Water control facilities

Category E: Public buildings and contents

Category F: Public utilities

Category G: Parks, recreational, and other facilities

In a letter to President Biden, the lawmakers write “Given the severity and life and death nature of this crisis, we urge you to act without delay and approve the State of New Mexico’s request for 100 percent coverage of federal assistance.”

Read the full text of the letter below or by clickinghere.

Dear President Biden,

Thank you for issuing a major disaster declaration as a result of the ongoing wildfires burning in New Mexico since April 5, 2022. While federal assistance has significantly aided our communities, the State of New Mexico will need the federal government’s full support to recover from the devastation of the wildfires. As such, we write in support of the State’s request for the federal government to 1) waive the non-federal cost-share requirement for the entire disaster period under DR-4652-NM; and 2) authorize federal funding for Category C-G damages in the Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel counties.

Since April 5, 2022, wildfires related to DR-4652-NM have burned over 300,000 acres, forced thousands of New Mexicans to evacuate their homes and businesses, caused two fatalities, and destroyed hundreds of homes where families have lived for generations. Much of the destruction has occurred in rural, high and persistent poverty rate communities that simply cannot afford to take on the economic strain imposed by the wildfires. Given the severity and life and death nature of this crisis, we urge you to act without delay and approve the State of New Mexico’s request for 100 percent coverage of federal assistance.

Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of New Mexico recently conducted a preliminary damage assessment that identified Category C-G damages in the counties of Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel. We respectfully request FEMA to authorize federal funding for permanent work addressing Categories C-G damages in the aforementioned counties. It is imperative that the federal government provides full support to New Mexican communities to protect and recover from the ongoing wildfire devastation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z
https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stansbury-announces-funding-submissions-key-community-projects,Congresswoman Stansbury Announces Funding Submissions for Key Community Projects,2022-06-06,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,NM,Melanie A. Stansbury,S001218,stansbury.house.gov,stansbury,https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As communities across New Mexico face interconnected challenges to well-being, economic security, and sustainability, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced her selections for 15 projects she has submitted for consideration in appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year. If the federal Fiscal Year 2023 budget is passed by Congress, the projects will invest millions in public safety, public health, veterans, and youth services across New Mexico’s First Congressional District.

Rep. Stansbury chose projects that reflect the diverse needs of New Mexico communities. If funded, these projects will be included in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget when passed by the House and Senate.

“My number one priority in Congress is getting crucial federal dollars into our communities to make a difference for New Mexicans,” said Rep. Stansbury. “My office received an unprecedented number of over 200 submissions for this year’s budget, and the projects I selected are designed to address urgent community well-being needs in public safety, housing, behavioral health, economic development, sustainability, and meeting our obligations to our veterans and Tribal Nations. I will always fight to invest in a more resilient future for New Mexicans.”

While these 15 projects have been submitted to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration, this does not guarantee funding for the project. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. The House Appropriations Committee will weigh these requests alongside other Member submissions before ultimately selecting a limited number of projects to include in its FY 2023 funding bill. These bills must then be approved by the House Appropriations Committee, the full House, and ultimately through conference negotiations with the Senate before it is signed into law. This process will likely take months, with the earliest final consideration of bills taking place in late fall.

Rep. Stansbury secured over $10 million for seven community funded projects benefitting public safety, economic development, and as part of the recently-passed Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus budget.

Additional information on Community Project Funding and the 15 projects selected by Rep. Stansbury, as well as copies of required financial disclosures, is available here.

A summary of the 15 projects is provided below:

Albuquerque Adult Learning Center

This project will fund a new facility to expand essential wraparound services in the International District, including Albuquerque Adult Learning Center’s Family Literacy Project. Albuquerque Adult Learning Center’s “School-Based School-Linked” Initiative is a three-pronged approach to education based on best practices and proven strategies yielding results. This approach will expand services to include a community/licensed social worker, and key staff in support of a new ""turn-key"" community project impacting the International District community.

