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Leger Fernández Leads 18 Members Demanding Answers on Trump Administration’s Rush to Strip Chaco Canyon Protections

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, and Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee led 18 members of Congress in demanding answers from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about the Trump Administration’s rushed effort to revoke protections for lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

The Department of the Interior is proposing to revoke Public Land Order No. 7923, which established a 10-mile mineral withdrawal surrounding Chaco Canyon. Revoking the order would reopen these culturally significant public lands to oil and gas leasing and mining activities.

“Chaco Canyon is not just a historical site; it’s a living cultural landscape,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Department’s current fast-tracked efforts to overturn the withdrawal area do not respect the historical, cultural, and spiritual value of Chaco Canyon.”

“The Department’s rushed review undermined the Department’s trust responsibility to Tribal nations and the Tribal consultation process under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act,” they continued.

The lawmakers’ letter raises serious concerns that the Department failed to fulfill its trust responsibility to Tribal nations and honor Burgum’s public commitment to meaningful consultation. During a June 2025 House Natural Resources Committee hearing, Burgum committed to Leger Fernández to send an official with decision-making authority to conduct individual, in-person consultations with every Tribe with an interest in Chaco Canyon. However, Interior’s own draft Environmental Assessment indicates that the Department moved forward before completing all requested consultations. Several Tribes received only “informational meetings,” while requests to meet with a decision-maker remained unmet.

The Department also provided only 21 days for public comment and held no public meetings before advancing its proposal. Despite that abbreviated process, the public submitted an estimated 300,000 comments.

By contrast, the existing protections were finalized in 2023 following 150 days of public comment, eight public meetings, and years of advocacy by Tribal nations. An archaeological study identified more than 4,730 cultural sites within the protected area.

The lawmakers are asking Burgum to disclose:

● How many Tribal consultations included an Interior official with decision-making authority;

● Why the Department failed to honor Tribal requests to meet with a decision-maker;

● Why Interior published its draft proposal before completing Tribal consultation;

● Whether all requested consultations will occur before the Department completes its review; and

● Why Interior conducted a limited Environmental Assessment instead of a more comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement.

The lawmakers requested answers by Friday, August 28.

The letter was signed by Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Jared Huffman, Melanie Stansbury, Gabe Vasquez, Sharice Davids, Betty McCollum, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark DeSaulnier, Val Hoyle, Donald Beyer Jr., Judy Chu, Dina Titus, Jesús “Chuy” García, Sylvia Garcia, Rashida Tlaib, Diana DeGette, Julia Brownley, and Raja Krishnamoorthi.

The full letter is available here.

On Fourth Anniversary of Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Containment, Leger Fernández Demands Answers on Toxic Metals in Fire Retardants

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. — Four years after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire was finally contained, U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) is demanding greater accountability for the federal government’s use of wildfire retardants that may contain toxic metals.

Leger Fernández and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) led a letter asking the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the prevalence and potential effects of toxic metals in fire retardants used by the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior. The letter was also signed by Representatives Judy Chu, Adelita Grijalva, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pablo José Hernández, Lateefah Simon and Sara Jacobs.

“Four years ago, the flames finally stopped. But for the families of Mora and San Miguel counties, this disaster did not end when the smoke cleared,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. “It lives in contaminated wells, flood-scarred fields, empty foundations and the endless paperwork of survivors still waiting for FEMA to do its job. The federal government started this fire, and the federal government has a responsibility to answer every question about the harm it caused. We do not yet know whether fire retardants contributed to the heavy metals found in northern New Mexico’s groundwater. Our families should not have to wonder whether the water coming from their tap is safe to drink. Accountability means following the evidence, telling the truth and fixing what was broken.”

Federal agencies used 48.6 million gallons of fire retardant in wildfire operations in 2024 alone. One academic study estimated that aerial wildfire retardants released approximately 380,000 kilograms of toxic metals into the environment nationwide between 2009 and 2021.

Following the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, testing found elevated levels of heavy metals in groundwater in parts of northern New Mexico. The lawmakers’ letter does not draw a conclusion about the source of that contamination. Instead, it asks GAO to determine whether fire retardants could pose risks to communities, watersheds and wildland firefighters.

Specifically, the lawmakers ask GAO to examine:

The prevalence of metals such as arsenic, antimony, lead, chromium and cadmium in fire retardants used by federal agencies;
Potential health and environmental effects when retardants are deployed near watersheds and groundwater;
Potential health risks for nearby communities and wildland firefighters;
Safer alternatives that could reduce the introduction of toxic metals into the environment; and
Best practices federal agencies should follow to protect human health and the environment.

The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire began with two U.S. Forest Service prescribed burns that escaped control and merged. It became the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s recorded history, burning more than 340,000 acres before reaching full containment on August 21, 2022.

Leger Fernández’s Work for Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Survivors

Since the fire, Congresswoman Leger Fernández has:

Led passage of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act and secured a total of $5.45 billion to compensate survivors;
Secured $140 million to rebuild and improve Las Vegas’ water treatment system after the fire threatened the city’s drinking-water supply;
Helped secure $1 million through USDA to help eligible families in the Hermit’s Peak burn scar repair contaminated wells and home water systems;
Secured an independent GAO investigation into the Forest Service’s prescribed-burn practices, which produced four recommendations to improve safety, staffing, oversight and accountability; and
Repeatedly pressed FEMA and the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office to end unacceptable delays, provide transparent reports and deliver full compensation to survivors, especially total loss claimants.

