Melanie Stansbury

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to also respectfully oppose H.R. 3397, or what my colleagues across the aisle are calling the WEST Act. I, too, have great respect for the chair and for the sponsor of this bill, and especially for the farmers, ranchers, and land stewards who were just referenced, but I vehemently disagree with the premise of what this bill and the underlying rule do and how it was characterized. This bill would overturn a long-overdue administrative action to protect our public lands, wildlife, and cultural sites and access to the outdoors, with the intent of tipping the scales back to a time when extractive industries--oil and gas companies, multinational mining corporations, and developers--had the upper hand in dictating the uses of our public lands. Like so many efforts by the GOP this Congress to chip away at our rights, unfortunately, this bill seeks to undermine and strip away the Bureau of Land Management's recently released final public lands rule, which establishes a framework to protect our Nation's public lands and ensure healthy ecosystems, waters, and wildlife, and a historic effort to protect the special places and cultural sites that are so important to our communities, their identities, and who they are, especially for our Tribal communities. Unlike the disinformation that has been offered up here today, this rule will not stop other productive uses on public lands but will ensure that they are informed by the best-available science, protect our ecosystems, and provide for climate resilience, and it will ensure that we are not developing on sensitive and sacred sites. In fact, in New Mexico, when we implemented a similar rule on our State lands, not only did it not end resource development but the State saw historic revenues from these activities on State lands while we managed to protect the special places that make us who we are. I say to my friends out there across the West: Don't buy into the political hype and disinformation. This actually is about protecting our public lands and is what our public lands management is supposed to look like. That is why it was supported by more than 90 percent of the comments that were submitted. The vast majority of Americans, in fact, over 80 percent across the political spectrum, support protecting public lands. That is why I strongly stand with the President, Secretary Haaland, and the good people of BLM, who are working every day to preserve our lands, waters, and cultural sites. Under the same rubric of protecting our public lands and waters, I also stand to oppose H.R. 3195, which would similarly withdraw a Department of the Interior effort to protect 225,000 acres in the Boundary Waters from mineral leasing. This bill would rescind DOI's public land order and would put America's most visited wilderness at risk of sulfide or copper mining by a large multinational corporation based out of South America.

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, in spite of over a million dollars that this corporation has spent lobbying the U.S. Government, the people have spoken and submitted over 675,000 public comments to protect the Boundary Waters. That is why I support the protection of this pristine, interconnected waterway, forest ecosystems, and the homelands of the Anishinaabe people who have lived here since time immemorial. One mining accident could irrevocably destroy these lands and waters forever. New Mexico knows this history all too well, which is why I strongly oppose H.R. 3195 and support the administration's actions in protecting Boundary Waters.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, this week we are closing out Black Maternal Health Week, focused on bringing attention, awareness, and, most importantly, action to improving maternal health for Black mothers. Across the United States, Black mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy, making them the most at risk for maternal mortality of any group. In New Mexico, our Black babies have the highest ratio of infant mortality and premature births. In addition, Black women and families are more likely to experience economic instability, lack of access, racism, and implicit bias within the system. Black maternal health is a crisis that demands action. That is why I am proud to cosponsor Representative Lauren Underwood's Black Maternal Momnibus Act to help address the leading causes because access to care is a right, not a privilege, and we cannot leave Black women alone in this fight. Our Black mothers are strong and resilient, and we must work every day to ensure that they have the respect, support, and care they need.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I start by thanking the gentlewoman from New Mexico, my sister from the north, for yielding me the time, and say that I rise today to both celebrate and urge passage of the EXPLORE Act which we are here debating today on the House floor. This bipartisan bill will not only improve access and opportunities for recreation across our public lands and waters across New Mexico and the United States, it will help to protect and promote opportunities for all people to access our lands and waters. I am especially proud that this package includes my Promoting Accessibility on Federal Lands Act, which is a bill I was deeply proud to have joined forces across the aisle with Representative Ciscomani from Tucson to make the great outdoors accessible to everyone regardless of physical limitations. This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture through all of the parks and public lands and waters that they manage to conduct a comprehensive assessment of accessibility options for our trails, our campsites, and our recreational facilities so that every single person can