Ben Luján

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on ordering the previous question so we can take a meaningful step toward defeating this crisis.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Better Pain Management Through Better Data Act. Current data collection models used by the Food and Drug Administration to measure clinical effectiveness are not ideally suited to accelerate development of opioid-sparing products. This bipartisan legislation will better allow the FDA to obtain the data they need to more quickly approve label claims for nonaddictive pain medications. I think I have said this at least 100 times at this point, but we must work with our pharmaceutical partners and the FDA to make sure that patients across the country have nonaddictive pain management options. I come from a blue-collar district with ironworkers and ranchers and a whole lot of jobs where wear and tear on the body is inevitable. It is simply unrealistic to think that we won't have people who need access to pain therapy. That is where nonaddictive therapies come in. This bill is another step forward in making sure that everyone has more options to treat pain. While we are talking about nonaddictive pain medications and how important they are to break the cycle of addiction back home, I want to take a second to direct my comments toward all the pharmaceutical manufacturers who are developing or plan to develop drugs in this space: This is important. We need you to be innovative, and we need you to be aggressive. That being said, Mr. Speaker, I am already starting to be concerned regarding the cost of these drugs. Let me put this in plain English. I am worried that the people living in different parts of America may be able to afford these drugs but families who are struggling and worrying about how to make that family budget work are going to be left out. If people can't afford these therapies and these treatments, they are not going to make a bit of difference. We cannot create another layer of people who can afford medications and therapies and people who cannot, especially not when this issue is so important. All nonaddictive pain medications must be affordable, accessible, and of high quality. I appreciate the hard work of the committee staff, Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, and all the stakeholders who helped get this bill to the finish line. This epidemic is affecting too many New Mexicans, too many Americans, to not think about long-term strategies for preventing opioid use disorder in the future. I appreciate Chairman Walden's remarks. I thank him for acknowledging that this is not the end of our work. This committee has much work to do not just with this package, but into the future, until we are able to help everyone who is fighting addiction in America. I look forward to working with our colleagues, with the administration, and with anyone and everyone out there to make a difference when it comes to addiction in our country.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Guthrie and Dr. Bucshon for working with myself and Mr. Gene Green of Texas on this bill. I rise today in support of the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act. This bill would fund at least 10 comprehensive opioid centers across America. These centers will focus on community engagement, prevention, treatment, and also recovery services. They can be newly established centers or can build upon existing infrastructure. They will be located in areas hit hardest by this epidemic, and they will serve those who need help the most. Since 2008, New Mexico has had one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths in the country. According to the CDC, New Mexico had the third highest drug overdose death rate in the Nation in 2013 and the second highest in 2014. Almost every county in New Mexico has a higher rate than the national average. In some of the most hard-hit New Mexico counties, the overdose death rates were more than five times the national rate. Now, we know 10 centers across 50 States will not solve this problem. Still, we hope that these centers can stand as examples for what substance use disorder facilities could strive to be. I hope that these comprehensive centers will give families hope, researchers data, and communities across this country the resources that they so desperately need.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Pallone for the time and for his leadership. I thank Chairman Walden and his team for their work on this important piece of legislation, and, again, special recognition of the work of Mr. Johnson and his staff of Ohio for being so willing to work on this important policy and for the incredible team that he has assembled as well. