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 »
WASHINGTON – September 27, 2023 - Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández passed two amendments late last night to increase funding for oversight of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) rural housing program and USDA Office of Tribal Relations. Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to publish final regulations for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act. Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and James Moylan (R-GU) and U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) reintroduced bipartisan legislation designed to strengthen the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to compensate individuals exposed to radiation while working in uranium mines or living downwind from atomic weapons tests. Read more »
Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee Ranking Member Teresa Leger Fernández and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva today issued the following statements on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Haaland v. Brackeen, a case that challenged the constitutionality of the bipartisan Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
ICWA has been instrumental in… Read more »
Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández and Senator Martin Heinrich introduced legislation to establish Cerro de la Olla Wilderness within the Río Grande del Norte National Monument in northern New Mexico.
Senator Ben Ray Luján and Representative Melanie Stansbury are original cosponsors.
For generations, people of the Taos area have hunted, gathered herbs, and… Read more »
Representative Teresa Leger Fernández and Senator Martin Heinrich introduced legislation to approve the water rights settlements of the Pueblos of Acoma, Jemez, Laguna, and Zia, as well as participating non-Tribal parties.
Senator Ben Ray Luján and Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez are original cosponsors.
The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements… Read more »
Today, Congresswoman Leger Fernández helped pass the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bill to fund the government.
The bill includes $23,552,000 in specific Community Project Funding for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District. It also includes numerous other provisions she championed, including an additional $1.45 billion for wildfire relief, to uplift New Mexico communities… Read more »
