WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2017) – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement announcing that he will vote against confirming Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court:

"There is a darkening cloud over the Trump Administration due to its possible ties to Russia's hacking and interference in our presidential election. Nearly every day we learn of a new connection or communication with the Russians by the Trump Administration or campaign that had previously been denied. It is increasingly clear that President Trump and his team have not been forthright with the American people.

"Given the multiple congressional and criminal investigations that are tainting this Administration, it would not be responsible to move forward with President Trump's Supreme Court nominee until these Russia-related allegations are resolved. We simply cannot process a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land under these circumstances, especially since the court may be called upon to resolve matters related to these investigations.

"I share many of the concerns New Mexicans have expressed about Judge Gorsuch. In particular, I'm concerned about his record of siding with large corporations over the rights of individuals and government action over the rights of citizens, and his boundless deference to executive power.

"For these reasons, I intend to oppose his nomination and cannot support advancing the nominee under these circumstances."

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2017) – Today, the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities held a hearing, "Russian Influence and Unconventional Warfare Operations in the 'Grey Zone': Lessons from Ukraine." Below is the opening statement of Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), as prepared for delivery:

Chairwoman Ernst, thank you for holding this important hearing and thank you to our witnesses for their testimony on Russia's use of influence activities and unconventional warfare in the so-called "grey zone" that encompasses the struggle between nations and other non-state actors short of direct military conflict. This hearing builds on the testimony the Full Committee received last week on the security situation in Europe.

At last Thursday's hearing, General Scaparrotti, Commander of U.S. European Command, stated that Russia is using a range of military and non-military tools to "undermine (the) international system and discredit those in the West who have created it." When I asked him about Russia's conduct of denial, deception and disinformation operations, General Scaparrotti stressed that Russia takes not only a military approach but a "whole of government" approach to information warfare, to include intelligence and other groups, which accounts for its rapid and agile use of social media and cyber. Russia's use of the full range of political, economic, and informational tools at its disposal provides it the means to influence operations in the grey zone short of a direct conventional war.

Today's hearing is an opportunity to examine the lessons drawn from Russia's malign activities in Ukraine. In 2014, General Scaparrotti's predecessor as EUCOM Commander, General Breedlove, said that Russia was engaged in "the most amazing information warfare blitzkrieg we have ever seen in the history of information warfare." Russia used information warfare as a dimension of its military operations in Ukraine, including to sow confusion and disorganization prior to initiating more traditional military operations. Russia's combination of information warfare with other unconventional warfare techniques – including the training, equipping, and advising of proxies and funding of separatist groups – is what allowed them to "change the facts on the ground" before the international community could respond effectively through traditional means.

This is relevant not simply as a history lesson, but to better prepare us for the kinds of operations we can expect to see Russia conduct in the future. For example, the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian Activities and Intentions in the 2016 U.S. presidential election assessed that what occurred last year represents a "significant escalation" in Russia's influence operations that is likely to continue here in the United States and elsewhere.

So there is much to explore with our witnesses this morning, and again, I thank them and look forward to their testimony.

Debbie Guerra announces her Solo Watercolor Show Opening, which is scheduled for Friday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo, 2017 from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm at Mimbres Region Arts Council (MRAC) Gallery in the Silver City, N.M. Wells Fargo Bank 1201 N. Pope St. Everyone is welcome. The show will continue through May and June, 2017.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND
As a 10 year old, I began drawing figures of people around me and those imagined, always intrigued with the uniqueness of each person. Inspired by the vibrant colors in nature, I began painting landscapes and sold my first oil painting in my teens. While studying Spanish in Europe through a college foreign exchange program, I experienced the Fine Art of El Museo del Prado in Spain and the Louvre in France. In 1978 my husband and I moved from Colorado to New Mexico and shortly thereafter I was encouraged by and learned how to paint watercolor from professional Santa Fe artist, Lee Rommel. Since 1994, it has been a privilege to paint with well known accomplished watercolorists and friends, Marilyn Gendron and the late Mona Tanzola, as well as several other talented painters in the Silver City area.

Watching the light change throughout the day and the seasons change with their varying colors, gives me a deep appreciation and reverence for nature. Intrigued by this play of light and movement, my intent is to paint fluidly so that the paintings come alive.

It is this appreciation of what I see and feel that I love to express through art, whether it be the sacredness of the Native Americans, passion of the Mariachi Dancers and Musicians, the stillness of a new fallen snow or flowers and landscapes. Painting is a way to share life's beauty with others.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/IBSHv2Rfcts

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, asked former N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson whether the threats from President Trump and his administration to dismantle NAFTA and build a border wall will negatively affect New Mexico's growing border economies and do little to effectively secure the border. At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, "The U.S.-Mexico Relationship: Advancing Security and Prosperity on Both Sides of the Border", Udall discussed the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico to New Mexico's economy and border security and raised concerns about how President Trump's negative comments about Mexico — from insulting its leadership to calling Mexicans rapists and murderers — has already affected diplomatic relations with the country.

Below is the text of Udall's opening remarks:

"Governor Richardson and Ambassador Noriega, it's wonderful to be with you here and this has been an excellent discussion. I think one of the points that you've made that is really important, is treating Mexico like an equal and I think that what we have seen in this relationship with President Trump and the president of Mexico is that hasn't been the case. It's been a very condescending approach.

