It’s been a busy week in Congress. Here’s what you might have missed:
Protecting Cold War Workers
On Monday, I led a bipartisan group of senators in introducing the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2010, which would provide expanded restitution for Americans sickened from working in uranium mines or living near atomic weapons tests.
Uranium and weapons development of the Cold War era left a gruesome legacy in communities of mine workers and downwinders. These amendments take the next step to close this sad chapter in history and to improve the reach of compassionate compensation to those Americans who have suffered, but have not qualified under RECA in its current form. Learn more about the RECA Amendments Act of 2010 here .
I spoke on the Senate floor about the impacts of these changes, particularly to victims of radiation exposure on the Navajo Nation.
Supporting Education in New Mexico
Important steps were taken this week to ensure that education in New Mexico isn’t hampered by budget cuts during hard times.
I joined more than a dozen of my Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring the Keep Our Educators Working Act to help keep teachers in the classroom. Through the Recovery Act, we saw the jobs of 300,000 teachers, principals, librarians and counselors protected during the worst recession since the Great Depression. Through this new proposal , New Mexico would be eligible for an estimated $151 million in grants to do the same.
Paying Tribute to a Great New Mexican
This month we mark the 122nd birthday of the late Sen. Dennis Chavez. He remains the longest-serving Hispanic senator in the history of the U.S. Senate and I took to the Senate floor to pay tribute to the life of El Senador .
Examining the History of the Filibuster
The Senate Rules Committee met this week to discuss the history of the filibuster and its use in the U.S. Senate. The filibuster is a symptom of the continued obstruction that we see in the Senate and I have been pushing for these rules to be reviewed by the Senate under the Constitutional Option . I posted about this hearing in greater detail here .
Discussing Healthy Living with Apolo Ohno
Thursday I met with Olympic Gold Medalist Apolo Ohno during his visit to Capitol Hill. Apolo is travelling around the country to teach teens the importance of healthy lifestyles and the dangers of underage drinking. He’s a role model for young people everywhere. You can see a few photos from our meeting below:
