U.S. House Passes Bill to End Government Shutdown!
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
The United States House of Representatives just passed a Senate-brokered bill to fully reopen the government and raise the federal government’s debt ceiling.
In a 285 to 144 vote, the action came after 16 days of a partial government shutdown and one day before the Treasury Department warned that the nation could run out of money to pay its bills unless it raised its borrowing limit.
The bill now goes to President Barack Obama who said he will sign it and vowed to get things back up and running as soon as possible.
“I will sign it immediately,” the President Read More
Udall; Heinrich Hail Senate Vote to Re-Open Federal Government
U.S. Sen. Tom UdallU.S. Senate Passes Bill to Avoid Default; Reopen Government!
U.S. SENATE News:
The United States Senate voted 81-18 this evening to avoid a financial default and reopen the government. The measure is now in the House, which is expected to pass the bill by midnight.
This bill comes after a 16-day partial shutdown and will reopen the government through Jan. 15 and permit the Treasury to borrow normally through Feb. 7 or possibly a month longer. Senate passage of the bill came several hours after Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced a bipartisan agreement.
Reid spoke on the Senate floor earlier today regarding the bipartisan Read More
Breaking News: Agreement Reached to Reopen Government!
U.S. SENATE News:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced an agreement has been reached to reopen the government and avert the nation’s first-ever default on U.S. debt.
The Senate’s bill will end an impasse that has shut down the government for 16 days.
According to news reports, Reid hailed the agreement saying that “in the end, political adversaries put aside their differences.”
Now the agreement must win approval in the Senate and then the House before reaching President Barack Obama’s desk, perhaps by the Read More
Letter to the Editor: Shutdown Puts Public Lands at Risk
Shutdown Puts Public Lands at Risk
As the seasons turn to fall, many of us here in New Mexico typically head to Bandelier National Monument before the cold rolls in. However, as a result of the government shutdown, our national parks, wildlife refuges, and national forests all across New Mexico are closed to any and all visitors.
Bandelier National Monument typically sees a flood of visitors in October who come to experience the beauty of its cliff dwellings or spend a last night under the stars. Last year in October alone, over 125,000 people visited New Read More
Heinrich Delivers Senate Floor Speech Underlining Devastating Impacts of Shutdown on New Mexico’s Economy
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., just delivered a speech on the Senate floor to underline the devastating impacts of the government shutdown on New Mexico’s economy and middle-class families.
Heinrich mentions several of the hardships faced by the Los Alamos community.
Below are Heinrich’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Mr. President, in the midst of the current crises there have been some who have questioned the relevance of the federal government to our overall economy. Some have even called Read More
Democrats Meet 7 p.m. Thursday at UNM-LA
DPLA News:
The Democratic Party of Los Alamos invites all Democrats to its monthly meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17 at UNM-LA in building 2.
On the agenda is information about the debt ceiling, the sequester, the budget and how the government shutdown will affect Los Alamos. Also, a discussion of upcoming plans and events. Read More
NBC News Interviews Los Alamos Businesses on Government Shutdown
NBC News Producers Dennis Funes and Dana Roecker visited Los Alamos Sunday to learn more about the impact of the government shutdown on small business. They met with Manager Dan Saxton of Metzger’s Do-it-Best Hardware in White Rock and owner Cyndi Wells of Pet Pangaea in Central Park Square in downtown Los Alamos and also interviewed Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Manager Katy Korkos. The interview air dates will be scheduled soon on NBC. Photo by Katy Korkos
NBC News Producers Dennis Funes interviews Manager Dan Saxton of Metzger’s Do-it-Best Hardware in White Rock Sunday about Read More
Los Alamos GOP Meets Oct. 17
GOP News:
The Republican Central Committee and other interested Republicans are invited to the Party’s October meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 in Room 608 on the UNM-LA Campus.
Plans for future events will be discussed, planned and organized. All party workers are invited to share their ideas. Party principles and rules also will be discussed.
