Martin Heinrich

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, 14 weeks have gone by and the Republican majority has still not offered a single jobs package. Instead, we continue to see radical attacks on everything from Medicare to vital clean air protections. The dirty air act that we're considering today destroys the EPA's ability to limit air pollution under the Clean Air Act, an unprecedented move that ignores scientific consensus and public health. Instead of creating jobs, the Republicans are asking us to pass legislation that would put our Nation's health and safety at risk. This radical bill also halts a measure that would save American families thousands of dollars a year in fuel costs and make America more energy independent. We must make our policy decisions based on science, not on politics. I would urge my colleagues to vote against this dirty air act today.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Women's History Month and to honor a very special hero stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. First Lieutenant Candice Killian, of the 58th Training Squadron, is our Nation's first female pilot for the CV-22, also known as the Osprey. It is an elite honor for any pilot to fly the CV-22, and it's particularly unique to be the first woman in history to do so. Unfortunately, the contributions that women make to our military and our Nation don't always get their due recognition; so it's a very special honor for me today to recognize First Lieutenant Killian as part of Women's History Month. I continue to be inspired by the great sacrifices made by leaders like First Lieutenant Killian in service to our Nation. Congratulations to First Lieutenant Killian on her distinguished service and sacrifice.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true American hero and a remarkable public servant, Cesar Chavez. Chavez is revered by people across our nation as a humble activist who led a monumental fight to improve labor conditions for migrant farm workers. His nonviolent crusade for social change was inspired by the hardship and injustices that he witnessed growing up as a farm worker. As a result of that upbringing, he led a movement to achieve fair wages, worker protections, human rights and human dignity among the most underrepresented in our society. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for those efforts, and today, almost two decades after his passing, he continues to inspire young people to dedicate their own lives in service to others. In his words, ``the end of all education should surely be service to others.'' His impact is timeless and cannot be understated. On behalf of my constituents in New Mexico's First Congressional District, I am proud to honor him before my colleagues in Congress.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Chair, I rise today to object to the amendment submitted by Mr. Pence, which would deny Planned Parenthood health centers federal funding for family planning services, HIV testing and counseling, programs to prevent infertility, and breast and cervical cancer screenings. The Pence amendment would cut off millions of American women from their only source of primary care. One in five American women has accessed health care at a Planned Parenthood health center. In 2010, Planned Parenthood of New Mexico provided 1,995 Pap smear tests and 281 breast exams. Services such as these save lives. Instead of focusing on the issues Americans are most concerned about, House Republicans are targeting women's health care programs and women's health providers under the guise of deficit reduction. These proposals do nothing to improve the economy, they will result in job losses, and they will cut off millions of American women from their only source of primary and preventive care. At a time when more and more women and families are facing difficulties in accessing health care due to increasing costs and a struggling economy, members of Congress should be doing everything they can to ensure that women have access to the health care they need and the trusted providers in their community. I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, Americans need jobs. Up until now, Republicans have ignored this problem, and now they're making it worse. Our Nation's large and unsustainable budget deficit is staring us in the face, but it is at critical moments like this when we must approach our Nation's greatest challenges with responsibility and prudence. The approach we take must focus on responsible cuts, which will have a lasting impact on the deficit, not arbitrary short-term cuts to programs that are needed to prepare the next generation of American workers and taxpayers. Consider the effects of the bill before us on Specialist John Carabillo from my home State of New Mexico. Specialist Carabillo served in the Army for 6 years, and he was deployed to Iraq twice during his service. He then enlisted with the National Guard, and served an additional tour in Iraq. After returning to New Mexico, Specialist Carabillo decided he wanted to go back to school and earn his degree in IT. The Pell Grant scholarships and GI benefits Specialist Carabillo receives have allowed him to enroll in an associate's program at a vocational school. When he graduates, he hopes to find an IT job at Kirtland Air Force Base. The Republican bill would cut Specialist Carabillo's Pell Grant scholarship. This cut in his financial aid means that he will have to take fewer courses this year and graduate later, try to take a loan he can't afford or drop out of school. Specialist Carabillo is not alone. If students who rely on college aid from the Pell Grant program drop out of school, America runs the risk of dropping out of first place in the world economy. This motion to recommit would be a downpayment to restore Specialist Carabillo's future. Simply put, this motion to recommit would transfer funds from the Department of Education administration to fund Pell Grant scholarships at the current level. My amendment to restore these scholarships won't add a penny to the deficit. In fact, this MTR is paid for by cutting salaries and expenses at the Department of Education, which takes it back to fiscal year 2008 levels. So this motion to recommit calls on the House to make a choice. Do we want responsible, measured spending cuts or reckless ones? Do we want cuts to come at the expense of middle class America or corporate special interests? Do we want a weaker America that cuts education or a stronger America that competes and wins in the global economy? Whose side are we on? We say: We're on the side of American jobs. We're on the side of American education. We're on the side of working families and their sons and daughters. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this motion to recommit. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Our Nation's unsustainable budget deficit is staring us in the face, but it is at critical moments like this when we must approach our Nation's greatest challenges with responsibility and prudence. Make no mistake that what's at stake here is grand in scope, and we could have grave consequences for our Nation's security, our infrastructure, and our economy. Just this morning, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called the Republicans' stopgap spending plan ``a crisis on our doorstep'' in terms of our national security, and these shortsighted budget cuts could lead to costlier and more tragic consequences later. The approach we take must focus on responsible cuts which will have a lasting impact on our deficit, not arbitrary short-term cuts to programs to win a few votes back home. We should be making decisions based on the best available science, not the worst possible politics. For example, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are focused on de-funding the Mexican Wolf Recovery program, instead of protecting the critically important jobs at the National Nuclear Security Administration. The NNSA is responsible for the management and security of our Nation's nuclear weapons and nuclear nonproliferation, and provides crucial funding for the work being done at our national labs. Our national labs, like Sandia National Lab in central New Mexico, have a tremendous impact on our local communities and our national defense. Last year, Sandia Labs hired a little over 700 people; 203 of these new hires graduated from a New Mexico university. I am in favor of reducing government spending. In fact, this week I voted to cut $3 billion in unnecessary spending. But installations critical to our national security which are also successful private sector economic drivers like Sandia National Labs should not take the hit. Elsewhere in their spending plans, Republicans want to gut the Land and Conservation Fund, a proven economic multiplier that has yielded $4 in economic activity around national parks for every dollar of Federal investment. They want to slash the Antiquities Act, which, since 1906, has provided an economic lifeline to rural communities surrounded by public land. Madam Speaker, in the West, outdoor recreation and public lands means jobs. They mean hunting and fishing and camping and a western way of life. Also on the chopping block is vital funding for women's health care and service agencies like AmeriCorps. In regard to infrastructure, the Republicans' continuing resolution cuts key investments aimed at fixing our crumbling roads, energy grids, and clean water programs. Just this month, in my home State of New Mexico, we experienced a major gas outage emergency. On the coldest night of the year, with temperatures as low as negative 32 degrees, families were left without heat due to distribution infrastructure failures across the Southwest. In an era of infrastructure failures which wreak havoc on communities, cutting key transportation and infrastructure investments would leave America dangerously vulnerable. At the same time, these cuts will result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The middle class is still on a shaky path to recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Let's not pull the rug out from underneath the hardworking people we came here to represent. It has been 2 months since the Republicans took over the majority, and they still haven't introduced a jobs package. It was bad enough that the Republicans were ignoring jobs, but with this CR, they are now actively trying to cut jobs. I don't know about you, but a ``so be it'' attitude is simply not going to cut it when it comes to the families I represent back home. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to resist the temptation to politicize the very serious business of reducing our Nation's deficit. That is the only way we will ever rebuild the public's trust in government and grow our economy. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I unfortunately missed three votes on January 26, 2011, which included rollcall votes Nos. 23, 24 and 25. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of rollcall vote No. 23, Representative Gary Peters' (MI-09) amendment to H.R. 359. I would have also voted in favor of rollcall vote No. 24, the Motion to Recommit H.R. 359 offered by Representative Tim Walz (MN-01). Lastly, I would have voted against rollcall vote No. 25, the final passage of H.R. 359.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, last year we took a desperately needed stand for America's families and small businesses over the insurance companies. We took a stand against insurance company abuses like discrimination against the sick, lifetime limits, the prescription drug doughnut hole, and a resulting $1 trillion increase to our deficit. We took a stand for hardworking Americans like Vicky Farrar, who moved to Albuquerque only to discover that to reenroll in a health insurance plan she would end up spending close to a third of her income because of her preexisting condition, high blood pressure. That kind of skyrocketing cost burden has stunted the dreams of American families and small businesses while lining the pockets of insurance company CEOs. But thanks to the American Affordable Care Act, Vicky and her doctor will be put back in charge of her health care and able to choose an affordable insurance policy. I urge my colleagues to vote against a return to the broken health care system that we spent decades trying to fix.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the many victims of Saturday's tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, and to voice my hope for a full recovery for each of the survivors, particularly my colleague and friend, Representative Gabrielle Giffords. On behalf of me, my family, my staff, and the constituents of New Mexico's First Congressional District, I express our heartbreak at the attempted assassination, the devastation of so many innocent lives, and the senseless attack on our nation's Democratic process. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of this senseless tragedy, and especially to the friends and families of Judge John M. Roll, Gabe Zimmerman, Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Schneck and Dorwan Stoddard. We are grateful for the heroes who courageously intervened, the first responders and health care professionals and those who continue to assist the survivors in their recovery. Though she remains in critical condition, I know Gabby, and can attest to her nature as a fearless fighter. We've worked closely together on the House Armed Services Committee as clean energy advocates and as New Democrats. As the only member of Congress with a spouse on active-duty, she is a tireless advocate for military families and is unquestionably one of the most talented Democratic leaders of my generation. With all of that in mind, I am optimistic and hopeful that she will overcome this tragedy. Her recovery is important to our nations' future. Sadly, Saturday's assassin took advantage of an event which embodies the very essence of public service and the right to assemble without fear. Like Gabby, I hold these kinds of ``Congress On Your Corner'' events in my district to hear directly from my constituents, whether they agree with me or not. Listening to our constituents is a fundamental duty of each Member of Congress and provides an extraordinary opportunity to talk one-on-one in an inclusive and equitable environment. That our constituents would have to worry about violence as part of that process is unthinkable. We must continue to remain accessible to our constituents while taking appropriate measures going forward to protect their safety. As we pray for Gabby's recovery and for the families and friends of all of those impacted by Saturday's tragedy, let us honor their legacy by striving to reinforce the spirit of Democracy in which the victims sought to engage in on Saturday in Tucson. Together as a nation, we can have a vigorous debate without compromising the civility and respect for one another's human dignity that is core to our great Nation's principles.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Claims Resolution Act, a bill that is the result of many long years of negotiations. This bill will ratify settlements in two significant New Mexico water rights cases. The Aamodt and Taos Pueblo Indian water rights cases have been in Federal court for many decades. These cases sought to bring justice to Native Pueblos who, like any other Western community, depend on water as their lifeblood. After many decades, the Claims Resolution Act will bring much-needed certainty to the Pueblos of northern New Mexico by restoring their right to clean, reliable water. Cooperation and collaboration are far too rare when it comes to managing water resources in the West. The Aamodt and Taos Pueblo Indian water bills are an example of how we can manage this precious resource without pitting towns against farms and farms against tribes. The legislation has bipartisan support and was passed by the Senate by unanimous consent. I commend President Obama and Secretary Salazar for upholding our Nation's responsibilities to Native Americans, and we should finish that work today by ratifying these settlements.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor from H.R. 5820.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, during my recent high-tech manufacturing tour, I saw firsthand the success of some of New Mexico's homegrown companies. While creating jobs, local small businesses like Senspex, Applied Technology Associates, and Aspen Avionics are also providing the innovation to meet our Nation's twenty-first century challenges. Even through the recent economic downturn, this local high-tech sector has remained strong, and even grown by hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Yet many small businesses cannot access the credit that they need to expand and hire more workers. This is why the Congress must pass the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act. This legislation will boost small business lending through community banks and provide tax relief, and it will do it without adding a penny to the deficit. I am doing all I can to support small businesses, which is why I urge my colleagues to support the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Chairman, as an avid hunter and sportsman, I am very proud to cosponsor this recreational access funding amendment. Too many families, sportsmen, outdoor enthusiasts across our Nation continue to be locked out of public lands because of lack of legal access. New Mexico's Sabinoso Wilderness is an example. I've personally spent hours on horseback riding through Sabinoso's high mesas and deep canyons. But without permission from adjacent private landowners, which usually requires an escort from the Bureau of Land Management, legal access to the Sabinoso is not available. This amendment would dedicate a small percentage of the Land and Water Conservation Fund to acquire those rights-of-way for the public from willing sellers. Public lands like the Sabinoso belong to every American, and this amendment will help ensure that future generations of Americans can hunt and fish, hike and camp on these lands. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to support the underlying legislation.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, the people of New Mexico's First Congressional District are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that took place at the Emcore manufacturing plant in Albuquerque on Monday morning. In a brutal act of workplace domestic violence, six community members were victimized, including Michele Turner and Sharon Cunningham, who were killed, and four others who were wounded. This kind of tragedy is every community's nightmare, but this tragedy must also recommit all of us to confronting and preventing the serious problem of domestic violence to insure that a tragedy like this never happens again. We are grateful for the heroic actions of the many Emcore employees, as well as Albuquerque's police and first responders who arrived on scene within minutes of the first call, and some of whom rushed into the active shooter situation without waiting for back up. We hold the victims in our hearts. We pray for all touched by this, and we will find the strength as a community to come together and overcome.