"I know we were all shocked at where President Trump has taken U.S.-Mexico relations -- calling Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers, insulting their leadership and threatening to send U.S. troops south of the border to fight cartels, demanding to build an expensive and unproductive border wall and to extort Mexico to pay for it, and threatening to rip up NAFTA, throwing our border economies into chaos.

"For those of us in New Mexico, and other border states, this is really beyond belief. This approach is completely and totally inappropriate for a neighbor, for an ally, and a nation with which we share many common bonds."

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined Senate Democrats in urging President Trump and his administration to abandon their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and instead work in a bipartisan fashion to improve the law and lower the costs of health care for all Americans. In a letter signed by 44 Senate Democrats, they also requested – as a first step – that the Trump administration rescind the executive order signed on Jan. 20, which severely undermined the ACA and sparked the efforts to unravel the law, undermining the health care system and increasing costs, hurting patients, providers and families. They also expressed concern about Trump's recent statement that it would be a good thing to make the ACA "explode," despite the fact that would mean hurting hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans and millions of Americans.

The full text of letter from Senate Democrats can be found below.

Dear President Trump:

We respectfully request that you abandon your efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and undermine the U.S. health care system so that we can work together to improve the law and lower the cost of health care for all Americans.

To do that, your Administration must commit to putting an end to all efforts to unravel the ACA, undermine the health care system, increase costs, or hurt patients, providers and families. As a first step, we request that you rescind your ACA executive order signed on January 20th.

While we would welcome your sincere interest in bipartisan work to improve quality, lower costs, and expand coverage, we are concerned by your recent statement indicating it would be a good thing to make the ACA "explode," which would hurt millions of Americans. Instead, we urge you to use your executive authority to support a stable, competitive insurance marketplace.

Members of the Democratic caucus remain ready and willing to work with you on policies that would improve the stability of the individual insurance market. We ask that you begin the work of improving health care for millions of Americans by rescinding your January 20th executive order.

Sincerely,

Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)
Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
Thomas Carper (D-Del.)
Robert Casey (D-Pa.)
Chris Coons (D-Del.)
Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.)
Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)
Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
Richard Durbin (D-Ill.)
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
Al Franken (D-Minn.)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)
Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.)
Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)
Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii)
Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
Edward Markey (D-Mass.)
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)
Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)
Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
Gary Peters (D-Mich.)
Jack Reed (D-R.I.)
Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)
Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
Tom Udall (D-N.M.)
Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
Mark Warner (D-Va.)
Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2017) – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, unveiled the Sportsmen's Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation he's championed to enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, reauthorize key conservation programs, improve access to public lands, and help boost the outdoor recreation economy.

"The number one issue for sportsmen across the country is access. This widely supported, bipartisan bill will open more areas to hunting and fishing and grow America's thriving outdoor recreation economy," said Sen. Heinrich."Hunting and fishing are a way of life for millions of Americans – especially in New Mexico where outdoor recreation as a whole is directly responsible for 68,000 jobs. Sportsmen have a deep connection to the outdoors and benefit from the recreation, wildlife, and water that our public lands provide and I remain deeply committed to conserving these treasured places for our children and all future generations to enjoy."

The Sportsmen's Act, S. 733, includes the text of Senator Heinrich's Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures (HUNT) Act that directs all federal public land management agencies to identify high priority federal lands where hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation are permitted but where access is non-existent or significantly restricted, and develop plans to provide access.

The Sportsmen's Act also reauthorizes the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA), enabling the government to sell public land for ranching, community development, and other projects, and allow federal agencies to use the revenue to acquire high-priority in-holdings from willing sellers. The Sportsmen's Act was introduced this week by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and will be considered during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's business meeting on Thursday, March 30.

Last Congress, Senator Heinrich championed a similar sportsmen's package, which was added to the broad, bipartisan energy bill through an amendment that passed the Senate by a vote of 97 to 0.

A copy of the bill is available here.

Juan David VillegasMexico City, Mexico – New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that Juan David Villegas was successfully extradited this afternoon and is on U.S. soil in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service. Attorney General Balderas used the extradition process for the return of this fugitive back to the United States, and as a result Juan David Villegas was captured and returned to stand trial for the deaths of his wife and four daughters in New Mexico. On June 12, 2016, it is alleged that former fugitive  shot and killed his wife, Cynthia Villegas and shot and killed his four daughters: Yamilen Villegas; Cynthia Janeth Villegas; Abigayl (Abby) Villegas; and Idaleigh (Idaly) Villegas. After Villegas allegedly killed his wife and four daughters, he fled the United States for Mexico where he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals.

"Today we begin the process of bringing justice against Juan David Villegas who rocked the community of Roswell and the entire state when he allegedly murdered his own family and fled to Mexico," said Attorney General Hector Balderas. "I want to thank U.S. Marshal Conrad Candelaria, Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce, and their amazing teams for their assistance in returning Juan David Villegas to New Mexico to face his crimes. Our partnerships from the federal to local levels are how we are working to put away the most dangerous, violent offenders in New Mexico."

