Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service released a report about the Las Dispensas prescribed burn fire. “This review is incredibly disturbing as it lists multiple errors in the calculations that went into the prescribed burn that eventually upended the lives of thousands of New Mexicans. Forest Service… Read more »

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) introduced the bipartisan Tribal Energy Investment Act of 2022 to allow the Department of Energy (DOE) to make direct loans to Indian tribes and tribal energy development organizations for energy development projects. She is sponsoring this legislation with Reps. Cole (R-OK), O’Halleran (D-AZ), and Davids (D-KS).  “Our… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández secured full federal cost coverage for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.  The EWPP pays for work on private landholdings. This comes after Rep. Leger Fernández made the request directly to President Biden during his visit to New Mexico and sent a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack reiterating the request. The United… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack urging USDA to pay the full cost for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. She also urged USDA to expedite these funds to affected communities given current flood risks. This program is essential to protecting property and homeowners in the area.… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández  met with President Biden and requested his commitment to passing the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Assistance Act as well as additional resources for protecting the destroyed watershed. Congresswoman Leger Fernández introduced this legislation to fully compensate those who suffered personal injury or loss of property,… Read more »

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández announced that President Joe Biden has approved a request to expand federal assistance eligibility for Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel Counties to address the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire damage.  The State of New Mexico requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) immediately authorize federal funding for Category C-G… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández voted in favor of the bipartisan  Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. The Congresswoman championed significant water infrastructure investments for New Mexico that have now been included in WRDA.  WRDA 2022 will support the economies of our rural and urban areas alike and keep New Mexico competitive while recognizing… Read more »

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.)  secured the signing of a bill to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). The Congresswoman led the bipartisan House effort to pass the two-year extension through Congress with bipartisan support last month.  The program was scheduled to sunset in July 2022. For over thirty years, RECA has provided… Read more »

SANTA FE – Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández requested that the U.S. Government Accountability (GAO) investigates the process that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) uses to conduct prescribed burns. The Congresswoman requested that GAO provide recommendations to the USFS and Congress to reduce wildfire risk associated with prescribed burns.  Today’s request comes… Read more »

SANTA FE – Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service announced that it caused the Calf Canyon Fire.  The Calf Canyon Fire was caused by a USFS prescribed pile burn that occurred in January, 2022 and remained dormant until it reignited in April, 2022.  “The news today that the USFS also started the Calf… Read more »