Indian Country

Our tribal communities have always shaped and enhanced New Mexico’s rich culture and traditions. I take pride in working with our tribal communities, and will continue to advocate on their behalf on issues such as education, water access, housing, infrastructure, public safety, and cultural preservation, as well as defend and protect tribal sovereignty.  

Issues that affect Indian Country are a top priority for me. During my time in the U.S. House of Representatives, I led the effort to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and sponsored the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership (HEARTH) Act, which makes it easier to get a lease on trust land and helps Native families buy homes and helps attract businesses and jobs to tribal communities.

As one of my first actions in the Senate, I proudly cosponsored the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which bolsters law enforcement efforts and provides necessary resources for victims of domestic violence, particularly for Native women.

I have also worked with New Mexico’s tribes and pueblos to introduce the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act to prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal cultural patrimony. I remain committed to helping repatriate stolen culturally significant items to their rightful owners.

Latest

  • Heinrich, McSally Call For Fort Hood Investigation After The Deaths Of Two Navajo Nation Members

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have sent a letter to U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy requesting a thorough investigation into the high number of deaths this year at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas. The letter comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of Private Carlton Chee and Army Specialist Miguel Yazzie, both members of the Navajo Nation. Read More

  • Bipartisan, Bicameral Tribal Connect Act Introduced To Increase High-Speed Internet Access In Indian Country

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) have introduced the Tribal Connect Act, legislation to improve broadband connectivity in Indian Country. The bicameral, bipartisan bill would increase access to the Federal Communications Commission's schools and libraries universal service support program. The $4 billion program, known as E-rate, provides discounts to assist public schools and libraries obtain high-speed internet access and telecommunications at affordable rates. Read More

  • Haaland, Heinrich Call Out FCC for Shortchanging Tribes on Tribal Broadband Application Deadline

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) led a bicameral group of lawmakers calling out the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for shortchanging Tribes on the Tribal broadband application deadline. In a letter to the FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the lawmakers cite challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and call for a full 180-day extension from the original August 3, 2020, 2.5 GHz Tribal priority filing window deadline, instead of the FCC's 30-day extension that was announced one working day before the deadline expiration. Read More

  • Heinrich, McSally Introduce Legislation To Provide Electricity To Navajo Households

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) are introducing legislation to authorize a one-time $89 million infusion of funds into the Navajo Electrification Demonstration Program (NEDP) to empower the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) to implement projects that bring electric power to Navajo households. The senators will be seeking the funding in a bill for COVID-relief or other near-term legislation. Read More

  • Bipartisan bill increasing penalties for the trafficking of Native American cultural items heads to Senate

    NEW MEXICO (KRQE) - Legislation to prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal cultural inherited property introduced by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) was passed by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The legislation will now be available for consideration on the Senate Floor. Read More

  • Heinrich, Murkowski Legislation To Safeguard Tribal Items Passes Through Committee

    WASHINGTON - Today, during a markup in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal cultural patrimony was passed unanimously out of the committee by a voice vote. The legislation will now be available for consideration on the Senate Floor. Read More

  • NM Delegation Applauds AmeriCorps Grant for Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo

    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 Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs, has awarded $159,164 to the Tse Daa K'aan Chapter of the Navajo Nation and the Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) group in Zuni Pueblo. Read More