Rep. Stansbury Hosts Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for Community Conversation

October 7, 2024
Press Release

ALBUQUERQUE — Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) was proud to welcome Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for a community conversation at the New Hope Full Gospel Baptist Church in Albuquerque.

The conversation brought together community members, local leaders, and advocates to discuss pressing issues impacting New Mexicans. Leader Jeffries and Rep. Stansbury touched on a broad range of topics including how Democrats are delivering for Americans in tangible ways like lowering costs for Americans, expanding access to healthcare, protecting the environment, and ensuring our democracy stays secure.

"I am so proud to welcome Leader Jeffries to our beautiful state and share the stage with him and to showcase all the work Democrats are doing for New Mexicans," said Stansbury. “We have brought millions of dollars back to New Mexico through federal programs, legislation, and Community Project Funding that support education, housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. We will continue this momentum - including tackling pressing issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and access to quality education as we continue to work for New Mexico and our communities."

"House Democrats will continue to lean into lowering housing costs and growing the middle class with a particular emphasis on access to affordable homeownership," said Leader Jeffries. "Being able to purchase a home, keeping that home and being able to pass it onto the next generation is central to the great American dream. And we will fight to maintain the principles of free and fair elections and ensure the right to vote, which John Lewis would always say to us, is sacred, is sacrosanct and is essential to the integrity of our democracy. We have to push back against the extreme right-wing efforts to take it away, so one of our top priorities in Congress will be to pass the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act."

Find photos from the event here. 

Since taking office, Rep. Stansbury has secured more than a billion dollars in funding for New Mexico’s First Congressional District, including more than $44.5 million for 37 community projects for public safety, economic development, and other needs. 

Some of what Congresswoman Stansbury has delivered to New Mexico’s First Congressional District include: 

Crime Prevention and Public Safety: 

  • Last month, the Congresswoman introduced the Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act (STOPP Fentanyl Act) to disrupt global criminal networks and suppliers of illicit drugs like fentanyl. 

Behavioral Health Resources: 

  • In Congress, Rep. Stansbury has secured millions for NM-01 to improve community well-being through behavioral health-focused solutions. This includes leading efforts to secure funding for mental health and addiction recovery programs, such as workforce development, school-based support, crisis intervention, and veterans’ suicide prevention. 

Gun Violence and Safety: 

  • Congresswoman Stansbury has cosponsored key bills aimed at addressing gun safety, including the Keep Americans Safe Act, the SAFES Act, the Identify Gun Stores Act, the Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2023, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act), and the AMMO Act. 
  • These bills focus on universal background checks, bans on military-style rifles and untraceable weapons, and enhancing research and oversight related to gun violence and ammunition. 

Reproductive Rights: 

  • Congresswoman Stansbury voted to defend reproductive rights against the House GOP’s systematic efforts to criminalize abortion and abortion providers. 
  • Rep. Stansbury joined other House Democrats to sponsor legislation to restore Roe vs. Wade, condemn violence and attacks on healthcare facilities, personnel, and patients, and to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. 
  • Rep. Stansbury co-sponsored a resolution by House Democrats to condemn attacks on abortion clinics that threaten the safety of patients and health care workers. 
  • Rep. Stansbury also voted to pass the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act and the Right to Contraception Act to safeguard access to contraception and the right of pregnant individuals across the nation to travel to seek safe, legal care. 

Economy and Jobs: 

  • Rep. Stansbury helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act and her bill the Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, to invest in our infrastructure, tackle climate change, and build a clean energy economy. 
  • The Congresswoman led the Rail Worker and Community Safety Act to improve federal rail safety regulations, including mandates for a two-person crew, changing the ways hazardous materials can be transported, increasing funding for rail safety inspectors, and codifies mandatory sick leave for all rail workers. 
  • Rep. Stansbury co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO ACT) which is a comprehensive bill aimed at strengthening labor rights by amending key labor laws to enhance protections for workers, particularly in union organizations and collective bargaining efforts. 

Water Access and Water Rights:

  • Since her time in the New Mexico Statehouse, the Congresswoman has been a leader in fighting for access to clean water and securing water rights for communities across New Mexico. 
  • She introduced the Water Data Act to establish a framework for standardizing water data across federal agencies, so data is interoperable and easily accessible to water managers and communities.   
  • She also introduced the Rio Grande Water Security Act providing necessary operational flexibility for water managers in the Rio Grande Basin.  The bill also reauthorizes a vital lifeline to address the irrigation infrastructure needs of the Pueblo nations who have used these waters for countless generations.   

Environmental Justice and Protection:

  • Along with her work in other areas, the Congresswoman has been a champion for climate protections and ensuring a just transition occurs during the efforts to address the climate crisis in communities in New Mexico and across the country. 
  • She co-sponsored several pieces of legislation, including House Resolution 37 – Acknowledging a Climate Emergency, the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, the Environmental Justice For All Act, the Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being in a Changing Climate, the Climate and Health Protection Act, and the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act. 

Housing: 

  • Congresswoman Stansbury has been focused on bringing more affordable housing to New Mexicans and has championed several bills including the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, the Expansion of Attainable Homeownership Through Manufactured Housing Act of 2023, the Eviction Protection Act of 2023, the Housing for All Act of 2023, the Ending Homelessness Act of 2023, the Affordable Housing Stability During Shutdowns Act of 2023. 
  • Some of her legislative actions include working closely with local tribal leaders to address concerns regarding a lack of funding to meet tribal housing needs in New Mexico and across the country. 

Healthcare: 

  • The Congresswoman is focused on lowering the costs of healthcare for all New Mexicans and ensuring people who need care can find it when needed. Some of her work includes introducing the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, the Small Practice, Underserved, and Tural Support Program Extension Act, the Public Health Nursing Act, the Keep Physicians Serving Patients Act, and co-sponsoring the Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2024 and the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act. 

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