U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman's Weekly Podcast

Passing Military Construction Funding

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:38:54 -0500

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman outlines some of the provisions contained within the Military Construction Appropriations Bill passed by the Senate earlier this week. The measure sets aside funding for New Mexico’s Air Force Bases - Holloman, Cannon, and Kirtland - as well as White Sands Missile Range and the National Guard facility in Santa Fe. Bingaman also gives an update on health care reform, which the full Senate is expected to begin debating soon. Majority Leader Harry Reid reported a bill yesterday that combines the health reform bills passed earlier in the year by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

Military Construction and Veterans Administration Funding

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:52:15 -0500

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses the Military Construction Appropriations Bill, the major piece of business in the Senate this week. The legislation outlines military construction funding for New Mexico’s military bases and installations. The bill also contains an expanded budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs - fully-funding the Post-9/11 GI Bill, among other initiatives.

Detailing the Unemployment Benefits Bill

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:05:36 -0500

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman details some stipulations of the unemployment benefits extension bill passed out of the Senate this week. The bill extends unemployment benefits coverage for an additional 14 weeks, which will help the more than 2,000 New Mexicans on track to exhaust their benefits by the end of this year. The bill also extends the first-time homebuyer assistance program through April of 2010, and eliminates the 36 month recapture requirement for military personnel serving overseas. This will remove the current provision requiring military families to repay the first-time homebuyer tax credit if they relocate because of long-term deployment or assignment, and also enable more New Mexicans to become homeowners. The measure includes provisions for businesses, as well. The bill will return to the House of Representatives for final passage before being sent to the president for his signature.

Debating Unemployment Extension

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:37:52 -0400

Senator Jeff Bingaman talks about the highlights in the Senate this week, focusing mostly on debates to extend unemployment benefits, and the Natural Resource Adaptation Act. Bingaman strongly supports extending unemployment benefits for an additional 14 weeks, providing jobless individuals and families with a safety net to pay bills and mortgages with while looking for work. Bingaman, along with Senators Tom Udall (NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Max Baucus (MT) introduced the Natural Resource Adaptation Act, which would help mitigate the effects of climate change on natural resources. This is especially important in New Mexico, where water is scarce. This measure would provide information, planning strategies, and tools to adapt to an even further limited supply of water as the climate changes.

Homeland Security Appropriations

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:29:28 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that passed the Senate this week. The measure will fund New Mexico projects and research, from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia to the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, and research at New Mexico Tech in Socorro. Bingaman also highlights some of the border-security initiatives contained in the bill that will boost border counterdrug programs, law enforcement activities, and funds to combat violence and weapon and drug smuggling along the Southwestern U.S. border. The bill must now be signed by the president.

Funding for Energy Projects

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:04:12 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman highlights his vote for the Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform legislation and talks about the Energy and Water Appropriations bill in this week’s Update. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill funds several important energy and water projects in New Mexico, including the state’s two major laboratories - Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratory - as well as the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad. The legislation also contains funding provisions for White Sands Missile Range and research initiates at New Mexico State University. The bill must now be signed by the President.

Defense Appropriations and Health Care Reform

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:13:06 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses the two major pieces of legislation in the Senate this week: the Defense Appropriations bill and the Finance Committee's health care reform markup. The Defense Appropriations bill funds defense-related activities unrelated to military base construction and maintenance, including funding for New Mexico’s military installations. Additionally, this bill would fund important projects at New Mexico universities and White Sands Missile Range. The Senate Finance Committee has finished debate on their health care reform bill and the Congressional Budget Office "scored" - or tallied the total cost of - the legislation this week. A Committee vote is expected soon.

Finishing Finance Committee Health Care Reform Negotiations

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 12:05:58 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses the health care reform bill making its way through the Senate Finance Committee in this week’s update. Some of Bingaman’s amendments would improve coverage, increase affordability, and benefit children; Bingaman also voted to include a public option. Finance Committee negotiations on this legislation may conclude this week.

Organ Mountains Wilderness Act and Ongoing Health Care Reform Negotiations

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:03:40 -0400

Senator Jeff Bingaman recently introduced the Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks Wilderness Act, a bill that would protect nearly 260,000 acres of wilderness in Doña Ana County. This week’s podcast focuses on that piece of legislation and ongoing health care reform negotiations in the Senate Finance Committee, where Committee members are "marking up" (or voting) on amendments to the bill introduced to the Committee last week by the Chairman.

Previewing the Graduation Promise Act

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:10:51 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman previews the Graduation Promise Act (GPA), a bill he will introduce to the Senate next week that would focus federal resources on high schools with serious dropout problems. Persistently low-performing high schools and a high dropout rate are serious problems in New Mexico: the state currently graduates only 54% of high school seniors every year, and contains nearly 40 of the 2,000 schools in the country with persistently low rates of grade promotion. Bingaman has introduced GPA in the past and is optimistic that it will be signed into law this session of Congress. Bingaman continues to work with members of the Senate Finance Committee on health care reform; the Committee may vote on the bill next week.

Back to the Health Care Debate

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:25:55 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman picks back up where the Senate left off in this edition of the Weekly Update podcast. Bingaman and other members of the Senate Finance Committee resumed the debate over health care legislation the committee will "markup" - or vote on - to be sent to the full Senate. Bingaman discusses some of his priorities for health care legislation, as well as what must be done in the weeks ahead. President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress on health care reform earlier in the week outlined several of the administration’s key priorities, which Bingaman views as a good start for Senate negotiations.

