Martin's Blog

Dear Friend,   Starting today, March 5, all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. This is thanks to the PACT Act, which I fought hard to pass into law. I encourage all veterans who were exposed to toxins...

Dear Friend, I’m pleased to announce that I am currently accepting submissions for Congressionally Directed Spending proposals for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Over the last two years, I’ve been proud to work with communities throughout New Mexico to deliver $403 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to support 191 projects.     You can submit...

Dear Friend, Overturning Roe v. Wade was just the beginning of Republicans’ agenda to strip women of their reproductive freedoms. Now, they are coming after American’s ability to grow their families through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Earlier this month, Alabama’s State Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created during IVF are “children”...

Dear Friend,   For too long, Congress has been paralyzed when it comes to addressing mass shootings. In the last Congress, after the horrific tragedy in Uvalde, I was proud to play a leading role in negotiating and passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which is making a meaningful difference in reducing homicides and prosecuting gun...

Dear Friend, I fought hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) because I knew that it would be life-changing for New Mexico families. We are seeing this landmark bill do exactly what we intended — deliver real results for New Mexicans by lowering health care and prescription drug costs and putting money back in their pockets. Starting this...

Dear Friend,   Last week, in a stunning display of hypocrisy, Republicans chose to vote against a bipartisan agreement to strengthen border security that had taken months to negotiate.  In fact, they refused to even advance debate on the bill — all to appease Donald Trump.    In an op-ed I wrote in USA TODAY, I highlight the need for solutions to...

Dear Friend, Throughout my time in the Senate, I have worked hard to make major investments in New Mexico’s military installations, national labs, and private industry innovators. These investments are helping to position our state at the center of innovation and leadership in national security. They’re also helping to grow our economy and...

Dear Friend,   While the ultra-rich own multiple multi-million-dollar homes, New Mexico families are facing a severe housing shortage. And that shortage is driving up costs on the housing we do have.   The housing shortage is impacting people at all income levels, in nearly every community. Whether renting or owning, whether in a rural, suburban,...

Dear Friend, As a gun owner and sportsman, it’s clear to me that the ubiquitous access to weapons of war in our country is delivering tragedy after tragedy after tragedy in the form of mass shootings. My new legislation, the GOSAFE Act, focuses on regulating the mechanics that make certain weapons so dangerous—like high-capacity magazines and...

Dear Friend, Earlier this month, I met with Ukrainian families who fled their country following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. I hope you can take a moment to read and share the Farmington Daily Times story below about my visit. Soon after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, I wrote to President Biden urging the administration to grant...

Dear Friend, Martin Luther King Jr. dared the American people to dream. To dream of a nation that lived up to its full promise of freedom, justice, and economic opportunity for all. To dream of a nation that was more equitable, more civil, hospitable, and kind. Like so many Americans, I often look back to Dr. King’s example for inspiration. At this...

Dear Friend, I am extremely proud of how much we’ve been able to grow the workforce and economic impact of Sandia and Los Alamos National Labs since I started in the Senate. According to the recently published annual economic impact report, Sandia added more than 1,200 employees last year and ended the year with more than 16,700 employees. To put...

Dear Friend, Three years ago today, I witnessed rioters breaking through police lines to violently force their way into the U.S. Capitol. These same rioters would go on to attack and injure a number of U.S Capitol Police officers. Instigated and directed by former President Trump, more than two thousand rioters entered the Capitol. These...

Dear Friend, For years, I have fought to deliver federal investments to support economic development and modernize our infrastructure all across New Mexico.  As part of that work, I have pushed to make sure Congress fully funds the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) to boost economic progress in our thriving southern border communities in...

Dear Friend,   Serving you in the United States Senate is an honor. From fighting for our shared values nationally to delivering game changing investments at home, we have accomplished a whole lot this year.    Over the past twelve months, I have introduced 44 bills in Congress, cosponsored over 125 bills, responded to over 130,000 letters from New...

Dear Friend, There’s been a major development with the SunZia Wind and Transmission Project, the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history:  Thanks to a major labor agreement reached last week, the SunZia transmission line will be constructed by union members.   As the proud son of an IBEW lineman, I know what these types of...

Dear Friend, From Aztec and Farmington, New Mexico to El Paso, Parkland, Pittsburgh, Uvalde, Lewiston, and most recently Las Vegas the number of Americans killed in mass shootings has been horrific. This year alone, there have been around two mass shootings per day. That’s unconscionable. Last week, I introduced a new, pragmatic approach to saving...

Dear Friend,    Senator Dennis Chávez’s dedication to the people of New Mexico and to our country left behind a profound legacy. I was proud to lead the legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office in Belén in his honor as a small token of gratitude.   PHOTO: From Left: DeChellie Gray, Senior Field Representative for Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury,...

Dear Friend,   As a young Marine infantryman, Antonio Sanchez of Albuquerque served our country in Vietnam. When he returned home to New Mexico, he placed all of his uniforms, his service medals, and his discharge papers into a duffel bag that was stolen back in the early 1980s.   Mr. Sanchez wanted to retrieve his service awards so he could pass...

Dear Friend, Few sacrifices are as selfless as those that our nation’s service members and their families make in defense of our country. We owe our nation’s veterans and military families much more than a debt of gratitude or mere words on days like today. We owe them action.   That’s why I believe one of my most important responsibilities as New...