Martin's Blog

Dear Friend, A little over a century ago, women were fighting for their right to vote in the United States. Since then, we have made several advances in improving the lives of women and families, and I am honored to have been a part of making some of the most recent strides. Yet significant challenges and systemic inequalities still persist. During...

Dear Friend, What if I told you internet service providers were allowed to sell or share your personal data without your knowledge or consent? Well, that's exactly what Republicans aim to do.  If a resolution passed by Republicans in both the House and Senate is signed into law by President Trump, your personal data stored on your computer or cell...

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich delivers speech on the Senate floor condemning vote to allow unethical hunting of wolves and bears in National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska, March 21, 2017. Dear Friend, Earlier this month, when Republicans in Congress voted to put a federal stamp of approval on unethical and unscientific wildlife management...

Dear Friend, Today is the fourth anniversary of the designation of Río Grande del Norte National Monument in northern New Mexico. From the tops of Cerro de la Olla and Ute Mountain, to the depths of the Rio Grande Gorge, the Río Grande del Norte is one of the most spectacular places on earth. The historic monument designation was the direct result...

Dear Friend,  This week, I was excited to welcome the announcement of what will be the largest wind farm ever built in New Mexico. The Sagamore Wind Project 20 miles south of Portales will bring hundreds of jobs to a rural New Mexico community and more affordable electric bills for consumers across eastern New Mexico. This new $845 million project...

PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich talks with Robert Pimentel at Pimentel & Sons Guitarmakers in Albuquerque, February 20, 2017. Dear Friend, Last month I had the pleasure of visiting Pimentel & Sons Guitarmakers, a family-owned small business that has built handcrafted instruments--including the official State Guitar of New Mexico--for...

Dear Friend, The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Artesia serves as the leading training site for the brave men and women who are our nation's first line of defense against homeland security threats. I have consistently fought for essential investments in FLETC's vital homeland security missions, and I helped lead bipartisan...

Dear Friend, As someone who went to public school and who is sending my sons to public schools, I believe that all children deserve an opportunity to benefit from a great public education. All the potential we could ever ask for sits in classrooms and homes across New Mexico. But until we invest in our next generation, that promise will continue to...

Dear Friend, Last month I visited the Jewish Community Center in Albuquerque on the same day that it was evacuated because of a bomb threat. This was the JCC's second bomb threat within three weeks. These alarming incidents in Albuquerque and across the country aim to introduce fear into our communities and must not be tolerated. During my tour of...

Dear Friend, The Outdoor Industry Association just announced that it will no longer hold its twice-yearly trade show in Salt Lake City, citing the efforts of Utah's elected officials to sell off public lands and undermine our nation's conservation legacy. The Outdoor Retailer shows generate more than $45 million in annual economic impact, so this...

Dear Friend, In the wake of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, Congress passed legislation to make sure individuals determined to be incapable of using a firearm safely were referred to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This week Senate Republicans repealed a rule put in place as part of that effort to keep firearms out of the...

Dear Friend, While the future of the Affordable Care Act is uncertain, New Mexicans are still qualified to enroll in free or low-cost health care coverage plans in 2017. In order to avoid paying a fine, you must begin your enrollment today, January 31, 2017. After starting your application by January 31, 2017, you will have until March 1, 2017 to...

Dear Friend, Like many New Mexicans, I am sickened by an administration that now poses dangerous threats to the values and freedoms we all cherish. During his first week in office, President Trump ordered an unraveling of the federal workforce, floated the idea of bringing back the CIA's use of 'black site' prisons and torture, imposed a gag order...