Military & National Security

Our women and men in uniform make up the strongest, best-trained, most well-equipped military in the world. New Mexicans have long answered the call of duty to serve. This tradition runs deep in our state’s history, and at times New Mexico has had the highest rate of military volunteerism of any state in the country.

With military bases at Cannon, Holloman, Kirtland, and White Sands Missile Range, and two national laboratories, New Mexico plays a pivotal role in our national security and defense. Our state is also at the forefront of research and development that contribute to our country’s safety. I am proud to have championed initiatives to expand the roles of our labs and bases—from directed energy and small satellites to new flying missions.  Today, New Mexico is the nation’s Center of Excellence for researching, developing, and testing high energy laser and high powered microwave systems as well as researching and developing rapid space capabilities. I will continue fighting to ensure our state remains a leader in developing these next generation systems as well as transformative technologies like Artificial Intelligence. In the Senate, I founded a bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Caucus so that lawmakers can strike a careful balance between mitigating the risks of new technologies like AI and fostering its tremendous economic and national security benefits.

As a son and brother of service members, and in my role as a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I am firmly committed to ensuring that our military and intelligence communities have the tools they need to keep our nation safe, fight terrorism, and support our allies.

On the Senate Intelligence committee, I have helped lead efforts to investigate the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and to combat foreign disinformation campaigns.  I am also a strong supporter of human and constitutional rights, and believe in the notion that America can be both safe and free. I was proud to help pass the USA FREEDOM Act, which ended the National Security Agency's (NSA) bulk metadata collection program that allowed the government to collect billions of Americans' private phone call records while suspecting them of no wrongdoing. 

I was also an active proponent of doing away with the discriminatory military policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and I continue to stand up for reforms to reduce sexual assault in our military.

I am also strong supporter of human and constitutional rights, and believe in the notion that America can be both safe and free. I opposed the authorization of the PATRIOT Act and was an active proponent of doing away with the discriminatory military policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Latest

  • Heinrich Calls For Investigation Into White Supremacy And Extremism In The Military

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and 13 Democratic senators are calling for the Department of Defense to investigate and address white supremacy and extremist ideology in the ranks of the military following the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week. Several of the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol have been identified as active duty servicemembers, reservists, retirees, and veterans. Read More

  • Heinrich Statement On U.S. Space Command Location Decision

    WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Air Force's announcement today to base the new U.S. Space Command headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama: Read More

  • Heinrich Presses Defense Department For Information To Speed Emergency Deployments Of U.S. Armed Forces To Deal With Any Future Security Breaches At U.S. Capitol

    WASHINGTON - Following last week's insurrection and breach on the U.S. Capitol as members of Congress were certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) are pressing the U.S. Department of Defense for information regarding ways the Pentagon could speed up emergency deployments of U.S. Armed Forces in the event of future security breaches at the U.S. Capitol. Read More

  • Heinrich Delivers Major Wins For N.M. Military Bases, Labs, And Defense Tech

    WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, and co-founder of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, secured major wins for New Mexico in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 that support New Mexico's men and women in uniform, military installations, national laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Artificial Intelligence, and job-creating initiatives throughout the state. The legislation passed the House on Tuesday and the Senate today with strong bipartisan support, and is expected to be signed into law. Read More

  • Heinrich And Senate Democrats Write To FBI And DHS Requesting Information On QAnon Threat Posed To America And Abroad

    WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Member U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Senate Democrats wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Principal Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Joseph Maher requesting a written assessment to Congress on the threat posed by QAnon, in the United States and abroad. The Senators also request information on the role of foreign influence operations in the inception and amplification of QAnon conspiracy theories. Read More

  • Heinrich Announces Nominees To The United States Service Academies

    WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced his nominees to the United States Service Academies. A nomination is required to attend the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination. Being nominated is a significant honor. The application process is rigorous, and only the most qualified and meritorious candidates receive a nomination. Read More