Last year, I introduced the Promoting Accessibility on Federal Lands Act, which would direct the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive assessment of accessibility options for our trails, campsites, and recreational facilities so that every single person can enjoy the great outdoors, regardless of limitations. I’m excited to say that my bill passed unanimously out of the House as part of the larger EXPLORE Act package and is on its way to the Senate, then hopefully President Biden’s desk! You can watch my floor speech in support of the EXPLORE Act here.

Holding SCOTUS Accountable

Americans have lost trust in the Supreme Court and America must have strong judicial ethics to secure a free and democratic society. That’s why I introduced the Judicial Ethics Enforcement Act of 2024 with Representatives Raskin and Omar and, in the Senate, Senator Blumenthal will introduce the bill. The bill would create an Office of the Inspector General within the judicial branch. The Inspector General would have the authority to investigate the actions of the Justices on the Supreme Court and ensure that there is accountability even on the highest court in the land. Congress must safeguard these fundamental parts of the American government to restore faith in our democracy and institutions. You can watch my full remarks at the press conference announcing this bill here.

Addressing the Housing and Homelessness Crisis

Last week, Representative Vasquez and I hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference to celebrate $16 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development funding coming to New Mexico to support 28 organizations serving homeless families across the state. Growing up in a low-income family, I know what it is like to struggle to make ends meet. That’s why my team and I work constantly to address the housing and homelessness crisis. Since taking office, we have secured millions to support homeless providers across the state, to build Albuquerque’s first Youth Homeless Center, and to fund our state’s first dedicated Veteran’s Integration Center. Housing is a human right, and we need real solutions to care for our communities.

Celebrating Our New Public Lands Rule

Recently, the Bureau of Land Management issued their new Public Lands Rule, which puts conservation on equal footing with other public lands uses. This means protecting clean water and wildlife habitats, restoring lands and waters that need it, and making informed management decisions on the lands based on data, science, and Indigenous knowledge.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure accessibility to the outdoors. Our public lands, cultural sites, wildlife, and our environment must be protected, and I applaud the Biden Administration, our very own Secretary Deb Haaland, and the Bureau of Land Management for finalizing their Public Lands Rule. This is a historic step to put these conservation uses on par with extractive uses across the West!

It is the honor of a lifetime to represent you in Congress. If I can assist you or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to our District Office at (505) 346–6781! If you’d like to keep up to date on what I am working on in Washington, D.C., you can subscribe to our newsletter here and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

All my best,