enjoy the great outdoors. Almost half of New Mexico's lands are publicly managed. I ran for Congress as a native New Mexican largely because of my passion and love for protecting the precious lands and waters that make us who we are and to ensure that every single New Mexican has access to the great outdoors-- especially our veterans, which is part of why this bill is so important. In New Mexico, we have one of the largest proportions of veterans and Active-Duty military in the United States--nearly 140,000 veterans in New Mexico alone. As Ms. Leger Fernandez, my sister from the north said, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we are maintaining access and ensuring that all of our veterans, our elders, people living with disabilities, and everyone in our communities can access the great outdoors. It is a place of restorative, resilient opportunity for everyone to be whole and to reconnect. That is why I am proud to have had Vet Voice Foundation testify in support of this legislation who share a strong connection with the outdoors and believe that protecting our national public lands is not only an opportunity for recreation but truly a patriotic duty. Mr. Speaker, America's public lands are for everyone regardless of culture, age, gender, or differing abilities, and this legislation will help to address disparities in accessibility and take critical steps to ensure that our lands and waters are accessible to everyone.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of New Mexico Press Women. 75 years ago, New Mexico Press Women was founded by women committed to expanding opportunities in journalism for women. New Mexico Press Women is New Mexico's oldest, largest, and most diverse women's press organization. New Mexico Press Women will celebrate its 75th Anniversary Conference in just a few days. Countless members--both men and women--have left their marks on the communications professions. New Mexico Press Women will honor and profile courageous communicators at its 75th Anniversary Conference. New Mexico Press Women encourages excellence through its professional communications contest and through its annual Zia Award, which honors outstanding woman authors who personally or whose book has a connection to New Mexico. New Mexico Press Women has provided encouragement and real assistance to college students entering communications professions by awarding thousands of dollars in scholarship funds over the years. Through monthly luncheons, statewide conferences, and legislative workshops, New Mexico Press Women and its geographic chapters have brought together major players in New Mexico's history. New Mexico Press Women's gatherings have served as a forum for informing communicators and the public about the implications of current events. New Mexico Press Women's 75th anniversary is a significant milestone, and I am proud to extend my congratulations to all of its members during the 75th Anniversary Conference.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues one simple question: Do you honestly believe that you have any right to tell me or any woman in America what I can do with my own body? Do you have any right to tell me when, if, or how, I decide to have a family; or the thousands of women across Alabama who had their rights stripped away this week to become a mother; the thousands across this country who are facing the devastating experience of having a miscarriage and not being able to get care; and the millions of women, including myself, who woke up 2 years ago to the news that the Supreme Court had stripped away our rights. Yet, you stand here on the House floor denying the rights of women to IVF and reproductive care and telling your donors that you will enact a 100 percent abortion ban this November.

Ms. STANSBURY. It is our body, it is our right, and I will not yield.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Veronica Krupnick of Santa Fe, New Mexico, who was selected by Casey Excellence for Children Awards to receive the 2024 Alumni Award. Veronica is the first Indigenous person to have been selected for this great honor. She is an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and has Jemez Pueblo and Navajo Nation heritage. Veronica is a mentor, a leader, and an unwavering advocate for children and youth in New Mexico's child welfare system. Drawing upon her own experience in the foster care system, Veronica's advocacy and mentorship centers around the importance of connecting children and youth in the child welfare system to their cultural identities, communities, and traditions. Last year, she played a crucial role in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which was under threat by a case heard before the Supreme Court. The ICWA mandates that when the government seeks foster and adoption placement for a child who is a member of or eligible for membership in an Indian Tribe, it must give preference to those with kin or Tribal relationships to the child. In the decades since it was enacted, the ICWA has been labeled the gold standard of child welfare policy. This law consistently establishes best practices to protect Indigenous children and preserve the integrity of Indigenous cultures and identities. Veronica currently serves as the Leadership Analyst for the Majority Leader in the New Mexico House of Representatives. In addition, she is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA), First Judicial District, a senior member of the National Foster Youth and Alumni Policy Council, a member of the National Child Welfare and Racial Equity (CWARE) Collaborative, and the Co-Chair of the Training Committee for the New Mexico Partners. Veronica works tirelessly to give a voice to children and youth in Tribal families, and in New Mexico as a whole, that are impacted by the child welfare system. I would like to thank Veronica for working every day as a champion to instill hope in our future generations.