Rep. Stansbury Enters Leadership Race for Natural Resources Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01)announced on Monday she will make a bid to run for the highest Democratic seat in the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. 

If successful, Rep. Stansbury would make history as the first woman to serve as either Chair or Ranking Member of the Committee. This would follow on the historic tenure of the current Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (AZ-07) who has led the Committee for the last decade as the first Latino Chair, and who endorsed Rep. Stansbury last week.

Read the full letter here. 

“Across more than two decades working on natural resources issues at OMB, in the U.S. Senate and House, as Vice Chair of the House Committee of jurisdiction in New Mexico, and on the ground—I have worked on issues that affect nearly every community that our Caucus represents,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “I will ensure that our work is always rooted in the needs of our communities and the vast, diverse, and beautiful places we call home. My life’s work at the forefront of these land and water issues and climate justice is not just a job—it is part of who I am and why I am here. As we prepare for the 119th Congress, we must meet the moment and be prepared for the attacks that will undoubtedly come, while continuing to work with our colleagues across the aisle to get things done. To do so, we will need leadership who will lead with strength, integrity, grit, determination, and heart.”

Committee leadership is chosen by the members of the respective Caucuses for the upcoming Congress.  The opportunity to serve as the highest-ranking Democrat on the Committee became an open contest last Monday, when Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07) announced he would no longer be able to run and passed the baton to Congresswoman Stansbury. Ranking Member Grijalva has served on the Natural Resources Committee since 2003 and as Ranking Member and Chair since 2015.

“I am proud to endorse my friend and colleague Representative Melanie Stansbury for Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee,” Rep. Grijalva said in his endorsement. “[She] has made her mark as a strategic and tenacious advocate for advancing environmental justice, strengthening Tribal sovereignty, and securing water for communities in the drought-stricken West. Her tenure as Ranking Member on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee proves her leadership in standing up to polluting industries and holding them to account, even when Democrats don’t hold the gavel.”

Other statements of support include: 

Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02): “I believe that Congresswoman Stansbury has an ability to cut more deals, to be able to hopefully have a working relationship with Republican leadership in that committee, and not be so necessarily defensive about what the Trump administration is doing but find common ground.”

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34): “Congresswoman Stansbury has been a devoted public servant for New Mexico’s residents, first in the state legislature and now working for the people of NM-01. Since coming to Congress, she has championed water issues and introduced vital pieces of legislation…”

Chairman James R. Mountain, All Pueblo Council of Governors: “We know that the 119th Congress will bring significant challenges to Native American sacred sites on federal lands, the ongoing need to conserve water and approve water settlements, and the need to protect and improve federal programs and services that seek to meet the most basic treaty and trust obligations of the United States to Tribal Governments. Representative Stansbury  is … the perfect candidate to serve as a leading voice to meet each of those challenges.”

President Thora Walsh-Padilla, Mescalero Apache Tribe: “The Mescalero Apache Tribe [lends] our strong support for Representative Melanie Stansbury to serve as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources in the 119th Congress.”

Gov. Michael Chavarria, Santa Clara Pueblo: “Rep. Stansbury … is experienced, open-hearted, and even handed. She would make an outstanding Ranking Member.”

Gov. Myron Armijo, Pueblo of Santa Ana: “The Pueblo of Santa Ana writes to lend our strong support for Representative Melanie Stansbury to serve as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources in the 119th Congress.”

Gov. Milton Herrera, Pueblo of Tesuque: “Her dedication to upholding the Government’s solemn obligations to Indian Country make Rep. Melanie Stansbury the perfect candidate to serve as a leading voice …” 

IBEW LU#611: “It is with great enthusiasm that the IBEW Local 611 once again shows its support for Representative Stansbury. We know her to be an unparalleled supporter of labor and those causes dear to New Mexico’s working class.”

New Mexico Wild: “She is the ideal candidate to assume this critical leadership role at this time, combining deep subject matter expertise, unquestionable integrity, and fearlessness.”

AFT New Mexico: “Congresswoman Stansbury has an ability to cut more deals, to be able to hopefully have a working relationship with Republican leadership in that committee, and not be so necessarily defensive about what the Trump administration is doing but find common ground.”

Rep. Stansbury has dedicated her career to working on land, water and Tribal issues for over 20 years. As current Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, she is already a leader on the Committee, where she has championed climate and environmental justice, Tribal sovereignty, and good government.  

Prior to coming to Congress in 2021, after Secretary Deb Haaland’s historic nomination to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior, Rep. Stansbury served in the New Mexico House of Representatives as Vice Chair of the same committee of jurisdiction, was a senior staffer on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and worked as a fellow and staff in both the White House Council on Environmental Quality and in the Interior Branch of the White House Office of Management and Budget. 

Prior to public service, she worked as a science educator and researcher working for state and higher education programs, Sandia National Laboratories, and the nonprofit sector.

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Stansbury has championed and supported an extensive natural resources portfolio, including: 

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation:

Public and Community Lands
Promoting Accessibility on Federal Lands Act of 2023
America's Red Rock Wilderness Act
Buffalo Tract Protection Act  
Rural Outdoor Investment Act
EXPLORE Act
Tribal Cultural Areas Protection Act
Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act

Water 
Rio Grande Water Security Act
Colorado River Basin Conservation Act
Water Data Act
WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act
TAAP Act
Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2024
Pecos Watershed Protection Act

Tribal Issues
San Felipe Land Into Trust Bill
Indian Health Service Provider Expansion Act
Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Lands Act 
Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act
Tribal Water Rights Settlements 
Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund
New Beginnings for Tribal Students Program
Remediating Unexploded Ordnances from the Lands of the Pueblo of Isleta

Environmental Justice Issues
Environmental Justice for All Act
Environmental Justice in Recreation Permitting Act
Outdoors For All Act

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