Fernandez, Teresa RSS Articles

Leger Fernández, Luján Demand Accountability at Meeting with New Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office Leadership

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Santa Fe, N.M. – U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after meeting with FEMA and Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office leadership:

“As the sponsors of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, we fought to establish the Claims Office and secure $5.45 billion to help New Mexicans rebuild. Since the fire, we have consistently pressed FEMA to speed up relief and answer for the unacceptable delays families continue to face.

“Yesterday, we met with the new leadership at the Claims Office to get answers. The Director committed to sharing regular reports with Congress and the public detailing how the office will speed up the claims process and deliver payments without further delay. We made clear that New Mexicans deserve transparency.

“We learned that $3.44 billion has been paid out in claims, and we have requested a report on the number of claims still pending and an estimated timeframe for their resolution. The new leadership also committed to providing more timely communication and prioritizing total loss and burn scar claims.

“We are hopeful that the new leadership will move this process forward faster and with the respect that our communities deserve. We will continue our advocacy until New Mexicans who lost everything get the relief they deserve.”

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Leger Fernández, Luján, Heinrich Call on Forest Service Opposing Carson National Forest Uranium Drilling Proposal and Demanding Full Environmental Review to Protect Chama Watershed

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

NEW MEXICO – U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, wrote to Carson National Forest Supervisor James Duran expressing strong opposition to a proposal to conduct uranium drilling within the Carson National Forest. The lawmakers also urged the Forest Service to require a full Environmental Impact Statement and requsted that the Forest Service suspend its review pending congressional action to protect the Chama watershed from mineral development.

“We strongly oppose approval of this action and urge the ForestService to require a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before taking any further action on this proposal,” wrote the lawmakers.

“We plan to introduce legislation to withdraw the Chama watershed from all forms of mineral entry. We urge the Forest Service to take that legislative effort into account as it evaluates this proposal,” continued the lawmakers.

“The communities of the Chama Valley — acequia farmers, tribal members, ranchers, and rural families — have tended this watershed for generations. The Forest Service has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure that decisions affecting their water, their land, and their future are made with the care, science, and respect those communities deserve,” concluded the lawmakers.

Also copied on the letter were leaders of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), including the Secretary of Agriculture, the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, the Associate Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, and the Regional Forester for the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service.

The full letter can be found here or below:

Attention Carson National Forest Supervisor Duran:

We write on behalf of the communities of northern New Mexico to express serious concerns regarding efforts filed by Gamma Resources Ltd. earlier this year seeking authorization to conduct exploratory uranium drilling within the Carson National Forest near Canjilon, New Mexico. We strongly oppose approval of this action and urge the Forest Service to require a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before taking any further action on this proposal. We also request that the Forest Service suspend its review pending congressional action to protect the Chama watershed from mineral development.

It has come to our attention that Gamma Resources Ltd. — a Vancouver-based company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange — has proposed drilling up to twelve exploratory boreholes up to 500 feet deep within the Carson National Forest as part of what the company calls its "Mesa Arc Project." The company has identified a four-mile stretch of the Chama Basin as a target for uranium extraction, and has stated publicly its intent to ultimately extract uranium from this area, not merely explore it. The exploratory phase, if approved, would involve construction of temporary drill pads, approximately 800 feet of new road cuts, and heavy equipment staging — all within one of the most water-sensitive landscapes in New Mexico.

We plan to introduce legislation to withdraw the Chama watershed from all forms of mineral entry. We urge the Forest Service to take that legislative effort into account as it evaluates this proposal.

The Carson National Forest rises above the villages of the Chama Valley and serves as the headwaters for the water systems that feed acequia ditches, community wells, and agricultural operations throughout the region. The Chama River is a principal tributary of the Rio Grande and a critical source of water for communities across northern New Mexico. What occurs on Carson National Forest lands directly determines the quality and quantity of water available downstream to acequia parciantes (water rights holders), ranchers, tribal communities, and families who depend on shallow wells with no alternative water source.

