Martin Heinrich for Congress

Background:

My parents instilled in me values of hard work, determination, and a strong sense of justice and fairness. They taught me to work hard, play by the rules and to always lend a helping hand.

That's why I dedicated my life to the common good.

I always put people first as an elected member of the Albuquerque City Council. On the council, I championed and won an increase in the city'sminimum wage and was known for my tireless advocacy on behalf of the environment and making New Mexico a leader in clean energy. I also focused on growing new industries and creating good new jobs across Albuquerque. Governor Bill Richardson recognized my deep commitment to conserving the environment with an appointment to be Natural Resources Trustee for the State of New Mexico. As Natural Resources Trustee, I worked with the Governor to clean up contaminated land and protect our natural environment. Now I want to serve the people in New Mexico in the U.S. House because I'm deeply troubled by what George Bush and the Washington Republicans have done to our country. We have so much work to do. We need to roll back the assault on our civil liberties, end the war in Iraq, provide high quality, affordable health care for every American, fight the climate crisis and so much more. It's time for bold action and I'll stand up and fight for our shared values.

Goals:

I'm running for Congress because I want my two sons, Micah and Carter, to grow up with the same hope, optimism and faith in this country that I had growing up. After seven years of the Bush Administration we desperately need a change in priorities in Washington. America faces major challenges. From improving our economy and creating jobs to ending the war in Iraq to combating the climate crisis to providing universal health care for all to rolling back the assault on our civil liberties -- we have a lot of work to do. We need bold solutions to these challenges and we need leaders who will stand up and fight for substantive change. I'm running for Congress to undo the damage done by George Bush and the Washington Republicans and get America moving in the right direction again.

Issues:

There are so many issues that deserve our attention. George Bush, Dick Cheney and the Washington Republicans have made a mess of things and our country faces a number of challenges. That said, my first priorities in Congress will be bringing an honorable end to the war in Iraq, moving America toward energy independence and providing high quality, universal health care for all Americans.

Grassroots Support:

I'm running a people-powered campaign for real change. We already have well over five hundred volunteers that are excited, energized and ready to help us win. I believe in the power of people. I know that politics is about people talking to people about our shared values.

I'm proud to say that thousands of people - primarily New Mexicans - have already donated their time and money to my campaign. I believe that united,the people are stronger than the lobbyists and the special interests. And, that's why we're building a people-powered movement for real change.

DFA Values:

My grandparents escaped Nazi Germany when my father was just a boy. That experience shaped my family deeply. My parents, through word and deed, taught me to cherish America's liberties and to defend them. That's why I strongly oppose recent attempts to curtail our civil liberties and will fight for the civil rights that distinguish America from other nations. My grandparents didn’t come here in the 1930s so that I could go to Congress and give away the very rights which made the country unique in the world.

On the Albuquerque City Council, I balanced budgets while providing essential services to help people. I will strongly advocate for a change in priorities in Washington. In today's Congress, too many of our nation's manyresources are spent placating the Washington lobbyists and the special interests. I'll stand up to the lobbyists and fight to pass fiscally responsible healthcare that puts people - not the insurance or drug industry - first. When it comes to education, creating jobs and moving America toward energy independence, I'll take the same fiscally responsible, people first perspective I advocated for on the Albuquerque City Council.