Attorney General Balderas is currently in Mexico meeting with Mexican justice officials, including the Attorney General of Mexico (Procurador General de la República) Raúl Cervantes Andrade to continue to strengthen New Mexico's strong diplomatic relations with Mexico and will personally thank Attorney General Cervantes Andrade for his cooperation and effort to return Juan David Villegas to New Mexico. Attorney General Balderas also maintains regular communication with Mexican border state attorneys general regarding issues impacting the border and international extraditions.

The United States' extradition treaty with Mexico allows extraditions of violent offenders or child predators, and the Office of the Attorney General is the only state agency in New Mexico that provides extradition support to local law enforcement and district attorneys. The Border Violence Unit of the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General navigates this lengthy and complex process with the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. State Department and the Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs. However, the extradition process would not be successful, if not for our strong relationships, collaborations and communication with Mexican officials. International extraditions are one of the most important functions of the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General.

Washington, DC (March 29, 2017) Congressman Steve Pearce today attended Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke's signing ceremony to overturn the coal leasing moratorium, unleash the power of domestic energy production on public lands in America, and ensure local, state, and tribal governments are able to have an input in energy development on their lands.

"I was happy to join my colleagues at today's signing ceremony with Secretary Zinke. Under the last Administration, we witnessed an enormous increase in restrictive and duplicative regulations that pushed revenues overseas rather than into the pockets of American taxpayers. In New Mexico, and across western states, we've seen businesses close up shop and people put out of work because of crippling regulatory costs. This does not represent a responsible balance between protecting the environment and allowing our economy to flourish."

On March 28, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order to advance energy independence in America, which included a full review of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) venting and flaring rule and overturning the BLM's hydraulic fracturing rule. One of the Secretarial Orders signed today directs agencies to take actions on those orders.

"I strongly support overturning these rules, as they have killed jobs in New Mexico and stripped states of their rights to determine what is best for their lands. Most of the Obama-era rules on the production of oil and gas added duplicative regulations, increasing costs and driving producers out of the market. Roughly forty percent of New Mexico's operating funds comes from revenues off resource production. Without it, our entire economy suffers a loss. New Mexico can become a leader in energy development if given the freedom to. For this reason, I support the responsible production of energy on federal lands for the strength and future of our state and nation."

Background
Today, Secretary Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3348 to overturn the 2016 Coal Moratorium established by the Obama Administration in January 2016, Secretarial Order 3349 to implement President Trump's orders on American energy independence, and a charter to reestablish a Royalty Policy Committee that works to ensure the public receives the full value for the production of energy on federal lands.

On February 3, 2017, Rep. Pearce voted to overturn the BLM's venting and flaring rule, which imposed arbitrary and unenforceable methane emission standards on oil and gas production. As a longtime member and current Chairman Emeritus of the Congressional Western Caucus, Rep. Pearce supports efforts that relieve families, small businesses, farmers, and ranchers in New Mexico from burdensome environmental regulations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2017) – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in advancing bipartisan legislation that aims to protect America's energy infrastructure from potentially catastrophic cyber-attacks.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing Tuesday on the bill, the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, which was introduced in the wake of a January report from the U.S. Department of Energy that warned that the U.S. energy grid "faces imminent danger" from cyber-attacks, and that a widespread power outage caused by a cyber-attack could place the health and safety of millions of citizens at risk.

VIDEO: Heinrich Remarks During Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing, March 28, 2017

Senator Heinrich, an original co-sponsor of the bill, expressed his support of the bipartisan legislation, stating, "Cybersecurity is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation. The future of warfare is moving further away from the battlefield and closer to the devices and the networks everyday citizens depend on. Protecting our nation from malicious cyber actors requires a comprehensive approach, and keeping our energy infrastructure secure is central to that. I am especially proud that this legislation would rely on the expertise of New Mexico's National Labs in providing technology solutions and developing a national strategy to isolate the energy grid from cyberattacks."

The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act aims to remove vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access the energy grid through holes in digital software systems. Specifically, it would examine ways to replace automated systems with low-tech redundancies, like manual procedures controlled by human operators. This approach seeks to thwart even the most sophisticated cyber-adversaries who, if they are intent on accessing the grid, would have to actually physically touch the equipment, thereby making cyber-attacks much more difficult. This legislation was inspired in part by Ukraine's experience in 2015, when a sophisticated cyber-attack on that country's power grid led to more than 225,000 people being left in the dark. The attack could have been worse if not for the fact that Ukraine relies on manual technology to operate its grid. The bill seeks to build on this concept by studying ways to strategically use "retro" technology to isolate the grid's most important control systems.

More specifically, the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act would:

• Establish a two-year pilot program within the National Laboratories to study covered entities and identify new classes of security vulnerabilities, and research and test technology – like analog devices – that could be used to isolate the most critical systems of covered entities from cyber-attacks.
• Require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the technology solutions proposed by the National Laboratories and to develop a national cyber-informed strategy to isolate the energy grid from attacks. Members of the working group would include federal government agencies, the energy industry, a state or regional energy agency, the National Laboratories, and other groups with relevant experience.
• Require the Secretary of Energy to submit a report to Congress describing the results of the program, assessing the feasibility of the techniques considered, and outlining the results of the working groups' evaluation.
• Define "covered entities" under the bill as segments of the energy sector that have already been designated as entities where a cyber-security incident could result in catastrophic regional or national effects on public health or safety, economic security, or national security.