This watershed is not simply an environmental amenity. It is critical water infrastructure — as essential to the communities of northern New Mexico as any road, pipe, or reservoir. Acequia irrigation systems in the Chama Valley have continuously sustained agricultural production and community identity for more than 400 years. Tribal nations have exercised cultural, ceremonial, and subsistence ties to this landscape since time immemorial. The integrity of this watershed is inseparable from the economic survival and cultural continuity of the people who live here.

Uranium is not an ordinary hard-rock mineral. Once uranium or associated contaminants enter an aquifer or stream system, remediation is technically complex, extraordinarily expensive, and may require decades of work — or may not be achievable at all. New Mexico bears a disproportionate and well-documented legacy of harm from uranium mining. Hundreds of abandoned uranium mines on and near tribal lands, particularly within the Navajo Nation, have contaminated water sources and resulted in elevated rates of kidney disease and cancer among affected communities. The federal government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars attempting to remediate legacy uranium contamination sites in New Mexico, and significant contamination remains unaddressed decades after mining operations ceased.

Even at the exploratory stage, this proposal carries real risk. New road cuts and drill pad construction increase erosion and sedimentation in a watershed that feeds gravity-fed acequia systems where even small changes in sediment load can mean a lost agricultural season. Monsoon rains — increasingly intense under drought conditions — can mobilize surface disturbance rapidly. For families on shallow wells, a single contamination event can permanently alter daily life.

We understand you are currently determining whether Gamma's proposal would cause "significant surface disturbance" requiring a full NEPA review. We urge the Forest Service to make that determination affirmatively and promptly. The factors present here — uranium exploration in a sensitive watershed, proximity to acequia-dependent agricultural communities, adjacency to tribal cultural resources, and a company whose stated ultimate goal is extraction, not merely exploration — collectively demand the most rigorous level of environmental review available under federal law.

Specifically, we request that any NEPA review address the following questions before approving any plans:

1. What is the baseline water quality in the affected watershed, including groundwater, prior to any surface disturbance, and who will be responsible for ongoing monitoring?

2. What are the specific pathways by which uranium or associated contaminants could reach acequia headgates, surface streams, and shallow aquifers relied upon by nearby communities?

3. What financial assurance mechanisms will ensure that Gamma Resources Ltd. — a junior mining company with no current production revenue — can cover full remediation costs in the event of contamination?

4. How will the Forest Service ensure meaningful government-to-government consultation with affected tribal nations, including consultation that occurs before, not after, any surface disturbance is authorized?

5. What is the cumulative impact of this proposal considered alongside other uranium exploration and development activity currently proposed or underway in New Mexico?

Gamma Resources Ltd. is a Canadian company, incorporated in Vancouver and traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange Venture Exchange. Its investors and executives are not accountable to New Mexico communities, and its financial interests are not aligned with the long-term health of the Chama watershed. The company's own investor materials describe New Mexico's "historical deposits" as "low-hanging fruit" — language that reflects an extractive calculus, not a commitment to stewardship. Notably, the company has cycled through two name changes in just over a year — operating as Medallion Resources until February 2024, then as Gabo Mining until June 2025 — and its auditors have repeatedly flagged a "going concern" warning, citing an accumulated deficit of nearly $29 million and no revenue from operations, raising serious questions about whether this company has the financial foundation to responsibly develop, and ultimately reclaim, a uranium mine in the headwaters of the Rio Chama.

The administration has framed domestic uranium production as an energy security priority. But energy security built on the contamination of tribal water systems and century-old acequia infrastructure is not security — it is the transfer of risk from a foreign company's shareholders to New Mexico's rural communities. The Chama watershed's clean water is itself a critical resource, one that cannot be replaced if lost.

We urge the Forest Service to require a full Environmental Impact Statement for Gamma Resources Ltd.'s proposed Mesa Arc Project, including a draft EIS with a public comment period; to conduct robust, meaningful government-to-government consultation with all affected tribal nations before any permit decision; to require comprehensive baseline water quality testing throughout the affected watershed before any surface disturbance is authorized; and to suspend further permitting action pending the outcome of congressional consideration of legislation to withdraw the Chama watershed from mineral entry.

The communities of the Chama Valley — acequia farmers, tribal members, ranchers, and rural families — have tended this watershed for generations. The Forest Service has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure that decisions affecting their water, their land, and their future are made with the care, science, and respect those communities deserve.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss these concerns further and request a briefing from Forest Service staff on the current status of the agency's review.