The full letter is available here.

Leger Fernández Joins National Coalition for Expanded RECA Legislation

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

SANTA FE, NM — Congresswoman Leger Fernández is co-leading the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (RECRA), bipartisan legislation that builds upon her work to compensate New Mexicans affected by radiation exposure from the Trinity and other nuclear tests. Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam) introduced the legislation. The Congresswoman has worked alongside Congressman Moylan to make sure communities harmed by the nation's nuclear testing receive the compensation and recognition they deserve.

Congresswoman Leger Fernández introduced the RECA Amendments Act in 2021. She led the U.S. House of Representatives effort to expand RECA to cover New Mexico downwinders and post '71 uranium miners alongside Senator Ben Ray Lujan, the New Mexico congressional delegation, and New Mexico advocates. This latest proposal seeks to address the remaining gaps left after Congress partially expanded RECA in 2025.

The legislation would expand eligibility to additional impacted communities, extends the filing deadline by fifteen years, increases compensation, authorizes reimbursement of medical expenses, broadens the list of eligible diseases, streamlines the claims process through the use of affidavits where records are unavailable, and establishes a process for adding future classes of eligible individuals without requiring additional acts of Congress.

The bill also recognizes the unique challenges faced by many rural, Tribal, Native, and territorial communities, expands eligibility for atomic cleanup veterans, and directs a comprehensive study into the long-term and multi-generational health effects of radiation exposure.

"For generations, New Mexico's downwinders and uranium workers have carried the cost of our nation's nuclear legacy in their bodies, their families, and their communities,” said Rep. Leger Fernández (D-New Mexico). “Last year, after years of bipartisan work and relentless advocacy from survivors, advocates, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, we finally expanded RECA. That was a historic victory, but our work is not finished. This legislation recognizes a simple truth: more people were harmed than our laws have acknowledged. It expands access to compensation, extends the deadline so families have the time they need to come forward, and provides medical benefits because surviving radiation exposure should not mean facing the cost of care alone. It also recognizes the reality that many records have been lost to time by allowing affidavits to help prove work history and physical presence. New Mexicans deserve justice."

"This legislation brings together a strong bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress, survivors, advocates, and communities who have refused to give up this fight,” said Congressman Moylan. “Together, our voices are stronger, and together, we will keep fighting until every American harmed by radiation exposure receives the justice they have been denied. I’m not backing down until we get this across the finish line for the people of Guam who were impacted and all those still left behind.”

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (RECRA) is backed by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers. Co-leads include Representatives Wesley Bell (D-MO) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), while additional members have signed on as cosponsors in support of their communities affected by radiation exposure.

"Long before I got to Congress, I heard from St. Louisans who endured decades of health crises, economic struggles, and neglect after radioactive contamination from the Manhattan Project upended their lives. Families from across my district have suffered from terrible cancers, thyroid issues, and even death because of the improper storage of this deadly waste,” said Congressman Wesley Bell (D-Missouri). "While no legislation can truly rectify that harm, this expansion of compensable diseases and increase in RECA benefits from $50,000 to $150,000, in addition to covering medical expenses, is a huge step in the right direction. Nothing can fully right this wrong, but this effort tips the scales toward justice — for everyone from St. Louis to Guam.”

“For too long, Coloradans have been impacted by radiation from U.S. nuclear weapons production, testing, and uranium mining at Rocky Flats and Cotter Mill without the compensation they deserve. This bipartisan legislation could finally offer some relief for communities that have suffered without federal support despite decades of documented exposure,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colorado). “I'm going to continue to do all I can to push not only to extend RECA, but to expand it so that everyone who has been affected by these radioactive sites in my district and across the country gets the care they deserve.”

"I stand with the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium and all those that refuse to let the world forget what happened at the Trinity Site in July 1945. It is past time the U.S. government took full responsibility for the harm it has wrought on our Downwinder and other impacted communities, and this bill marks a major step in the right direction toward the compensation and recognition they deserve," said Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-New Mexico). "By cutting red tape for claimants, extending the filing period by 15 years, covering additional diseases caused by radiation, and so much more, this bill will make a meaningful difference in the lives of Downwinder communities in New Mexico and beyond, and I am proud to support it."

“For decades, Pacific communities have lived with unanswered questions about the long-term consequences of America’s nuclear weapons program,” said Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-CNMI). “The Northern Mariana Islands deserves answers too. This issue was recently raised with me by members of our community who asked whether radioactive fallout from nuclear testing in the Pacific may have reached the Northern Mariana Islands and what that exposure could have meant for the health of our people. I want to give them credit for raising an important question that deserves to be examined. My responsibility as your Delegate is to listen when concerns are brought to me, look at the facts, and then determine what we can do about them. That is what we did here. We began examining the issue, brought the CNMI’s concerns to our federal partners, and now this legislation calls for research into radiation exposure and its potential impacts on the Northern Mariana Islands, while also expanding compensation and improving access to health resources for communities affected by America’s nuclear testing program.