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to wish everybody who is celebrating in New Mexico and across the world a very happy Lunar New Year. This Saturday, we will begin the Year of the Dragon, a symbol of strength, wisdom, and success. Across New Mexico and the world, many will be celebrating with family and community traditions and joyful feasts. This holiday is a chance to reset and reconnect and is part of our history and culture as New Mexicans and the beautiful multicultural fabric that makes New Mexico who we are. I hope all who are celebrating have a wonderful Lunar New Year full of celebrations and, of course, lots of delicious food. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous Year of the Dragon.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, we just voted here in the House to bring back the child tax credit, one of the most important and effective efforts to help working families and to lift children out of poverty in generations. These payments will provide a crucial lifeline to families struggling to make ends meet. The previous child tax credit helped almost 75,000 families across my district alone. Here are some of the stories that we heard. One said: It was the only thing keeping my family afloat while my partner was able to pursue his dream of starting a business. Another said: As working parents, we struggled between childcare costs and paying a mortgage. The child tax credit was the only thing keeping us afloat. Another said: It was the thing that helped pay down my student loans. These are just a few of the many stories of how the child tax credit gave New Mexico families a lifeline. Here we are this week fighting to get it passed. I will not stop until we make the permanent child tax credit a reality and get it across the finish line.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the GOP's two anti-choice bills which are going to be on the House floor this week. These two bills, like so much of the House GOP's legislation, claim to support women and our communities while doing the exact opposite through a thinly veiled attempt to further restrict and stigmatize abortion as they meanwhile work to gut access to reproductive care all across this country. These policies are so unpopular that they are now hiding them in education bills like the ones that they are bringing to the floor this week, as nearly three dozen of our House Republican colleagues are now trying to walk back their support for national abortion bans. Be that as it may, the American people are not fooled. Do not be fooled by these bills. Our reproductive rights are under attack, and these two bills are part of that attempt to gut the rights of women. That is why I will not only be voting ``no'' but hell no to these bills.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Chair, during rollcall Vote No. 669 on H.R. 5894, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Cynthia Vernon Warren. Cynthia came to New Mexico in 1958 and fell in love with our beautiful State. While she lived in Albuquerque for over 50 years, Cynthia had a soft spot for the village of Truchas, frequently visiting the awe-inspiring Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is also where many of her dearest lifelong friends lived. Cynthia was an educator. She worked hard to support communities in the South Valley. She taught English and reading, and started the English as a second language program at Rio Grande High School. She was a leader and served our kids as the chair of the reading and languages department. Cynthia also had a passion for politics, especially social and environmental justice issues and civil rights. Along with her husband, Bill, who served in the State legislature, Cynthia believed that she was here on this Earth and in our communities to work for a better future. When Cynthia passed away last July, we lost a beloved wife, mother, aunt, and member of the community. Today, it is an honor to pay tribute to a woman who touched so many lives and so many New Mexicans with love, care, and a passion for service.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because labor is in the House, the people's House, as we stand with workers all across America who are on strike, especially our United Auto Workers, who are on the front lines right now. As a daughter of labor, this is a powerful moment in history. Across the Nation, across sectors, American workers are tired of giving their lives for their jobs every single day and getting less in return. They are standing up, organizing, and demanding better pay, better conditions, and better benefits. This movement is about people, about writers, actors, postal workers, and autoworkers who are paving the path for future generations and receiving just compensation. This is the moment. I am proud to stand in solidarity with our United Auto Workers and every worker across America who is collectively bargaining for the pay, benefits, and conditions that they deserve. Mr. Speaker, I urge my friends to stay strong and keep up the fight.