Martin Heinrich
Senator for New Mexico · Democratic · United States
“The current visa program was put in place after a long and thoughtful consultation between the United States and our territory the Northern Mariana Islands. It successfully balances both our national security needs and supports the economic vitality of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
“Mr. President, in reserving the right to object, this bill will needlessly punish the Northern Mariana Islands and significantly--or I should say further--harm its tourist economy, which is the islands' largest source of revenue and jobs. There is a current program in place.”
“The Northern Mariana Islands do not have a voice in the Senate, and that is why I am objecting today in support of our partner in the Pacific.”
“The result was announced--yeas 51, nays 46, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 197 Ex.] YEAS--51 Armstrong Banks Barrasso Blackburn Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Graham Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall M…”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4097] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Vote on Kuntz Nomination The PRESIDING OFFICER.”
“The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table, and the President will be immediately notified of the Senate's actions. (Mr. MORENO assumed the Chair.) The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted). The Senator from Kansas.”
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“The Northern Mariana Islands do not have a voice in the Senate, and that is why I am objecting today in support of our partner in the Pacific. While I oppose the passage of this bill, I do stand ready to work with Senator Scott and others to support the security of our Nation in a way that does not harm the people and government of the Northern Mariana Islands. So I object to the request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard. The Senator from Florida.”
“The current visa program was put in place after a long and thoughtful consultation between the United States and our territory the Northern Mariana Islands. It successfully balances both our national security needs and supports the economic vitality of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Northern Mariana Islands are more than just an American territory; they are one of our most important partners in the Pacific to actually [[Page S4127]] counter China's influence in this critical theater. We can't ask them to further decimate their tourism economy. This legislation, as well meaning as it is, would certainly undermine the stability of our partner and American territory. We should not abolish the program. Instead, we need to ensure the Department of Homeland Security is doing sufficient screening to prevent visitation that poses a risk.”
“Mr. President, in reserving the right to object, this bill will needlessly punish the Northern Mariana Islands and significantly--or I should say further--harm its tourist economy, which is the islands' largest source of revenue and jobs. There is a current program in place. The current program requires any visitors who come to the Northern Mariana Islands through this program to undergo a two-step vetting process by the Department of Homeland Security, including having an in-person interview. That program has already reduced visitation from the PRC from over 185,000 visitors down to 18 in 2026--not 18,000 but 18. The purpose is to ensure that visitors do not pose any risk to the United States but allow the islands' economy to grow.”
“I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.”
“The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table, and the President will be immediately notified of the Senate's actions. (Mr. MORENO assumed the Chair.) The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted). The Senator from Kansas.”
“The result was announced--yeas 51, nays 46, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 197 Ex.] YEAS--51 Armstrong Banks Barrasso Blackburn Boozman Britt Budd Capito Cassidy Collins Cornyn Cotton Cramer Crapo Cruz Curtis Daines Ernst Fischer Graham Grassley Hagerty Hawley Hoeven Husted Hyde-Smith Johnson Justice Kennedy Lankford Lee Lummis Marshall Moody Moran Moreno Murkowski Paul Ricketts Risch Rounds Schmitt Scott (FL) Scott (SC) Sheehy Sullivan Thune Tillis Tuberville Wicker Young NAYS--46 Alsobrooks Baldwin Bennet Blumenthal Blunt Rochester Booker Cantwell Coons Cortez Masto Duckworth Durbin Fetterman Gillibrand Hassan Heinrich Hickenlooper Hirono Kaine Kelly Kim King Klobuchar Lujan Markey Merkley Murphy Murray Ossoff Padilla Peters Reed Rosen Sanders Schatz Schiff Schumer Shaheen Slotkin Smith Van Hollen Warner Warnock Warren Welch Whitehouse Wyden NOT VOTING--3 Gallego McConnell McCormick The nomination was confirmed.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4097] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Vote on Kuntz Nomination The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Kuntz nomination? Mr. HEINRICH. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll. Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentuky (Mr. McConnell) and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. McCormick). Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) is necessarily absent.”
“(d) Study of Revenue Resources.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, shall carry out a study to identify potential revenue sources to bring Bureau-funded schools into parity with other schools. ______”
“(2) Report.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, and in consultation with national organizations representing Indian Tribes and students attending Bureau- funded schools, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available to Indian Tribes a report describing-- (A) the adequacy of the Indian School Equalization Formula and the Indian School Equalization Program in fulfilling the needs of Bureau-funded schools and tribally controlled schools; and (B) recommendations for increasing or modifying factors to improve the Indian School Equalization Formula.”
“(C) Requirements.--In carrying out the study of the Indian School Equalization Formula under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall-- (i) ensure that an updated Indian School Equalization Formula provides sufficient funding to fully support salaries for school teachers, principals, other leadership positions, and all school staff at a rate commensurate with salaries of non-Bureau of Indian Education teachers, principals, other leadership positions, and all school staff described in subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii); (ii) consider the weights or ratios related to-- (I) tribally controlled schools; (II) schools with fewer than 100 students; and (III) schools located in rural areas; and (iii) ensure that, in an updated Indian School Equalization Formula, that Havasupai Elementary School is awarded an additional cost factor of 12.5 Weighted Student Unit (as defined in section 39.2 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)).”
