STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández announced she was appointed as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, after serving as Chairwoman of the Subcommittee during the 117th Congress.

The subcommittee is a part of the House Committee on Natural Resources and oversees all matters regarding American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and insular areas. The Congresswoman will use her role on the Committee to advocate on behalf of New Mexico’s Tribes and Pueblos. Leger Fernández will also work and examine issues related to insular areas, including the territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Rep. Leger Fernández released the following statement:

“I am humbled to serve New Mexicans as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. New Mexico’s Pueblos and Tribes are an integral part of our state’s beautiful diversity and economic strength. As Ranking Member, I will build on the momentum from last Congress. We made historic investments and passed the STOP Act to crack down on the trafficking of tribal cultural items. I will advocate to protect sacred land, uplift Native voices, and celebrate Indigenous cultures.”

The Congresswoman was also reappointed as a member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce in addition to her new role on the House Committee on Rules.