A copy of the bill is available HERE.

NEW: Three New Mexico communities are in contention for a Top Honor: USA Today has just launched a search for the "10 Best Southwestern Small Towns," and three New Mexico towns are in consideration. As of today, Taos and Madrid are both in the Top 10, with Cloudcroft in the No. 11 spot about to break into the Top 10. New Mexicans can visit this link to vote for their favorite New Mexico small town here.

NEW: Nationwide Barnes & Noble locations to feature New Mexico True Adventure Guide: The department has recently released a revamped version of the New Mexico True Adventure Guide (NMTAG), an annual vacation guide designed to provide inspiration and information for consumers interested in travel to New Mexico. What's new this year? Using research and consumer insights, the 2017 NMTAG takes a sharp turn away from the traditional travel guide and replaces business listings with editorial content proven to pique traveler interests: chefs of Santa Fe, craft beer in ABQ, nostalgic Route 66, and more. Even better, the New Mexico True Adventure Guide will be featured front and center at Barnes and Noble locations across the country for the first two weeks of April, and will be available for purchase in the Travel section through July 4.

NEW: Keep New Mexico True: One of the department's four strategic planks is to increase resident pride and advocacy, and this spring we're doing that with the Keep New Mexico True initiative. Through an in-state ad campaign filled with images of pristine public spaces and sentimental messaging, we're encouraging New Mexicans to "Take the Pledge to Keep New Mexico True." The initiative gives residents a place to put their pride into action via local cleanup events happening across the state in April. These cleanup events are affiliated with New Mexico Clean & Beautiful, a grant program administered by the Tourism Department with funding generated by license plate renewals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2017) – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and founder of the first ever Congressional Directed Energy Caucus, delivered a keynote address at the Directed Energy Summit in Washington, D.C. highlighting his commitment to invest in directed energy technology.

In his remarks, Senator Heinrich addressed the importance of directed energy, stating, "The added value of directed energy weapon systems can no longer be ignored. Cost-effectiveness, lethality, infinite magazine capacity, and precision targeting are all attributes that the military seeks and needs in its weapon systems."

Senator Heinrich also called for the establishment of a Directed Energy Weapon System Demonstration Fund that would be used exclusively for high energy laser and high power microwave prototyping and demonstrations to develop the tactics, techniques, and procedures—or TTPs—for these weapon systems.

Senator Heinrich has led efforts to transition directed energy weapon systems, developed by industry, national labs, and research facilities, to programs that help the United States and our allies maintain military superiority.

Last year, Senator Heinrich announced a $10 million investment in directed energy development in New Mexico. A $4.8 million award from the U.S Air Force went to Raytheon Ktech, which employs about 170 people in Albuquerque, to continue the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile (CHAMP) for use aboard the Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM). Additionally, Sandia National Laboratories received $1.4 million and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) received $3.8 million for further technology development.

Senator Heinrich emphasized in his remarks that, "Directed energy weapons systems will not replace kinetic weapon systems, nor are they an all-purpose solution to every warfighting scenario out there. But there are specific scenarios today where directed energy weapon systems can, and should, provide our military with tactical and strategic advantages."

Senator Heinrich helped establish a new $300 million initiative in the fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act to advance the nation's directed energy weapons technologies. He also introduced legislation in 2016 to provide rapid acquisition authorities to the Department of Defense for directed energy weapon systems.

Most recently, Senator Heinrich sent a letter to Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, on January 23, 2017, his first day as the head of the Pentagon, urging him and the Department of Defense to provide sufficient resources to accelerate the development of next generation weapon systems – specifically directed energy— toward acquisition programs of record.

Senator Heinrich's remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Thank you for the opportunity to welcome you to the third annual Directed Energy Summit. As a young engineer, I started my career in New Mexico working on directed energy technology at what is now the Air Force Research Laboratory. So, I am passionate about this subject.

Last year, my remarks focused on the fact that we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good in developing directed energy weapon systems.

This year, I want to dive even deeper into that notion.

Too often, people outside of this room believe that "Directed Energy" is either one of two things:
(1) Something from the movie Star Wars where high energy lasers can obliterate large objects instantaneously with a single beam
(2) OR they mistakenly confuse directed energy with renewables—literally confusing directed energy with wind and solar.

Yes, let me state that again.

People often confuse Directed Energy with Renewable Energy.

Although I am a strong supporter of renewables, for the purposes of this speech and for anyone listening beyond this audience, I want to state plainly and distinctly—they are NOT the same thing.

And we need to realize that this inherent confusion does not serve us well as we seek to broaden the reach and scope of this conversation.

But to my first point, the amazing power of high energy lasers seems easy when it comes to special effects in the movies, but the real world science is far more difficult.

As an engineer, I appreciate the desire of fellow engineers to chase perfection.

The pursuit of perfection is what allows technology developed in America to become the envy of the world.

But in the days and years ahead, I call upon all of us—whether it's industry, the labs, Congress, or the Department of Defense—to focus on getting our hard work into the field—now.

