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Heinrich To Travel Across New Mexico To Discuss Economy, Energy, WIPP, And Veterans Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will travel to Santa Fe, Eddy, and Lea Counties Monday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 12.

On Monday, August 11, 2014 Senator Heinrich will deliver opening remarks at a public meeting in Santa Fe with Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to receive stakeholder input to the Quadrennial Energy Review, an administration-wide effort to make recommendations regarding key infrastructure needed for transmission, storage and distribution of energy. The meeting, hosted by the Energy Department's Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, will examine state, local and tribal energy issues. Senator Heinrich will deliver opening remarks and discuss energy infrastructure. 

Later in the day, Senator Heinrich will travel to Artesia and Carlsbad. While in Artesia, he will tour the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and receive a briefing on its training activity and get an update on the current conditions at the temporary facility for undocumented parents and their children from Central America.

On Monday evening, the senator will join Secretary Moniz for a town hall meeting in Carlsbad to discuss recovery efforts and address questions and concerns from the community stemming from the truck fire and subsequent radiation release at WIPP. 

On Tuesday, Senator Heinrich will take a surface tour of the WIPP site with Secretary Moniz and meet with Department of Energy Carlsbad Field Office representatives and WIPP contractors. Topics covered during their meeting will include future funding for recovery and DOE's plans for returning WIPP to full operation.

Following the WIPP visit, Senator Heinrich will travel to the VA Community Outpatient Clinic in Hobbs, where he will receive a briefing on the services the clinic offers New Mexico veterans. Senator Heinrich is a lead proponent in the effort to improve quality of care and reduce the disability claims backlog for veterans, and he recently met with VA Secretary Robert McDonald to discuss the unique challenges veterans in a rural state like New Mexico face, and the need for Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

The following events are open to media. Please note the details on how to RSVP to attend.

Santa Fe - Monday, August 11. 2014
WHAT:  Quadrennial Energy Review Meeting 
WHEN: From 9 to 9:45 a.m. MT and streaming live
WHERE: New Mexico State Personnel Office Auditorium, 2600 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, N.M. 87505 
RSVP: Members of the media interested in covering the event should RSVP HERE by August 10, 2014, at 6 p.m. MT.

Carlsbad - Monday, August 11, 2014
WHAT: Town Hall Meeting with Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, and Representative Steve Pearce 
WHEN: 6:15 p.m. MT or streaming live
WHERE: Leo Sweet Community Center, 1302 Mission Ave, Carlsbad, N.M. 88220 
RSVP: Members of the media interested in attending this event should RSVP to Tim Runyon at Tim.Runyon@cbfo.doe.gov or (575)361-3509.  

Carlsbad - Tuesday, August 12, 2014
WHAT: Press availability with Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, and Representative Steve Pearce  
WHEN: 11 a.m. MT
WHERE: WIPP Parking Lot [MAP] 
RSVP: Members of the media interested in attending this event should RSVP to Tim Runyon at Tim.Runyon@cbfo.doe.gov or (575)361-3509. 

Hobbs - Tuesday, August 12, 2014
WHAT: VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic Tour 
WHEN: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. MT
WHERE: VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, 1601 N. Turner, Hobbs, N.M. 88240 
RSVP: Members of the media interested in attending the tour should email press@heinrich.senate.gov or call (202) 228-1578.