I am grateful to Congressman James Moylan for his partnership and for working with me to ensure the CNMI was included in this legislation. We should not presume what the science will tell us. But our people deserve to have the question asked, the history examined, and the research done. This is how representative government should work: our community raises a concern, we listen, and then we get to work finding answers.”

“Communities in my district have lived with the devastating legacy of radioactive contamination for far too long,” said Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Illinois). “Since my first term in Congress, I’ve fought to ensure these families receive the compensation and support they deserve. They shouldn’t have to wait a second longer. This legislation is about righting that wrong by not only expanding access to compensation to the Metro East but also increasing the support available to those who were harmed. I am proud to lead this bill with Congressman Moylan to ensure impacted families and communities finally receive the relief and resources they deserve.”

"Nevadans are still paying the price for decades of nuclear testing, with families across our state facing cancer, disease, and the loss of loved ones to radiation exposure," said Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada). "For too long, these families have had to fight just to be recognized and receive the compensation they are owed. Expanding RECA eligibility means more Nevadans will finally have access to that support. We cannot give families back the years they lost or the loved ones taken from them, but we can make sure they are not forgotten. I will keep fighting until every Nevadan harmed by this testing gets the recognition and compensation they deserve."

"For decades, communities across the West, especially in Nevada, have lived with the fallout from our nation's nuclear weapons program," said Rep. Congresswoman Dina Titus (D- Nevada). “Many were exposed to harmful radiation without even knowing it, and those who did know understood little about the long-term consequences. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act ensures these Cold Warriors receive the benefits they need and deserve. Radiation doesn't stop at county or state lines, and we need to ensure that all affected people get justice."

Leger Fernández, Pingree Condemn Rushed Effort to Gut Tribal Consultation and Historic Preservation Protections

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, condemned a proposal released by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) that would rush through sweeping changes to the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

“History is not an obstacle for development. It is the story of who we are, and it should not be bulldozed without thought,” said Leger Fernández. “This week, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) will vote on drastic changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act regulations that will gut historic preservation reviews and tribal consultation. Section 106 is one of the most important promises our nation has made: before the federal government destroys, it must listen to the people from the community; listen to tribes and local governments. But the Trump administration wants to destroy that promise. By gutting tribal consultation and stripping protections for places of deep cultural and spiritual significance, they are saying that corporate profits are more important than our shared history. Worse still, they want to rush the proposed changes, giving ACHP members only a week to review and vote on sweeping changes. I call on the ACHP to protect our history and rescind its rushed and ill-conceived changes to the Section 106 historic preservation regulations.”

“The ACHP’s decision to rewrite Section 106—behind closed doors, on an absurdly rushed timeline, and without meaningful input from states, Tribes, preservation experts, or the public—is beyond reckless and will dramatically weaken one of our nation’s most important historic preservation laws,” Congresswoman Pingree said. “For nearly 60 years, the National Historic Preservation Act has ensured that communities have a voice before the federal government moves forward with projects that could affect the places, stories, and cultural resources that help tell our nation’s story. These changes would make it easier for federal agencies to ignore public input, sideline Tribes, and rush ahead with projects that could permanently damage irreplaceable historic and cultural resources. Unfortunately, that is exactly how this Administration operates. They have shown time and again that they’re not interested in respecting the full scope of America’s history—only in fast-tracking the president’s vanity projects and giving sweetheart deals to donors and supporters. As the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the ACHP, I will fight every attempt to weaken these critical safeguards or silence the communities and experts who deserve to have a seat at the table when it comes to preserving our shared history.”

Background:

On Friday, July 17, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) released a proposal that would make sweeping changes to the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The ACHP provided only one week for members to review and vote on 50 pages of proposed regulatory changes.

The proposed changes are a stark departure from current practices that would:

Severely limit the inclusion of states and local governments in the historic preservation process within their own jurisdictions; Make tribal consultation an optional rather than required step for nearly all federal projects; Make public participation in the historic preservation process at the discretion of federal agencies; and exclude traditional cultural properties from historic preservation protections that are not “geographically compact,” thereby limiting protection for many tribal cultural resources.

The ACHP is an independent federal agency consisting of 24 members representing federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal governments, and historic preservation organizations. The ACHP advises the President and Congress on historic preservation and oversees the Section 106 process, which forms the bedrock of historic preservation in the United States.

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VIDEO: N.M. Delegation Joins Pueblo Governors to Push for Permanent Protections for Chaco Canyon

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Today, 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.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined the All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG) at a press conference to call for permanent protection of Chaco Canyon.

Located in northwestern New Mexico, the Greater Chaco landscape is a region of great cultural, spiritual, and historical significance to many Pueblos and Tribes and contains living sacred sites. Chaco was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is one of only 24 such sites in the United States.

Last week, the Trump administration announced a proposal to fully revoke a 20-year mineral withdrawal that has protected public lands surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historic Park, and only allowed 14 days for public comment. The N.M. Delegation released a statement strongly condemning the Trump administration’s actions.

