Melanie Stansbury: “I rise today with a grateful but sad heart to honor the life of U.S. Senator Fred Harris, a tireless champion for…”

“I rise today with a grateful but sad heart to honor the life of U.S. Senator Fred Harris, a tireless champion for justice, democracy, and the people of New Mexico and Oklahoma. Senator Harris fought for Native American and civil rights, returned sacred lands to our Tribes, and helped advance the Great Society programs that have lifted millions out of poverty. His impact goes far beyond his time in the Senate. He created the Fred Harris fellowship that has brought hundreds of UNM students to Washington, D.C., to give them firsthand experience in public service. He was a mentor, an educator, a dear friend, and a hero to so many in our State and across the Nation. While we grieve his passing, his legacy will live on in the countless people whose lives he has touched and who continue to fight for justice he dedicated his life to and the legacy this United States leaves behind.”