Dear Friends, 

Just like that, the holiday season is here! It was a joy to watch the lighting ceremony at Santa Fe Plaza. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. 

Around the District 

Spending time in communities across the district and hearing from constituents is one of the best parts of my job. It was wonderful to meet with folks in Pecos last week!  

Honoring New Mexicans

New Mexicans lost a hero last week when Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura passed away. Corporal Miyamura earned the Medal of Honor for his valiant service in the Korean War. He was a POW and learned of his award upon his release. We are forever indebted to him.

I honored him with a speech on the House floor to make sure his memory lives on forever in the Congressional Record. 

I also rose to tell the story of Hugo Pizano Orozco, a DACA recipient from our beautifully diverse district. Hugo came to Española from Mexico as a child and went on to graduate from Juilliard. He now performs with Ballet Hispánico.

Legislative Corner 

Yesterday, I introduced the Latina Equal Pay Day Resolution to recognize the disparity in wages paid to Latinas, the significance of equal pay, and its larger impact on women, families, and the economy. 

More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Latina women across all sectors earn only 54 cents for every dollar paid to White non-Hispanic men. Latinas cannot keep being undervalued and underpaid.

Mis hermanas in Congress agree that Latinas deserve equal pay NOW.  Watch our joint video HERE.  Some of the bills I recently voted for, and the House passed, include:  The Respect for Marriage Act to protect same-sex and interracial marriage nationwide, because love conquers all. The National Defense Authorization Act to bolster the United States’ national security as it invests in service members and their families, and promotes innovation and American ingenuity. The Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act to help our comunidades in times of need.   The Veteran Service Recognition Act to make it easier for immigrant veterans to gain citizenship. Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act to provide rural communities with the resources to help those who suffer from addiction. I also recently introduced a bill that amends the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project’s authorization to ensure it has the resources it needs to reach completion and to lower costs for the communities it serves.  Last week was historic for Tribal Nations, from New Mexico to Hawaii to Alaska. Congress passed my bill, the STOP Act, to end the illegal export of stolen tribal cultural items and return them to their rightful owners. I’m thankful to Senator Martin Heinrich for being its Senate champion, now it goes to President Biden to be signed into law!

Constituent Services 

The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is hiring! 

We need New Mexicans to help process claims and distribute compensation to our neighbors impacted by the fires. 

The Claims Office will host its first job fair at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center on Wednesday, December 14, 2022,  from 9:00 AM – 3:00PM MT. 

There will be another job fair at Old Memorial Middle School on Thursday, December 15, 2022, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM MT. You can find more information HERE.

To help you prepare for the hiring Fair, FEMA will be hosting a Federal Resume Writing webinar on December 12th. Register for a free webinar HERE.

The Student Loan Repayment Pause was extended through June 2023. 

Student debt relief is wrongly held up in the courts, but this extension will give the processing time to resolve. You can find more information HERE.

HBCU Scholarships for High School Seniors

If you’re a senior in high school and plan to attend an HBCU, scholarship opportunities are available! Don’t miss the chance to apply for a $40,000 scholarship for STEM fields - the application closes on January 31, 2023. Take a look at the fact sheet.

Child Care Assistance Waivers

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) will waive child care assistance copayments for any family that qualifies for the program. You can find more information HERE.

Follow me on Twitter @RepTeresaLF!