NM-01: Rep. Martin Heinrich Assigned to House Armed Services Committee; Other News

We've been informed that Rep. Martin Heinrich (D, NM-01) was appointed yesterday to the prominent House Armed Services Committee (HASC). Among its other responsibilities, the HASC is instrumental in the consideration of the annual defense authorization bill, which covers the breadth of the operations of the Department of Defense as well as the national security functions of the Department of Energy.

In a statement, Rep. Heinrich said, “I know that Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories are of the utmost importance to our District, and this was key in my mind when seeking my committee assignments. I am proud to serve on the Armed Services Committee and I look forward to the work ahead. Although I don’t know my other assignment yet, I will do all I can to ensure that I am placed on a committee that is in the best interests of our community.”

Swearing In: Rep. Heinrich will be sworn into the 111th Congress today by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Speaker Pelosi will conduct an individual ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for Rep. Heinrich following the en masse oath of office on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Congressman will also be hosting an open house in his Washington, DC office today from 12:00 – 3:00 pm (EST). Constituents from the First Congressional District, other New Mexicans, colleagues, members of the media and interested guests will come by and celebrate today's events.

Martin left Albuquerque with his family this past Saturday -- completing a busy, sometimes hectic, two months since his election, staffing and finding office space both in Albuquerque and Washington (See our recent guest blog by Julie Heinrich.)

Albuquerque Office: Martin's first priority has been to establish an office to handle constituent services. The office is at The Galleria (20 First Plaza SW, Suite 603 Albuquerque, NM 87102) in the suite formerly occupied by Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Heather Brewer will be the District Director. Hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Phone: (505) 346-6781 Fax: (505) 346-6723. First Congressional District constituents who have ongoing or new issues with the US government will be provided with the assistance they need in a seamless transition from the former representative's staff.

Former Campaign staffers Stephanie Russo and Matt Zidovsky have joined the Congressional staff and will also have offices in The Galleria Suite 603. Javier Benavidez, an assistant to Congressman-Elect Heinrich when he was on the Albuquerque City Council, and Antonio Sandoval, Democratic candidate for the New Mexico Senate from Northwest Albuquerque will also be joining the Congressional staff.

Washington Office: The Chief of Staff for the Washington DC Congressional Office will be Steve Haro. John Blair, an attorney who ran in the Democratic Primary for the New Mexico Senate, will be one of the senior staff members in the Washington office. The office will be at 1505 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 and the telephone number is 202-225-6316. Fax is 202-225-4975.

The transition of email communication from the campaign to the office of the congressman should be soon, permitting Martin to communicate directly with constituents and to receive their comments. A web site is being prepared, but that will take a little longer.

Campaign Office: A campaign office to begin preparations for the 2010 campaign, with Matt Ross, Deputy Finance Director for the 2008 campaign, as the initial staff director, will be opening in downtown Albuquerque in the first part of 2009.