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Peer Support Communities of Recovery Act. Anyone who has heard me speak about opioids knows that I believe strongly that to address this opioid epidemic, we must address our Nation's workforce challenges. We have phenomenal providers in New Mexico, and Mr. Johnson has them in Ohio, but what we both know is that we don't have enough of them. This is a numbers game. Unfortunately, the number of people with substance use disorder far surpasses the number of providers and treatment staff. That is where peer support recovery specialists come in. For those of you who haven't heard me talk about this or who did not tune in to hear our Energy and Commerce Committee witnesses throughout the hearing process, peer support recovery specialists are people who have lived and experienced, sadly, the challenges with substance abuse, who have fought against their addiction and are in recovery, and who have received training to help others who are in the midst of the fight now. Peer support recovery specialists provide immediate, ongoing support and treatment linkages to individuals in recovery. As Carlene Deal-Smith, a peer support recovery specialist of the Totah Behavioral Health Authority program in Farmington, New Mexico, testified: Being able to connect to our patients both through our shared heritage and shared struggles with addiction has allowed me to function as a bridge between them, the staff, and the community. This work has enabled me to be effective as a community support worker and mentor. Most importantly, I am living proof that recovery can happen. These people provide an incredibly important service to the community. Peer support programs also mean jobs for individuals who may not otherwise find those opportunities. Ms. Deal-Smith explained to us this job got her through hard times in her own journey with substance use and made her feel proud to serve the community and help her people in such an important way. I am grateful that the House has acknowledged the importance of these programs, and I am hopeful that the Senate will do the same very soon.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chair, I would like to recognize the leadership of Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, and my friend and colleague, Mr. Larsen. Mr. Chairman, the amendment I have at the desk today will help start a Federal process in providing additional flexibility for storage of native and San Juan-Chama water to benefit the Middle Rio Grande region. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has been working for more than 5 years to obtain congressional authorization to increase storage in Abiquiu Reservoir by about 35,000 acre-feet. This will provide greater and much-needed flexibility for water operations to support municipal, agricultural, and environmental purposes. This amendment starts that process by expediting the feasibility study for Abiquiu Dam. According to the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the added storage will also provide opportunities to benefit acequias in northern New Mexico, many of which have the oldest water rights in the Rio Grande basin, but do not have any ability to store water for use in drought years; management of operations in the Middle Rio Grande for Endangered Species Act compliance; and for the Rio Grande Compact compliance for the State of New Mexico. This project is supported by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Corps of Engineers, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management. WildEarth Guardians, the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon New Mexico, the city and county of Santa Fe, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Rio Arriba County, and the Rio Chama Acequia Association. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment so that these communities can move forward with this critical project, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this bill because I believe that it makes it more likely that a future interim storage site--potentially one in New Mexico--becomes a permanent home for nuclear waste. I know that these are tough issues, and I agree that we have a responsibility to address the waste issues that result from our country entering the atomic age. However, addressing nuclear waste is not our only responsibility. Seventy years ago, rural New Mexico became ground zero for the detonation of the first nuclear bomb. This marked the beginning of sickness and suffering for generations of people who lived and grew up in the Tularosa Basin. ``That atomic bomb,'' Gloria wrote to me, ``has caused anguish to so many people in New Mexico. . . . The people from New Mexico have suffered physically, mentally, and financially. And we are all here in hope that you will find a way to help us.'' It has been over 70 years since the Trinity Test. Seventy years, and the Federal Government has done almost nothing to recognize or compensate those impacted by that test. They are not alone. In 1990, Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to begin to right this wrong. However, we have since learned that there are many more individuals who are sick or dying because they worked in the uranium industry, lived near a mining operation, or lived downwind from a test. The Navajo, Hopi, and Yavapai Apache Indian Reservations were particularly affected. That is why I have repeatedly introduced the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments to compensate those workers. We have had Navajo elders travel out here to Washington, D.C., and ask us in Congress, ``Are you waiting for us all to die to solve this problem?'' The Rules Committee rejected amendments that I offered. Why in the world is it that the people of New Mexico, where the first bomb went off, are the only ones that are left out of protections? People in Nevada, Colorado, and Utah are included, but New Mexico has been left out. The first place the bomb was tested, these people weren't given a warning. All they saw was a light flash when they were in their kitchens or outside working. Mr. Chairman, this deserves action, and I hope I can work with my colleagues to get this done.