Ben Ray Luján

historically the Department of Agriculture has faced charges and been found liable in court of discriminatory practices against socially disadvantaged communities.

I definitely look forward to working with you when you are confirmed, and learning how Congress and the USDA can provide additional support and resources to these communities.

I ask the Committee and other Members of Congress to support this bill to ensure current and future research includes increased numbers of Blacks, Hispanics, Asian and Native Americans in clinical trials.

Senators Ben Ray Lujan and Collins introduced the bipartisan Equity in Neuroscience and Alzheimer's Clinical Trials (ENACT) Act.

I am here as a daughter, niece, and granddaughter of Alzheimer's.

We need a national policy now not only to close the wage gap, but to boost our economy and recover from this pandemic.

I am a proud cosponsor of the Family Act and the Healthy Families Act, which together create a national paid leave program.

I am a proud son of a union ironworker. My late father, Ben Lujan. My mom's father was a union carpenter.

I am a strong supporter of Davis Bacon protections because they provide workers with fair, family sustaining wages.

I have concerns with so-called right to work laws, which I would describe as right to work for less.

Most the farm workers are some of our Nation's most vital but most overlooked workers.

It is my understanding that about 70 percent of homes on Navajo Nation lack broadband.

I was pleased to see Secretary Becerra issue guidance this morning, removing barriers for qualified practitioners to treat with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.

I appreciate all the conversation that is taking place surrounding Project ECHO, which we all know is a telementoring program for health professionals developed at the University of New Mexico by Dr. Sanjeev Arora.

We need to work together to find solutions that will benefit our Native populations.

I still don't understand how someone can get in an airplane in Los Angeles, connectivity in the air at 30,000 feet, land in New York or in Miami and stay connected to the internet, yet our students that live in communities where those…

Thank you, Chair, and I thank my colleagues.

In New Mexico, we started seeing COVID-19 scams as early as last March.

Robocalls aren't just a nuisance, they are used to take advantage of elderly and vulnerable populations.

I was proud to cosponsor the Child Care for Working Families Act, which was included in President Biden's American Families Plan.

We can't just give scammers a slap on the wrist, especially when people's lives and livelihoods are on the line.

Misleading and contradictory information about the coronavirus on social media platforms and broadcast media has done real harm.

It's critical to understand how we best protect our communities in times of crisis.

I am grateful that this Committee and Congress have identified these shortcomings as a top priority to be addressed by this administration.

I just want to express my gratitude to the Secretary for that.