Letters from my Senators

March 9, 2011

3/12/2011

Thank you for contacting my office in Washington D.C. Discussing important
issues with my constituents is very important to me.

Through the Family Planning Program (Title X of the PublicHealth Service
Act), the federal government provides grants for voluntaryfamily planning
services. This program was enacted in 1970 and is the only domestic federal
program devotedsolely to family planning issues and related preventive health
services. It receives its funding throughappropriations for the Health Resources
and Services Administrations (HRSA) under the Department of Healthand Human
Services (DHHS), Labor, and Education.

On March 11, 2009, the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act wassigned into law and
provided $307.5 million for Title X in FY 2009. This is a 2.5% increase over
theFY 2008 funding level of $300 million. These funds are prohibited from being
spent on programs whereabortion is a method of family planning. The family
planning projects that received these funds are closelymonitored to ensure that
federal funds are used appropriately. A grantee's abortion activities must
be"separate and distinct" from the Title X project activities.

In the 112th Congress, Rep. Mike Pence has introducedH.R. 217, which would
prohibit women's health centers from receiving Title X funds if they also
provideabortion care with private funds. As the law already requires
that federal funds not be usedfor abortions, I am afraid that this legislation
would have the unintended consequence of denying millionsof women from receiving
their primary care health under the Title X program.

Once again, thank you for expressing your opinion on thisimportant matter.
Please feel free to contact any of my offices if we can assist you in any way. I
amvery interested in your opinions and your concerns. To find more information
regarding my services orcurrent legislation, please visit my website at: www.lujan.house.gov.

Sincerely,
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
United States House of
Representatives
NM-03

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Feb 1, 2001

3/12/2011

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From Jeff Bingaman, U.S Senator re: the COMPETES bill.... (he
sure wants to "invest" a
lot!)

The final weeks of the 111th Congress were extremely
productive, delivering key actions that will benefit the nation and our
companies, workers, and students in New Mexico. The Senate ratified a critical
arms control treaty with Russia that will bring a lot of work to our national
laboratories. Congress also approved legislation to settle two of our state’s
longest-standing water rights cases—in Santa Fe and Taos, and in the process
also make a $190 million investment in bringing drinkable water to the members
of the Navajo Nation and residents of the Gallup area.

But perhaps one
of the most far-reaching if unsung bills we passed was the extension of the America Creating Opportunities to
Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science
Act (COMPETES)—a law I first helped write with then-Senator Pete
Domenici in 2007. COMPETES put our country on track to remain competitive in the
global marketplace by ramping up technological research and emphasizing math and
science education, among other key investments.

I believe the ability of
American companies and workers to compete with China, India, Europe, and other
top-tier competitors depends heavily on our ability to envision, develop, and
manufacture the next generation of technology in clean energy—everything from
efficient lighting to affordable solar panels for homes. Toward that end,
COMPETES invests in the following:

Research and Design: It is crucial that we grow scientific
research and design work here in the United States. New Mexico is home to some
of the most prestigious and well-respected institutions of discovery and
innovation, including Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, our
universities, and military and private research institutions. As a longtime
advocate of the national labs, I am pleased that the new COMPETES law doubles
the Department of Energy’s Office of Science budget in the next ten years. This
helps ensure that the labs in our state—which employ tens of thousands of New
Mexicans—remain on solid footing to continue their ground-breaking
research.

Manufacturing: I believe American workers are the best in
the world and should be manufacturing the high-tech products that American
scientists are inventing. For example, New Mexico is an ideal location to
capture solar and wind power. I am proud that our state is home to several
manufacturers of solar energy technology and to some of the most advanced wind
and solar electricity generating plants in the nation. Companies like Array Tech, EMCORE, and SCHOTT are leading the way as manufacturers that not only
create jobs here, but help move our nation closer to energy independence.

Education: If we are to secure our place as a worldwide
competitor, we must first ensure that tomorrow’s scientists and inventors are
getting a first-rate education today. COMPETES creates a partnership between New
Mexico’s labs and high schools to encourage science and technology students
through real-life projects and mentorship, something the experts at our labs are
uniquely suited for. COMPETES also supports research and internship
opportunities for high school and undergraduate students and, for the first
time, coordinates the many federal programs available to these students.
COMPETES also encourages students with science and engineering backgrounds to
pursue teaching credentials, thereby increasing the pool of top-notch
teachers.

