Martin's Blog

Dear Friend, Horrific incidents of police violence and unconscionable loss of life have shaken our nation to its core. Our country desperately needs an honest appraisal of the policies that continue to prop up and propel racism. We must address the persistent, unchecked bias in policing, and the violence and hurt it inflicts on our communities of...

Dear Friend, As we continue to grapple with one of the most challenging periods many of us have faced in our lifetimes, we should pause on this Memorial Day to reflect on how previous generations of Americans confronted levels of sacrifice and loss that are difficult for most of us to even comprehend. Over the course of our nation's history,...

PHOTO: Chaco Culture National Historical Park, May 28, 2019 Dear Friend, The living and sacred landscapes in Chaco Canyon hold deep meaning to New Mexico's Pueblos, the Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe. These tribes trace their history back hundreds of years to thousands of ancestral sites in the Greater Chaco landscape. I have been working for...

Dear Friend, This pandemic has brought upon some of the most challenging times many of us will ever face. But it has also shown us amazing examples of how we are looking out for each other. I am immensely proud of the people of New Mexico who are demonstrating what it means to rise to this challenge. That includes our health care workers on the...

Dear Friend, Every spring, families across New Mexico gather to honor the years of hard work and sacrifice that led to graduates earning their diplomas. This year is different. Drive through graduations and homemade senior pictures have replaced large ceremonies. This pandemic may have taken away the pomp and circumstance, but I want to be sure all...

PHOTO: The Gila River flows through the Gila Wilderness, photo courtesy of EcoFlight. Dear Friend, There are very few places left on Earth where you can understand what the saying water is life truly means. I can think of no greater example than the headwaters of the Gila River--a place near and dear to my heart and special to so many New...

Dear Friend, As the Senate continues to negotiate the next major COVID-19 legislation, I remain dedicated to securing all of the funding and resources New Mexico needs for both a lifesaving public health response and a strong long-term economic recovery. This public health and economic crisis has taken a significant toll on the rural areas of our...

PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich participates in a restoration service project with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps' Hands-On Preservation Experience (HOPE) Crew  at Bandelier National Monument, July 1, 2015. Dear Friend, In times of national crisis, Americans have always embraced service to their country. Both during the immediate public health...

Dear Friend, Immigrants are our friends, our family members, and our neighbors. They are us. Many immigrants are doing the essential work on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. It is deeply troubling that in the middle of the worst public health catastrophe we may ever face, President Trump still refuses to respect the basic human dignity...

Dear Friend, There is a legal case working its way through New Mexico's courts that may ultimately determine whether or not New Mexicans can access our waterways. In the final days of Governor Susana Martinez's administration, the State Game Commission passed a rule that upended anglers', boaters', and other recreationists' right to access public...

Dear Friend, We are all anxious and eager for the coronavirus pandemic to end so we can reopen our communities and get back to work. The key to resuming normal life will be making free COVID-19 testing readily available in every single community in every corner of the country. I hope you can take a moment to read and share an op-ed I wrote in...

Dear Friend, During this public health crisis, New Mexicans facing domestic abuse may encounter additional risk. The programs that work to reduce violence in our communities and ensure survivors get the essential support they need are facing unique challenges and being strained during this pandemic. That's why I am calling on Congress to prioritize...

Dear Friend, On Tuesday, I voted to pass stopgap legislation designed to quickly shore up the economic relief programs targeted for small businesses. This new legislation provides an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program with $30 billion reserved specifically for community-based lenders, small banks, and credit unions and $30...

Dear Friend, I wanted to be sure you saw the op-ed that I wrote with Senator Tom Udall published in the Albuquerque Journal today about our continuing effort to fight for New Mexicans during the coronavirus pandemic. We are working around the clock to secure emergency medical supplies, public health resources, and desperately needed economic relief...

Dear Friend, I will be hosting a teleconference on Tuesday, April 14 at 10 a.m. MT to help small business owners and nonprofit leaders access new funding included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The new law contains major provisions to provide relief to small businesses and nonprofits hurt by the coronavirus...

Dear Friend, The coronavirus pandemic has brought upon some of the most challenging times many of us will ever face. But it has also shown us how dependent we are on one another for support. So many of you are showing up in moving ways to demonstrate our state's trademark creative tenacity and incredible ingenuity in the service of our fellow New...

Dear Friend, My office has been in touch with many seniors and people with disabilities who are particularly vulnerable to the economic impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on our communities. There's no question that this is a worrisome time for New Mexicans who are struggling to make ends meet. That's why I was so alarmed to learn earlier...

Dear Friend, I wanted to make sure you were aware of a new guide to help small business owners and non-profit leaders in New Mexico access funding included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law last week. You can download the small business guide here. The new law includes...

Dear Friend, Before I update you on my latest work, I want to offer my condolences to the friends and family of the first New Mexican we know to have died from COVID-19. We must continue fighting this disease on all fronts so less families in our state will lose their loved ones. That means increasing testing and transparency, encouraging all New...

Dear Friend, Over the last week, we have seen the number of positive cases of COVID-19 increase in communities in New Mexico and across the nation. This only underscores the importance of increasing testing here in New Mexico and equipping our hospitals and health care workers on the frontlines with the resources they need to keep all of us healthy...