Senate Breaks Impasse On Immigrants’ Drivers Licenses
STATE News:
- Strongly Bipartisan Compromise Bill Passes Senate On 35-5 Vote
SANTA Fe – With the broad support of both Democrats and Republican members, the New Mexico Senate today passed compromise legislation that successfully resolves the complex issue of undocumented immigrants drivers’ licenses and state compliance with the federal REAL ID law.
The compromise was hammered out by two of the Senate’s most respected leaders, Republican Floor Leader Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Chaves, Curry, and Finance Committee Chairman, Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Luna. Senate Bill 653 (SB 653) Read More
LANL Foundation ISEC Staff And Students Demonstrate Inquiry Science Kits At Roundhouse
LANL Foundation Inquiry Science Education Consortium (ISEC) staff and student scientists demonstrated inquiry science kits to visitors at the Santa Fe Capitol Roundhouse this week. Young scientist Jakob Warniment assists New Mexico Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera with a microscope from the Microworlds science kit. Standing in back from left, ISEC Director of Professional Development and Evaluation Gwen Warniment, LANL Foundation CEO Jenny Parks and ISEC Program Director Dorothy Sanchez. Courtesy photo
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard recognized the success of the Inquiry Science Read More
Bill To Significantly Boost New Mexico Businesses Passes Senate Floor
Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla
SANTA FE – Senate Bill 69 (SB 69), also known as the Resident Business Set-Aside Act, has passed the Senate floor. SB 69 is designed to build the local economy and create more jobs for New Mexicans by proposing that 33 percent of certain state contracts go to resident businesses.
Bill sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla, D-Bernalillo, said he is delighted about the support the bill has received in the Legislature and from the public.
“This week, the Senate passed a bill that is important to our state. It’s time we start taking care of local business Read More
Udall, Heinrich Announce $5.6 Million in Federal Funding For Early Childhood Education
U.S. Senate News:
Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M. and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. announced Thursday $5.6 million in federal grant funding to Eastern Plains Community Action Agency and La Clinica de Familia for early childhood education programs.
Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grants are offered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allow new or existing Early Head Start programs to partner with local child care centers and family child care providers serving infants and toddlers from low-income families.
“Improving child well-being in New Mexico is one Read More
Legislation To Ensure Coverage Of Treatment For Brain Injuries Passes House
Rep. Deborah Armstrong
STATE News:
HB 556, a bill introduced by Rep. Deborah Armstrong to ensure that health care services needed by patients dealing with traumatic brain injuries are covered by insurance plans, unanimously passed New Mexico House of Representatives Wednesday and is now on its way to the Senate.
“Traumatic brain injuries can be debilitating health issues that, until recently, we have had limited means of treating,” Armstrong said. “Today, with advancements in health care and science, there is more and more that can be done to help these patients recover and live better lives Read More
Heinrich, Udall Commemorate 70th Anniversary Of White Sands Missile Range
White Sands Missile Range Museum Park. Courtesy/delange.orgU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Wednesday, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Tom Udall, D-N.M. introduced a resolution to commemorate the 70th anniversary of White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in September 2015. The resolution recognizes WSMR’s unique place in history and its national security importance.
“White Sands Missile Range’s mission remains as pertinent to national security today as it was in 1945. It is the premier research, development, test, and evaluation facility, and Read More
Los Alamos County’s Allison Majure Lands Top Communications Post At NMED
Allison Majure, the new communications director for the New Mexico Environment Department, paid a visit to the Los Alamos Daily Post headquarters in downtown Los Alamos last week following her final day of work at the County. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
NMED News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn announced today the appointment of Allison Scott Majure of Los Alamos to the post of Communications Director.
“Ms. Majure’s background in municipal utilities, software marketing, journalism, and nonprofit communications brings both depth Read More
Senators Introduce Bill To Establish Microlabs
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U. S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Cory Gardner, R-Colo., members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced S. 784, the Microlab Technology Commercialization Act, a bill to accelerate technology transfer by establishing off-campus microlabs that would serve as the “front-door” to national laboratories.
The microlabs would give academia, local government, businesses owners, and communities direct access to equipment, facilities, and personnel of national laboratories.
“Scientists Read More
NNSA Releases Stockpile Stewardship & Mgmt. Plan
NNSA Administrator (Ret.) Gen. Frank G. Klotz
NNSA News:
- Annual Report Provides Insight into Vital National Security Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has released its Fiscal Year 2016 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP).
