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 state. I will always fight to protect their missions and create a sustainable future for the innovative research and development at our labs.

As an engineer, I bring a problem solver’s 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, local small businesses and the private sector.

Our labs will continue to have a vital role in addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Additionally, the completion of the environmental cleanup of legacy waste from the work at Los Alamos and Sandia is an important commitment that Congress and the Department of Energy have made to New Mexico communities that should remain a top funding priority.

Latest

• Heinrich Provisions For N.M. Military Installations, National Labs, and Artificial Intelligence Clear The Senate

  Posted on 07/24/20

  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, voted for the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that supports 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. Read More

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• Defense bill would boost funding for NM’s labs

  Posted on 06/20/20

  New Mexico's national laboratories would recieve an increase in funding from the 2021 defense spending bill before the U.S. Senate, if approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump. Read More

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• WIPP, New Mexico national labs to see increased funding in bill on U.S. Senate floor

  Posted on 06/17/20

  Billions of dollars were earmarked to support nuclear operations in New Mexico in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Read More

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• Heinrich Secures Significant Advancements For N.M. Military Installations, National Labs, and Artificial Intelligence In Annual Defense Spending Bill

  Posted on 06/15/20

  WASHINGTON - 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, announced provisions he secured in the fiscal year 2021 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), Artificial Intelligence, and job-creating initiatives throughout the state. By a vote of 25-2, the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the legislation to the Senate floor for consideration. Read More

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• Heinrich Lauds Approval For Sandia National Laboratories To Begin COVID-19 Testing

  Posted on 04/21/20

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is lauding the announcement that Sandia National Laboratories has been granted approval by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to begin public testing for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The approval will expand New Mexico's testing capabilities and will allow for hundreds of additional tests to be processed in coordination with the New Mexico Department of Health and DOE. Read More

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• How New Mexico's national labs joined the COVID-19 fight

  Posted on 04/21/20

  When the new coronavirus outbreak began, Sandia National Laboratories called on its scientists and engineers to pitch ideas on how they could help. Read More

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• Heinrich Urges Trump Administration To "Put Our National Labs To Work" On COVID-19 Response

  Posted on 03/20/20

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement urging the Trump administration to do everything possible to engage the researchers and scientists at New Mexico's national laboratories to find solutions to the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

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• Udall, Heinrich, Luján Recognize LANL Contributions to State Economy, Employment

  Posted on 07/18/19

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) commended findings from an independent economic-impact analysis released Tuesday, which found that Los Alamos National Laboratory is responsible for creating 24,169 jobs in New Mexico. Read More

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• Millions of dollars on the horizon for New Mexico's defense industry

  Posted on 07/09/19

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020 in an 86-8 vote; it is now being deliberated by the U.S. House of Representatives. Read More

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• Heinrich To Convene Roundtable On New Mexico’s Role In Artificial Intelligence

  Posted on 05/29/19

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - On Thursday, May 30, at 11 a.m. MT, in Albuquerque, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will convene a roundtable on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the challenges and opportunities this transformational digital technology presents.  The event will bring together leaders from technology companies, universities, and our national laboratories to discuss how to prepare New Mexico's workforce for AI careers, utilize investments in research and development, and formulate policies to keep innovations on a responsible path. Read More

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