The added value of directed energy weapon systems can no longer be ignored.

Cost-effectiveness, lethality, infinite magazine capacity, and precision targeting are all attributes that the military seeks and needs in its weapon systems.

That's why, since coming to Congress, I've been leading a number of efforts to bring this technology to the forefront.

As a member of the House of Representatives, I founded the first-ever Congressional Directed Energy Caucus.

And as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I worked with Senator Inhofe to authorize new rapid acquisition authorities and to establish a lead advocate for directed energy weapon systems at the Pentagon.

I have also worked to provide significant additional funds for directed energy weapon systems.

I stated this last year and I will state it again—if the Department truly intends to develop a "Third Offset" that will separate us from our adversaries, it should be investing far more in directed energy.

In addition, it's time for the Department to begin budgeting for the deployment of these technologies, not solely for continued R&D.

And that is why I sent a letter to Secretary Mattis on his first day on the job urging him and other Department officials to provide sufficient resources to accelerate the development of proven systems toward acquisition programs of record.

Let's be honest. In the past, we spent a lot of money on directed energy systems that were not practical and in some cases simply were not ready for prime time.

Let's be clear. That is not the case today.

The Pentagon and industry leaders have narrowed their focus to what makes sense from a strategic and practical standpoint by investing in solid state lasers and miniaturizing heating and cooling systems.

Unfortunately, the amount of recent investment has not matched the potential of these systems, and many of them await funding for demonstrations and testing that are scheduled years down the road.

We cannot keep waiting to test prototypes or validate new weapon systems that are sitting in laboratories while our adversaries are testing relentlessly.

Chairmen McCain and Thornberry and Ranking Members Reed and Durbin understand this, and that is why they are focused, as am I, on rapid prototyping. The current Defense Authorization Act and Appropriations Act (working its way through the Hill) include new authorities, streamlined processes, and funding to support prototyping of new systems.

That's why designating a senior official at the Pentagon entrusted with accelerating the transition of DE weapon systems is so important.

And that's why I am calling for the establishment of a Directed Energy Weapon System Demonstration Fund.

This fund would be used exclusively for high energy laser and high power microwave prototyping and demonstrations so that we can develop the tactics, techniques, and procedures—or TTPs—for these weapon systems.

Doing so will allow us to engage the warfighter in the use of operational systems and produce military utility assessments.

Ultimately, for any new weapon system, combatant commanders must see capability gaps in the threat environments they manage and seek solutions to address those gaps.
In the case of directed energy systems, prototypes and demonstrations can help illustrate to combatant commanders how these systems can be employed to their advantage.

In the days and years ahead, we cannot let our vision for DE weapon systems be fixated on the depictions seen in movies, but rather on solutions that are ready today.

Sure, a 2-kw or 5-kw laser can't shoot down an intercontinental ballistic missile, but it CAN uniquely disable and eliminate an enemy UAV loaded with explosives from a safe distance.

That is something that could potentially save lives and it is something our forces and the Iraqi Security Forces are facing as we speak.

Sure, a 30 or 50 kw laser on a tactical truck or Stryker vehicle cannot take out an enemy aircraft, but it can destroy rockets, artillery and mortar rounds that enemies like Hamas, Hezbollah, or ISIL may be launching at civilians or our armed forces. Just one more example: a high-powered microwave on a missile may not be able to shut down a targeted building's electronics and communications systems without collateral damage in what General Goldfein has described as "silent sabotage."

But, oh wait, YES, it CAN do that.

We have already developed that capability, and it is ready. TODAY!

My point is this: Directed energy weapons systems will not replace kinetic weapon systems, nor are they an all-purpose solution to every warfighting scenario out there.

But there are specific scenarios today where directed energy weapon systems can, and should, provide our military with tactical and strategic advantages.

We cannot continue to let our pursuit of perfection deprive our military of game-changing capabilities.

That's why I am grateful to all of you in the Directed Energy community for taking an active role in educating policymakers and acquisition staff on the potential of directed energy technology.

I remain your committed partner in this endeavor.

Rosa G. Tinney, 85, of Deming, New Mexico passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 25, 2017.

Rosa born on October 29, 1931 in Columbus, New Mexico to Juana and Nicolas Gutierrez. She moved to Deming in 1969. Rosa was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus and Deming. She was an active member of the church and volunteered her time and culinary talents for the church. For 25 years, she helped with Mass every Thursday at the Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home.

She loved cooking, dancing, working in her yard and being with family and friends. Her faith was of the utmost importance. She was a prayer warrior. Rosa worked for Deming Public Schools in the cafeteria for 18 years.

She is survived by her son, Richard Tinney (Mary) of Deming; daughter, Betty Tinney Lightcap of Key West, Florida, daughter, Jackie Massegee (Darrel) of Los Lunas, New Mexico, daughters, Shirley and Brenda Tinney of Deming. Rosa had 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

A special thanks to the staff of Mimbres Memorial Hospital and Ambercare for their kind and loving care.

A Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 o'clock in the morning, Thursday March 30, 2017 at Holy Family Catholic Church. Concluding services and inurnment will follow at Valley Heights in Columbus with Farther Ronald Machado officiating where she will be buried in her family plot. A Bereavement lunch will be held following the burial at Holy Family parish hall in Deming. Everyone is invited. Cremation has been entrusted to Baca's Mimbres Crematory.