This week, Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led a N.M. Delegation letter urging U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to extend the public comment period to 90-days and conduct genuine Tribal consultation and extensive public engagement before revoking protections for the Chaco region. Most importantly, the Delegation urged Secretary Burgum to withdraw this proposal and leave Public Land Order No. 7923 in place. The Delegation also, once again, invited Secretary Burgum to visit Chaco before taking any action that would put this irreplaceable cultural landmark at risk.

VIDEO: The N.M. Delegation joins the All Pueblo Council of Governors to call for permanent protection of the Chaco Canyon Cultural Protection Zone, July 22, 2026.

“There is not a single molecule of gas worth sacrificing a landscape that holds more than 4,700 archaeological sites, the prayers and history of generations, and the living culture of Chaco Canyon,” said Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the House Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee. “Secretary Burgum lied when he promised meaningful, in-person tribal consultation before any decision was made. Our Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act will permanently protect Chaco. In the meantime, we will use every tool at our disposal to stop the bulldozers from tearing up living history.”

“Chaco Canyon is not for sale! As one the most sacred places on the planet — the Greater Chaco Landscape has been a sacred landscape for Pueblo and Diné people since time immemorial,” said Stansbury. “The Trump Administration's plan to open these sacred places to oil and gas drilling is a direct attack to Tribal Sovereignty and New Mexico's history, cultures, and living traditions. I am proud to stand today and every day with the entire New Mexico delegation, the All Pueblo Council of Governors, Tribal leaders, advocates, and communities across our state to protect this irreplaceable landscape for generations to come. We ask the American people to stand with us — and please submit a public comment and help save Chaco Canyon.”

“Chaco is central to New Mexico’s identity — a living cultural landscape, a sacred place and an irreplaceable unit of our national public lands. The Administration’s attempt to revoke the protections of this landscape, built through years of consultation and community engagement, with just 14 days of public comment is disingenuous and disrespectful,” said Vasquez. “Secretary Burgum must withdraw this proposal and come to New Mexico to hear directly from Pueblo leaders. He has an open invitation to come to Chaco and meet with Pueblo leaders. We can support responsible energy development without sacrificing places like Chaco that, once damaged, will be lost forever.”

“Chaco Canyon is not for sale. New Mexico has an important role to play producing energy for the nation. We're the second largest producer of oil in the country, we produce far more electrons than we consume, and we have never had to sacrifice our most sacred places to do that — and we should not do that going forward,” said Heinrich. “Chaco Canyon is not just a place on a map. It is not a museum. It is not about what happened 1,000 years ago. It is about the future. It is about these governors and their communities, their identity, and their relationship to this sacred place that they use now. This is about our state's ability to stand up for what is right and moral. Our New Mexico Delegation stands arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder with these Tribal governors and their communities in standing up to protect this place. And we will fight that fight until we win.”

“Chaco Canyon is more than a place on a map — it is thousands of years of culture, history, and the enduring spirit of the Pueblo peoples. Protecting Chaco is our sacred responsibility. Once Chaco is damaged, it cannot be undone. That’s why we are standing together to make our voices heard,” said Luján. “I am deeply grateful for the Pueblo leaders whose leadership and tireless advocacy are at the heart of the fight to protect Chaco Canyon. Now is your turn to make your voice heard. Submit your comment today to tell the Trump administration to keep its hands off Chaco.”

The New Mexico Congressional Delegation has worked tirelessly to permanently protect Chaco Canyon.

Last week, the N.M. Delegation released a statement in response to the news that the Trump administration is proposing to fully revoke a 20-year mineral withdrawal that has protected public lands surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historic Park, and only allowing 14 days for public comment.

In April, the N.M. Delegation submitted a comment letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) urging the Trump administration to reverse course on its decision to initiate the process to undo a 20-year mineral withdrawal that has kept public lands in the Chaco Canyon Cultural Protection Zone off-limits to new oil and gas leasing. Earlier that month, the N.M. Delegation sent statements in opposition to the Trump administration only granting seven days to submit scoping comments.

Last November, Heinrich, Luján, and Stansbury hosted a press conference with Pueblo leaders on the actions needed to permanently protect the landscape.

Last September, the N.M. Delegation hosted a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol with 20 Governors and leaders from the Santa Ana, Picuris, Cochiti, Zia, Tesuque, Acoma, Santo Domingo, and Laguna Pueblos to demand the Trump administration permanently protect Chaco Canyon, and to invite U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to visit the Greater Chaco landscape before deciding its fate. Watch the video of the full press conference here.

In June 2025, the N.M. Delegation sent a letter initially inviting Secretary Burgum to visit Chaco Canyon and engage directly with Tribal leaders and local communities to hear about the profound cultural and spiritual significance of this sacred landscape. Secretary Burgum issued the directive to begin revoking the Chaco protections without experiencing it firsthand. Following Secretary Burgum’s directive, the N.M. Delegation sent a letter urging the Trump administration to reverse course on its decision to initiate the process to fully revoke Chaco Canyon’s protections.