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great New Mexican and American hero, Sergeant First Class Roy Tachias of Albuquerque, who is here with us today. In 1950, Roy Tachias was deployed to Korea, where he saw fierce combat. One night, Roy was ordered to mount a forward listening post. That night, in darkness, he witnessed the Chinese Army approaching. Alone, Roy began to shout, shoot, and throw grenades at the waves of soldiers. This threw the enemy into disarray and stopped the attack. By morning, Sergeant Tachias had single-handedly killed 33 enemy soldiers and taken one prisoner. He earned the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and heroism. Stars and Stripes called him the ``One Man Army.'' Sergeant Tachias was wounded five times in Korea and received the Purple Heart with a Bronze Star with valor. After the war, Roy married and settled in California. He eventually returned to the Army and served two tours in Vietnam, where his leadership and bravery earned him another Bronze Star. In 1976, he retired and returned home to New Mexico. It is with great gratitude, pride, and respect that we recognize his service today. New Mexico is humbled by his lifetime of service that began on the Korean Peninsula in 1950, and has continued to inspire those around him.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a great New Mexican and a true American hero, Sergeant First Class (ret.) Roy Tachias of Albuquerque, New Mexico. On this day, we also honor the entire Tachias family for their continued military service in support of the country they love. To truly comprehend the significant service and sacrifice of Sergeant Tachias to our nation, it is important to understand his humble beginnings. Roy Tachias was born on January 25, 1932, in Cabezon, New Mexico. The village of Cabezon is located at the base of Cabezon Peak in a remote part of northwestern New Mexico, surrounded by tall mesas and bordering the Navajo Nation Reservation. It was a small village of nearly 200 people, very isolated from modern society. Most of the homes had dirt floors, and no one in the village had water, gas, or electricity. Roy fondly recalls memories of his early years when his mother would bake bread and make soap with his help and the help of his seven brothers and sisters. Each day, the family would haul back water from the local arroyos--arroyos which they shared with the local cattle. Laundry was a three-day process and the whole village would hang their clothes outside to air dry. The villagers were either farmers or cattle ranchers, and all lived off the fruits of their daily labor. When Roy was in elementary school, the Tachias family moved to the city of Bernalillo. At age 16, Roy and a few of his friends hitchhiked to Albuquerque and enlisted in the United States Army. In 1949, at the age 17, Private Roy Tachias received his first military orders, was posted to Japan, and eventually became a member of the 21st Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. That unit evolved into the infamous Task Force Smith, the first combat group of American fighting forces deployed to face the North Korean Army following their incursion into South Korea. During this effort, 40 percent of his unit was lost and many more were wounded. In the next few years, Task Force Smith members would go on to fight with distinction against both the North Korean and Chinese Armies. Sergeant Tachias describes the rough conditions, recalling times that his unit marched on without food and supplies, and even used old rags wrapped around their feet when their boots wore out. In July of 1950, Task Force Smith was ordered to fight a delaying action until reinforcements arrived. Their mission was to join forces with the South Korean Army. At that time, the North Korean army had surged over the border and was headed toward the southern coast, leaving death and destruction behind them. American soldiers met an estimated 6,000 North Korean troops near Osan, slowed down the enemy advance, and delayed their progress until they halted it altogether. Sergeant Tachias recalls the many times he leaned heavily on his faith to get him through. He says he prayed every day and night and believed that God walked beside him and protected him. After extensive fighting, the American forces pushed the North Korean Army to the border of China. For five days and five nights straight, both armies fought an exhausting engagement. It was on one of those nights when Sergeant Tachias was ordered to be the sole individual to man a forward listening post in enemy territory, 5,000 yards from his unit on the front line. That night, in the darkness, Roy began to hear and feel a rumbling sound and witnessed the Chinese Army approaching him in waves. Instinctively, Sergeant Tachias began to shout, shoot, and throw hand grenades at the waves of Chinese descending upon him. His efforts threw the enemy unit into disarray and successfully stopped the attack. He later said, ``I confused them, I guess.'' By the time morning came, Sergeant Tachias had killed 33 enemy soldiers singlehandedly and taken a man prisoner. He was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and heroism. The Stars and Stripes wrote an article and called him the ``One Man Army'' for his heroic efforts. Sergeant Tachias was wounded five times during his time on the Korean Peninsula. He also received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor. After his service