I believe that our country can be the world’s leader in
science and engineering, and can create and keep those jobs here at home—and I
am convinced that New Mexico has an important role to play. COMPETES will help
us build on the many successes we already have. I recently visited Albuquerque’s
Sennheiser manufacturing plant, where I toured the facilities and had the
opportunity to speak with employees and managers who had participated in the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension
Partnership (MEP)—a public-private partnership that helps
companies improve their manufacturing capabilities.

(U.S. Senator
Jeff Bingaman, right, listens to Sennheiser Production Manager Jeff Duvall,
center, during a recent tour of Sennheiser facilities in Albuquerque.
Other Sennheiser employees look on in the background.)

After tapping
into MEP’s expertise, Sennheiser’s productivity increased by 28
percent, the company improved their manufacturing process, as
well as their internal communications—all making it but one example of a
public-private partnership success story. By extending the life of MEP, which
was set to expire last year, COMPETES will ensure that other New Mexico-based
companies can grow.

Enacting COMPETES is a critical step to take to
create the best possible climate for the next generation of businesses to grow
and thrive. Now that a new Congress has begun, we can continue to work finding
other ways to support the private sector’s ability to create jobs here in New
Mexico and across the nation.

Sincerely,

Jeff Bingaman
United
States Senator

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July 1, 2010

3/12/2011

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An email from Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M) re: Gulf oil
spill

posted
Jul 1, 2010 10:28 PM

Many New Mexicans have contacted me in recent
weeks regarding the Deepwater Horizon disaster. My thoughts are first with
the people on the front lines of this terrible situation —the families of those
who lost their lives in the explosion in April, and those who are working day
and night to protect the places and wildlife that sustain Gulf communities and
make the Gulf one of the most biologically diverse regions in the
world.

It is clear that prior to the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon
rig neither the companies involved nor the government adequately appreciated the
risks involved in a deepwater drilling operation of this type. The results of
that failure to properly assess risks have been disastrous. Since BP has
so far failed to stop the oil gushing into the Gulf, the extent of the further
environmental damage is not known.

Any efforts to repair the
damage done to the Gulf must be paid for by BP. It is clear
through preliminary analysis of the amount of oil flowing into the Gulf that it
may take years for the local economy to rebound, and possibly longer for the
ecosystem to recover. A disaster of this magnitude is inexcusable, and I
believe that changes in law must be made so that corporations that are
responsible for such devastation do not escape their responsibility because of
caps on liability that are too low.

As Chairman of the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee, I also realize that regulated domestic oil
production conducted in an environmentally safe manner can play an important
role in meeting our nation's energy needs. I have led several hearings to probe the
causes of this catastrophic accident, and am currently working on legislation to
identify and fix the weaknesses in our regulatory structure that may have
contributed to this disaster. I also visited Louisiana to see
the scope of the disaster with a bipartisan delegation of senators, and am
working closely with the administration to ensure that our response is adequate
and timely.

The Senate is also working on comprehensive legislation to
address climate change and energy independence. Toward that end, I
have introduced bipartisan legislation that would move our country toward
greater use of clean energy sources. The Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee, which I chair, has already approved this
legislation and it is now ready for full Senate debate. It is my hope that
this legislation will become a core part of the energy debate.

The American Clean Energy Leadership
Act is an important step in developing renewable energy
infrastructure that will create more domestic energy and reduce our impact on
the environment. This legislation will:
· Accelerate the
introduction of new clean energy technologies in the United States,
· Create
new jobs and help businesses grow through clean energy project financing,
·
Include a renewable electricity standard,
· Provide for a robust and secure
national electricity transmission highway,
· Increase our energy
independence by increasing energy supplies, including new access to
over 20 trillion cubic feet of clean natural gas resources, and
·
Protect consumers by making energy markets more transparent and fair,
and by providing new tools to fight market manipulation.

I am hopeful
that this legislation will be debated and passed by Congress as soon as
possible.

