WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) praised the Senate’s vote to recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month.
“I’m proud that the Senate passed our bipartisan resolution recognizing November as Native American Heritage Month. This resolution honors the countless ways Native American have shaped New Mexico and our national identity. It also challenges us to examine how we can better stand with Tribes to meet our trust and treaty obligations,” said Udall. “As vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I am proud to represent the 23 Tribes from my home state of New Mexico and all Tribes across the country. It is an honor to work with Tribal leaders, Native communities, and people on both sides of the aisle to strengthen Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and self-governance each day.”
“Native American Heritage Month is a time for us to celebrate and honor the unique cultural heritage and remarkable contributions of Native communities,” said Heinrich. “I am incredibly proud to work so closely with New Mexico’s tribal communities on issues such as education, water access, housing, infrastructure, public safety, and cultural preservation. I look forward to continuing our work to protect tribal sovereignty and ensure that the federal government meets its trust responsibility to our tribes.”
In addition to Udall and Heinrich, 30 senators joined as co-sponsors of the resolution including John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore).