with the U.S. Army in Korea ended, Roy Tachias married the former Ramoncita Angelina Gonzales and settled in California, where he worked for Lockheed Aircraft. He eventually returned to the Army and served two tours in Vietnam, where he earned another Bronze Star. His leadership as a non-commissioned officer throughout his 20-year military career was second to none. In 1976, he retired from the military and returned to his home state of New Mexico, a man forever changed by the memories of those who fought alongside him, the battles he survived, and a lifetime spent in service to his country. Sergeant Tachias and his wife, Ramoncita, traveled the world in service to our nation and they established a beautiful family with four children: Kathleen, Michael, Jeanette, and Brian. A soldier cannot perform at his best without the love and support of his family-- especially without the support of a dedicated spouse, who, at times, must bear the burden of being both mother and father. So we also would like to commend Ramoncita Tachias for the many years of loving service and dedication she has shown to her family and to our nation. Roy and Ramoncita celebrate 65 years of marriage this year, so please join me in congratulating them on this milestone as well. The Tachias family is known for their patriotism and their support for our Armed Services in their local communities. Due to his example, both sons followed in their father's footsteps and are also combat veterans. Sergeant Tachias' oldest son, Michael, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with over thirty years of service in the U.S. Army. After retirement, Col. Michael Tachias established the Cabezon Wounded Warrior Haven in Cabezon, New Mexico to provide a refuge for wounded warriors and their families. Sergeant Tachias' younger son, Brian, retired as a full Colonel. Because his father's life was so greatly impacted by his military service in Korea, his son, Colonel Brian Tachias, wanted to serve there as well. As a young Infantry officer, he was stationed with the 506th Infantry Regiment on the Korean Demilitarized Zone some 38 years after his father. Colonel Tachias then continued his service as an Army Aviator and he recently retired with 29 years of active duty service. The legacy does not end there. Sergeant Tachias' grandsons, Joe Garcia, Jr., Brian Tachias, Jr., and Nicholas Tachias, also stepped up to answer a new generation's call to service. It is with great pride and deep respect that we today recognize the service of this outstanding individual. New Mexico is humbled to honor Sergeant Tachias' contributions to this nation, contributions that began on that Korean peninsula in 1950 and have had generational effects that continue onto a new page of history that is yet to be written. With a third generation of Tachias soldiers guarding America's freedom, we can have confidence that our nation's future is in good hands.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened to learn of Ray Baum's passing. Ray was a consummate professional--a true gentleman, whose decency and graciousness showed through in everything he did. He brought decades of expertise and a depth of knowledge to his role as Majority Staff Director of the House Energy and Commerce Committee partly due to his prior service as member of the Oregon State Legislature. Ray was also a dear friend, who I was proud to work with when we both served as public utility commissioners for our respective states of Oregon and New Mexico. But more than that, Ray was a kind, brilliant, patient, and dedicated public servant. He will be deeply missed by Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and his service to our committee and to our nation will not be forgotten. May God bless Ray, and may He keep his wife Kristine and the rest of his family in His embrace.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this bill put forward by congressional Republicans isn't a tax plan; it is a tax scam. Republicans are going to borrow money on the backs of working families to give a tax cut to corporations in the top 1 percent. This will increase taxes on the middle class. This will add to our Nation's debt and pass the bill to our children. This Republican tax scam hurts seniors and families with long-term medical needs by eliminating the medical expense deduction that 9 million Americans, and nearly 120,000 people in my home State of New Mexico, depend upon. Destroying the medical expense deduction delivers a staggering blow to New Mexico families. Listen to this story sent to me by Lisa, a constituent of mine from northern New Mexico: ``My husband and I are lifelong native New Mexicans who grew up here, went to college here, and have opened and operate our two businesses in our home State. We are the proud parents of two wonderful children. New Mexico's our home, and we're proud to live here, contribute to our State's economy, and realize our version of the American Dream. ``Like most families today, life isn't always easy. The kids and I have medically complex conditions which require expensive medications, and my husband and I struggle with student loan debt, housing and transportation costs, and making a good life for our family. We incur $5,000 to $7,000 in out-of-pocket medical costs each year. Without the medical expense deductions, I am not sure we could continue to meet the demands of raising healthy, happy children while keeping our businesses going and growing. ``For us, this deduction is a lifeline, and the thought of losing that lifeline means we could drown in debt. That's not the American Dream--that's a nightmare.'' This is real and this is personal to people all across the country. Let's vote this bill down today, come back, work in a bipartisan fashion, work with our ranking member, Mr. Richard Neal, and come up with real tax reform that puts American working families first. Mr. Speaker, let's do the right thing today and put hardworking families first with our decision today.