Ben Ray Luján

I am confident, with a few technical changes, that the bill can be strengthened to protect the heritage of New Mexico, and I am committed to do that.

H.R. 1241, a bill to establish the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area, is a big step forward in the effort to protect environmentally sensitive areas as well as recognize the traditional uses of the land that means so much to…

The local people, the land grant areas, also are very supportive of this legislation. They do not want to see their land, their common lands, up for exploration of businesses or for these lands to be sold.

I appreciate the indulgence of the Chairman here--Ms. Weldon, one other area that I want to ask for your consideration...

Thank you so much for your advocacy, and my best to your family.

I think my people would like to make sure that the Treaty of Guadalupe de Hidalgo be honored, and that our traditional uses of herb gathering, wood cutting, hunting, the grazing, that all that be protected for us with this bill.

I think that if we are able to work together, there may be a way to pull a lot more support.

I appreciate this opportunity to urge your support for H.R. 1241 to establish the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area.

We want to thank you and all of the witnesses that are here today for being with us to talk about this important legislation bills--one that protects cultural and traditional uses of land, landscapes in New Mexico; another protects marine…

I would just like to ask unanimous consent that I submit into the record a letter from the Northern New Mexico Stockmen, the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, the New Mexico Wool Growers, and the New Mexico Federal Lands Council.

We have some challenges associated with how categorical exclusions are evaluated.

This is something that is critically important.

As you know, my State of New Mexico has enormous potential for solar power development, I think, in the United States, only second to Arizona.

In my district, tribal communities continue to struggle for access to clean drinking water, and rural communities face challenges in developing waste water treatment infrastructure.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. And I want to thank you for bringing us together with all of our tribal leaders and all of our witnesses today.

I would like to see a template so that if a company followed that template, they could just go ahead with the construction.

Under President Barack Obama, production is up.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.

it is important to work with industries and across countries to develop industry standards that allow for maximum market access

One of the reasons I am so passionate about this is----

That is encouraging, but nonetheless, as we talk about how technology has evolved and appreciating very much the fact as we talk about the connectivity on the charging component, I think therein lies one of the frustrations associated with…

It is my box of chargers, but actually this is a conversation I had with my mother years ago about the frustration that she had as well...

the commitment to research and development and innovation as keys to America's economic success.

I appreciate your attention to this in support of the national labs as well, sir.

Do you believe that eliminating Western's borrowing authority would increase or decrease the likelihood of these kinds of transmission projects?