National Labs

Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories employ some of the best and brightest minds in the country and are indispensable to our national security. The labs also strengthen our economy by providing high-paying, high-skilled technology jobs in our great state and I will always fight to protect their missions.

As an engineer, I bring a unique perspective to the U.S. Senate in advocating for New Mexico’s national laboratories. I have consistently fought to protect the national security missions of the labs while strengthening their diversity in areas such as energy, homeland security, and nonproliferation. I also remain focused on looking for ways to better leverage our laboratories’ resources and competitive strengths in partnership with universities and the private sector.

Our labs will continue to have a vital role in addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges, including energy independence. Additionally, the completion of the cleanup of defense legacy at Los Alamos is an important commitment that Congress and the Department of Energy have made to the community and the State of New Mexico, and that should remain a top funding priority. 

Latest

  • Udall, Heinrich, Lujan Grisham Announce $20 Million from NSF for NM SMART Grid Center at UNM

    WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the University of New Mexico (UNM) was awarded a $20 million, five-year grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create the New Mexico SMART (Sustainable, Modular, Adaptive, Resilient and Transactive) Grid Center, an interdisciplinary research and education program to help support development of a modern electric grid. The center will coalesce ongoing independent research efforts throughout New Mexico in academia, national laboratories and industry under the umbrella of a unified, integrated program.  Read More

  • Udall, Heinrich Secure Provision to Prohibit Nuclear Safety Board Staff Cuts & Reorganization

    WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that they have secured two provisions in the final FY 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill to protect the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) and its important safety mission. One Udall-Heinrich provision prohibits the use of any appropriated funds to carry out the DNFSB's proposed reorganization, which included a significant reduction in the board’s staff, unless such a proposal is later specifically authorized by law. The second Udall-Heinrich provision directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to brief Congress within 30 days about DOE’s information sharing order (Order 140.1), and expresses Congress’ concerns about the potential impacts of the order. Read More

  • Heinrich Secures Major Wins For New Mexico In Annual Defense Spending Bill

    Aug. 2, 2018) - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced provisions he secured in the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that support New Mexico's men and women in uniform, military installations, national laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and job-creating initiatives throughout the state. The bill includes an amendment sponsored by Senator Heinrich to establish the nation's first U.S. policy on cyber warfare. Read More

  • Heinrich Honors Intelligence Professionals for Service to Nation

    U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is honoring the courage and dedication of the men and women of the U.S. intelligence community by introducing a bipartisan resolution designating today, July 26, 2018 as "United States Intelligence Professionals Day." Read More

  • Heinrich Amendments For N.M. Military Installations, National Labs, and High-Tech Manufacturing Economy Clear the Senate

    Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted for the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and announced amendments he secured in the bill that support New Mexico's men and women in uniform, military installations, national laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and job-creating initiatives throughout the state. Read More

  • Udall, Heinrich, Luján Statement on Los Alamos National Lab Contract Decision

    WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján responded to the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) decision to award the management and operating contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory to Triad National Security, LLC, a group led by Battelle, the University of California, and the Texas A&M University System. Udall is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, including the subcommittee overseeing the Department of Energy's budget, and Heinrich serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee. Luján serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and represents the 3rd Congressional District, which is home to Los Alamos National Labs. Read More