Martin's Blog

Dear Friend, Starting on October 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expanding and extending eligibility for VA health care for certain Veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. Finally, so many generations of...

Dear Friend, As someone who grew up in a proud union household—my dad was an IBEW utility lineman—I have such a deep appreciation and respect for my brothers and sisters in Labor who built our great nation. Earlier this month, I met with union plumbers and electricians in Albuquerque to talk about how the strong home electrification investments...

Dear Friend, Today is a proud day for Indian Country as President Biden’s newly appointed Director of the Indian Health Service, Ms. Roselyn Tso, is sworn into office. Director Tso is an exceptionally well-qualified nominee to lead the Indian Health Service at this pivotal moment for public health in Indian Country, and I was proud to support her...

Dear Friend, The Senate voted to ratify the historic Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to phase down the use of climate-warming hydroflourocarbons—or HFCs—chemicals primarily used in coolants and refrigerants. This vote will help create new American jobs, spur investments in U.S. businesses, and fight against...

Dear Friend, Ever since the Supreme Court wrongly equated money with speech and corporations with people in decisions like Citizens United, we have seen dark, anonymous, and unaccountable money flood into our political system. This lack of transparency threatens the integrity of our political process and opens the door for dangerous disinformation...

Dear Friend, Last month, I visited the campus of Atrisco Heritage Academy High School, where they have installed a new photovoltaic solar array, built by a New Mexico solar company, and a battery storage system. This combined solar-storage system will generate cleaner and more reliable electricity that will save Albuquerque Public Schools $3.5...

Dear Friend, Through the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden yesterday, Congressional Democrats took major steps to drive down the costs of health care and prescription drugs. Today, I welcomed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to New Mexico, where we met with health care providers in Las Cruces to...

Dear Friend, The Inflation Reduction Act is a monumental achievement. This new law that President Biden just signed will tackle the pressing challenges that families are facing today and make game changing investments to build a stronger future for our kids. It will help us fight inflation, lower health care and prescription drug costs, and finally...

Dear Friend, The United States Senate just took the single greatest action to change the trajectory of the climate crisis. We are fighting inflation, lowering health care and prescription drug costs, and finally making the tax code fairer so it’s no longer rigged in favor of corporations and the ultra-rich. Throughout this whole process, I have...

Dear Friend, Last week, I visited the Siler Yard Arts+Creativity Center in Santa Fe, which is New Mexico’s first net-zero energy multi-family affordable housing project. All of the homes in Siler Yard receive 100% of their energy from a utility-scale solar array and use 100% clean and all-electric HVAC equipment. I also visited the Santa Fe...

Dear Friend, After we overcame some frustrating delays from Republicans, I am proud to report that we have passed the bipartisan Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act out of the Senate, and President Biden plans to sign it into law on Monday.   VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich speaks at a press conference after the...

Dear Friend, With the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Senate Democrats have secured a path forward to fight inflation, lower energy costs, invest in clean energy, and reduce carbon emissions. In addition to lowering prescription drug prices and increasing access to health care through the Affordable Care Act, this bill will represent the single...

Dear Friend, Unlike other 19th century western settlement laws, which have long since been reformed or replaced, the Mining Act of 1872 is still on the books. In the last 150 years, this law, which governs the mining of hardrock minerals, has left behind a scarred legacy on our lands and water. I am working hard to finally update our nation’s...

Dear Friend, The New Mexico Education Enhancement Act, legislation that I introduced to help us unlock major investments in early childhood education in New Mexico, just passed unanimously out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. It now goes to the full Senate for consideration. In March 2021, the New Mexico...

Dear Friend, My legislation to protect one of the nation's most iconic and treasured rivers just passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a bipartisan vote! The M.H. Dutch Salmon Gila Wild and Scenic River Act reflects years of advocacy by community members who want to see their local rivers protected. And it is now one...

Dear Friend, Hundreds of miles of rivers and streams in northern New Mexico just received additional protections from harmful pollution. The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission unanimously voted to designate the Upper Pecos watershed and segments of Rio Grande, Rio Hondo, Lake Fork, East Fork Jemez River, San Antonio Creek, and Redondo...

Dear Friend, This morning, I joined President Biden at the White House as he commemorated the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law. I was proud to be a part of the bipartisan group of senators who came together to find a meaningful path forward on policies that will reduce gun violence and save lives. PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin...

Dear Friend, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for attending my office’s Federal Grant Writing Workshop held last week at Northern New Mexico College in Española in partnership with the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District and the Regional Development Corporation. I hope you were able to learn helpful information about how to...

Dear Friend, The science is indisputable that carbon emissions are fueling more destructive wildfires, reducing our snowpack, and contributing to the worst drought that New Mexico has experienced in 1,200 years. If we fail to curb this pollution, we risk significantly greater damage to our landscapes, watersheds, and health. Yet the U.S. Supreme...

Dear Friend, Earlier this week, we celebrated the monumental new addition to the Marquez Wildlife Area in New Mexico. The historic L Bar Ranch property is the single greatest addition to protected public land in New Mexico in a generation, and it will make the Marquez Wildlife Area the largest state-owned recreation property in our state. PHOTO:...