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 612.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, my amendment provides $2 million in dedicated funding for peer support and paraprofessionals as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program. Ensuring all Americans have access to affordable and high-quality mental health services should not be a partisan issue. It is simply the right thing to do. The purpose of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program, which this amendment funds, is to add additional training to serve populations especially in rural and medically underserved areas. The BHWET program helps close the gap in access to behavioral healthcare by establishing partnerships with a broad range of organizations and community partners to ensure a wide recruitment of students, opportunities for field placements, career development, and to provide job placement services. These efforts will increase the number of able behavorial health providers serving populations across their lifespan, including persons in rural, medically underserved, and vulnerable communities. Peer support has improved health outcomes while lowering healthcare costs. In fact, there is growing evidence that peer support-related strategies can be used as more engaging and successful solutions than current hospital and emergency room care-related options. Peer support programs provide individualized, managed care to those who need it the most. Many studies have shown the vast benefits to patients who utilize peer support. For example, a 3-year pilot project called the Peer Health Navigation Intervention, or ``The Bridge,'' showed that peer support, in addition to a variety of other positive outcomes, shifted the focus of healthcare from urgent care and emergency room visits to outpatient primary care. Furthermore, many studies have shown the potential cost savings that the increased implementation of peer support can deliver. A 2006 study demonstrated that, for patients using day treatment, the use of certified peer specialists led to a $5,497 cost reduction per person per year. Another successful program based out of Denver, Colorado, showed a return on investment of $2.28 for every dollar spent. As evidenced by these and other studies, a small investment in peer support services will greatly reduce healthcare costs in the long run. The current system for treating behavioral health issues is not sufficient to serve those who need help. It is unacceptable that more than 50 percent of primary care patients with depression go undiagnosed and two-thirds of primary care providers have no ability to prescribe outpatient behavioral health for their patients. Additionally, dedicated funding for peer support paraprofessionals will be essential in helping address the current lack of access to behavioral health services in our healthcare system. This modest amount of funding for a community-based partnership program will make an enormous difference for millions of Americans who deserve access to behavioral health services, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that the new state-of-the-art Media Arts and Technology Department facility at New Mexico Highlands University, my alma mater, will be named the McCaffrey Historic Trolley Building in honor of two outstanding New Mexicans and my dear friends, Joe and Martha McCaffrey. Joe and Martha have been generous in establishing the McCaffrey Family Endowment to support students in the new Highlands Master of Fine Arts degree program. Leveo Sanchez, Chairman of the Highlands Board of Regents, took note in making the naming recommendation, ``Joe and Martha McCaffrey have been highly involved with Highlands media arts for a number of years and have been very generous in making gifts to the department,'' Sanchez said. ``It's rare to have dedicated alumni like the McCaffreys who graduated so many years ago and are willing to donate some of their wealth to the university.'' But for those of us who know Joe and Martha McCaffrey, their generosity of spirit is not surprising. The McCaffreys have often noted the important role that Highlands played in their lives, and I have seen first-hand their love of the university and the Highlands community. Joe said, ``As young newly married students, we were given a firm educational foundation that allowed us to pursue our chosen careers. Without the help of caring professors, we would not have achieved our goals.'' ``This endowment is a small way for us to repay what Highlands gave to us so many years ago. We wanted media arts students at Highlands to have the same opportunities we had,'' Martha explained. ``The McCaffreys have supported media arts student projects, purchased equipment, and funded retreats to create the MFA program,'' said Kerry Loewen, media arts and technology chair at Highlands. ``They consistently support our program in other ways too, such as regularly attending student events. The