Requested Amount: $600,000

“This is just the beginning of a greater collaborative effort among direct service providers in the International District, an area of high need,” said Gloria Rael, executive director and founder of the Albuquerque Adult Learning Center. “This Representative Stansbury FY23 Community Project award responds to the critical needs including Adult Education services, job training, and job access in the International District. This Integrated Education and Training (IET) spurs additional investment that provides dual instruction for High School Equivalency (HSE/formerly GED®) completion with Post-Secondary Education transitions to a new on-demand solar apprenticeship in a collaborative space enhancing jobs in a growing industry.”

Alex Horton of the International District’s Economic Development Center (IDEDC) stated, “This IET program will stimulate business, promote higher education, and provide wrap around services closing the gap from training to jobs and industry standards.”

Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless

Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless will use their funding to purchase vacant and blighted properties in the neighborhood to expand primary health care and social services to meet the needs of an increasing number of people experiencing homelessness in Bernalillo County due to the fallout from COVID-19. This will improve property values, mitigate current public health and safety concerns, and allow AHCH to leverage additional funds and current assets. The organization serves approximately 7,000 people a year through its integrated primary care and social services programs both on its health center campus and through mobile, field-based outreach across Bernalillo County.

Requested Amount: $1,000,000

“Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless is incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Stansbury for prioritizing the needs of people experiencing homelessness in the District. We appreciate the Congresswoman’s long and steadfast commitment to fighting for health care and housing to end homelessness. This federal investment will ensure Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless is able to purchase proximate property to expand its base of operations for taking integrated health care from our central campus to the streets, across the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County service area, and meet the growing numbers of individuals and families newly experiencing homelessness due to the fallout of COVID-19,” said Jennifer Metzler, CEO of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH). “We confirmed during the pandemic that we are built for ending the crisis of homelessness, but we can only accomplish our goals through community support and dedication of resources. If approved by Congress, we will steward this federal investment well to ensure that our dedicated staff can continue to grow to meet the needs of our community members and to eliminate homelessness.”

Albuquerque Homeless Youth Center Construction

This project will provide funding to construct a new facility to provide a safe, transitional environment for homeless and unstably housed youth. According to the findings of a February 2022 study by the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), the total young adult homeless population in Bernalillo County is estimated to range in size from 1,088 to 2,341. Young people experiencing homelessness are faced with associated issues of poor health, traumatic experiences, and involvement with law enforcement. The Center will provide a safe environment for young adults ages 18-25 who are homeless or unstably housed. It will include coordinated and age-appropriate assessments, supports and referrals, training and employment development, assessments and referrals to mental health supports and other programs to remove barriers to self-sufficiency.

Requested Amount: $1,500,000

“These projects are critical to our work to create an integrated system of care in Central New Mexico. Facilities like these have been missing for far too long in our region, providing support to youth who are unhoused and to those battling substance abuse,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “We're grateful to Representative Stansbury for putting these funding requests forward and are hopeful that they will be approved.”

Albuquerque Sobering Center

This project invests in the City of Albuquerque’s Gibson Gateway Sobering Center, which is designed to increase community safety and improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable populations in America. The funding will be used to support operational costs as, professional and certified clinical/medical staff; program management and administration; supplies; dedicated transportation vehicles; and facilities management including security and maintenance

The Albuquerque Sobering Center is intended to divert individuals with low acuity intoxication from overcrowded emergency departments and jail to a safe place with medical monitoring to gain sobriety and to access treatment, housing and other unmet needs. Such a facility does not currently exist in Albuquerque.

Requested Amount: $6,800,000

Albuquerque Veterans Transitional Housing Campus

The funding would be used to build the first all-Veteran transitional housing campus in New Mexico that will include a 42-bed individual sleeping and bathroom unit for each Veteran or Veteran family. The units include 10 fully ADA-accessible rooms and 8 family rooms which support over 176 veterans each year, representing the only Veteran-specific transitional housing program in the state.