In April 2025, the N.M. Delegation reintroduced legislation to protect Chaco Canyon and the greater sacred landscape surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historic Park. The legislation is led by Luján in the U.S. Senate and Leger Fernández in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Representative Leger Fernández, Attorney General Raúl Torrez Push New Legislation to Force DOJ to Release Remaining Epstein Files

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC — Attorney General Raúl Torrez today voiced support for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-New Mexico) Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), Ro Khanna (D-California) to amend the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The bill gives state attorneys general, district attorneys, and survivors the right to sue the U.S. Department of Justice for withholding or redacting records, bars the department from invoking privilege to justify withholding files, and creates criminal penalties for federal officials who conceal, destroy, or falsify records covered by the Act.

New Mexico has pursued records related to Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch property for months. The U.S. Department of Justice has not fully responded to the state's records requests, leaving New Mexico's investigation without access to files that bear directly on whether New Mexico laws were broken.

"Survivors have waited too long for answers, and my office has waited too long for the federal government to turn over the unredacted records we need to complete our criminal investigation," said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. "This legislation gives state law enforcement the access this investigation requires, and it gives survivors control over their own records. Every day of delay is another day survivors are denied the justice they are owed."

"Todd Blanche and the Department of Justice have refused to release as many as 3 million Epstein files: they are hiding the truth from the American people and creating even more injustice and trauma for survivors," said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. "When Trump’s administration does not comply with the law, there must be consequences. Attorney General Blanche is not fit to serve, should not be confirmed and should instead resign. In the meantime, we must pass this bill to put power where it belongs—with survivors. No administration, no Attorney General, and no Department of Justice is above the law."

Torrez and Leger Fernandez are leading the fight to hold the U.S. Department of Justice accountable for failing to comply with the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act. Torrez said the enforcement gap this bill closes exists because the Department of Justice has chosen delay and obstruction over compliance with the law as written.

"The Department of Justice has had every opportunity to follow the law and has instead chosen stonewalling," said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. "This bill takes that choice away. Survivors deserve a process that works regardless of whether the Department of Justice decides to cooperate."

The Epstein Files Transparency Act II:

Creates a private right of action allowing State Attorneys General, district attorneys, other authorized State officials, and victims to sue the U.S. Attorney General for unlawfully withholding, redacting, delaying, concealing, removing, or failing to publish Epstein-related records.
Gives victims the right to obtain full, unredacted records concerning themselves or the harm they suffered, including relevant FBI FD-302 reports.
Enforces compliance with the existing law by subjecting DOJ and FBI officials to existing federal criminal penalties for knowingly concealing, destroying, falsifying, withholding, or misrepresenting files.
Requires the Department of Justice to provide State and local prosecutors with unredacted records needed for investigations, prosecutions, and judicial proceedings, including secure access to classified materials.
Explicitly prohibits the invocation of common law privileges, including deliberative process privileges, to evade disclosure requirements included in the original EFTA.

The text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act II is available here.

Leger Fernández, Heinrich Lead New Mexico & Texas Democrats to Introduce Legislation Reversing Rate Cuts for Veterans’ Essential Homecare Services

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and U.S. led New Mexico and Texas congressional Democrats in introducing the Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act, legislation to reverse the Trump administration’s cuts to reimbursement rates for essential homecare services for veterans in New Mexico and Texas.

As of January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rate for veterans’ homecare services fell by nearly 20 percent in New Mexico and 43 percent in parts of Texas, which could result in homemaker and home health aide agency closures. Approximately 68,000 New Mexico veterans over the age of 65, in addition to many disabled veterans, rely on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare. Nationally, one in 10 of these veterans use at least one homecare service to maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes and communities.

The rate cuts come as the Trump administration is reportedly spending nearly $900 million a day on their war in Iran — putting their reckless war of choice above caring for veterans.

"Our veterans kept their promise to our country. We must keep ours to them. These reckless reimbursement cuts are making it harder for disabled veterans to receive the in-home care they rely on for everyday tasks like getting out of bed, bathing, getting dressed, or preparing meals. When home health providers can't afford to serve veterans, veterans pay a steep price. Our bill restores those cuts, brings transparency to how these rates are set, and makes sure the VA can never quietly pull the rug out from under veterans and their caregivers again," said Leger Fernández.

“Homecare services are not luxuries. They are earned benefits that allow disabled and elderly veterans to remain in their homes and live with dignity,” said Heinrich. “The Trump administration has repeatedly refused to reverse its cuts to VA homecare reimbursement rates in New Mexico — denying veterans the care they have earned. It is insulting to New Mexico’s veterans that VA Secretary Collins refuses to even talk with me and my colleagues to defend these cuts. Meanwhile, veterans are struggling to pay for gas and groceries because of Trump’s war with Iran. It's bullshit. That’s why I’m introducing my Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act to reverse Trump’s harmful cuts, ensure veterans get the care they are owed and need, and require the VA to be transparent about any future reductions.”

Specifically, the Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act will reverse the reimbursement rate reductions that occurred in 2026 and require the VA to notify Congress of any future rate reductions.

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), and Al Green (D-Texas).

“Our veterans and their families make the ultimate sacrifice to protect us – it’s our responsibility to make sure they’re cared for when they come home,” said Vasquez. “By cutting reimbursement rates for essential home healthcare services, this Administration is doing the opposite. These programs aren't a handout – they're earned. I’m proud to support this bill that would restore these benefits in New Mexico and make sure that our veterans get the support they need and deserve.”