McCaffreys are deserving of this legacy.'' I am also reminded that the McCaffrey Family Endowment was also established to honor the memory of Joe and Martha's family. Joe was born in Albuquerque and graduated from St. Mary's High School. His maternal grandfather came to New Mexico in 1879 and later founded the Albuquerque Carpenters Union. Joe's paternal grandfather came to New Mexico in the 1920s. He was a member of the New Mexico Legislature in the thirties and spent forty years working for New Mexico Senator Clinton P. Anderson. Joe's father, Bill McCaffrey, was the founder of the Rio Rancho Observer. Bill's brother, Fred McCaffrey, was the premier New Mexico political columnist, a Santa Fe Living Treasure and was a good friend of my father. Martha said that the Media Arts and Technology Department reminded her of Speech and Drama Department at Louisiana State University, chaired by her grandfather. ``This gift honors my grandfather's memory and his teaching philosophy. He once wrote, `A good teacher believes in accessibility to students and companionship with them, promotes attitudes of professional ethics, and gives them hard tasks to do in friendliness.' '' The professors in the Media Arts Department demonstrate that philosophy. This gift also honors the memory of Martha's father, whose proudest achievement was his contributions to the eradication of smallpox, while working for the World Health Organization in India and Somalia and her mother, a life-long educator. I am reminded that Joe earned a B.S. and M.S. in physics and mathematics from Highlands in 1960 and 1961 respectively. Martha completed a B.A. in history, with a minor in English, in 1961. Joe completed a Ph.D. in physics from Colorado State University. Joe worked at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for 30 years as a bench scientist and science administrator and for five years as a Professor of Computational Engineering at Mississippi State University. His many technical achievements during this period were documented in a Memorial declaring February 21, 2013 as ``Dr. Joe McCaffrey Day'' in the New Mexico Senate. None of these achievements would have been possible without the educational foundation provided by Highlands University. I recall that Joe was named a Highlands distinguished alumnus in 2004, served on the Highlands Foundation board beginning in 2006 and continues as an emeritus member. He also has taught several classes at Highlands. Martha completed her master's degree in library science at the University of Maryland, and was a longtime librarian and media specialist at Mandeville High School in Mandeville, Louisiana. Martha received the Modisette Award from the Louisiana Library Association for her pioneering efforts in library automation. I know that Martha is a member of the Highlands Alumni Association board. As a Las Vegas Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation board member, she has mentored several media arts students in local internships through the university's one-of-a-kind AmeriCorps Cultural Technology program. So it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Highlands on the new Media Arts and Technology Department facility and thank Joe and Martha McCaffrey for their generosity and their vision for generations of future fine arts students at Highlands.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of a true public servant and a dear friend from my home state of New Mexico. I have been fortunate in my life to have had the example, the mentorship and the friendship of some truly extraordinary individuals. I was deeply saddened to learn that one of those extraordinary individuals, former State Representative Luciano `Lucky' Varela, is no longer with us. Lucky was a political giant in New Mexico, a true public servant who was loved and respected by all who knew him. Representative Varela was seen by many as the conscience of the New Mexico Legislature--caring, knowledgeable, and always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. During his 30 years of dedicated service, he became one of New Mexico's most profound political leaders, and one of our state's best representatives for working families. Lucky represented a Santa Fe-area House seat in the Roundhouse from 1987 through 2016, where he served as chairman of the influential Finance Committee, among other important committee posts. When it came to state finances and fiscal matters, Lucky's command of the subject was encyclopedic. One of his colleagues once said that Lucky had probably forgotten more about state finances than the experts that appeared before his committee ever knew. Truer words were never spoken. Over the course of his long and memorable career, Varela was a champion for fair wages and reasonable pay increase for state employees, and protecting those who served our state by working in state government. When Lucky saw a problem, he acted to correct it. His leadership and compassion shined throughout his life. He inspired those who got to know him and many who never met him. His life and his service have left an indelible imprint on the thousands of New Mexicans he helped while in office, but even more importantly, Lucky Varela's legacy will live on through the many people he mentored and relationships he fostered. Before I close, I want to share some of the remembrances from those who knew him and worked with him. Senator Tom Udall said Lucky ``represented the people of Santa Fe with honor, integrity