As more impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster
continues to unfold, you can learn more about the Congress and the federal
government’s response on my website.

http://bingaman.senate.gov/about/
Sincerely,
Jeff
Bingaman
United States Senator

0 Comments

Dec 2, 2009

3/12/2011

0 Comments

December 2, 2009
Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's
healthcare system. I appreciate hearing from you on this important
issue.Ibelieve that America deserves a healthcare system that reflects
theingenuity and compassion of the American people.   During his
addressto Congress on September 10, 2009, President Obama pledged to push
forbroad healthcare reform.   I will to continue to work with him and
mycolleagues in the United States Senate to enact a plan that increasescoverage,
improves quality of care, reduces costs, and refocuses oursystem on preventing
illness and promoting wellness.   Health insurancereform will address
these issues and improve the lives of all NewMexicans. OnNovember 18, 2009, we
passed a critical milestone in our efforts toreform our healthcare system with
the release of the Patient Protectionand Affordable Care Act. This
legislation is a critical step in ourefforts to pass comprehensive health
insurance reform. I am encouragedthat the bipartisan Congressional Budget
Office estimates this billwill reduce the deficit by $127 billion over the next
ten years, savinghundreds of billions while extending coverage to 31 million
moreAmericans. Among other things, this legislation would:

End insurance industry abuses that have denied coverage to hardworking Americans when they get
sick by ending discrimination forpre-existing conditions and making it illegal
for insurance companiesto drop coverage if an individual get sick;

Level the playing field for consumers through Health InsuranceExchanges and a strong
public option. The bill would give Americansmore control over their health care
choices by keeping insurers honestand driving down rising costs from private
insurers;

Protect Seniors' benefits and make Medicare a stronger,
moresustainable program by reducing the size of the donut hole, endinginsurance
industry discrimination based on age and cutting waste, fraudand abuse in
Medicare; and

Improve the affordability of health care for employers by
providingtax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage
moreaffordable.

I believe that the economic challenges we face as a
nation highlight our immediate need for broad, sweeping healthcare reform.
Skyrocketing healthcare costs are weighing heavily on Americanfamilies,
businesses, and all levels of government. These costs undulyburden all
sectors of American society by consuming large portions ofAmerican wages and
hindering the growth of businesses. The status quois simply unacceptable
and the cost of inaction is too great toignore. Please be assured I will keep
your thoughts in mind as theSenate considers the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act.

Thankyou again for sharing your
thoughts with me. Please feel free tocontact me with concerns regarding
any federal issue. You may visit mywebsite at www.tomudall.senate.govfor more information or
visit my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Senator-Tom-Udall/106433512869
and receive up to the minute updates through my Twitter page at http://twitter.com/senatortomudall.

Very
truly yours,

Tom Udall
United States Senator

0 Comments

Dec 15, 2009

3/12/2011

2 Comments

December 15, 2009

Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's
health care system. I appreciate your taking the time to
write.

Throughoutthe nation the cost of medical care continues to rise
and isunaffordable for many individuals and businesses. This problem is
mostacute in New Mexico. Without health reform, our state is expected
toexperience the greatest increase in health insurance premiums in thenation.
For example, the average employer sponsored insurance premiumfor a family in New
Mexico was about $6,000 in 2000. By 2006, this ratehad almost doubled to over
$11,000. By 2016, this amount is expected torise to an astonishing $28,000. New
Mexicans also spend more on healthinsurance premiums as a percentage of their
income than almost allother Americans.

Weare at a critical point when it
comes to our health care system, andthat we need to implement major changes. At
the same time, I feelstrongly that people who like their coverage should be able
to keep it.Health care should be affordable and accessible to all Americans
andthis is an area in which Congress can and should do a better job ofmeeting
the needs of the American public. As a member of both theCommittees on Finance
and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions(HELP), I have worked to create
legislation to address three key areas:containing health care costs, ensuring
that every American has accessto affordable health insurance, and improving the
quality of care. Tothis end, Congress has debated various models to reduce costs
whileextending coverage. One model includes a public option, which Isupport. A
public option would leverage competition and safeguardagainst unscrupulous
insurance practices. I also believe we must worktowards responsible legislation
that is paid for and does not increasethe deficit. I understand the importance
of this issue, and please beassured I will keep your comments in mind as the
Senate debates thisissue.

Again, thank you for writing. I hope you
will continue to keep me informed of issues of importance to you and your
community.

Sincerely,

JEFF BINGAMAN
United States
Senator

Phone: (202) 224-5521
Toll-free in NM:
1-800-443-8658
Website: http://bingaman.senate.gov
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