Sincerely,

Leger Fernández Statement on Trump’s Threat to Kill a Whole Civilization

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) today called for immediate action to remove President Trump following his threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as war escalates in Iran.

"A President who threatens to commit war crimes and kill millions of civilians, profits off the destruction he unleashes, and illegally destroys the freedoms Americans cherish has clearly demonstrated that he should not lead our Nation," said Leger Fernandez. "He is unhinged, unfit, and making Americans less safe."

"Trump must be stopped. He must be removed. The Constitution gives Republicans in the Cabinet the power to remove him under the 25th Amendment. Republicans in Congress hold the power to impeach him. They have the power to stop this madness."

"What will my Republican colleagues do? Do you support his war crime threats? And if not, will you use your power to stop this?"

"Republicans in Congress will only act when all of us—especially Republican voters—make our voices heard. The people have the greatest power in our Constitution, and we must speak up now. We must demand accountability for Trump’s dangerous actions and push Republican leaders to finally have the courage to do what is right."

"I call on Republicans to bring Congress back into session to pass a War Powers Resolution to stop his illegal war, and to impeach him now. We must act before it’s too late," she concluded.

Congresswoman Leger Fernández and N.M. Delegation Respond to Trump Administration’s New Actions to Undo Protections for the Greater Chaco Region

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez alongside (D-N.M.)U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) released the following statements regarding the Trump administration’s new actions to eliminate protections for the Greater Chaco Region that safeguard the area from new oil and gas leasing, undoing a 20-year mineral withdrawal that has kept public lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park off-limits to new development.

Yesterday, the Trump administration committed to conducting an environmental assessment within 90 days and finalizing Tribal consultation on historic preservation within 30 days. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is only granting seven days for organizations and individuals to submit scoping comments before proceeding with the environmental review.

“Chaco Canyon is not just a place on a map, it is a sacred, living landscape that carries the history, culture, and identity for many Tribal communities,” said Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. “We secured the protections for the Greater Chaco Region, which includes over 4,700 archaeological sites, through a thorough and inclusive process. The Trump administration’s rushed attempt to roll back the protections blatantly disregards the careful consideration that such a sacred and historical site like Chaco Canyon deserves. The administration is willing to destroy irreplaceable artifacts for a molecule of gas that could be found on other federal lands across the San Juan Basin.”

“Chaco Canyon is sacred. As the Trump Administration rushes to push through oil and gas leasing in the greater Chaco Landscape—they announced yesterday that they will give just ONE WEEK for public comment on removing protections for this sacred place. This is unconscionable,” said Stansbury, Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Democratic Vice-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. “This Administration’s attempt to push leasing without comprehensive tribal consultation and meaningful community engagement threatens a landscape that has been home to Pueblo and Diné people for thousands of years, since time immemorial. That’s why we are fighting to ensure it is protected for generations to come. We need your voices to continue speaking up, speaking out, and supporting Chaco Canyon!”

“This administration continues to show its deep contempt for Indian Country, this time seeking to undo protections for the Chaco Canyon landscape, going against the will of New Mexico’s Pueblos. Chaco is an irreplaceable and sacred landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a place that deserves protection. There are appropriate places to develop oil and gas, and this is not one of them,” said Vasquez.

“Chaco Canyon is a living cultural landscape that holds deep historical meaning and is a sacred space for many of our New Mexico Tribes,” said Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and co-founder of the U.S. Senate Stewardship Caucus. “It is not just one more place to drill. The disrespect shown by the Trump administration toward New Mexicans seems to know no bounds.”

“Allowing just seven days for public comment on the fate of a 1,000-year-old sacred site is inadequate and disgraceful. I’ve spent my career working to secure lasting protections for Chaco Canyon and the Greater Chaco Region through real consultation and meaningful public input,” said Luján, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.“The Trump administration is doing the opposite — jamming a comment period into Holy Week and limiting public participation to online-only access, all while Pueblos are in the midst of preparations for sensitive cultural activities. This is unacceptable, and I will continue pushing back against this administration’s attempts to undermine Tribal sovereignty.”

