in the news

VILLAGE OF MILAN, N.M. — A New Mexico state lawmaker has finally received his medals for his service during the Vietnam War. The Gallup Independent reports Democratic Rep. Eliseo “Lee” Alcon was presented last week with a Bronze Star for his service as a combat medic and other honors. The medals came almost 50 years after Alcon...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico is emerging as a national leader in joint government-industry efforts to modernize the country’s space-based defense systems and build 21st century laser and microwave weapons, and that is creating opportunities for local business. That includes companies of all sizes, from global players like...

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is planning to introduce legislation soon to convert two national monuments in his state to national parks. Heinrich, along with several local officials and tribal leaders, announced Wednesday that he will file a bill that would create Bandelier National Park and Preserve in northern New Mexico. The legislation would...

Out on the patio behind the Bandelier National Monument Visitors Center Wednesday, against the stunning backdrop of Frijoles Canyon, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) said it’s time to do more for the oldest national monument in the country. Heinrich said he would introduce legislation to make Bandelier National Monument a national park....

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. The company, which launched in 2009, specializes in designing and building components and structures for...

A toxic class of chemicals continues to get attention on Capitol Hill this week, with lawmakers from New Mexico introducing bicameral bills to help contaminated communities. 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...

WASHINGTON, DC (KFDA) - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico introduced legislation to celebrate and honor native women across the country and their successes. The resolution introduced by Senators Udall and Heinrich aims to recognize the heritage, culture and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - All five of New Mexico's federal lawmakers met with KOB to discuss ideas for border security.  Sen. Martin Heinrich says it starts with equipping the border patrol with what they need. Currently, the border patrol has 3000 vacancies and turn over is high especially in remote areas, like New Mexico's...

The federal government will pump $50 million into Amtrak’s Southwest Chief passenger train route, which passes through New Mexico, members of the state’s congressional delegation announced Friday. The measure — pushed by U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján — will provide money for...

A sweeping public lands conservation package that passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday with overwhelming support from both parties would establish 13 new wilderness areas in New Mexico, the largest land designation in a single year since 1980. The Natural Resources Management Act, including 170 bills with provisions reaching into every state, passed...

The Senate on Tuesday passed the most sweeping conservation legislation in a decade, protecting millions of acres of land and hundreds of miles of wild rivers across the country and establishing four new national monuments honoring heroes including Civil War soldiers and a civil rights icon. The 662-page measure, which passed 92 to 8,...

In an effort to prevent another lapse in federal funding, U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall on Thursday introduced three proposals aimed at addressing needs in remote areas of the southern border region and bolstering economic development in border communities. One bill would provide Border Patrol agents with increased medical training and...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are pushing to have two northern New Mexico sites designated as public wilderness areas. "The Rio San Antonio sits 200 feet below a plateau and creates a unique riparian area and amazing recreational opportunities that boost the local economy," said Sen. Udall.  Senator Udall...

FARMINGTON — Tribal leaders from the Southwest will be among the guests selected by congressional members to attend the State of the Union address tonight. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez will attend as Sen. Tom Udall's guest, Vice President Myron Lizer is the guest for Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz., and Sen. Martin Heinrich...

Senate Democrats introduced legislation on Monday to prevent President Trump from using military and disaster relief funds to construct the U.S.-Mexico border wall should he declare a national emergency. The legislation would prevent Trump from using funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works funds and...

A bill filed in the U.S. Senate will benefit Native American entrepreneurs.  U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are sponsoring the Native American Business Incubators Program Act. The act lays out a plan to expand entrepreneurship in Indian Country through a competitive grant program.  Sen. Udall says Native businesses...

Two United States senators from New Mexico joined 10 others to introduce Savanna’s Act, legislation to combat the epidemic of murdered and missing Indigenous women by improving the federal government's response to the crisis. The bipartisan bill would increase coordination among all levels of law enforcement, increases data...

WASHINGTON (KRQE) - U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich wants to turn Bandelier National Monument into a National Park.  Sen. Heinrich plans on introducing a new proposal that would make it happen.  The designation carries more prestige, which in turn brings more tourists, jobs and revenue.  He's also working on granting the National Parks...

A study commissioned by the Rail Passengers Association says that local economies along the route of the Amtrak’s Southwest Chief passenger train between Albuquerque and Dodge City, Kan., would be derailed by as much as $116.4 million annually if Amtrak were to substitute rail service between the two cities with charter buses. Direct spending...

On Monday, federal employees will return to work.  For now. After more than 30 days, the partial federal shutdown ended Friday. During that time, almost 11,000 New Mexicans—and 800,000 people nationwide—were either furloughed or working without pay. But many people remain wary, given that the deal worked out between Congress...