“Our veterans in New Mexico have answered the call to serve, and we have a responsibility to ensure they receive the care they deserve,” said Stansbury. “Slashing reimbursements for home-based care while this administration spends billions on an endless war betrays our nations promises to our veterans. The Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act will reverse these harmful cuts and help ensure our veterans can live with the dignity, independence, and support they deserve."

“In South Texas, access to care means making sure veterans can receive the services they need where they live. Home-based care helps aging and disabled veterans stay safe, independent, and close to their families. This bill protects that care, supports the providers who deliver it, and ensures rural communities are not left behind,” said Cuellar.

"Home-based care is essential for disabled and elderly veterans in Texas's rural communities. Reversing the cuts to home health reimbursement will ensure that veterans with disabilities and serious health conditions can continue to receive the care they need. This is a necessity, not a luxury. Protecting these care options is crucial in making sure that our veteran communities can continue to live independently and with the support they deserve," said Veasey.

“Our military heroes deserve good healthcare no matter their zip code,” said Castro. “The Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act would help make sure veterans living in rural areas receive the high-quality medical care they deserve. Congress should be making it easier for veterans to stay healthy, not harder. This bill will make VA care more accessible and timely.”

“There are more than 50,000 veterans in South Texas, including 24,000 with service-connected disabilities; we need fewer barriers impeding access to health care, not more. Instead, this Administration does the opposite by hindering the VA’s ability to recruit and retain staff to operate rural homecare service programs and deliver our veterans the care they earned. With this bill, we will reverse a harmful one-size-fits-all approach that overlooks our smallest and most rural communities — and allow us to meet the individual needs of South Texas and beyond,” said Gonzalez.

The legislation is endorsed by the New Mexico Association for Home and Hospice Care, Texas Association for Home Care and Hospice, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

The full text of the bill is here.

Earlier this year, Leger Fernández, Vasquez, Stansbury, Heinrich, and Cuellar sent a letter urging VA Secretary Doug Collins to reverse the Trump administration’s cuts to reimbursement rates for essential home healthcare services for veterans. VA Secretary Collins responded to the lawmakers’ letter, where he refused to reverse the cuts and asserted that the rate reductions reflected an agency assessment that rates in New Mexico and rural Texas exceeded “prevailing market rates.” Heinrich released a statement condemning VA Secretary Collins’ refusal to reverse the cuts, where he stated, “This is the kind of DC talk I am sick of...This money should be going directly to their care, which is why I plan to introduce legislation that reverses Trump’s cuts to homecare reimbursement rates in New Mexico and ensures veterans get the care they are owed.”

Leger Fernandez Votes to Cut Offensive Military Aid To Israel

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Leger Fernandez voted for an amendment to the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Act (H.R. 8595) introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to prohibit funds appropriated by the Act from being used for Israel’s offensive weapons and activities.

“Peace cannot be built with more bombs.

Congress has a responsibility to make sure American taxpayer dollars reflect American laws, American values, and our commitment to human rights. When they do not, we have a duty to change course.

I voted for the amendment because the United States cannot continue writing blank checks for offensive military assistance to Netanyahu’s government as he causes such death and destruction for innocent Palestinian civilians, villagers in the West Bank, and disrupts a world order that values peace and respect.

The Israeli and Palestinian people both deserve to raise their children free from terror, violence, and fear. Israel has the right to exist and to live in security. Both sides deserve to practice their religion and faith. That’s why I continue to support defensive systems that protect civilian lives, which are not affected by this amendment,” said Leger Fernández.

The House passed H.R. 8595 by a vote of 217-209, with Congresswoman Leger Fernández voting against the bill’s final passage. The bill undermines American diplomacy, weakens our national security, and makes significant cuts to lifesaving humanitarian aid.

This bill also advances the Republican voter suppression bill called the SAVE America Act.

“The SAVE America Act will make it harder to register to vote, especially if you’re a woman, live in a rural community, serve in the military, or are a Tribal voter. If you’re wealthy enough to have a passport, you’re fine. But more than 21 million Americans don’t have one. Under the SAVE America Act, a REAL ID driver’s license in most states or other common forms of ID wouldn’t be enough to register. This isn’t about election security. It’s about making it harder for eligible Americans to vote. The only thing this bill is designed to save is Republicans’ electoral butts in November,” said Leger Fernández.

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N.M. Delegation Demands Answers After Reports of DEA Declining to Seize Massive Fentanyl Shipments, Calls for Immediate Reforms to Stop Deadly Fentanyl from Reaching New Mexico Communities

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — 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.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) sent a letter demanding answers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance Cole on why the DEA allowed large quantities of fentanyl to circulate unseized in New Mexico communities.

Trafficking of fentanyl and other opioids poses one of the most severe — and often deadly — public health threats facing New Mexico and the nation. Illicit fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance, is an exceptionally potent synthetic opioid that can be fatal even in extremely small quantities. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has been the primary driver of the overdose epidemic in the U.S.

Whistleblower complaints allege that Albuquerque-based DEA agents declined to interdict at least 1.8 million fentanyl pills between 2023 and 2025 in hopes of taking down a larger supply chain.

“We unequivocally assert that allowing fentanyl to go unseized creates an unconscionable risk to New Mexicans,” the lawmakers wrote to DEA Administrator Cole.

