Native Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last Thursday, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Read more »

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Senator Luján introduced Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act.  Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  On the two-year anniversary of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández , Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich  and Ben Ray Luján are highlighting how the landmark legislation has delivered billions of dollars in historic infrastructure investments to New Mexico.    Read more »

WASHINGTON — October 31 – U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján announced a $235.1 million allocation to continue fulfilling settlements of Indian water rights claims using funding from the Infrastructure Law and the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund.    Read more »

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández released a statement following the White House’s request for $16 billion in emergency child care funding. This comes after the Congresswoman, Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), joined other DWC members to urge the White House to address the issue. Read more »

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after House Republicans voted to elect Representative Mike Johnson as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Leger Fernández voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, as she did for the past four rounds of Speakership votes.   Read more »

WASHINGTON – October 19, 2023 – U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M), U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04) introduced legislation in both the House and Senate chambers to make community college and two-year Tribal Colleges and Universities  more accessible by waiving tuition fees for eligible students. Read more »

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore urging him to honor his commitment to use infrared drones for all prescribed burns in New Mexico.  Rep. Leger Fernández previously secured a commitment from Chief Moore to use infrared drones during prescribed fires after a holdover pile burn unknowingly smoldered for months and helped start the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Infrared drones allow the Forest Service to safely and effectively monitor prescribed fires and verify that the fire is completely out. Read more »

WASHINGTON – Representative Teresa Leger Fernández introduced the Pecos Watershed Protection Act, legislation to protect portions of the Pecos Watershed in northern New Mexico from all mineral development. U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives and  Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) is an original cosponsor of the legislation. Read more »

WASHINGTON – October 5, 2023 - U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M) and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Cerro Pelado Fire Assistance Act to provide financial compensation to help New Mexicans affected by the Cerro Pelado Fire caused by the U.S. Forest Service. The bill would require FEMA to establish a Cerro Pelado Fire Claims Office to compensate those who suffered personal injury, property losses, business and financial losses resulting from the Cerro Pelado Fire. Read more »