Poll: Majority of Americans Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress
Results of a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll show if given the chance, 60 percent of Americans would vote to defeat and replace every single member of Congress, including their own representative. Read the full poll here (.pdf) Courtesy photo Read More
Lujan Grisham: Protect New Mexico’s National Labs
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) spoke on the House floor Saturday night about the importance of New Mexico’s national laboratories and the need to pass a clean funding bill that will reopen the government, restore funding to the national labs and prevent lab employees from being furloughed.
Below is a transcript of her remarks and a link to the video.
Click HERE to watch the video.
“Thank you very much to my friend and colleague from California.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the hard work of the Read More
House Approves NNSA Temporary Funding
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 248-176 Friday to fund the National Nuclear Security Administration through Dec. 15. NNSA is the agency that oversees Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.
“Today’s vote to fund the NNSA is key to the security of our nation, and assures that the hard-working employees of Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs will continue to have jobs,” said Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. “Our contractors and employees at Sandia and Los Alamos provide a vital service to our nation, which must Read More
Community Partners Announce Assistance for Furloughed Federal Employees
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) today announced that several New Mexico community partners have offered to assist federal employees furloughed as a result of the government shutdown.
At Rep. Lujan Grisham’s Oct. 6 roundtable meeting with furloughed federal employees, participants expressed fear and concern that the government shutdown would cause serious financial hardship for them and their families. The furloughed workers told Lujan Grisham that any missed or delayed paychecks would prevent them from paying their mortgage Read More
Luján: Republican Piecemeal Funding Bill Picks Winners and Losers, Would Still Leave Lab Employees Furloughed
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District spoke today on the House floor on the importance of swiftly passing a clean funding bill that will end the government shutdown, fund the national laboratories, and ensure that lab employees are not furloughed.
House Republicans are bringing up piecemeal bills that fund portions of the federal government, but fail to provide full funding to end the shutdown. Below are Luján’s remarks on the floor. Click here to watch his speech.
“Mr. Speaker, Read More
N.M. Delegation Working to Protect Federal and Lab Workers Hurt by Shutdown
STATE News:- Urges DOE to compensate national lab employees for back pay if furloughed because of shutdown
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham are working to ensure that federal workers in New Mexico are not financially hurt in the long-term by the federal government shutdown.
New Mexico is home to roughly 27,000 federal workers, and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) employ an additional 18,000 New Mexicans.
All four lawmakers are strong supporters of the Federal Employee Read More
Letter to the Editor: Congress Needs to Act on Clean Continuing Resolution to Fund Government
By Ben Ray Luján
Member of Congress
I want to thank Mr. Redman for his letter concerning the need to take action to end the government shutdown. I could not agree more that Congress needs to act on a clean continuing resolution to fund the government. It is long past time that the House of Representatives votes on such a measure. Even before House Republicans caved to the Tea Party demands to shut down the government, I advocated for a clean vote that would have kept the government open and allowed Congress to do its work without furloughing thousands of New Mexican workers or delaying vital services Read More
Letter to the Editor: It’s Time for Luján to Take Action
By JIM REDMANI would urge the Congressman to promptly support the introduced “discharge Read More
GOP Women Raise Funds Through Garage Sale
Members of the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women held a garage sale on Barranca Mesa Saturday to raise money for the nonprofit organization. From left, JoAnn Johnson, Norma Tech, Donna MacDonald, Mary Brooks and Terry Marzili. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Luján Wants LANL Employees Compensated if Furloughed Due to Government Shutdown
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District spoke today on the House floor in support of H.R. 3223, legislation that ensures furloughed federal employees retroactively receive their pay.
During his remarks, Luján highlighted that it is the intent of Congress to also support contract employees at the national laboratories.
In addition, he submitted into the Congressional Record a letter he is sending Department of Energy Secretary Earnest Moniz to emphasize that fact. Below are Luján’s remarks as Read More
Luján: It’s Time House Republicans End Political Games, Allow Vote to End Shutdown
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement on the government shutdown and House Republicans’ refusal to allow a vote on the Senate-passed Continuing Resolution:
“Enough is enough. New Mexico families are hurting as workers have been off the job for days and critical services have been delayed. It is long past time for Congress to act to end the government shutdown and make sure that the employees who have been furloughed through no fault of their own are made whole. It is long past time Read More