Agriculture Funding and Confirming Justice Sotomayor

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 7 Aug 2009 10:48:52 -0400

In this week’s update, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses some of the components of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill passed out of the Senate, one of thirteen appropriations bills outlining federal funding priorities. FY 2010’s Agriculture Appropriations Bill provides important funding to New Mexico’s dairy industry, as well as helping fund research at New Mexico State University to aid in the early detection of infectious diseases in animals. Bingaman also notes the Senate’s confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, an appointment he gladly voted to in favor of.

Funding for Energy and Water Projects

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:25:31 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman highlights some of the components of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill passed out of the Senate this week. The measure funds several major projects in New Mexico, including initiatives in both Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Project, and major water projects throughout the state, such as the Navajo-Gallup Pipeline.

Health Reform and Defense Authorization

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:55:41 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman talks about health care reform and the Defense Authorization Bill in this week’s Weekly Update. Bingaman is one of six Senators involved in bipartisan discussions to create the Senate Finance Committee’s comprehensive health reform bill. After the Finance Committee releases its bill, it will be reconciled with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committees’ bill before going to the full Senate for debate. The Defense Authorization Bill is very important to New Mexico, as it funds all military installations and labs in the state. New Mexico has three Air Force Bases, Army missile ranges, and several national laboratories that depend on funding from the federal government.

Defense Spending and Health Care Reform

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:06:54 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses what the U.S. Senate debated this week, starting with the Defense Authorization Bill, which would fund all of New Mexico's labs and military installations. Bingaman remains committed to maintaining New Mexico's strong role in defense and national security. Also this week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed a health care reform bill out of committee. This bill - known as a markup - includes provisions for the public insurance option, steps to improve insurance coverage among the uninsured, and incentives for preventative care. The HELP markup will be reconciled with a to-be-released health care reform bill from the Senate Finance; after reconciliation, the full Senate will debate health care reform.

Appropriations for Energy and Water in New Mexico

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:08:34 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman talks about the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill in this week’s update. The bill, passed out of the Appropriations Subcommittee this week, includes important measures for New Mexico’s laboratories and water projects. New Mexico’s labs - Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia Laboratory - and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad will all receive funding above the levels that the administration requested to go toward research and securing our nuclear stockpile. Among the major water projects to be funded with this bill are the long overdue Navajo-Gallup Water Supple Project, which will bring water to Navajo Nation and Gallup. The bill is now ready for consideration by the full Appropriations Committee.

Considering Health Care Legislation

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:51:42 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman highlights the week’s activities through the lens of health care reform. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is currently voting on - or "marking up" - legislation to send before the full Senate. Bingaman discusses some elements of reform, as well as the current timeline to present the bill to the Senate and the public. Bingaman is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which is creating its own health care reform proposal.

Legislation on Energy and Health Care

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:03:24 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman delivers a week in review for a busy week. Bingaman highlights the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s reporting the American Clean Energy Leadership Act to the full Senate, as well as the beginning of committee debates on health care reform.

Senate Energy Bill

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:10:42 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses the status of the 2009 Energy Bill. The bill is currently being "marked up" in the Energy and Natural Resources committee, which means members of that committee are voting to determine which amendments to include in the bill as a whole. There were two markups this week, and the committee will resume the process next Tuesday.

Health Care Legislation Timetable

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:22:19 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman overviews the timetable for health care reform in this segment of the Weekly Update podcast. The Senate is in the process of creating legislation to provide options for increased health insurance coverage, increased access to care, improved quality of care, and a decrease in overall health care cost. Bingaman is a member of both the Senate Finance committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee, which have jurisdiction over health care legislation.

Supplemental Spending

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:00:39 -0400

In this week’s update, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses the supplemental spending bill currently before Congress. The bill, also known as the emergency spending bill, finances military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other unforeseen expenses in other federal programs and agencies. This year’s bill contains investments in border security, in addition to President Obama’s requested $1.5 billion to prepare for and respond to potential global pandemics, such as the recent H1N1 "swine" influenza.

Consumer Protection and Credit Card Reform

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:14:35 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses credit card lending and the need for reform in this installation of the Weekly Update podcast. The Senate debated the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) this week and is expected to vote on final passage Tuesday, May 19.

Tax Cuts and Credits

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 8 May 2009 14:46:49 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses many of the tax cuts and credits enacted so far in the 111th Congress. Many New Mexicans are concerned about taxes, but Bingaman outlines some of the ways working families are already benefiting, and how Congress is trying to get a handle on spending.

First Accomplishments of the 111th Congress

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 1 May 2009 15:05:33 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman highlights some of the first successes of the 111th Congress, including the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, the Edward Kennedy Serve America Act, and the Budget Resolution. Bingaman focuses on how some of these initiatives will greatly benefit New Mexicans and their state.

Senate Recess Edition

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:04:58 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman highlights some of his activities during the two-week spring recess (April 6 - 17). The senate was back in session Monday, April 20.

Upcoming Education Initiatives

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:50:54 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman discusses two pieces of education legislation he recently introduced, and how they will benefit New Mexico's students.

Public Lands Omnibus Bill Signing

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Thu, 2 Apr 2009 15:39:12 -0400

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman gives another installation of the weekly update, this time focusing on the signing of the Public Lands Omnibus bill into law.

Omnibus Bill Passage

webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:40:12 -0400

Senator Bingaman discusses the federal omnibus bill, whose passage outlines the federal budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2009.

Federal Budget Procedure

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:14:50 -0500

U.S. Jeff Bingaman outlines the federal budget process and highlights priorities in energy, health care, and education within New Mexico.

Reaction to President Obama's message to Congress.

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:44:40 -0500

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman responds to the Congressional address delivered by President Barack Obama.

Welcome

webmaster@bingaman.senate.gov — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:10:44 -0500

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman welcomes subscribers to his new regular podcast.