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Senator Domenici greets JP Foley of Rio Rancho (right), a member of the Senator's Military Academy Review Board. Foley was in Washington with his brother David and sister Ann Nitteberg, who both live in Alabama. (Oct. 18) |
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Senator Domenici meets with members of the Doña Ana Wilderness Coalition at the Capitol to discuss land use proposals. (Oct. 18) |
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Senator Domenici visits with Iona Lee of Milan, N.M., with her daughter and granddaughter, Marron and Iona Nelson of Albuquerque. The family was on vacation in Washington. (Oct. 24) |
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Long-time Domenici aide Joe Trujillo visited with Mel Gibson at the opening of the Green Rubber tire recycling plant in McKinley County. (Oct. 25) |
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Senator Domenici greets First Lady Laura Bush after unveiling his bill to make permanent the Preserve America and Save America's Treasures historic preservation programs. (Oct. 31) |
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Senator Domenici commends Leroy Maldonado of Raton, who was honored as "Fraternal MVP" by the National Fraternal Congress of America. Mr. Maldonado visited the Senator with his wife, Linda. (Oct. 31) |
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Senator Domenici reviews an appreciation plaque presented to him by James Priest and Noah Rifkin of the Roswell Flight Research Training Center, which trains pilots in detection, mitigation, and recovery from loss of control accidents. (Nov. 2) |
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Senator Domenici welcomes Edwin Tafoya of the Santa Clara Pueblo, along with Governor Joseph Michael Chavarria and Joseph Mark Chavarria. The group discussed BIA tribal program needs. (Nov. 5) |
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Domenici aide Callie Gibson (right), Stella and Louis Montoya of La Plata celebrate the “last load” of fill on the Ridges Basin Dam. The dam is a major part of the Animas-La Plata Project that will help deliver water to the Four Corners area. (Nov. 9) |
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Senator Domenici joins Ted and Kathy Garcia in Albuquerque during a tribute to his sister Thelma Domenici (left), who was honored at the Weems Artfest as a patron of the arts. (Nov. 9) |
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November ushers in a special season for Americans. We take time this month to remember and thank the men and women who have served in our U.S. Armed Forces—putting their lives and families on the line in the name of American freedom and security. We also take time in November to join with family and friends to give thanks for all our blessings—those we’ve received personally, in our families and as a nation. Here in Washington, I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to complete important legislation, including measures to improve veterans’ access to mental health resources and care. As this year draws to a close, I will also continue to push Congress to complete its 2008 federal spending measures. In this month’s e-newsletter, you’ll find a quick review of legislation regarding mental health care for veterans and funding for diabetes research. I’ve also included important information on mailing packages to military men and women overseas, as well as how to help the needy in your community during the coming holiday season. Thank you for your ongoing support. Please continue to update me on how I can serve you as U.S. Senator.
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| New Mexico Honors Its Veterans | |
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of visiting with Leon Miller of Roswell, a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific Theater with the Coast Guard. He was treated to a trip to Washington to see the WWII Memorial through the nonprofit Honor Flight program. Mr. Miller is one of the thousands of New Mexico veterans who were rightly honored on Veterans Day this year. New Mexicans gathered to remember and honor the men and women who put on a uniform to protect and defend our nation. Veterans Day reminds us that our freedom is the result of countless Americans from all walks of life who have served in each branch of our Armed Forces. In my travels across New Mexico, I am always touched to hear the stories of individuals and families whose lives have been affected by military service. We truly owe a debt of gratitude and respect to the veterans still with us, and to those now gone, for the sacrifice they have rendered to our nation. Our appreciation should not end with Veterans Day. We must fulfill our obligation to care for America's veterans. There is a renewed awareness of this obligation as families and communities today welcome home veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am trying to advance bills like the Veterans’ Mental Health Outreach and Access Act (S.38), which I introduced in May. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee recently held a hearing on this bill. It would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and |
implement a comprehensive national program to increase the availability of mental health support so that veterans affected by combat-related mental health problems do not go without the care they need. I hope you will join me as we continue to look for ways to ensure our greatest heroes are not forgotten. For more information on veterans programs, visit these sites:
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| Giving Thanks and Helping Your Neighbor | |
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to be with family and friends to reflect on the blessings in our lives. It is also a chance to seek out opportunities to help those who may be in need. Many local charities, soup kitchens, and food banks offer the chance to do just that. Here, I offer you one of the favorite recipes Nancy and I enjoy cooking together —usually using fowl I have hunted. If you would like to donate ingredients from this recipe, or any food item, so that others can enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, visit the New Mexico Association of Foodbanks to find a local food bank in your area. Wild Goose in a Crockpot (or Slow Cooker) Wash goose and pat dry |
