Martin's Blog

Dear Friend, As the son of an immigrant, I know firsthand the promise that America represents for those seeking to build a better life. For our entire history, immigrants have overcome incredible adversity and discrimination to play a vital role in this nation's success. The way we treat immigrants, refugees, and those seeking asylum shows the...

Dear Friend, It would be all too easy to let the violent attacks and dangerous threats against our democracy dominate all of our thoughts. On this Martin Luther King Day, however, I would urge us to pause for a moment to reflect on the continuing resonance of Dr. King's sacrifice and service to our nation. We should remember that his lasting...

Dear Friend, The livelihoods of people of color have long been rooted in the outdoors, but they haven't always had equitable access to public lands. I am proud that New Mexico outdoor equity advocates and community leaders are leading the way in breaking down some of these barriers with our state's first-of-its-kind Outdoor Equity Fund, which...

Dear Friend, I was right there last Wednesday when an angry mob of domestic terrorists assaulted and overwhelmed Capitol Police and stormed the Capitol building. We should all be clear that this happened because Donald Trump willfully incited this mob to riot and for weeks repeated the lies and conspiracy theories that animate them. So should...

Dear Friend, What happened yesterday in the United States Capitol is such an embarrassment for a country that has been looked up to around the world for over 200 years. When you look at history, democracy is the exception. Our democracy is not automatic or self-sustaining. It requires work and commitment from every single one of us. Since President...

Dear Friend, Seeking medical care shouldn't result in surprise charges that leave you in financial ruin. It has become all too common for Americans to go to the emergency room or even just a routine medical visit and come home to find out that some part of their care came from an out-of-network provider who charge outrageous fees that their...

Dear Friend, Tackling the climate crisis can often feel like an uphill battle in Washington, D.C., but this week has given me some measure of hope. In one of our biggest victories in the fight against climate change in years, we included a historic measure to phase down the use of hydroflourocarbons--also known as HFCs. Doing so will stave off...

Dear Friend, More help for New Mexico's hospitals, public health systems, and struggling New Mexicans is on the way. We have finally reached a new bipartisan agreement to support our health care workers and millions of families who are struggling through no fault of their own. The emergency COVID-19 relief package that Congress just passed extends...

Dear Friend, It's long past time for Congress to pass a deal that supports our health care workers and the many Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. So many New Mexicans are relying on Congress to extend unemployment insurance, rental assistance, and small business loans. Our communities are also counting on us to provide all the...

Dear Friend, Sixty years ago, our nation rose above the tyrannical and boundless ambition of civilization to preserve nearly 20 million acres of North America's wildest country and most important wildlife habitat as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It was one of the world's greatest moments for nature. But it was an accomplishment that will...

Dear Friend, Northern New Mexico's Pecos River watershed is home to a remarkably diverse community of farmers, ranchers, hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists who are all united by the beauty and health of the expansive waters that feed into it. There is an unfortunate history of poorly managed mining and development projects that has put...

Dear Friend, There is no greater service than answering the call to defend our nation. On this day, we all pause to offer our profound gratitude for all those dedicated Americans who have served our country and reflect on their many sacrifices. This year, as we mark the 75th Veterans Day since our nation's victory over fascism and tyranny in the...

Dear Friend, To say that New Mexico's parents and teachers have gone above and beyond during this pandemic would be a real understatement. So many of our educators have worked even longer hours and have been forced to come up with creative solutions to unforeseen problems. We must do better to provide teachers, students, and parents with all of the...

Dear Friend, Last night, Senate Republicans voted to confirm President Trump’s nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, mere days away from the presidential election. This was a shameful moment in the history of the United States Senate.  Senate Republicans have thrown away any illusion that the confirmation...

Dear Friend, As we learn more about the ways that the novel coronavirus is spreading, I strongly believe we must follow the best available science to keep our communities safe. I hope you can take a moment to read and share the op-ed I wrote in this morning's Las Cruces Sun-News about improving indoor air quality-especially in our schools. I will...

Dear Friend, We are still very much in the middle of a pandemic that has affected all of us. We have lost more than 210,000 of our fellow Americans to Covid-19. More than 7 million Americans have been infected by the coronavirus. And cases are starting to climb again in New Mexico and across the country. Over just this past week, the virus...

Dear Friend, A hundred years from now, people are going to look back at this time in Congress and talk a lot about the challenges, the changes, and strife. And then they're going to see some bright spots. Our public lands and outdoor recreation have proven to be a uniting force. What we've been able to accomplish for habitat, for wildlife, and for...

Dear Friend, Today, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the first woman in American history to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol. I am filled with gratitude for Justice Ginsburg's extraordinary life that inspired America. For over a quarter of a century, she served on our nation's highest court with conviction and intellect, inspiring...

Dear Friend, There is only one week left before the September 30 deadline to fill out the 2020 Census. I truly wish that the picture of this year's Census in New Mexico looked better than it does. Unfortunately, if the census stays on its current course, we will see a significant undercount of New Mexicans. Right now, our state is on track to have...

Dear Friend, President Trump told a crowd earlier this month that that he has been "the number one environmental president since Teddy Roosevelt." I think it's important to clear up the record on his appalling record on conservation. That's why I wrote the op-ed below in this morning's USA TODAY. I am also continuing to demand that President Trump...