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and DEA established "Fentanyl Protocols" directing agents to "seize or otherwise prevent the distribution" of fentanyl "as soon as practicable" to protect public safety. In 2024, the DOJ revised those protocols to provide law enforcement with greater discretion, allowing agents to weigh public safety risks against "the benefits to be achieved through preserving the investigation." A 2024 DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigative summary further states that the U.S. Attorney's Office acted reasonably in allowing certain drugs to remain unseized and concluded that doing so posed no "specific danger to public health and safety."

“We adamantly disagree with this internal assessment, and we urge your agency to immediately revert fentanyl protocols to the 2017 standard of seize or otherwise prevent the distribution of fentanyl as soon as practicable,” the lawmakers underscored. “We will be taking all necessary actions in Congress to better ensure the safety of New Mexicans and expect that you will stand with us in those efforts.” The lawmakers concluded their letter by demanding responses to a request for written documentation on all instances where the DEA declined to interdict fentanyl, and the following questions on the DEA's fentanyl interdiction policies, investigative protocols, and enforcement practices:
Provide comprehensive written documentation of all individual instances, occurring in New Mexico since January 2017, including dates, locations and amount of suspected contraband, during which DEA has declined to interdict fentanyl in the course of a Title III or electronic surveillance investigation. Please also indicate the extent to which fentanyl involved in these investigations was ultimately recovered.
What are DEA’s current internal directives and guidelines dictating how federal agents manage active drug-trafficking investigations involving fentanyl? Specifically, what protocols instruct agents on whether to seize a shipment of fentanyl immediately or allow it to pass temporarily under surveillance?
What internal DOJ or DEA documentation determines, or may supersede, official fentanyl interdiction and operational protocols both as a matter of agency-wide policy and also with regards to individual drug-trafficking investigations? How are these changes to operational protocols communicated to agents in the field? Please provide all such documentation since January 2017.
Under what circumstances are DEA agents permitted to exercise discretion, abandoning any presumption of interdiction, allowing a fentanyl transaction to proceed without immediate seizure? What safeguards are in place to protect communities when fentanyl shipments are allowed to continue as part of an ongoing investigation?
Must agents possess a guaranteed, continuous ability to seize the substance immediately if the operational environment changes? How is the likelihood of losing operational surveillance, and the potential number of lives impacted if the substance enters the illicit supply chain, measured against the benefits of a successful investigation?
What circumstances mandate when fentanyl must be safely interdicted, or swapped for a controlled delivery with a substituted substance, before it is allowed to advance within the supply chain? What levels of approval within your command structure are required to bypass immediate interdiction?
What other tactics such as controlled deliveries, enhanced surveillance, contraband substitution are available to your agency to facilitate long-term, high-level investigations without an unacceptable risk to public safety? What resources can we provide to make these tactics of more common use to your agency?
What is the reassignment status of DEA personnel based in New Mexico to out-of-state enforcement efforts since January 2025? During the same period, have DEA agents in New Mexico maintained their primary focus on drug-trafficking investigations or have any participated in joint immigration enforcement operations not limited to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations?

For more information on the N.M. Delegation’s work to tackle the opioid crisis, click here.

The full text of the letter is here and below:

Dear Administrator Cole:

We write with urgent concern following investigative reporting revealing that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents may have allowed large quantities of fentanyl to circulate unseized in New Mexico communities. These reports include whistleblower complaints alleging that Albuquerque-based agents declined to interdict at least 1.8 million fentanyl pills between 2023 and 2025 in hopes of taking down a larger supply chain. We unequivocally assert that allowing fentanyl to go unseized creates an unconscionable risk to New Mexicans. Furthermore, given the seriousness of these allegations and potential ongoing threats to public safety, we require immediate responses regarding your agency’s fentanyl interdiction and operational protocols.

Illicit fentanyl poses a uniquely severe, and often deadly, public health crisis in New Mexico and across the country. Pharmaceutical fentanyl, a schedule II substance, is an exceptionally potent synthetic opioid, posing a severe risk of fatality even in extremely small quantities. Its potency is estimated to be significantly higher than other opioids, approximately 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Because fentanyl is so powerful, even an extremely small amount — roughly equivalent to a few grains of salt — can be a lethal dose. The illegal diversion of pharmaceutical fentanyl most often occurs through supply chain theft, prescription fraud, and rogue actors within the medical system. Unlike pharmaceutical fentanyl, illicitly manufactured fentanyl is mainly produced in clandestine laboratories without approved precursor chemicals and is largely responsible for the overdose crisis in the U.S. Illicit fentanyl and its analogs, schedule I substances, are unregulated lab-made variations of pharmaceutical fentanyl often supplied by drug cartels. Illicit manufacturers frequently mix it into other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and counterfeit pills. This means individuals are often unaware they are ingesting it, which significantly increases the risk of accidental overdose. Because of the variability in illegal drug manufacturing, the amount of synthetic opioid varies widely from pill to pill and, as acknowledged by your agency, a single pill can easily result in a fatal overdose.