Delton Lunceford Jr., 44, Deming resident passed away Saturday, March 25, 2017 at UNM Hospital in Albuquerque.

Delton was born September 13, 1972 to Janie Lou Stockton and Delton Howard Lunceford in Odessa, Texas. He came to Deming in 1998 from Odessa, Texas and had locally owned and operated Delta Computers. He loved the outdoors, gardening, trips to the mountains, four wheeling, wood working, welding and riding motorcycles.

He is survived by mother, Janie Tharp of Deming; daughters, Katelyn Lunceford of Midland, TX, Evelyn Lunceford; brother, Glenn Lunceford and sister, Michelle Davis both of Deming; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceded in death by father, Delton Howard Lunceford and step-father, Charles Tharp.

No services will take place as per his wishes. Cremation has been entrusted to Baca’s Mimbres Crematory.

Donations can be made at deltonluncefordfamilythanksyou@gofundme.com or contact Michelle Davis at 505-209-5087.

(LAS CRUCES, N.M.) — The New Mexico Department of Agriculture recognizes that a small number of residential pecan trees are being affected by pecan weevil in five eastern New Mexico cities. Pecan weevil is a significant insect pest of pecan and is not recognized as being established in New Mexico commercial orchards.

New Mexico Department of Agriculture and New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service recognize the economic importance of the pecan industry to the region and the negative impact that pecan weevil will have on the industry. Over the past 10 years, both organizations have cooperated on annual surveys and outreach programs as part of an early detection and eradication approach to prevent pecan weevil establishment in the western region.

Recently pecan weevil has been identified in residential trees in Clovis, Roswell, and Lovington. Additional pecan trees were identified with pecan weevil in Artesia and Hobbs.

As a result of the recent pecan weevil findings, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture has extended the original sixty day quarantine adding an additional 90 days. To limit the spread of pecan weevil from infested residential trees to commercial orchards, movement of pecans produced within the city limits of Clovis, Roswell, Hobbs, Artesia, and Lovington are restricted. This restriction requires a certificate from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture stating specific pecans meet one or more of the following requirements:

• Pecans that are sold, traded or gifted in a manner that meet the phytosanitary requirements of the receiving location and are transported in a department approved manner;
• Pecans treated at 0 degrees for 168 continuous hours, or other department approved treatment methods;
• The inspection of a pecan sample in which no pecans exhibit signs of the pecan weevil or exhibit the presence of the weevil; and/or,
• Pecans originating in the quarantined area but believed, by the department not to have the presence of the pecan weevil.

Specifics regarding the certification of pecan nuts can be found within the quarantine rule at http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/21.17.36-NMAC-3.27.2017-AMENDED.pdf. Information is also available at the affected areas' County Cooperative Extension Offices. Residential and commercial pecan tree owners should be on the lookout for pecans with round, BB-sized holes in the shells, or legless, white grubs inside the pecan nut. If you suspect you have pecan weevil in your residential pecan trees, contact your local County Cooperative Extension Office. Chaves County residents may contact Sandra Barraza at 575-622-3210. Lea County residents should contact Wayne Cox at 575-396-2819. Residents in Eddy County should contact Woods Houghton at 575-887-6595. Curry County residents should contact the Cooperative Extension Office at 575-763-6505. Lovington residents should contact the Lea County Cooperative Extension Office at 575-396-2819.

New Mexico Department of Agriculture and New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service will continue to work with city elected officials and residents of affected areas on education and eradication efforts.

Reserve, NM, March 30, 2017—For Immediate Release. The Gila National Forest, Reserve District will be implementing a campground closure for the Willow Creek Campground until Memorial Day.

District Ranger John Pierson said: "The creek crossing at the campground is unsafe and we find it necessary to close this campground so the crossing can be repaired for the safety of our visitors."

The district anticipates road crews to begin working on the crossing within the next month and have it repaired so that the campground can be re-opened for Memorial Day Weekend.

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GilaNForest/ or follow us on Twitter @GilaNForest.

WASHINGTON - In the wake of congressional Republicans' failed attempt to rip health coverage away from millions of Americans, U.S. Senators Tom Udall, Al Franken (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and a key group of Senate Democrats launched a major push to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by bringing down the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs, one of the main reasons why health care costs are rising.

An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that prescription drug prices are too high and that we need action to lower prices. The Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act would help ensure that drug companies put patients before profits and bring some much-needed relief to families and seniors, including many who have had to make the impossible choice between paying for a life-saving drug and putting food on the table.

"From inexplicable price hikes for the life-saving EpiPen to astronomical costs for specialty biologics, Big Pharma is gouging Americans and driving U.S. health care costs through the roof. New Mexicans shouldn't feel like they have to go without critical medication or buy it in Mexico or Canada," Udall said. "We have a window of opportunity now to provide meaningful solutions so that our health care system is not held hostage by volatile drug prices and an industry with little accountability or transparency. I urge President Trump and congressional Republicans to seize this chance and work with us to rein in out-of-control prescription drug costs and fix a problem that affects nearly everyone in our country."

