Udall Joins Senate Appropriations Committee Leaders for Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Cuba, Colombia to Promote National Security and Trade Opportunities for New Mexico

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations, Commerce and Foreign Relations committees, announced that he will join Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Chochran (R-Miss.), Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) for a congressional delegation to Cuba and Colombia to promote national security and trade opportunities for New Mexico.

"As a member of the Appropriations, Commerce, and Foreign Relations committees, my top priorities are keeping the American people safe and creating economic opportunity for New Mexicans," Udall said, "On this congressional delegation, I will continue my work to modernize our relationship with Cuba, so that New Mexicans can take full advantage of international trade opportunities to grow their businesses and jumpstart our state's economy. New Mexicans see Cuba as a valuable trading partner, opening a significant market for beef, cheese, Navajo corn, and other products. Increased business relations with Cuba will not only provide new economic opportunities to New Mexico, but also help bring openness and freedom to the Cuban people. And as Colombia strives to achieve the vitally important goal of peace and an end to the last active war in the Western Hemisphere, our congressional delegation will work to advance the security and trade interests of New Mexicans and the American people in Colombia."