2 celery stalks cut in large chunks placed in cavity |
| Hunting in New Mexico | |
Hunting is a yearly tradition for many New Mexicans and their families. Some of my best memories involve hunting with my father, and I still look forward to the chance to head into the field with family (see photo) and friends. I wish New Mexico’s sportsmen the best of luck this hunting season, and encourage everyone to take advantage of the wonderful outdoor opportunities New Mexico has to offer. For information on New Mexico’s hunting prospects, laws, and regulations visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us As we embark on our hunting excursions, safety should always be our first priority. |
To locate information on hunter safety, visit the New Mexico Game and Fish Department at www.wildlife.state.nm.us or call (505) 222-4731.  |
| Planning Holiday Packages for Military Personnel Overseas | |
With the holiday season approaching, now is the time to get packages ready to mail to our servicemen and women overseas. For Space Available Mail delivery to overseas troops using Air/Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) ZIP codes, the U.S. Postal Service recommends sending packages no later than Nov. 27. |
Remember, all packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations, and must include the Air/Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) ZIP Codes. For more complete information, please visit: www.usps.com. |
| Fall Benefits of New Mexico’s National Forests | |
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Autumn is another wonderful season to enjoy the beauty and benefits of the national forest in New Mexico. Fall also marks the start of the cold-weather season, and all indications are that heating prices will be high this year. With energy prices on the rise, New Mexicans can cut back on their heating costs this winter by using your fireplace or wood burning stove. Personal use woodcutting permits are available from the U.S. Forest Service for $20 and are good for up to five cords of wood from the forests.If you’re looking to cut your own Christmas tree, permits will be available for purchase beginning mid-November for use in New Mexico’s seven national forest areas. For information on New Mexico’s national forests, visit: www.fs.fed.us. |
| Diabetes is Daunting Health Care Crisis | |
Diabetes is a terrible and daunting health care problem, not only in New Mexico, but nationwide. In the last decade, the number of people with diabetes soared more than 40 percent, affecting 21 million Americans. It is estimated that more than 120,000 people in New Mexico have diabetes. Annually, this disease costs the American public more than $132 billion. I understand the dire need for action, particularly in the area of federal funding for treatment, prevention, and research. Until we find a cure, new developments in the treatment of diabetes provide important help in controlling the disease. Right now Congress is considering a bill I introduced to reauthorize and increase funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians and the Special Statutory |
Funding for Type 1 Research, which I helped create in 1997. I have also been a part of this year’s legislative effort to create comprehensive diabetes benefits in the Medicaid program. I will continue my work to pass legislation this year to improve the lives of everyone affected by this illness. For information and resources on what you can do to help treat and prevent diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website: www.diabetes.org. (NOTE: On Nov. 19, the American Diabetes Association is presenting Domenici with its “2007 Public Policy Leadership Award” for his work on policies to benefit people with diabetes.) |
| What the Digital Television (DTV) Transition Means for You | |
Watching your favorite television shows will undergo a system-wide change a little over a year from now as broadcasts move from analog to digital. This will require changes for many households, particularly in states like New Mexico where many people rely on antennas. At midnight on Feb. 17, 2009, television stations nationwide will only broadcast in a digital format. This is supposed to provide you, the viewer, with improved picture and sound quality and create more room on the broadcast spectrum for public safety communications. Unfortunately, viewers who currently get their signals using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears will need a converter box to change the digital signal to analog so the picture can be displayed, or they will have to buy a digital television set. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has created a |
program for each U.S. household to obtain up to two $40 coupons to help purchase converter boxes beginning in 2008. These coupons will be delivered by mail and may be redeemed for up to three months. For more information, visit: www.ntia.doc.gov. If you are a cable or satellite customer, you may need a set-top box to receive DTV signals and then convert them into the format of your current analog television, even after the DTV transition is complete. Check with your cable or satellite provider to determine if and when you will need a set-top box. For more detailed information about the digital television conversion, visit the frequently asked questions section of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website at www.dtv.gov. Additional information is also available through the National Association of Broadcasters at www.dtvanswers.com. |
PuebloClay in turn markets the items, which include fetishes and pottery, at auction on eBay.
| Traveling Through New Mexico: Roswell | |
Sixty years after the fact, Roswell enjoys worldwide notoriety for the reported 1947 “alien invasion.” |
In fact, New Mexico’s own 2008 Tournament of Roses parade float entry will feature aliens in tribute to Roswell’s storied past and New Mexico’s expected role in the future of space travel. Interest in Roswell’s UFO Story is just one reason to visit this charming and historic Chaves County community. Stop in at the UFO Museum, open year round, or visit Roswell in the summer to take in its annual UFO Festival, held every July that features speakers, authors, and attractions. For more information on Roswell, visit: www.roswellnm.org. |
| Looking Forward To… | |
New Mexico’s upcoming holiday season events. City of Las Cruces 100th Anniversary Celebration |
Floating Lights Parade |