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, as the people of New Mexico and the world are grieving Governor Richardson, I rise today here in the House, where he served, to honor his life and legacy. Governor Richardson has left an indelible mark on New Mexico politics and public service. Throughout his career as a Governor, Member of Congress, U.N. Ambassador, Secretary of Energy, and working in international diplomacy, anyone who knew Governor Richardson knows that he lived big, he laughed big, and he loved big. He mentored a generation of leaders in New Mexico and served our great State and Nation to the very end. I personally met Governor Richardson as a young person when he was my Congressman and, like so many others, was catalyzed onto a path of public service on behalf of our State and our communities. Governor Richardson's loss will be felt deeply across our State and across the planet, and today, my prayers go to his family and to everyone in New Mexico who is remembering and grieving his loss and the loss of this giant in New Mexico politics. Rest in peace, Governor. Today, we honor your legacy here in your home in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition today to this rule. What we should be focusing on is actually funding the government, which is our constitutional duty. Instead, we are here debating a ridiculous rule on the eve of a Republican shutdown manufactured by extremists in the GOP. I remind everyone that the last time the government was shut down, it cost the American people $11 billion. Now, the very same people who tried to tank our economy just months ago over the debt ceiling are threatening a government shutdown that would cost our country billions of dollars and threaten the economies, the livelihoods, and the people of my State, in New Mexico, with far- reaching consequences. Mr. Speaker, thousands of New Mexicans, Federal employees, Active- Duty military, and others would go unpaid, and it is shameful. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the amazing Mr. Ian Fluellen, a dedicated member of my team over the last 2 years. Since June of 2021, Ian has fiercely and loyally served the people of New Mexico's First Congressional District. He has served as a dedicated legislative staffer for nearly a decade, serving in the offices of Congressmen Jim Costa, G.K. Butterfield, Mark DeSaulnier, and myself. He was raised in Las Vegas and received his bachelor's degree in political science and government at the University of Nevada, Reno. His love for government and making the world a better place is what propelled him into a career in public service. During Ian's time in my office, he has proven to be a talented, brilliant, and truly extraordinary staffer. He has been instrumental in guiding my office, leading our legislative team, serving the constituents of our State, managing our D.C. office, mentoring young staffers, and helping them to thrive.

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of New Mexico's First Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and thanking Ian for his nearly 9 years of service on Capitol Hill. His quick wit and constant support will be missed every single day in our office. I wish him all the best. We will miss him very much.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today reporting for duty to our country, to our communities, to our Constitution, and most importantly, for New Mexico. As you can see, Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I can't say the same for my Republican colleagues right here, who hightailed it out of town because they decided that their weekend plans were more important than showing up for the American people. It is reckless. It is disturbing. It is fundamentally irresponsible. Here we are, on the verge of an economic crisis, and they are demanding that we cut programs for housing, food, and our veterans. Let me say this to my friends on the other side of the aisle: If you are so concerned about people getting to work, how about you show up to do your own job? How about you show up for the American people? How about you show up and do the job you were elected to do? Let's pass a clean debt ceiling and ensure that we save our economy and serve our communities.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to defend the very survival of New Mexicans; families like my own, working families, who work hard every single day and still struggle to make ends meet, who still struggle to put food on the table, and who still struggle to put a roof over their head. These are families who depend on vital services and programs like mine that enabled me not only to survive but to go to school and to stand here today as your Congresswoman. These programs save lives, and yet the GOP is attempting to hold the entire country, New Mexico, our families, and our economy hostage if we do not gut these vital, lifesaving programs or they will tank the economy to achieve their political ends. In return for upholding the full faith and credit of the United States and paying our bills as a Nation, right now Republicans are demanding that we cut funding for food, for housing, for Tribal programs, for education, and for countless other lifesaving programs that our families depend on. I am here today with my colleagues from the Progressive Caucus to say that we will stand and we will defend these programs because our families' lives are not bargaining chips in this crusade to cut government programs and services. Their lives and dignity matter. Just 2 weeks ago, I was home in our community and stood with members of our community at the Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless memorial wall. This wall is covered with tiles with names of members of our community who have been lost to homelessness: mothers, grandmothers, fathers, children, aunties, and uncles. These are people who were loved and people who were lost. They are people whose lives mattered in our community and were lost to the senseless impact of homelessness. Make no mistake, Madam Speaker. The programs that the GOP is currently proposing to slash will impact thousands of New Mexicans who are currently facing housing insecurity and millions of lives across this country, gutting programs around housing and food insecurity. These are families who could face eviction from their homes because they no longer have support. This includes