Press Releases

Santa Fe – This week, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, was on the ground in New Mexico supporting efforts to help communities affected by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon and Cerro Pelado wildfires.

5/2/2022 - Rep. Leger Fernandez visits Penasco High school to deliver supplies to those evacuated from their homes in Mora.

 5/3/2022.  Rep. Leger Fernandez visits Fire Team Leaders in Las Vegas at Luna Community College to discuss ways to support relief efforts.

5/3/2022 - Rep. Leger Fernández continued efforts by delivering supplies to the Old Memorial Middle Shelter in Las Vegas to support those evacuated.

5/3/2022 - The Congresswoman talked to U.S. Forest Service Chief Moore about deploying resources to the area and rebuilding trust in the community.  She also talked to White House Officials to discuss the Federal government's role in combating the wildfires and quickly securing a presidential disaster declaration to provide much-needed resources.

5/3/2022 - Rep. Leger Fernández visited the Glorieta Center shelter to speak with students from the United World College and program leaders about the center's work to provide resources for the surrounding communities. She also spoke to evacuated families from Las Vegas.

5/4/2022 - Rep. Leger Fernández joined Pueblo of Jemez Governors in Jemez to receive updates on the Cerro Pelado fire from local and agency officials.

5/4/2022 - Rep. Leger Fernández joined Governor Lujan Grisham during a briefing with local elected officials and community members to discuss fire response and resources at City Hall in Española.

5/4/2022 - Rep. Leger Fernández attended the community briefing with the southwest area fire team in Las Vegas. 

“I’ve lifted the voices of Nuevo Mexicanos in all of my conversations with the White House. This declaration and how quickly it was issued is the result of hard work and what happens when our delegation, the Governor, and the White House all work together,” said Leger Fernández.

In efforts to understand the cause of the wildfire, Rep. Leger Fernández sent a letter to United States Forest Service Chief Randy Moore requesting a response regarding the recent prescribed burn that led to the Hermits Peak Fire in New Mexico.

Read the full text of the letter HERE

Rep. Leger Fernández has also signed onto letters of support requesting FY 23 funding for fire mitigation projects and efforts across the Southwest including the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Read the full text of the SWERI letter HERE

Read the full text of the PDM letter HERE

Congresswoman Leger Fernández is a strong supporter of US firefighters and has signed onto a letter of support to Appropriations Interior Subcommittee Chairwoman Pingree and Ranking Member Joyce requesting an increase to firefighters pay to reflect the hazards, risks, and qualifications of our federal wildland firefighters. She is also a cosponsor of the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act to ensure all federal firefighters receive the same access to benefits as our state and local firefighters.

Read the full text of the letter to Chairwoman Pingree HERE

Note: If you or someone you know is impacted by the fire, you may be eligible for federal assistance. Please call 800-621-3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov to learn more.

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