Education

Students in New Mexico represent a bright future for our state. We must ensure that every student has access to a quality education, regardless of their background or zip code, their ethnicity or religion, or their gender or sexual orientation.

As a father of two public school students, I believe that all children deserve an opportunity to benefit from a great public education. We must ensure that every student has access to an education that will put them on the path to success—from early childhood through higher education. I was proud to support the Every Student Succeeds Act, which puts education decisions back in the hands of districts, school boards, and states, while maintaining important federal civil rights protections.

Earning a college degree shouldn't be a luxury, but something that every family can afford. In the Senate, I have cosponsored legislation to keep federal student loan interest rates low and make community college free for two years. We must make sure New Mexicans can learn skills they need to succeed in the workforce without having to take on crippling debt. I introduced the Degrees Not Debt Act to increase the Federal Pell Grant and hold states and universities accountable for reducing costs and improving student outcomes.

As one of the few engineers in Congress, I’ve always had a special commitment to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. Building the STEM pipeline will help us develop a strong, skilled workforce in New Mexico for the jobs of the future. Many companies in high-tech fields have demand for skilled workers that exceeds the available workforce. I have introduced the bipartisan Championing Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in Technology (CHANCE in Tech) Act to provide workers from all backgrounds with apprenticeships in computer science and information technology, where they can learn the skills and knowledge they need to fill good-paying tech jobs.

I will continue to work to ensure higher education is affordable and within reach for every student in New Mexico, and that educators have the resources, training, and support they need to help students succeed.

Latest

  • NM Delegation Applauds $550,000 in Grants to 11 Arts Organizations Across the State

    WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded $550,000 in grant funding to 11 organizations across New Mexico. The grants, part of the $75 million for NEA appropriated through the CARES Act, will be used to support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel, and facilities costs. Read More

  • NM Delegation Applauds Nearly $800,000 in Grants to Cultural Organizations Across the State

    WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) applauded nearly $800,000 in grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to cultural and historical organizations across the state. The grants represent the second wave of funds from $75 million in supplemental NEH funding as part of the emergency $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Response, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that the entire New Mexico delegation voted to pass in March. Read More

  • Udall, Heinrich Join Democratic Push for $175 Billion Education Investment Urgently Needed to Save the 2021 School Year & U.S. Economy

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined a group of 41 Senate Democrats, led by Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), calling on Senate leadership to include at least $175 billion for the Elementary and Secondary Education Relief Fund in any future coronavirus relief package. As health and education officials develop novel coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines, precautions, and restrictions for safely reopening schools this fall, Udall and Heinrich are urging Congress and the Trump administration to act with the same sense of urgency and provide additional federal funding to help students safely return to the classroom. Read More

  • NM Delegation Applauds Medical Training Scholarship Grants to New Mexico Universities

    WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $1,999,587 to New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the University of New Mexico (UNM) for advanced medical training scholarships for low-income students who will serve medically underserved communities. The funds represent the first of a five-year grant to the universities to support nearly $10 million in scholarships for students to serve disadvantaged communities. Read More

  • NM Delegation Applauds Medical Training Scholarship Grants to New Mexico Universities

    WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $1,999,587 to New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the University of New Mexico (UNM) for advanced medical training scholarships for low-income students who will serve medically underserved communities. The funds represent the first of a five-year grant to the universities to support nearly $10 million in scholarships for students to serve disadvantaged communities. Read More

  • Udall, Heinrich Urge Senate Leadership to Include Higher Education Relief in Upcoming Coronavirus Legislation

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) joined a group of 31 senators in urging Senate leadership to include $47 billion in financial support for students and institutions of higher learning in the upcoming coronavirus relief package. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the senators called for additional funding to ensure that students are able to complete their degrees despite the impact of COVID-19. The senators also emphasized the substantial costs and losses already faced by institutions of higher education as enrollment declines and state cuts jeopardize the financial stability of schools. Read More

  • Udall, Heinrich Urge DeVos To Rescind Harmful Title IX Rule And Focus On Student Safety

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, along with 35 Democratic senators, are condemning Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' final Title IX rule, which will weaken protections for student survivors of sexual harassment and assault. In a letter to Secretary DeVos, the senators stressed that it was inappropriate to ask schools to implement this new rule within 100 days amid the COVID-19 crisis and urged her to rescind the rule and focus on school safety-whether the threat is sexual assault and harassment or COVID-19. Read More

  • Udall, Heinrich Urge Senate Leadership To Increase Funding For Nonprofit Museums In The Next COVID-19 Package

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, along with 21 Senate colleagues, are urging Senate leadership to provide emergency assistance to nonprofit museums in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Senators Udall and Heinrich are asking to direct $2 billion to nonprofit museums through the Institute of Museums and Library Services in the upcoming COVID-19 package. Read More

  • Heinrich, Haaland, Cole Introduce Bill to Unleash Emergency Access to Broadband Internet in Indian Country

    WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland (NM-01) and Tom Cole (Okla.-04) announced the introduction of a bill to unleash emergency access to broadband internet in Indian Country. The COVID-19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act will direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant Indian tribes emergency special temporary authority of available spectrum on tribal lands so they can immediately deploy broadband networks on tribal lands during this pandemic. The bill has more than 200 endorsements from across the country, including more than 100 Tribe and Native Hawaiian communities. Read More