and heart. He will be remembered for his honesty about the need to address our challenges in order to move our state forward, and especially for his deep knowledge of the state budget and its impact on everyone in New Mexico. ``Lucky truly made New Mexico a better place. He understood the numbers; just as importantly, he understood the people behind those numbers--their struggles, hopes and dreams. He gave selflessly to the people of Santa Fe and the entire state of New Mexico, and we are better for his leadership. We will miss him dearly.'' Former Governor Bill Richardson called Lucky ``a master legislator whose expertise on the budget and finances was unparalleled. He was also a gentle soul who cared deeply about his Santa Fe constituents and his wonderful family.'' Regarding Lucky, Attorney General Hector Balderas said he was ``grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to serve under his leadership in the New Mexico House of Representatives. He was a strong voice for New Mexico's children, families and state employees.'' New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf called Lucky ``a stalwart advocate for working people, for using our resources wisely, and for the people of Santa Fe. Lucky was beloved in Santa Fe for many reasons, not the least of which was that he knew more about the state's budget than most of us ever will. He never shied away from asking tough questions and giving selflessly of his time and energy to make New Mexico a better state.'' We will miss Lucky, but we will never forget him.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chair, a little more than 2 years ago, an Environmental Protection Agency team was investigating a contamination at the Gold King Mine that caused a spill of 3 million gallons of wastewater, impacting New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, the Southern Ute Reservation, and the Navajo Nation. I was in Farmington, New Mexico, in the Four Corners area when the toxic plume turned the Animas River yellow. I met with the community and heard their concerns about the toll that the spill was taking on businesses, farmers, families, and individuals. I attended different community meetings, not only in southern Colorado, but in that northwestern part of New Mexico. Despite repeated promises by the EPA that it would fully address this environmental disaster, progress has too often been needlessly slow. For example, in January of this year, the EPA and the Department of Justice announced a deeply disappointing decision that the EPA was not liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act for damages caused by the Gold King Mine spill. And while I appreciate Administrator Pruitt's recent announcement that the EPA was reconsidering this misguided position, I believe that the EPA and the Congress should act to ensure that every impacted individual and community--especially New Mexicans and the Navajo Nation--receive the compensation they deserve. The State of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation should not have to sue the Federal Government to ensure that the government meets its moral obligation to the farmers, small business owners, and others injured by this spill. This amendment, however, is about the long-term impact the spill will have on the river and all that that it sustains, from drinking water to providing water for farming and livestock. Robust long-term water quality monitoring is essential to ensuring that communities along the Animas River have the data they need to protect the health of all of those who rely on this water, and the State of New Mexico has developed a robust and independent monitoring plan that deserves the EPA's support. That is why I am again offering an amendment to provide $6 million to direct the EPA to work with the affected States and Indian Tribes to support long-term monitoring programs for water quality on the Animas and San Juan Rivers in response to the Gold King Mine spill. The same amendment was accepted by the House last year on a bipartisan basis. I thank both the chairman and the ranking member for their work on this issue, and because monitoring now and well into the future is necessary to protect the health of all those who rely on this water, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman very much for his comments and look forward to working with him on this issue. We arrived at $6 million for water monitoring after consulting with the State of New Mexico, and, in fact, it is my understanding that New Mexico has about $15 million in priority needs related to the Gold King Mine spill, including $6 million specifically for monitoring. And so we checked with the State before we came down this evening to debate this amendment, and what the State of New Mexico shared with me, they report that they have only received $577,193 in Federal funding to support monitoring, which is less than 10 percent of what my home State believes is needed. In addition, the Navajo Nation and other impacted communities still need support from the Federal Government to help recover from this disaster. So, again, I look forward to working with both the chairman and with the ranking member to ensure that all of the communities impacted by this spill are made whole, and that we provide appropriate support to vital water and monitoring efforts in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Navajo Nation. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.