Dear Friends, 

Public servants make so many aspects of our everyday lives possible. On Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 5:00 MT, I will host a workshop to help public servants sign up for the Department of Education’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

There were recent changes made to this important program that will help more New Mexicans pay off their student loan debt!

You can view the workshop by logging on to  my website at https://fernandez.house.gov/live, and I will also be streaming the workshop on my Facebook here.

Working for New Mexico

I joined Mora and Las Vegas community members to celebrate the resilience of their people, culture, land, and water. It was wonderful to participate in this event as these communities recover from the devastation of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Wildfires.

I’m thrilled that my bill, the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, passed overwhelmingly in the House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act!  It was also included in the House-passed Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act last week. 

If enacted, the bill will compensate Nuevo Mexicanos who lost homes and businesses in the fire and allows rebuilding to begin.

Legislative Corner

I introduced the Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act to promote Tribal food sovereignty and make it easier for Native children to access free meals at school. 

For far too long, the U.S. undermined Tribal nutrition by providing Native families the least nutritious foods. This bill makes sure Tribal nations have food sovereignty to remedy this historical mistreatment. 

Additionally, I voted to pass a package of six government funding bills that brings down costs by investing in housing, water infrastructure, small business, and energy for Nuevo Mexicanos. 

The package makes sure that funds can’t go to the VA’s AIR Commission, which will keep our veterans health clinics open in northern New Mexico. I’m also proud that it includes funding for nine of my community-supported projects in our district. The list of projects may be viewed HERE.

I also recently voted for, and the House passed the following legislation: 

• The Chips and Science Act to strengthen our supply chain and make sure that the U.S. leads the world in technology, innovation, and manufacturing.
• Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 to reduce the number of assault weapons in our country by banning the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of this style of weapon.
• Respect for Marriage Act to protect marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples.
• Women’s Health Protection Act to protect the right to access abortion care against unjust restrictions and bans in any state, and make the right to abortion a federal law.
• Right to Contraception Act to protect the right to get and use contraception, and stop states from restricting access to contraception.

Constituent Services

Now in effect: 9-8-8 is the number to call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

This phone hotline connects to 200 local crisis centers to help people in mental health-related distress or those experiencing a suicidal crisis. Together, we can build awareness and help our communities.

Casework

Remember, if you have any problems with a federal agency, my constituent services team may be able to help you. You may reach us at (505) 428-4680.

Follow me on Twitter @RepTeresaLF!