"We need to bring down prescription drug prices. No American should have to skip meals or turn off their heat in order to afford needed medications," said Franken. "But right now, that's exactly what's happening. Companies are putting profits before people and setting prices far beyond the reach of Minnesotans, which is driving up costs. Our comprehensive legislation will bring down prescription drug prices. We are working on real solutions to address real problems facing Americans. I strongly urge Congress, and the President-who has committed to addressing drug prices-to make this legislative package a top priority."

"The American people are fed up with paying by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs," said Sanders. "It's time for Congress to stand up to the power and greed of the pharmaceutical industry. This legislation will do just that by allowing the United States to import prescription drugs and Medicare to negotiate drug prices. I hope my Republican colleagues and President Trump will have the guts to support this bill and others and take on the pharmaceutical industry."

This important legislative package, which is supported by a wide range of organizations and patient advocacy groups, was introduced today by Franken, Udall, Sanders, and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

The landmark proposal, which the senators said they want to see included in upcoming legislative debates, seeks to tackle prescription drug costs by increasing transparency and accountability, boosting access and affordability of key drugs, spurring innovation, and increasing choice and competition.

The senators' legislation is supported by:

• The American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
• AFSCME
• Housing Works
• MoveOn
• National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare
• National Physicians Alliance
• Other98
• PFAM: People of Faith for Access to Medicines
• Public Citizen
• Social Security Works
• Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM)
• AFT
• Doctors for America
• Center for Medicare Advocacy
• Alliance for Retired Americans

Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act:

Title I: Transparency
Section 101: Drug manufacturer reporting.
To better understand how research and development costs, manufacturing and marketing costs, acquisitions, federal investments, revenues and sales, and other factors influence drug prices, this section requires drug manufacturers to disclose this information, by product, to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), who, in turn, will make it publicly available in a searchable format.

Section 102: Determining the public and private benefit of copayment coupons and other patient assistance programs.
To better understand how patient assistance programs affect drug prices and the extent to which drug makers are using independent charity assistance programs to drive up profits, this section requires independent charity assistance programs to disclose to the IRS the total amount of patient assistance provided to patients who are prescribed drugs manufactured by any contributor to the independent charity assistance program. It also requires a GAO study on the impact of patient assistance programs on prescription drug pricing and expenditures.

Title II: Access and Affordability
Section 201: Negotiating fair prices for Medicare prescription drugs.
Medicare is one of the largest purchasers of prescription drugs in the country but, unlike Medicaid and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), it is not allowed to leverage its purchasing power to negotiate lower drug prices and bring down costs. This section would allow the Secretary of HHS to negotiate with drug companies to lower prescription drug prices, and directs the Secretary to prioritize negotiations on specialty and other high-priced drugs.

Section 202: Prescription drug price spikes.
Prescription drugs are priced in the United States according to whatever the market will bear and are sometimes subject to drastic and frequent price increases without apparent justification. This makes drugs increasingly unaffordable and creates significant uncertainty for patients' and insurers' budgets. This section requires the HHS Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG) to monitor changes in drug prices and take steps to prevent drug manufacturers from engaging in price gouging.

Section 203: Acceleration of the closing of the Medicare Part D coverage gap.
This section closes the Medicare Part D prescription coverage gap in 2018, two years earlier than under current law, providing faster financial relief to seniors, and requires drug manufacturers to pay a larger share of the costs during the coverage gap.

Section 204: Importing affordable and safe drugs.
This section allows wholesalers, licensed U.S. pharmacies, and individuals to import qualifying prescription drugs manufactured at FDA-inspected facilities from licensed Canadian sellers and, after two years, from OECD countries that meet standards comparable to U.S. standards.

Section 205: Requiring drug manufacturers to provide drug rebates for drugs dispensed to low-income individuals.
This section restores prescription drug rebates for seniors who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and extends these rebates to other Medicare patients in Medicare low-income-subsidy plans.

Section 206: Cap on prescription drug cost-sharing.
For plan years beginning in 2019 and later, this section caps prescription drug cost sharing at $250 per month for individuals and $500 a month for families enrolled in Qualified Health Plans and employer-based plans.

Title III: Innovation
Section 301: Prize fund for new and more effective treatments of bacterial infections.
This section creates a $2 billion prize fund at the National Institutes of Health to fund entities that develop superior antibiotics that treat serious and life-threatening bacterial infections and to fund research that advances such treatments and is made publicly available. In order to receive prize funds, recipients must commit to offering their products at a reasonable price, share clinical data, and take steps to promote antibiotic stewardship.

Section 302: Public funding for clinical trials.
This section creates a Center for Clinical Research within the NIH to conduct all stages of clinical trials on drugs that may address an existing or emerging health need.

Section 303: Rewarding innovative drug development.
This section amends various exclusivity periods awarded by the FDA to brand-name pharmaceutical companies in an effort to accelerate competition in the generic and biologics market. First, the bill modifies the New Chemical Entity (NCE) exclusivity period to allow FDA to accept a generic drug application for the branded product after three years rather than five. Second, this section would add in a requirement that products awarded the 3-year New Clinical Investigation Exclusivity must show significant clinical benefit over existing therapies manufactured by the applicant in the 5-year period preceding the submission of the application. Third, this section reduces the biological product exclusivity from 12 years to 7 years.