Located in northwestern New Mexico, the Greater Chaco landscape is a region of great cultural, spiritual, and historical significance to many Pueblos and Tribes that contains living sacred sites. Chaco was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is one of only 26 such sites in the United States.

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

Last November, Heinrich, Luján, and Stansbury hosted a press conference with Pueblo leaders on the steps needed to be taken to permanently protect the landscape. Earlier that same month, the N.M. Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, urging the Trump administration to reverse course on its decision to initiate the process to fully revoke Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7923, which currently protects the area around Chaco Canyon from oil and gas drilling.

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.

Last June, the N.M. Delegation sent a letter initially inviting Secretary Burgum to visit Chaco Canyon before deciding its fate and engage directly with Tribal leaders and local communities to hear directly about the profound cultural and spiritual significance of this sacred landscape. Secretary Burgum issued the directive to begin revoking the protections and decided the fate of Chaco Canyon 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.

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

Leger Fernández Opposes Blank Check for ICE; Reiterates Pay for TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA Bill Must Be Passed

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after voting against H. Res. 1128 and opposing efforts to tie funding for critical homeland security agencies to unchecked authority for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

“I support the mission of agencies from TSA to the Coast Guard, and FEMA to the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, " said Leger Fernández. “That’s why I’ve consistently pushed to fund them—and voted to make sure TSA agents, Coast Guard members, and FEMA personnel get paid and can do their jobs. But I will not vote to give more money to ICE and CBP while they refuse to follow the law.

Right now, Republicans want to hand ICE more power without requiring it to respect basic Constitutional rights. Every other law enforcement agency in the country is required to follow the Constitution—they cannot barge into your home without a warrant; they cannot use excessive force or kill you for exercising your free speech. Americans know it is wrong to give away these basic constitutional protections to anyone—especially not agents who hide behind masks.

If ICE can barge into homes, then no one’s rights are safe. Not yours. Not mine. No one’s.

The only reason Republicans would oppose these guardrails is because they expect ICE to violate them. At the same time, Republicans have admitted this isn’t about resources—ICE and CBP received $140 billion from OBBBA. Their agents are being paid, and they have money to operate for years to come.

That’s why I voted against H. Res. 1128. I reject the idea that we have to choose between funding critical security agencies and writing a blank check to a broken ICE. There is a better path—and members of both parties know it. House Democrats and many Republicans agree: we can fund DHS agencies like TSA, FEMA, and cybersecurity operations right now, without rewarding an agency that needs reform.

The best way to get our TSA workers paid is to pass the bill that I cosponsored in the House and that Senate Democrats have voted on 10 times.

Passing our bill, paying TSA workers will shorten airport lines and help us prepare for wildfire season,” she concluded.

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Leger Fernandez Statement in Light of Cesar Chavez Allegations of Sexual Abuse

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, March 18, 2026, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), released the following statement on the horrifying sexual abuse allegations raised against farmworker and civil rights movement leader Cesar Chavez:

“The farmworker and civil rights movement was built by countless people — especially women and families who sacrificed everything for a better future. That history is bigger than any one person. Honoring that legacy means facing painful truths and continuing the work for justice with honesty and humanity.

A movement rooted in justice must address all injustice.

I am heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the stories that have come forward from women who say they were abused as girls by Cesar Chavez, and Dolores Huerta’s painful account of what she endured.

Survivors carried this pain in silence for years. We owe them our support; we must hear them and believe them. My Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues and I will always stand with survivors and will continue fighting for a future where all women and girls are safe in their communities, homes, and at work.”

Leger Fernández’s Small Cemetery Conveyance Act Passes in the House

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Leger Fernández’s Small Cemetery Conveyance Act Passes in the House

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House unanimously passed Congresswoman Leger Fernández’s (NM-03) bill, H.R. 4284, the Small Cemetery Conveyance Act. The bill would remove long-standing federal obstacles for rural, Tribal, and land-grant communities to care for ancestral cemeteries located on National Forest lands.

