New Mexicans In Majority As U.S. Senate OKs COVID-19 Relief Bill
- Associated Press
New Mexico Democrats Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján were both in the razor-thin majority Saturday as the U.S. Senate approved a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
The 50-49 vote gives President Joe Biden and his Democratic allies a victory that they say is crucial for hoisting the country out of the pandemic and economic doldrums.
Senate passage sets up final congressional approval by the House this week.
Heinrich said New Mexico s residents are facing daunting economic hardships and need assistance to help weather this crisis, while Luján said the bill provides crucial relief at a time when New Mexicans are still struggling financially.
In Alaska, Murkowski finds herself caught between the enthusiasm of her Indigenous constituents and her support for fossil fuels. “I have decided to support this nomination today to support the first Native American who will hold this position, and with the expectation that Rep. Haaland will be true to her word. Not just on matters relating to Native peoples, but also responsible resource development and every other issue,” said Murkowski of her vote.
Many Alaska Natives support Halaand’s historic nomination, regardless of where they stand on resource extraction. Last week, 127 Alaska Native women from all over the state co-authored a letter declaring their support for Haaland’s nomination, citing massive underrepresentation of Indigenous leadership at the helm of this crucial department. If confirmed, Haaland would become the first Indigeous Interior Secretary, a position with the most oversight over U.S. relations with tribes.
Bill would exempt New Mexico from daylight saving time changes msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Bill Advances To Exempt New Mexico From Time Changes -
By Morgan Lee, Associated Press
New Mexico would eliminate twice-annual seasonal time changes under a bill endorsed Friday by the New Mexico state Senate.
On a 22-18 vote, the Democrat-led Senate approved a bill that would keep New Mexico on daylight saving time throughout the year.
It was unclear if the House will bring the measure to a floor vote before the legislative session ends on March 20. Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf was co-sponsor of a similar bill in 2015 that won Senate approval and stalled in the House without a vote.