Tom Udall: “it is great to be here with Senator Murkowski. I rise to speak in support of the fiscal year 2020 Interior…”

“it is great to be here with Senator Murkowski. I rise to speak in support of the fiscal year 2020 Interior appropriations bill, which is now before the Senate. I want to begin by thanking my chairman and partner in this endeavor, Senator Murkowski, for her working with me to produce a very fine bill that was crafted on a bipartisan basis. It is extraordinary that this bill is on the floor for the second consecutive year after many years when we were not able to move the bill by regular order. Much of the credit goes to her leadership and her commitment to working through tough issues in a fair and a pragmatic way. One of the reasons I am particularly proud of moving a bipartisan bill is the importance this bill has for my home State of New Mexico. This bill reflects the long tradition we have in my State of working across the aisle to support conservation priorities. It includes a number of important accomplishments for the State, including language to protect the sacred landscape of Chaco Canyon, along with funding to support the Valles Caldera National Preserve and the new resources to clean up the PFAS contamination in New Mexico and across the country. This bill is also an important reflection of why the work that Chairman Shelby and Vice Chairman Leahy did earlier this year to secure a 2-year budget agreement is so important.…”