U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are welcoming nearly $2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund the development of a comprehensive Watershed Restoration Plan for the areas directly impacted by the 2022 Hermit's… Read more »
U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are welcoming over $35 million in federal funding from the U.S.… 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 – 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, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.03), David G. Valadao (R-CA-22) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) introduced the Support Water-Efficient Strategies and Technologies Act (WEST) Act (H.R. 5764) to support agriculture practices more commonly used in Western arid climates. This bipartisan bill would allow the USDA Secretary to increase cost shares to 85 percent for Environmental Quality Incentives Programs (EQIP) practices that support water-conserving and drought-resilient programs. It would also make perennial production systems eligible for supplemental payments within the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Further, it would strengthen the USDA soil health program by allowing the Secretary to conduct outreach on the program and offer payments for soil testing. Read more »
Santa Fe, N.M. – U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, who led the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, issued the following statement after FEMA announced the final regulations. The final regulations will be published on Tuesday. Read more »