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.  As a member of the 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. 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, and are at the forefront of research and development that contribute to our country’s safety.

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

  • N.M. Delegation Urges Department Of Defense To Consider New Mexico For Space Development Agency

    March 19, 2019) - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján, Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small urged Department of Defense Acting Secretary Patrick Shanahan to consider New Mexico as a host for co-locating the Space Development Agency headquarters and to fully utilize the state's existing core research and development space assets. Read More

  • Heinrich Demands Answers From Acting Defense Secretary

    March 14, 2019) - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questioned Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the impact of President Trump's national emergency declaration on military construction projects and the Pentagon’s response to PFAS contamination at New Mexico military installations. Read More

  • LoadPath wins $15M Air Force contract

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Albuquerque-based LoadPath LLC won a $14.9 million contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base to assist in research and development of advanced components and systems for satellites. Read More

  • N.M. lawmakers target PFAS contamination

    Democratic Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich along with Rep. Ben Ray Luján introduced companion legislation to authorize the Defense Department to use funds to provide clean water for agricultural purposes to areas affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Read More

  • Udall, Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation to Provide Relief to New Mexico Communities Affected by PFAS

    WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján introduced a bill to provide relief to communities and businesses impacted by PFAS contamination in groundwater around Air Force bases in New Mexico and across the country. Udall, Heinrich, and Luján are pressing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to coordinate closely with the state of New Mexico to quickly move forward with remediation plans to clean up contaminated sites and take all necessary steps to prevent further risks to public health. Read More

  • Heinrich Statement On Hanoi Summit

    Feb. 28, 2019) - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi: Read More