Dear Friend, 

This past month, I traveled across our beautiful district to connect with our communities. I heard from many of you and I was excited to share news of the bills we just passed in Congress. I was also honored to meet with local organizations that have worked tirelessly to help our communities remain resilient. I wanted to share a small snapshot of our work in the district this month as we took full advantage of the August District Work Period to hear from you! 

East Mountain Food Pantry  

During my visit to the East Mountain Food Pantry, I met the dedicated volunteers who help thousands of families facing food insecurity in our communities. In June, I was proud to secure $875,000 in funding to support the East Mountain Food Pantry’s expansion to meet rising needs in Torrance, Sandoval, and Valencia counties. I learned more about the challenges the food pantry is facing and heard firsthand accounts of the need for more dedicated resources to combat hunger and food insecurity in New Mexico. As a member of the bipartisan House Hunger Caucus, I am working on solutions in Washington D.C. to build a world when every New Mexican can access the healthy, nutritious food they need. 

Talking Water Security on the Banks of the Rio Grande 

On a beautiful morning, I held a press conference on the banks of the Rio Grande at Tingley Beach alongside local stakeholders, State Engineer Mike Hamman, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board Chair Stephanie Russo Baca, and Acting State Geologist Mike Timmons. We celebrated the House passage of three of my water security bills and called on the Senate to bring my urgently needed Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act across the finish line. Even as we are so grateful for the life-giving monsoons in our state, we need to act on long-term solutions to address our new climate reality and big hydrologic change in our communities.  

Town Hall Listening Session 

I held an in-person town hall listening session where I heard from New Mexicans in our district about their thoughts and concerns on issues ranging from water security, to economic growth, to climate and science and technology.  During the listening session, I also had the opportunity to outline the benefits of the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act and the legislation I have introduced for New Mexicans. 

Reproductive Rights Roundtable 

As we work to protect abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, I convened a roundtable to hear from abortion providers and reproductive justice organizations working on the ground. I heard from providers about how the influx of patients from neighboring states are straining their resources, and about the looming threat of federal abortion bans that could prevent New Mexicans from accessing care. I cosponsored and helped pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify abortion access nationwide in June, and I am calling on my Senate colleagues to pass this urgent legislation when we return in September. We must protect our freedom to make decisions about our bodies, a fundamental human right that is absolutely critical to our well-being and self-determination.  

I am grateful to have the opportunity to hear directly from New Mexicans about their concerns, hopes, and dreams for our state. Your voices guide my fight to deliver key funding and legislation for New Mexican communities.  

By participating in this survey you are also subscribing to Congresswoman Stansbury's e-newsletter.

As always, if I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my staff at (505) 346-6781. If you’d like to keep up to date on what I am working on in Washington on behalf of New Mexico’s First Congressional District and our communities, you can subscribe to our newsletter here, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Warm Regards, 

Melanie



Melanie A. Stansbury
Member of Congress