Tom Udall

Legislation Encourages Donations to Feed Hungry Before Thanksgiving

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate has designated this Thursday, November 19 – exactly one week before Thanksgiving Day -- as “Feed America Day”.

Senator Tom Udall, a sponsor of the bipartisan “Feed America Day” initiative, said that in the spirit of Thanksgiving, the bill encourages Americans to skip two meals this Thursday before Thanksgiving, and instead donate the money they would have spent or food to a local charity or food bank for the hungry.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall reported that the Senate has approved legislation to fund key construction projects at New Mexico's military installations.

The fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Department of Veterans' Affairs Appropriations Act sets aside a total of $172 million for Cannon, Kirtland and Holloman Air Force Bases, as well as the National Guard facility in Santa Fe.

"This bill invests millions of dollars in New Mexico's military installations and ensures that our Air Force and National Guard facilities remain in top shape," Bingaman said. "It is another way to support the men and women of our armed forces."    » read more »

November 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Kit Bond (R-MO) today introduced an amendment that would increase funding to provide transitional housing for homeless veterans, calling it our nation's sacred responsibility to support the men and women who answered America's call to duty.

The amendment would add $6 million to the $144 million already allocated for the Homeless Grant and Per Diem Program through the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. This additional funding would bring the program to its full authorization level of $150 million. The appropriations bill is currently being debated by the full Senate.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s long-awaited passage of an Unemployment Insurance benefits extension following weeks of partisan delays:

“While I remain outraged that Senate Republicans decided to engage in nearly a month of political gamesmanship before working with us to extend unemployment benefits for millions of laid-off American workers, I’m relieved that aid for these families is around is finally the corner.

“In New Mexico, more than 150,000 residents are jobless as a result of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Now we will finally be able to send them a financial lifeline to keeping roofs over their heads and food on their tables.    » read more »

Senator Sends Letter to FCC Chairman Urging Quick Action

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-NM, today sent a letter to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing “grave concern” about the organization’s failure to extend telephone service to Indian Country, where more than 30 percent of households do not have basic service.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has released over $10 million for four New Mexico projects aimed at exploring and developing new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies. Funding comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

“Geothermal energy can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly form of energy production. This funding will help New Mexico take advantage of the current technology, and make investments in advancing this important technology, as well,” Bingaman said.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the Navajo Tribal Utility Association will receive a $4.9 million grant to better serve its 38,000 customers.

The funding, which comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used to install a “smart grid” network and data management system that will quickly identify system outages.

“This is an important investment in the Navajo Nation – one that will result in better service to the Navajo Nation Utility Association’s nearly 40,000 customers,” Bingaman said. “At the same time, this grant will help create good jobs in the area.”    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has released over $10 million for four New Mexico projects aimed at exploring and developing new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies. Funding comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

“Geothermal energy can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly form of energy production. This funding will help New Mexico take advantage of the current technology, and make investments in advancing this important technology, as well,” Bingaman said.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today introduced a bill aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change on resources like forests, clean water, and fish and wildlife habitat and the communities and economies that depend on these resources.

Reports from the last several seasons indicate that increasing temperatures associated with climate change are resulting in less snowpack in many regions of the country, thus changing the timing of snow-melt runoff. In New Mexico, an already arid state, this trend could be devastating.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall voted (80-17) to give final passage to a key spending bill that supports New Mexico’s two national laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Project and a variety of key water-related projects.

The 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill is now ready to be sent to the White House for signature.    » read more »

October 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, is cosponsoring a comprehensive proposal to extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers. Nearly two million out-of-work Americans face expiring benefits by the end of the year.

In August, New Mexico had an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent just up by 0.5 percent in July.

“I am committed to protecting New Mexicans who are trying to make ends meet in this tough economic climate,” said Udall. “Helping our citizens provide for their families when so many have been laid-off or lost jobs at no fault of their own should not be a political issue. I urge my colleagues to respond to the urgency of this situation and pass this legislation now.”    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today voted to approve a spending bill that contains more than $45 million dollars to support national defense efforts, including work at White Sands Missile Range and various New Mexico universities.

The Senate passed the fiscal year 2010 Defense Spending Bill (93-07); the measure must now be reconciled with the bill passed by the House of Representatives.

"This spending bill funds projects in our state that are critical to our nation's defense. I'm especially pleased that we are providing $6 million to support the National Guard's effective counter-drug activities along the border," Bingaman said.    » read more »

Clearing the Way for Historic Water Rights Settlement

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today joined New Mexico’s congressional delegation to advance a vital water supply project that will provide clean, safe and reliable water to a quarter of a million people in the Navajo Nation, the City of Gallup and the Jicarilla Apache Nation. The action clears the way for resolving the Navajo Nation’s long-standing water rights claims in the state.    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today called for the Senate to pass legislation that will put our nation on a path towards energy independence at a Capitol Hill press conference today to unveil the Clean Energy, Jobs and Power Act.

Udall joined Senators John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, other senators, and a diverse coalition of military veterans, working Americans, business leaders, and environmental advocates to discuss the initiative to create clean energy incentives and fight global warming.

A long time proponent of a “Do It All” energy approach, Udall called the legislation a work in progress and a strong foundation for debate. He encouraged the Senate “to build upon it, not tear it down.”    » read more »

Legislation Would Protect Privacy Rights and National Security

September 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman today joined in introducing legislation to reform the Patriot Act and other surveillance laws to better protect Americans' constitutional right to privacy while providing the government with the tools necessary to effectively fight terrorism.

The legislation, titled the Judiciously Using Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act, would:    » read more »