families with children, our elders, veterans, and those with disabilities. This is not only wrong, it is immoral because housing is not a luxury. Housing is a fundamental human right. I also cannot believe that I am standing here today in defense of veterans' programs as well because the GOP is currently proposing to cut our veterans' programs by double digits. These are programs that serve our heroes who have dedicated their lives and put their lives on the front line in the defense of our country, our national security, and the freedoms that all of us enjoy. We not only have a sacred obligation to help and preserve those programs, but to ensure that the countless veterans who have already served our country can access the care that they deserve. These cuts could impact 81,000 healthcare professionals within the VA system. That means putting our Nation's heroes' lives at risk and creating even longer lines to see healthcare professionals. That is 30 million less visits affecting over 60,000 veterans in New Mexico alone. Our veterans bravely served our Nation, and it is our responsibility to defend these programs because their care is not up for debate. Republicans are not only proposing to slash these programs, they are also proposing to cut other healthcare programs. In fact, more than 60 percent of New Mexicans depend on the lifesaving care that they receive through Medicaid and Medicare or both. If the GOP were successful in putting through these draconian cuts in the default for America act, more than 280,000 New Mexicans would be at risk of losing their health insurance, and more than 21 million Americans would be without access to care. This won't just affect healthcare. It will affect the ability of our elders to get access to their Social Security. For all of you out there who are listening, you know how vital those Social Security payments are to making sure that our elders can eat and put a roof over their head and also because you paid into that system, and it is yours. Growing up, my family experienced many of the same challenges that so many countless New Mexicans and Americans struggle with today. The programs that we are talking about that would be gutted through these heartless cuts would not only have affected families like mine and my ability to survive and stand here today, they will affect millions of Americans. So this is very personal to me. Lifting the debt ceiling should not be a crisis. It has been routine for decades. In fact, under both Republicans and Democrats, we have raised the debt ceiling, we have paid our bills, and we have made good on our responsibility and our fiscal responsibilities as a country. It is dangerous to play games with the full faith and credit of our Nation and our economy, but it is heartless to propose to gut these programs. As the Congresswoman for New Mexico's First Congressional District, I ask my Republican colleagues to consider what these programs mean, the millions of lives that are standing at risk, the millions who will be impacted, those who could lose their housing, and the children whose mouths will not be fed. This is what is at stake in this hostage situation, and we will not stand idly by because we are fighting. We are fighting not only for the full faith and credit of the United States and our economy, but for the working families of this country to ensure that we do not balance the budget and make good on our fiscal responsibilities on the backs of working people because we were elected to serve our communities and to serve our country.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a fierce defender from New Mexico to support this amendment to defend our Social Security and our Medicare. As our colleagues across the aisle are trying to gut Social Security and Medicare, Democrats are looking for long-term solutions not only to expand these lifesaving programs but to ensure that they are solvent for generations to come. These programs are lifelines for people in New Mexico. In fact, in New Mexico, we have the highest share of individuals who are on Medicaid by population in the country. That is 873,000 New Mexicans who depend on Medicaid. Our children in New Mexico depend on Medicaid. Over half of our children are on Medicaid. These programs save lives. I ask my colleagues: What kind of cruel ransom note are they putting forward that would gut these programs, that would gut programs that feed our children, and that would gut our environmental programs in the name of raising our debt ceiling? Mr. Speaker, I ask: What is it that we are actually trying to do here today? That is why I oppose the underlying bill that we are debating today and why I support this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question and to return to the work of the people who elected us.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to stand with our trans kids and their freedom to be who they are. To all of our trans and LGBTQ+ kids who are watching today, let me just say that we see you, that we love you, and that you belong. Now, let's be clear about what this bill actually is: It is about legislating hate in the name of advancing a political agenda. Now, our colleagues are trying to claim that they are out here defending the rights of women as they are waging a campaign to take away our reproductive freedoms, to ban books, and now to bully our kids. It is disgusting. I am proud to be a New Mexican, and I am proud to be from a State that is defending the rights of our children, of our LGBTQ+ community, and our reproductive rights, because in New Mexico, we stand with trans kids, and we stand in the fiercest opposition to this bill.

Ms. STANSBURY

Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Oregon.

Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Frost).