For generations, families laid their loved ones to rest on lands consecrated long before those lands were claimed by the federal government. Too many communities must navigate costly, time-consuming bureaucratic processes simply to maintain the cemeteries where their ancestors are buried. The Small Cemetery Conveyance Act addresses this by allowing the U.S. Forest Service to transfer small parcels of land containing historic cemeteries directly to states, local governments, federally recognized Tribes, and land-grant Mercedes without requiring a purchase or land exchange. The bill also authorizes the Forest Service to waive expensive survey and appraisal fees for communities that cannot afford them.

“No community should have to pay to pay their respects at their ancestors’ graves,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. “This law helps return stewardship of these cemeteries to the communities who have prayed at and cared for them for centuries. But the beneficiaries of this bill will go far beyond New Mexico. The Forest Service estimates 129 cemeteries across the National Forest System could be eligible for transfer under this bill. It is a respectful solution that honors our culture, our history, and our herencia."

In New Mexico alone, at least eight cemeteries across four land-grant communities are potentially eligible for transfer under the legislation, with many more historic cemeteries throughout the National Forest System expected to benefit.

Watch the Congresswoman’s testimony on the bill HERE and the full hearing HERE.

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Leger Fernández Statement on House Blockage of Iran War Powers Resolution

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) released the following statement after the House voted against the Iran War Powers Resolution (H.Con.Res. 38), which would have reasserted Congress’ constitutional authority to decide whether the United States should go to war. The Congresswoman voted for the resolution.

“Republicans always find the money for bombs, but somehow never worry about helping Americans afford healthcare. Today, alongside the President, they have made a choice to spend billions on yet another war in the Middle East, ” said Leger Fernández.

“I voted for the War Powers Resolution because Congress has a constitutional duty to decide when our nation goes to war. If American lives are on the line, the American people deserve a debate and a vote through their elected representatives.

Americans are dying. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Chaos and instability are spreading. What message does this send to every American, every servicemember risking their life, and every family member worrying about their loved ones?

I voted to condemn the Iranian regime. But the American people deserve answers: how much will this cost in American lives and American resources? What are we doing? Why are we there? What is the plan?

We have seen this story before. The War on Terror cost the United States nearly $8 trillion. This time, President Trump bears responsibility for how we got here. He tore up the agreement that limited Iran’s nuclear program and just last June claimed he had ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear facilities.

We need lower costs and stability, not another forever war and Trump’s chaos,” she concluded.

Leger Fernández Announces State of the Union Guests: Epstein Survivor Elizabeth Stein and Rural Health Care Leader Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Leger Fernández Announces State of the Union Guests: Epstein Survivor Elizabeth Stein and Rural Health Care Leader Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, announced that Elizabeth (Liz) Stein, a survivor advocate and human trafficking specialist, and Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Interim Chief Executive Officer of La Casa Family Health Center, will join her in Washington, D.C. for the day of the State of the Union Address to highlight the urgent need for justice for survivors of human trafficking and to protect rural health care access for New Mexico families.

Elizabeth Stein is a nationally recognized survivor advocate, human trafficking specialist, and prominent voice in the fight for transparency and accountability in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Drawing on her lived experience, Stein has helped lead efforts to expose systemic failures that allowed abuse to occur and has advocated for the full release of records necessary to uncover the truth and deliver justice to survivors. Stein has worked extensively on survivor-centered policy reform, served as a Survivor Mentor and Child Policy Associate, and contributed to anti-trafficking initiatives at the local, state, and national levels. She is a World Without Exploitation STAND Fellow and has provided analysis on trafficking and accountability for major national and international news outlets.

Over a dozen members of Congress announced they will also bring Epstein survivors to highlight the Trump administration’s consistent pattern of ignoring and exposing survivors, including by releasing files that revealed survivors’ personal information while protecting perpetrators. Despite that, the survivors have continued to fight for justice, including many visits to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Members and survivors will demand that the Department of Justice (DOJ) release all the Epstein files, explain why millions of pages remain withheld, and stop treating accountability as optional when the perpetrators are wealthy and well-connected. Members and survivors will not stop fighting until the truth comes out and every perpetrator is held accountable.

Congresswoman Leger Fernández announced last week that Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Interim CEO of La Casa Family Health Center, will also join her to highlight the devastating impact of health care cuts on rural communities.

