Members of New Mexico’s federal congressional delegation spoke to the state legislature Monday. They covered the problems — and possible solutions — the state and nation currently face.
Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján were joined by Representative Teresa Leger Fernández.
Heinrich began by applauding New Mexicans’ resilience in hard times, and praised the Roundhouse’s work so far this session especially in public safety, healthcare, education and cutting edge behavioral health treatments.
Heinrich signaled that the federal government cannot be relied upon to solve everything, pointing to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that removed protections from 90 percent of New Mexico’s surface waters.
He encouraged lawmakers to take matters into their own hands to serve constituents. He also mentioned the federal funding freeze, and said the current political environment encourages tribalism and division over problem solving.
“You know, we live in an era of loyalty pledges from the right and the left, frankly,” he said. “Our only loyalty pledge should. Be to this incredible state and to this country and the incredible people who call it home.”
He said when looking to the future, lawmakers would do best by focusing on programs to help kids.
“Working together, we can deliver the future that those kids deserve. We can fight for their freedoms, the freedom to grow up and make their own health care decisions, the freedom to marry who they love, the freedom to be who they are,” he said, “for goodness sakes, the freedom to feel safe in their own classrooms,”
Luján also encouraged unity in crafting protections for generations to come.
“Let's find those places we can work together, and let's find those places where there may be a little bit of disagreement, because if we just listen to each other, we'll find a path forward. We can get this done, everyone.”
Luján said New Mexico in particular relies on federal dollars, both through direct payments and employment, and called recent federal action, like job cuts and the funding freeze, illegal.
“This isn't me speaking. The courts are weighing in,” he said. “We have checks and balances. We have rule of law. The Constitution requires it, it prescribes it. It's why we've thrived.”
Leger Fernández was more overt in calling out the federal government for what she said are moves that fail everyday working families and said the issues makes her very emotional.
“We're at the door of a constitutional crisis when profitarian billionaires who were not elected and did not believe in fairness and justice have taken over our federal government,” she said. “The Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress are now seeking to cut the programs that every one of our communities and families rely on.”
She said elected leaders of New Mexico need to step up, protect all New Mexicans and to “oppose the sea of troubles with a reservoir of kindness.”
Support for this coverage comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
