in the news

The lesser prairie chicken could be put on the threatened list for the second time in eight years, and a U.S. senator from New Mexico thinks the bird is a prime example of a species whose severe decline could’ve been avoided if there had been money to intervene sooner. Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich believes a bipartisan bill he and Sen....

The scale of climate change can be debilitating at times, even for me. When I see cottonwoods dying from heat stress along the Rio Grande or acequias running dry, it can be overwhelming. At times like that, I find that it’s important to back up and refocus on all the things I can do to change our unsustainable status quo. When I do that, I...

A group of Democratic lawmakers in Congress recently established the Electrification Caucus, which will work to advance policies to accelerate widespread electrification. The caucus was created by U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Tina Smith (D-MN), and U.S. Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Kathy Castor (D-FL). The lawmakers said widespread...

FARMINGTON — New Mexico will receive $25 million in federal funding for a transportation project on the Navajo Nation. Congressional members from New Mexico announced the state was awarded funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, which is administered by the U.S....

For some students, getting into college and being able to afford it is enough. But for many others – particularly first-generation students, those from low-income families, and students of color – there are more obstacles to overcome between orientation day and graduation day. From help with transportation and housing, to academic...

While COVID-19 precautions have moved this year’s Crane Fiesta into a virtual format, the Friends of Bosque del Apache will have an incredible lineup of events from November 18 to 19, bringing together experts on wildlife photography, birding, and landscape painting for webinars and other exciting events. There will be photography and art...

The Democratic members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation are touting the massive infrastructure bill that cleared the House last week, which will pour billions of dollars into the state for things like road improvements and water projects. The Democrats all supported the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which will bring at least $3.7...

New Mexico’s deteriorating roads and bridges — and everyone who uses them — stand to be the biggest beneficiaries of a $1 trillion infrastructure bill President Joe Biden is expected to sign into law this week. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is poised to deliver at least $3.5 billion to the state for a wide...

In the face of climate change and a history of proposals to dam or divert water from the Gila River, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, Democrats from New Mexico, have introduced legislation that would designate a section of the Gila River in New Mexico as a wild and scenic river. This legislation bears the name of M.H. Dutch...

In the face of climate change and a history of proposals to dam or divert water from the Gila River, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, Democrats from New Mexico, have introduced legislation that would designate a section of the Gila River in New Mexico as a wild and scenic river. This legislation bears the name of M.H. Dutch...

In a Tuesday press conference, Democratic U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan announced the reintroduction of federal legislation to protect 450 miles of waterways within the Gila River system under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. “It’s long past time to protect these segments as Wild and Scenic,” Heinrich told...

On Tuesday New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján introduced legislation to designate the Gila River as a Wild And Scenic River, which would protect the watershed from mining and agricultural interests in the region. The Gila River is one of the last remaining free-flowing rivers and tributary systems to the Colorado...

We continue to stare down dangerous and overt threats to our democracy in the U.S. Congress must do more to ensure our most fundamental constitutional right to vote is secure, accessible, and easy to navigate for every single lawful American. We should all be proud that New Mexico is setting a national example for what it looks like to enhance...

Trees and plants are nature’s best ally for capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide, and New Mexico State University wants to harness that power to help fight climate change in arid environments.   As the state’s land grant university, NMSU is well prepared to lead the way in decarbonizing agriculture in rural and urban areas...

To combat climate change brought on by air pollution, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) continued to rally support for electrifying homes and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the U.S. Heinrich introduced the Zero Emissions Homes Act earlier this year to provide tax rebates for electric appliances in single- and multi-family...

It’s hard to find states more different than New Mexico and Rhode Island. One is big, the other small; one is landlocked mountain ranges and high desert, the other seaside coast.  But both count on a healthy, clean environment, and each presents wondrous natural beauty. So we both fight tirelessly to defend that environment as climate...

While companies across the United States are extracting metals like gold, silver and copper, they do not pay royalties like other extractive industries. This is in part because the laws governing hardrock mining date back to 1872. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, wants to reform hardrock mining among other measures to help...

A global pandemic, worsening climate change and a Democratic majority in Washington, D.C. have created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a national response to the climate crisis. To meet the moment, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, has proposed the Civilian Climate Corps Act, an initiative designed to put people to work helping their...

WASHINGTON — Bipartisan federal legislation could dramatically reshape the funding available to tribal nations for wildlife conservation efforts.  The proposed Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would for the first time give tribes a direct line of federal funding for their natural resources departments to perform fish and...

WASHINGTON — Bipartisan federal legislation could dramatically reshape the funding available to tribal nations for wildlife conservation efforts.  The proposed Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would for the first time give tribes a direct line of federal funding for their natural resources departments to perform fish and...