AUDIO: Udall Holds Press Conference Call to Urge Senate Republican Action on New Mexico Priorities
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) held a press conference call for local reporters to call on the Republican Senate Majority to act on urgent priorities for New Mexico and the country.
The House of Representatives has passed more than 275 bills since January , but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked the Senate from taking action on critical legislation to benefit New Mexico families and communities. Udall will highlight bills currently languishing in Mitch McConnell’s legislative graveyard, such as Udall’s For The People Act to secure American elections, reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, common-sense gun safety measures, and bills to protect and improve health care in New Mexico and nationwide.
“I’m doing everything I can to do the job that New Mexicans sent us here to do. To legislate,” Udall said. “In October, I called for a vote on my bill, the For the People Act, a package of urgently needed reforms to protect our elections from foreign interference, fight corruption, and make voting more accessible. This bill puts power back in the hands of the American people. But the Republican leadership blocked the vote.
Udall continued, “Republican leaders have also refused to act on legislation to protect the health care of people with pre-existing conditions, and to lower the price of prescription drugs. The same Republican leadership has blocked bipartisan bills, like the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which passed the House in April. [They have also] blocked common-sense gun safety bills to close loopholes and expand background checks, in the wake of deadly attacks. President Trump has been making the false claim that Democrats aren’t doing anything in Congress. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“I came here to work for New Mexicans, to pass legislation to grow our economy, protect our environment, secure our democracy and keep our children safe,” Udall concluded. “I will continue to fight for these priorities—which should all be bipartisan issues.”
Listen to the audio HERE.
Below are Udall’s remarks:
0:00 Thank you all for joining us.
0:05 Today, I want to focus on the important legislation that I, along with House and Senate Democrats, have been fighting for.
0:11 The House has passed over 275 bills – many of them bipartisan— that Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked the Senate from acting on.
0:24 These are bills that would address critical needs in New Mexico and across the nation.
0:30 Like: protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions, reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, protecting DREAMers, addressing gun violence, and securing our elections.
0:40 But Leader McConnell has put the Trump White House over the American people.
0:48 I’m doing everything I can – to do the job that New Mexicans sent us here to do. To legislate.
0:55 In October, I called for a vote on my bill, the For the People Act.
1:00 A package of urgently needed reforms to protect our elections from foreign interference, fight corruption, and make voting more accessible. This bill puts power back in the hands of the American people.
1:13 But the Republican leadership blocked the vote.
1:17 Republican leaders have also refused to act on legislation to protect the health care of people with pre-existing conditions. And to lower the price of prescription drugs.
1:28 The same Republican leadership has blocked bipartisan bills, like the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which passed the House in April.
1:37 And blocked common-sense gun safety bills to close loopholes and expand background checks, in the wake of deadly attacks.
1:45 Those are just a few examples of the bills that Leader McConnell sent to his legislative graveyard.
1:53 President Trump has been making the false claim that Democrats aren’t doing anything in Congress. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
2:01 If President Trump really wanted to help Americans, he could direct Leader McConnell to work with Democrats to pass any of these critical bills.
2:10 But instead, he spends his days tweeting out conspiracy theories and clips from cable news.
2:17 I came here to work for New Mexicans, to pass legislation to grow our economy, protect our environment, secure our democracy and keep our children safe.
2:27 I will continue to fight for these priorities—which should all be bipartisan issues.
2:33 So I hope my Republican colleagues in the Senate and this administration will end their senseless blockade of good bills.
2:40 We need to work together to make a real difference in the lives of New Mexicans.
2:46 Udall takes questions on impeachment, election security.