“(B) Factors described.--The factors referred to in subparagraph (A) are the following: (i) Ensuring that the Indian School Equalization Formula provides sufficient funding to adequately fund Bureau-funded schools, including-- (I) schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education; and (II) tribally controlled schools. (ii) The highest rate of basic compensation, which shall be equal to the higher of-- (I) the highest quartile or average State-by-State salaries for school teachers, principals, other leadership positions, and all school staff at public schools that are not Bureau- funded schools; and (II) the rate of basic compensation for teacher and teaching positions in the Department of Defense as determined under the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act (20 U.S.C. 901 et seq.).”
“(7) Tribally controlled school.--The term ``tribally controlled school'' has the meaning given the term in section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2511). (c) Indian School Equalization Formula Study.-- (1) Study required.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and in accordance with subparagraph (C), the Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, shall carry out a study relating to updating the Indian School Equalization Formula, including by completing the process of developing alternative methods for the equitable distribution of the Indian School Equalization Formula, with consideration given to the factors described in subparagraph (B).”
“(3) Indian school equalization formula.--The term ``Indian School Equalization Formula'' means the Indian School Equalization [[Page S3754]] Formula described in subparts B and C of part 39 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). (4) Indian school equalization program.--The term ``Indian School Equalization Program'' means the Indian School Equalization Program described in part 39 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). (5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or other community included on the most recent list published by the Secretary under section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior.”
“(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are to study-- (1) the resources that Bureau-funded schools need to provide competitive salaries and benefits to recruit and retain high-quality teachers, administrators, and all school staff; (2) funding and other resources needed by the Bureau of Indian Education to ensure that students attending Bureau- funded schools receive a high-quality education; and (3) potential revenue sources to bring Bureau of Indian Education funding, resources, and salaries into parity with other school systems. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' means the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. (2) Bureau-funded school.--The term ``Bureau-funded school'' has the meaning given the term in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021).”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3753-S3754] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6572. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. Gallego) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 1__. INDIAN SCHOOL EQUALIZATION FORMULA.”
“(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include-- (1) a description of the actions being taken by the Department of Defense as of the date of the report to address shortages described in subsection (a); (2) an assessment of how the Department can improve efforts to address such shortages; and (3) a description of the challenges the Department faces when a military family subject to child abuse proceedings moves across State lines, including with respect to-- (A) transferring records; and (B) the sharing of information between-- (i) the Department and State child welfare agencies; and (ii) the commander concerned before the relocation of the family and the commander concerned after that relocation. ______”
“(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on staffing shortages among social workers, counselors, and family advocacy personnel who provide assistance to military families.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3753] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6571. Mr. HEINRICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of part III of subtitle F of title V, add the following: SEC. 566. REPORT ON STAFFING SHORTAGES IN PERSONNEL SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES.”
“The Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution, and make adjustments to the pay-as-you-go ledger, for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, amendments between the Houses, motions, or conference reports relating to delayed services provided by the Social Security Administration, which may include the prevention of any increase in beneficiary wait times, by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over the period of the total of fiscal years 2025 through 2034. ______”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025)] [Senate] [Page S2217] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 1478. Mr. HEINRICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution H. Con. Res. 14, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ___. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND RELATING TO DECREASING WAIT TIMES AND PREVENTING DELAYED SERVICES WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.”
“DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND RELATING TO PREVENTING THE USE OF PROCEEDS FROM PUBLIC LAND SALES TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT. The Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution, and make adjustments to the pay-as-you-go ledger, for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, amendments between the Houses, motions, or conference reports relating to land conservation, which may include preventing the use of proceeds from public land sales to reduce the Federal deficit, by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over the period of the total of fiscal years 2025 through 2034. ______”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025)] [Senate] [Page S2213] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 1454. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Lujan, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Rosen, and Ms. Cortez Masto) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution H. Con. Res. 14, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title III, add the following: SEC. 3___.”
“POINT OF ORDER AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE SALE OF PUBLIC LAND TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT. (a) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that would provide for the sale of any public land that uses the proceeds of the sale to reduce the Federal deficit. (b) Waiver and Appeal.--Subsection (a) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three- fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under subsection (a). ______”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025)] [Senate] [Page S2213] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 1453. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Lujan, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Rosen, and Ms. Cortez Masto) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution H. Con. Res. 14, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place in title IV, add the following: SEC. 4___.”
“The Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution, and make adjustments to the pay-as-you-go ledger, for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, amendments between the Houses, motions, or conference reports relating to housing costs for Americans, which may include the prevention of any reduction in mortgage financing through the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association, by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over the period of the total of fiscal years 2025 through 2034. ______”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025)] [Senate] [Page S2194] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 1314. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Ms. Blunt Rochester) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the concurrent resolution H. Con. Res. 14, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ___. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND RELATING TO LOWERING HOUSING COSTS FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES.”
“I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll.”