The FY16 SSMP documents NNSA’s 25-year strategic plan for accomplishing its core stockpile stewardship mission area of maintaining the safety, security and effectiveness of the nuclear stockpile without nuclear testing. It also describes NNSA’s phased approach to maintaining Read More
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard’s Bill To Protect Local Small Businesses Heads To Governor’s Office
Rep. Stephanie Garcia RichardSTATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Senate unanimously passed (37-0) Wednesday Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard’s House Bill 130, the state procurement code legislation that increases transparency within the contract bidding process to protect local small businesses.
HB 130 recently passed unanimously on the House floor and is now headed to the Governor’s desk where she will have 20 days to sign or veto the legislation.
“HB 130 is a critical step in protecting our small businesses throughout the Read More
Luján Announces Annual Congressional Art Competition
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray LujánGovernor Susana Martinez Acts On Legislation
Gov. Susana Martinez
STATE News:
SANTA FE—Today, Gov. Susana Martinez signed legislation to improve efficiency and cost savings for taxpayers and local governments in property tax correspondence.
House Bill 49, sponsored by Rep. Bob Wooley, R-Roswell, allows for email correspondence between taxpayers and their county assessors and treasurers instead of first class mail. This will help taxpayers and counties save money on postage, as well as reduce the time taxpayers need to respond to notices.
Governor Martinez also acted on the following legislation:
House Bill 379 – Racehorse Drug Read More
Community Invited To GOP Meeting Featuring County Manager Harry Burgess Thursday
GOP News:
The Republican Party of Los Alamos County will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in UNM-LA Room 610.
The public is welcome to attend a presentation by County Manager Harry Burgess on “Upcoming Issues in Los Alamos County.”
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
For more information, contact Robert Gibson at 505.662.3159. Read More
Senate Confirms Fouratt DPS Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary Gregory J. Fouratt
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Senate today unanimously confirmed by a 37-0 vote Cabinet Secretary Gregory J. Fouratt to continue his leadership over the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
Secretary Fouratt was appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez and began overseeing the Department of Public Safety March 15, 2014. He has a highly qualified background equipping him to lead the Department of Public Safety. He served as a prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office in New Mexico for 17 years, prosecuting the full range of narcotics, Read More
House Rejects Voter ID Bill 61 For HB 340
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
STATE News:
Rep. Cathrynn BrownReport: Minority Families In New Mexico And Nation Falling Behind
VFC News:Letter To The Editor: Hemp Industrialization Equals Jobs For New Mexico
By Sen. Cisco McSorleyI am pleased that my bill, Senate Bill 94 (SB 94), designed to help New Mexico lay the foundation for hemp industrialization, has passed the Senate and the first committee in the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Congress recently legalized hemp for research purposes in last year’s agricultural bill. SB 94 creates the New Mexico Industrial Hemp Research and Development Fund for the agricultural, agronomical, ecological, processing, sales and marketing research purposes of hemp growth. The research will be carried out by New Mexico State University Read More
House Passes Legislation To Allow Sick-Day Transfers
Rep. Conrad James
STATE News:
- State Workers Would Be Able To Donate Sick Leave To Colleagues In Medical Emergencies
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Saturday that would allow state workers to donate sick and annual leave to their colleagues in a medical emergency.
HB403, sponsored by Rep. Conrad James, passed by a unanimous 65-0 vote
“This legislation takes extra measures to protect our state workers,” James said. “I am proud that the House took these steps to help state employees in their hour of need.”
All sick-leave donations must remain within a department Read More
Legislature Honors New Mexico Teacher Of The Year
Devin DeVargas and New Mexico Teacher of the Year Debra Minyard of White Rock with their certificates. Courtesy photo
New Mexico Teacher of the Year, Debra Minyard of White Rock was recognized by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and the New Mexico Legislature Friday in Santa Fe.
Minyard is a teacher at Pojoaque Valley High School (PVHS). She was joined at Friday’s event by her husband Joshua Minyard, neighbor Venita Chavez and PVHS Principal Michael “Skip” Hemperley and Assistant Principal Jennifer Baca.
Minyard was doubly honored Read More
New Mexico Legislature Recognizes Los Alamos Daily Post Newspaper As 2014 Small Business Success
Legislators recognize the Los Alamos Daily Post and other small businesses from across the state during a ceremony Monday morning at the State Capital. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
At center, Sen. Richard Martinez congratulates Los Alamos Daily Post Publisher Carol A. Clark Monday morning in the House Chambers. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
STAFF REPORT:
SANTA FE—The Los Alamos Daily Post Newspaper and other small businesses from across the state were recognized last Sunday at a reception at the El Dorado Hotel in Santa Fe and Monday during a special ceremony Read More