Requested Amount: $300,000

“We are so very grateful for Congresswoman Stansbury’s support of the Veterans Integration Centers and her recognition of our mission to enable Veterans and their families to achieve stable housing, financial security, and renewed sense of community,” said Brock Wolff, CEO of the Veterans Integrations Centers. “We look forward to working with Congresswoman Stansbury to continue to serve the over 1100 New Mexico Veterans and their families who entrust us with their care each year. This funding will be vital for us to complete the building of our new state of the art Transitional Housing Campus in Albuquerque. The new facility will provide housing and support services to our great veterans, and allow us to give these heroes the dignity they so rightly deserve.”

Chromatograph – Infrared Detector (GC-IRD) Instruments

The funding would be used to purchase three gas chromatography - infrared detector (GC-IRD) instruments to better characterize illicit fentanyl tablet submissions, emerging drugs of abuse, and other chemical unknowns. The instruments will be utilized in the Santa Fe Forensic Laboratory, Las Cruces Forensic Laboratory and Hobbs Forensic Laboratory to strengthen the Forensic Drug Chemistry Unit's capabilities for analyzing unknown substances.

Requested Amount: $410,721

“This important tool, gas chromatograph infrared detector (GC-IRD), will ensure higher quality and timely information about synthetic drugs,” said Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Jason Bowie. “As a border state, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory processes a high volume of drug cases, including fentanyl and other illicitly produced opioids for New Mexico’s courts. The citizens of New Mexico will benefit greatly from this funding.”

East Mountain Food Pantry Expansion

The East Mountain Food Pantry currently serves households in Bernalillo County, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Torrance Counties—an area encompassing 1,100 square miles. The funding will be used to acquire land and build a purpose-built 6,000-10,000 square foot facility allowing efficient service to more households.

Requested Amount: $875,000

“The East Mountain Food Pantry is very grateful to Congresswoman Stansbury for her understanding that there are large numbers of food-insecure families and individuals in the United States, particularly in New Mexico. The Food Pantry has served individuals for over 30 years within an expansive 1,100 square mile rural area in Bernalillo, Torrance, Santa Fe and Sandoval counties. Recent events at local, state and national levels have dramatically increased the community’s need for our services. With Congresswoman Stansbury’s dedicated support, the East Mountain Food Pantry will be able to build a purpose-built food pantry facility. This will allow our dedicated group of over 140 Volunteers to efficiently increase the food services that we provide to our East Mountain residents. Community-wide donations, as well as directed funding like this, allows the Pantry to provide much needed food pantry services,” said David Smith, President of East Mountain Food Pantry.

Partners for Community Action, Families First Economic Justice Project

The funding for the Families First Economic Justice Project will facilitate a multiracial, cross generational coalition of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community leaders to address systemic inequities in economic development, asset building, and access to capital in a post-COVID-19 world.

Requested Amount: $650,000

“This investment in community driven economic development is catalytic. The South Valley Social Enterprise Center is an alternative model that exists in large part due to this type of commitment to community,” said Nichelle Gilbert, Associate Director of Partners for Community Action. “BIPOC leaders and entrepreneurs will come together to share stories, be held in common lived experience and create. Business ownership, workforce development, community engagement and relational organizing are all tenets of family and community prosperity. These dollars are a commitment to community voice and solutions on a path toward a healthier and stronger NM. Congresswoman Stansbury understands alternative community-led economic development and its value in our state. We are grateful for this impactful investment.”

First Nations Community HealthSource Behavorial Health Clinic Expansion

The funding would be used to cover the construction and design-related costs to expand First Nations Community HealthSource’s behavioral health site to include medical, dental, cultural wellness/Traditional Healing and an array of support services to address the holistic care need of Albuquerque’s urban Indians and other underserved populations. It is anticipated that when this project is fully operational, it will increase access annually to integrated holistic care services to more than 15,000 community members who are without a medical, behavioral health or dental home.

