[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            FAREWELL REMARKS

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                           HON. BEN RAY LUJAN

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2020

  Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to rise for the last time on 
the floor of the House of Representatives.
  Growing up on a small farm in New Mexico, I never imagined that I 
would walk these hallowed halls and speak from this chamber.
  Of course, I did not get here alone. I stand on the shoulders of 
giants like Dennis Chavez, Manual Lujan, and many others who blazed a 
trail for me and other Hispanic Americans to serve our communities 
proudly in this, the People's House.
  I also owe my public service to heroes a little closer to home: my 
mother Carmen, a retired public-school employee, and my late father 
Ben, a union ironworker who became Speaker of the New Mexico House of 
Representatives.
  They taught me that no job is too big or too small and that we must 
be guided by our compassion for others. It was their passion for 
serving others that propelled me to seek public office.
  Thanks to Mom and Dad.
  I also want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to 
Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Whip Clyburn and countless 
other members for their guidance and mentorship during my career in the 
House and during the last two years that I've served as the Assistant 
Speaker.
  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their friendship 
and support.
  And I thank the freshman members who I have had the honor of working 
with mentoring during the 116th Congress. During a difficult time in 
our nation's history, their commitment to their constituents and the 
nation has inspired me every day.
  I thank my staff who work long hours and weekends to serve the people 
of New Mexico. Their support has enabled me to make progress on the 
issues that matter most to New Mexicans.
  And finally, I thank the people of New Mexico's Third Congressional 
District. It's been such an honor to represent them in the House, and 
I'll never stop working to make a positive difference.
  I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish for New Mexico's Third 
District:
  Defending the Affordable Care Act, which expanded health coverage to 
270,000 New Mexicans;
  Reaching across the aisle to pass bills into law combating the opioid 
epidemic that has ravaged families and communities;
  Working with my Republican colleagues to make robust investments in 
our world-class National Labs;
  Creating good-paying jobs for New Mexicans by passing measures to 
bolster our state's growing outdoor economy and to improve broadband 
deployment in our rural communities;
  Passing legislation to preserve and protect Native languages for 
future generations;
  Ensuring New Mexico's land grants and acequias are treated with 
dignity and respect, and can continue to thrive;
  And assisting thousands of New Mexicans in navigating our federal 
agencies--helping veterans and seniors secure their hard-earned 
benefits, taxpayers navigate the IRS, and new citizens through the 
naturalization process.
  I include in the Record a list of 29 bills that I led and 10 that I 
co-led that became law while I've served in the House.
  Come January, the Third District will have a new representative in 
Teresa Leger Fernandez. I know she will be a champion for working 
families, for New Mexico.
  I look forward to continuing to work with her and the rest of my 
friends in the New Mexico delegation from the other side of the 
Capitol.
  I'm truly humbled that the people of New Mexico have sent me to be 
their voice in the United States Senate. To be perfectly honest, it 
hasn't sunk in yet.
  But I'll miss the People's House. It's been the privilege of my 
lifetime to serve here along with my colleagues. Let's continue to heed 
the call of the American people and make a positive difference every 
day that we can.
  I'm proud to have led the following bills passed into law to improve 
the lives of New Mexicans:

       The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs 
     Reauthorization Act;
       The Prompt and Fast Action to Stop Damages Act of 2019;
       The Department of Energy National Labs Jobs ACCESS Act;
       The Map Improvement Act;
       The Cerros del Norte Conservation Act;
       The Rio Puerco Watershed Management Program Reauthorization 
     Act;
       The San Juan County Settlement Implementation Act;
       The Santa Clara Pueblo Leasing Authority Act;
       The Support Startup Business Act;
       The Child Health Outreach and Mentorship Program Act;
       The Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act of 2017;
       The Broadband Infrastructure Inventory Act;
       The Acequia Conservation Program Eligibility Act;
       A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
     reauthorize a grant program improving treatment for pregnant 
     and postpartum women;
       The Peer Support Communities of Recovery Act;
       The Growing Value-Added Economies Act;
       The Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Treatment via 
     Telehealth Act;
       The New Mexico Navajo Water Settlement Technical 
     Corrections Act;
       The Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women 
     Act of 2016;
       The Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act;
       The Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Act;
       The Sabinoso Wilderness Act of 2009;
       The Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Authorization 
     Act;
       The New Mexico Aquifer Assessment Act;
       The Rio Grande Pueblos Irrigation Infrastructure 
     Improvement Act;
       The Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Project Act;
       The Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act;
       The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act;
       A bill to authorize leases of up to 99 years for lands held 
     in trust for Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.
  I'm proud to have co-led the following bills passed into law to 
improve the lives of New Mexicans:
       The Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act of 2018;
       The Maternal Opioid Treatment, Health, Education, and 
     Recovery Act of 2018;
       The Better Pain Management Through Data Act;
       The Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act;
       A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
     require prescription drug plan sponsors under the Medicare 
     program to establish drug management programs for at-risk 
     beneficiaries;
       The Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization for Safe 
     Prescribing Act of 2018;
       The Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act;
       The Assist Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and 
     Ranchers Act of 2018;
       The Preventing Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act;
       The Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse 
     Prevention Act.

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