Pacheco-Muñoz has dedicated 36 years to La Casa Family Health Center, which serves rural communities across eastern New Mexico, providing primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and outreach to thousands of patients across Roosevelt, Curry, and Chaves counties. She began her career as a medical secretary and rose through the organization to lead it as Interim CEO, bringing firsthand experience of the barriers rural families face when trying to access care.

Congresswoman Leger Fernández will not attend the State of the Union Address. Instead, she will participate in alternative programming focused on families harmed by the administration’s policies.

Headshots of Elizabeth Stein and Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz are available HERE.

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Leger Fernández Announces First Guest to State of the Union: Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Rural Health Care Leader from Portales

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) announced that Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Interim Chief Executive Officer of La Casa Family Health Center in Portales, Clovis, and Roswell, will join her as her guest for the day of the State of the Union Address to highlight the urgent need to protect rural health care and affordability for New Mexico families.

Pacheco-Muñoz represents the frontline health care providers who are fighting to keep rural clinics open and serving patients even as federal policies threaten funding and increase financial strain on rural health systems. La Casa Family Health Center is a federally qualified health center serving rural communities across eastern New Mexico, providing primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and outreach to thousands of patients across Roosevelt, Curry, and Chaves counties.

“Carmen’s story is New Mexico’s story,” said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández. “She started at La Casa as a young secretary and single mother trying to make ends meet and afford health care. Through hard work and dedication, she rose to lead the very clinic that helps families like hers afford to get the care they need. Carmen understands firsthand that Medicaid is not an abstract policy—it is the difference between care and crisis, between stability and uncertainty. It means families don’t have to choose between going to a doctor when they are sick or paying their rent. At a time when Trump’s policies threaten health care access in rural communities, Carmen reminds us what’s at stake. We will make sure Trump hears the voices of rural New Mexico — which he has betrayed.”

Pacheco-Muñoz has dedicated 36 years to La Casa Family Health Center, beginning as a medical secretary and rising through the organization to lead it as Interim CEO. Her leadership reflects both professional experience and personal understanding of the barriers many rural families face when trying to access health care.

“Community Health Centers serve more than 328,000 New Mexicans, many of them in rural communities where we are the only source of care,” said Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz. “I am honored to represent rural healthcare providers and the patients we serve. I know firsthand how vital Medicaid and community health centers are because I lived the struggle of accessing healthcare as a single mother trying to raise my daughters and afford care. Clinics like La Casa, and all Community Health Centers across New Mexico, serve everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, but we cannot do it alone. Federal support and Medicaid are essential to ensuring that families, children, seniors, and those living with chronic conditions can access care with dignity. Rural voices must be heard, and I am proud to bring the realities of our communities to Washington.”

Congresswoman Leger Fernández also announced that she and Pacheco-Muñoz will not attend the State of the Union speech. Instead, they will participate in the People's State of the Union— alternative programming focused on amplifying the voices of families harmed by the administration’s policies. Additional details on this programming can be found at MoveOn.org/Live and media credential requests can be found here.

Medicaid is the backbone of rural health care in New Mexico and the main way nearly half of New Mexicans afford health care. Rural clinics like La Casa depend on it to keep their doors open. Trump and his allies passed a budget that cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, which will kick an estimated 120,000 New Mexicans off their health coverage. These cuts will increase uncompensated care, destabilize rural clinics, and put 6 to 8 rural hospitals in New Mexico at risk of closure. Providers across the state could face more than $213 million in uncompensated care costs as patients lose coverage but still need lifesaving treatment.

Trump’s failure to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits — even after Democrats forced a vote to extend them for 3 years — will dramatically raise health care costs. In New Mexico’s Third Congressional District alone, more than 14,000 people rely on those tax credits to afford insurance. Without them, a 55-year-old New Mexican earning about $63,000 could see their annual premiums rise by more than $5,000.

These actions come as rural providers already face workforce shortages, rising costs, and growing financial pressures.

Congresswoman Leger Fernández has been a strong advocate for protecting Medicaid, expanding health care access, and strengthening rural health systems. She continues to fight back against policies that threaten care for New Mexico families and remains committed to make sure that rural communities are not left behind.

The Congresswoman’s second guest will be announced early next week. A headshot of Pacheco-Muñoz is available here.

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