Requested Amount: $1,000,000

“We owe deep gratitude to Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury for her support in increasing needed health and behavioral health services in Albuquerque,” said Linda Stone, CEO of First Nations Community HealthSource. “Funding will help First Nations Community HealthSource fulfill its mission of providing a comprehensive, culturally appropriate health delivery system that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of urban Indians and other underserved populations in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas. We look forward to working with Congresswoman Stansbury to serve our communities.”

Mobile Crisis Team, New Mexico Department of Public Safety

The funding would be used to provide acute mental health crisis stabilization at home or in the community within a maximum of 90 minutes. A two-member team operates 24/7/365, providing crisis intervention, screening and assessment, referrals to time limited follow up services.

Requested Amount: $2,800,000

“Funding Mobile Crisis Teams will help New Mexicans confronting behavioral health crises to receive support designed for their situation, and the federal funding will enable a more rapid implementation across the state, including to our Tribal, rural, and frontier neighbors,” said Neal A. Bowen, PhD, Director of the Behavioral Health Services Division for the New Mexico Human Services Department.

Mobile School-Based Health Center Acquisition

The funding would be used to purchase and equip two mobile School Based Health Centers that will provide preventative medical, dental, mental, and COVID-19-related health care services to four Albuquerque Public Schools campuses that serve a combined total of 2,500 students and their families.

Requested Amount: $400,000

“This award will go a long way in the development and operation of a new mobile school-based health center in Bernalillo County,” said Bernalillo County Manager Julie Morgas Baca. “School-based health centers are unique as they meet the medical, behavioral, and social health needs of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Mountainair Wastewater Facility Improvements

This proposed project would make necessary improvements to the town's wastewater treatment facilities, a basic public service benefiting the entire population of Mountainair. This funding represents the financial lifeline the town needs to bring the community's Wastewater Treatment Plant into compliance with environmental regulations.

Requested Amount: $2,500,00

“Congresswoman Stansbury promised that she would be the champion we needed in Congress. She is keeping to her word. She continues to fight for all of us which includes rural communities such as Mountainair,” said Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto.

Sandia Pueblo’s EMS and Fire Station

This project will provide funding for the development and restoration of the Sandia Pueblo’s EMS and Fire Station so the Pueblo EMS services can decrease response times and better serve the Pueblo community’s emergency response needs.

Requested Amount: $1,500,000

“The Pueblo of Sandia is focused on delivering quality emergency services to every member of the Sandia Pueblo community,” said Pueblo of Sandia Governor Stuart Paisano. “The funding that Representative Stansbury has requested for a dedicated Fire and EMS facility would facilitate faster emergency responses throughout the Pueblo.”

Sandoval County Animal Shelter

The funding would be used to address the acute shortage of 24/7 Emergency Veterinary Care in New Mexico in general, especially after a similar facility in Santa Fe closed. This facility will help fill that gap. New Mexican students are forced to go out of state for Veterinary School which creates a brain drain in the area. This project would offer an in-state practicum option that would help create a retention bridge back to New Mexico.

Requested Amount: $1,500,000

“The Commission has made care of County animals one of our top priorities. Representative Stansbury’s support for our Animal Shelter project could not have come at a better time! By making this project one of her top priorities, the Congresswoman transformed what was a distant dream, into a certain reality. In addition to providing care for Sandoval County’s animal population, this unique project will provide educational and job growth opportunities through our public private partnership,” said Sandoval County Commission Chair Michael Meeks.

University of New Mexico and Sandia National Labs STEM Pipeline

The funding would be used to meet the growing demands of this cybersecurity and data science workforce, the University of New Mexico needs to modernize computational infrastructure to encompass big-data computing hardware and data storage. Additionally, funds are needed to develop curricula for new data science, high performance computing, and cybersecurity programs and to support teacher participation in professional development activities to meet the needs of the New Mexico population in data science.

Requested Amount: $1,500,000",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z