Melanie Stansbury

As we all know, every year hundreds of millions of people visit our national parks seeking refuge, adventure, connection with the outdoors, and for cultural practices.

I am a huge proponent of Federal R&D to help support economic growth and opportunity.

if we don't take immediate action, literally right now, in the next several years, we are not going to have a planet to live on.

if we are going to talk about Members of Congress being compromised by elite interests from other countries, how about we talk about members of this Committee who take campaign donations from multi-national mining companies that the…

Space mining, if it does transpire, is not in the immediate future.

I agree with the Chairman that we absolutely have to address our critical minerals issues.

There are legitimate questions here, public policy questions about where we spend our money in the near term and the long term.

Our role is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Should we be spending millions, billions of dollars to pursue R&D to subsidize private companies who are going to go then and capture those resources and use them for their own profits?

It is very important for us that our communities have a seat at the table in any kind of consultation regarding our national parks.

This is about Indigenous people who have lived on these lands for thousands of years who suddenly have air traffic in their backyard while they are conducting religious ceremonies.

I think it is important.

The economic impact shouldn't really be involved here, this is more important.

As we all know, our national parks play an essential role in preserving our most treasured landscapes, our cultural landscapes, our historic, natural, and cultural resources.

Just 2 weeks ago, we had a hearing on a bipartisan veterans bill that myself and Representative Ciscomani have introduced to actually increase access for our veterans and disabled individuals in our community to our national parks.

I would ask that our fellow Congressman show appropriate decorum to an elected tribal official who has, at his own expense, come to testify before Congress to share his perspective.

For us in New Mexico, our public lands are Indigenous lands. They are the historic lands of our communities.

During rollcall Vote No. 669 on H.R. 5894, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

America's public lands are for everyone, regardless of who you are and how you access them.

I appear before you today in support of the bipartisan Promoting Accessibility on Federal Lands Act, led by Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico and Congressman Juan Ciscomani of Arizona.

Every day is Veterans Day, and we appreciate your service to our great nation.

No one should miss out or be left behind--these lands should be accessible to all.

This bill would direct the United States Forest Service and Department of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive assessment of accessibility options.

So, one of the things that New Mexico has done--and I think this goes along with some of the comments that were made about other countries--is that we made college free for all.

Right now, in New Mexico we have more jobs than people, and I think some of the discussion has really pointed to that.