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding young New Mexican, Jessica Martinez, for her three vigorous years of service as National Youth President for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Ms. Martinez is currently studying Political Science and Spanish in our congressional district at the University of New Mexico, and has served as LULAC's National Youth President since 2007. Throughout her term, she has provided invaluable national advocacy on issues including the DREAM Act, a bill that I was proud to co-sponsor, which would repeal the restriction against granting talented, law-abiding immigrant students from earning educational benefits and pursuing their dreams here in America. I am also proud that Ms. Martinez helped to bring the National LULAC Convention and Exposition to Albuquerque, bringing thousands of participants from around the nation to our community. With over 80 years of service, LULAC has played an important role in making our nation more equal and just for Latino families. From fighting against the segregation of Latino children in schools during the 1930s, to standing in defense of Latino veterans' dignity during our country's world wars, to working today to ensure that our economic recovery makes a difference for our country's Latino community, LULAC's leadership and work in civil rights has been a vital part of the fabric of America. This is Ms. Martinez' final year as National Youth President, but I look forward to her continued service to New Mexico and to our nation. If our nation is to continue thriving in the 21st Century, we will need young leaders like Jessica Martinez to help meet our greatest challenges.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Last night, I hosted a telephone town hall with thousands of New Mexicans to discuss what we've been doing to reform Wall Street and to protect and empower consumers in the marketplace. During the town hall, several constituents contacted my office for help with their own financial problems like unfair spikes in their credit card interest rates. Just like these callers, all New Mexicans have been negatively impacted by the years without accountability for Wall Street banks and big corporations that caused the financial hardship that we're dealing with today. Our working families and our small businesses deserve better. That's why I was proud to vote for the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act yesterday. This legislation will rein in the Wall Street banks and their big bonuses and put an end to taxpayer bailouts and the idea of ``too big to fail.'' I'm hopeful the Senate will quickly pass this bill so that Wall Street banks will again be held accountable. Hardworking New Mexicans deserve no less.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a notable constituent of New Mexico's First Congressional District, Ms. Maurine McMillan, who is the director of the Harvey House Museum in Belen, New Mexico. The Harvey House Museum was founded in 1910 and served as an important gathering space for scores of railroad patrons during the first half of the 20th century. During that time, the Santa Fe line and its accompanying railroad industry defined development in central New Mexico but offered little in the way of comfort to travelers. Fred Harvey's company brought elegant restaurants, hotel services and amenities to the traveling public throughout the Southwest and established a reputation for cleanliness and friendliness. At its peak, Mr. Harvey's company operated 84 unique Harvey Houses and was the first ``chain'' business in the world, with an average of one house every 100 miles of the Santa Fe rail line, from Kansas to California. Many of those Harvey Houses have since been abandoned, demolished or converted to office or storage space for the railroad, but the Harvey House Museum in Belen has been preserved. It is now listed on the National Register and visitors are able to tour its many exhibits. Many community events are also held at the Harvey House Museum, earning the building high regard as a true ``place of the heart'' in New Mexico. I am proud to honor Ms. Maurine McMillan of New Mexico's First Congressional District for her continued leadership in preserving the rich value of the Harvey House Museum of Belen to New Mexicans, on its 100th anniversary, this month of June, 2010.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2340) to resolve the claims of the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska to land adjacent to Salmon Lake in the State of Alaska and to provide for the conveyance to the Bering Straits Native Corporation of certain other public land in partial satisfaction of the land entitlement of the Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended.

Mr. HEINRICH

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Clarification Act is an important step that will help keep the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center serving our community and our Nation. Founded in 1976 to celebrate the history and accomplishments of our State's 19 Indian Pueblos, the IPCC includes a museum that honors the continuing contributions of Pueblo people to our State in their own words. The IPCC continues to serve as a gathering space for Pueblo leaders to meet and discuss issues of importance to the 19 Indian Pueblos. The IPCC property sits on land that was put into trust for New Mexico's pueblos in 1978, when the Albuquerque Indian School was closed by the Bureau of Indian Education. However, in recent years, disagreement has arisen about the land's tax status. This legislation will remove a clause in the current law that states that this land is not ``Indian Country,'' thereby ensuring that commercial activity on this site remains exempt from State taxation, just like all other trust land. The bill also includes a clause that explicitly prohibits gaming at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center site, which has earned the support of the All-Indian Pueblo Council, the State of New Mexico, and the city of Albuquerque. Although it was not the intention of the All-Indian Pueblo Council to engage in gaming at this location, that provision puts to rest any concerns of residents who live nearby. I thank each of the parties who have come to the table in this effort to bolster a place loved by so many across New Mexico's First Congressional District and across our Nation. I'd also like to thank my colleagues from New Mexico, Representative Teague and Representative Lujan, for their support as well. Mr. Speaker, the House Natural Resources Committee reported this bill by unanimous consent on June 16 of this year, and I would ask my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 4445. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I would simply urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4445, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.