Section 304: Improving program integrity.
This section would terminate any remaining market exclusivity periods on any product found to be in violation of criminal or civil law through a federal or state fraud conviction or settlement in which the company admits fault.

Title IV: Choice and Competition
Section 401: Preserving access to affordable generics.
This legislation would make it illegal for brand-name and generic drug manufacturers to enter into anti-competitive agreements in which the brand-name drug manufacturer pays the generic manufacturer to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market.

Section 402 and 403: 180-Day exclusivity period amendments regarding first applicant status and agreements to defer commercial marketing.
This section enables FDA to take away the 180-day generic drug exclusivity period from any generic company that enters into anti-competitive pay-for-delay settlements with brand-name drug manufacturers.

Section 404: Increasing generic drug competition.
This section introduces new reporting requirements and financial incentives to promote and sustain competitive generic markets.

Section 405: Disallowance of deduction for advertising for prescription drugs.
This section eliminates the tax breaks drug companies receive from the federal government for expenses related to direct-to-consumer advertising.

Section 406: Product hopping.
This section establishes a definition for the term "product hopping" and instructs the FTC to submit a report to Congress on the extent to which companies engage in these anti-competitive practices and their effects on company profits, consumer access, physician prescribing behavior, and broader economic impacts.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 30, 2017) – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led today in advancing two bills he introduced that will enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation, reauthorize a key conservation program, improve access to our public lands, and protect wilderness within the Río Grande del Norte National Monument northwest of Taos, New Mexico.

VIDEO: Heinrich's Opening Remarks on Sportsmen's Act, March 30, 2017

VIDEO: Heinrich's Opening Remarks on Cerro del Yuta and Rio San Antonio Wilderness Act, March 30, 2017

The Sportsmen's Act of 2017 cleared the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today with bipartisan support. Senator Heinrich introduced the bill with Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The Sportsmen's Act includes the text of Senator Heinrich's Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures (HUNT) Act to improve access to public lands where hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation are permitted. Additional measures Senator Heinrich championed for New Mexico in the bill include reauthorizing the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA) and a provision giving small media groups and individuals easier access to film and photograph on public lands.

Hunters and anglers alone spend more than $613 million per year in New Mexico, and outdoor recreation as a whole is directly responsible for 68,000 jobs in the state. The Sportsmen's Act is supported by New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

"Hunting and fishing are an integral part of our American heritage, but without our public lands, that tradition will be lost. This bill will make sure our kids and grandkids will be catching trout and chasing antelope on our public lands for many years to come," said Senator Heinrich.

The Cerro del Yuta and Rio San Antonio Wilderness Act, introduced by Senator Heinrich and U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) also passed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today. The bill establishes two new wilderness areas, the Cerro del Yuta Wilderness and Rio San Antonio Wilderness, within the Río Grande del Norte National Monument.

The Río Grande del Norte National Monument is widely supported by Taos county residents, who have seen major economic activity since designation in 2013. A year after the national monument was designated, it was reported that the town of Taos lodgers' tax revenue increased by 21 percent in the second half of 2013, compared with the same time period in 2012. In addition, gross-receipts revenue to businesses in Taos County in the accommodations and food service sector rose 8.3 percent in the second half of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012, representing an increase of $3.7 million.

"From the tops of Cerro de la Olla and Ute Mountain, to the depths of the Rio Grande Gorge, the Río Grande del Norte is one of the most spectacular places on earth," said Senator Heinrich. He then shared a letter to the editor from Floyd Archuleta, a rancher from El Prado who supports the legislation.

Both the Sportsmen's Act and the Cerro del Yuta and Rio San Antonio Wilderness Act will now advance to the full Senate for consideration.

Washington, DC (March 30, 2017) The House of Representatives this week voted on two pieces of legislation that would bring transparency and accountability to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"Americans deserve an efficient, effective, and accountable federal government, and the EPA is no exception. Over the years, the EPA has implemented costly regulations that have increased utility costs for families, hindered small businesses development, limited accessibility, and crushed jobs in New Mexico. Americans deserve to know the information and data that create the regulations affecting their day-to-day lives. The bills passed this week will provide New Mexicans with assurance that the EPA will clearly and fully explain the science and motivation behind their actions."

Rep. Pearce is an original cosponsor of H.R. 1430, the Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment (HONEST) Act, and H.R. 1431, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act. The bills bring transparency to the EPA by providing the public with access to scientific information and data used to make regulations, and prohibit clear conflicts of interests on the EPA's Science Advisory Board.

The Western New Mexico University football team will hold its annual spring game that will take place this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ben Altamirano Field.

Come out and watch the Mustangs free of charge as it will be the first look into what WNMU will have for the coming 2017 season.

Some of the games over the past few years have gone right down to the wire, with the defense claiming the 70-45 win last year. Back in 2015, the defense tallied the 81-56 and in 2014, the defense pulled out a close 78-67 victory.

The New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity has canceled its regularly scheduled meeting on April 4, 2017, because of lack of business. It has been rescheduled for 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the Grant County Administration Center.