Internal DEA documentation indicating shifting agency fentanyl interdiction and operational protocols, without necessary consultation with various Congressional oversight authorities, is of paramount importance to our inquiry. Public reporting has focused on U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and DEA “Fentanyl Protocols,” established in 2017, mandating that agents “seize or otherwise prevent the distribution” of fentanyl “as soon as practicable” to protect public safety. Subsequently, in 2024, reporting states that DOJ updated these protocols to give law enforcement more discretion, allowing agents to balance public safety risks against “the benefits to be achieved through preserving the investigation.” Confirmation of this posture is recorded in a DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) 2024 investigative summary, concluding that the U.S. Attorney's Office had made reasonable decisions by allowing drugs to go unseized and that their inaction posed no “specific danger to public health and safety.” We adamantly disagree with this internal assessment, and we urge your agency to immediately revert fentanyl protocols to the 2017 standard of seize or otherwise prevent the distribution of fentanyl as soon as practicable.

We appreciate that you recently asked DOJ’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) to begin an internal, independent investigation of the reported allegations. While we have no interest in interfering with the OIG’s progress, we require immediate responses to the following, no later than 10 days from your receipt of this letter, so that we may take appropriate legislative action to reign in any discretionary authority erroneously presumed.

Provide comprehensive written documentation of all individual instances, occurring in New Mexico since January 2017, including dates, locations and amount of suspected contraband, during which DEA has declined to interdict fentanyl in the course of a Title III or electronic surveillance investigation. Please also indicate the extent to which fentanyl involved in these investigations was ultimately recovered.
What are DEA’s current internal directives and guidelines dictating how federal agents manage active drug-trafficking investigations involving fentanyl? Specifically, what protocols instruct agents on whether to seize a shipment of fentanyl immediately or allow it to pass temporarily under surveillance?
What internal DOJ or DEA documentation determines, or may supersede, official fentanyl interdiction and operational protocols both as a matter of agency-wide policy and also with regards to individual drug-trafficking investigations? How are these changes to operational protocols communicated to agents in the field? Please provide all such documentation since January 2017.
Under what circumstances are DEA agents permitted to exercise discretion, abandoning any presumption of interdiction, allowing a fentanyl transaction to proceed without immediate seizure? What safeguards are in place to protect communities when fentanyl shipments are allowed to continue as part of an ongoing investigation?
Must agents possess a guaranteed, continuous ability to seize the substance immediately if the operational environment changes? How is the likelihood of losing operational surveillance, and the potential number of lives impacted if the substance enters the illicit supply chain, measured against the benefits of a successful investigation?
What circumstances mandate when fentanyl must be safely interdicted, or swapped for a controlled delivery with a substituted substance, before it is allowed to advance within the supply chain? What levels of approval within your command structure are required to bypass immediate interdiction?
What other tactics such as controlled deliveries, enhanced surveillance, contraband substitution are available to your agency to facilitate long-term, high-level investigations without an unacceptable risk to public safety? What resources can we provide to make these tactics of more common use to your agency?\
What is the reassignment status of DEA personnel based in New Mexico to out-of-state enforcement efforts since January 2025? During the same period, have DEA agents in New Mexico maintained their primary focus on drug-trafficking investigations or have any participated in joint immigration enforcement operations not limited to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations?
Please provide a detailed timeline regarding actions taken by the DEA since these whistleblower allegations came to your attention. Will DEA now direct all federal agents involved in drug-trafficking investigations to seize or otherwise prevent the distribution of fentanyl as soon as practicable?

This situation requires that your responses be compiled and returned with the same urgency with which we’ve submitted our inquiries. We will be taking all necessary actions in Congress to better ensure the safety of New Mexicans and expect that you will stand with us in those efforts.

Sincerely,

Leger Fernández Has Delivered More Than $6.7 Billion for New Mexico Communities, Water Infrastructure, Disaster Recovery Since Coming to Office

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Santa Fe, N.M. — Since taking office, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández has helped deliver more than $6.74 billion in federal funding to strengthen New Mexico communities, invest in critical infrastructure, and help families recover from devastating natural disasters.

The funding includes:

$5.48 billion for disaster relief, including compensation and recovery efforts for survivors of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and flooding in Chaves County.
$738.45 million for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, bringing reliable, clean drinking water to Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and northwestern New Mexico.
$398.75 million for the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, securing long-term water access for about 73,000 people in Clovis, Portales, Texico, Elida and Cannon Air Force Base.
$124.4 million through Community Project Funding, supporting dozens of locally driven projects across New Mexico’s third Congressional District, including improvements for roads, water systems, fire fighters, sheriffs, housing, schools, community centers, health care facilities, tribal infrastructure, and economic development in our cities, rural and Tribal communities. See a full list of these projects here.

In total, these investments amount to $6,742,683,785 delivered for New Mexico.

"When I came to Congress, I promised to fight every day for New Mexico's families—and that's exactly what we've done,” said Leger Fernández. “We've delivered billions of dollars to help communities recover from devastating disasters, bring clean water to families who've gone too long without it, strengthen our rural communities, support Tribal Nations, improve public safety, and invest in the infrastructure our future depends on. These aren't just numbers on a page. They're safer communities, stronger local economies, and a better future for New Mexicans. We won’t stop fighting for New Mexico."