More on Congressional Issues
Oct 5, 2017
HOUSE PASSES FY18 BUDGET WITH PEARCE SUPPORT
The U.S. House of Representatives today voted and passed H. Con. Res. 71, the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution, to set overall discretionary spending levels for FY2018, balance the budget, and provide a pathway forward for tax reform.
Oct 4, 2017
PEARCE ANNOUNCES 2017 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE
Congressman Steve Pearce announces the 2017 Congressional App Challenge, a competition encouraging students to get involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities.
Sep 7, 2017
PEARCE URGES CONGRESS TO ACT
Congressman Steve Pearce yesterday sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan urging Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to establish a permanent solution for people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.
Jul 27, 2017
PEARCE VOTES TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY IN BORDER WALL FUNDING
Congressman Steve Pearce today voted against a procedural motion in the House of Representatives that adds full funding for the construction of a physical border wall to the national security appropriations bill without debate or a vote.
Jun 28, 2017
PEARCE INTRODUCES BILL TO HONOR BATAAN VETERANS
Congressman Steve Pearce yesterday introduced legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the troops and nurses who fought in the defense of Bataan, Corregidor, Guam, Wake Island and the Philippine Archipelago during World War II.
Feb 17, 2017
PEARCE VOTES TO RETURN POWER TO STATES
The House of Representatives yesterday voted to pass House Joint Resolution 43 to eliminate a last minute rule passed by the Obama Administration, which required states to direct Title X funds to healthcare providers that actively participated in abortion services.
Jan 28, 2016
Diabetes grant awarded to Mescalero Apache Tribe
“Diabetes is one of the greatest health challenges currently facing Native American communities,” U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, a Republican representing the 2nd Congressional District of New Mexico, said.
Jan 12, 2016
2016 Post State of the Union Response
Hear about my initial response after listening to President Obama's final State of the Union.
Dec 12, 2015
Reader View: Let’s restore the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Protecting multiple-use access to public lands is very important to living the Western way of life we enjoy in New Mexico. For this reason, I am working to reauthorize and protect the original intent of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The original agreement made between the states and the federal government was to share the funds provided by the fund. This agreement has been hacked away piece by piece over the years and has left public lands in New Mexico and across the West in critical condition. Today, the fund has turned into a way for the federal government in D.C. to seize more lands in the West, instead of providing a means for states to develop recreational facilities and to carry out conservation efforts. When LWCF was established in 1965, it provided 60 percent of available funding to states for locally supported recreational projects and facilities. Examining the annual funding levels over the last 50 years, one can clearly see how the original purpose of the fund has been distorted. In the fund’s first year in 1965, 62% of funding went to states and the rest was put towards federal land acquisition. In 2014, only 16 percent of funds went to the state-based program whereas roughly 60 percent went toward continuing the federal land grab. This lopsided funding methodology has taken money away from state projects that are effectively managed by local governments and communities, and reallocated it to federal land acquisition. The federal government has clearly shown that it absolutely CANNOT be trusted to responsibly manage the lands it already owns. In fact, as of last year the estimated combined deferred maintenance and operations backlog facing federal land management was $18.8 billion. One only needs to look at the current state of the Santa Fe National Forest and the Lincoln National Forest to understand this point. Every American deserves a government that’s effective, efficient and accountable. Clearly, the Fund has not been administered according to this standard. Why should we continue providing the federal government money to acquire more lands that it cannot manage? Answer: we should not. In order to conserve the organic roots of the LWCF, I am pursuing legislation that will provide more funding to New Mexico and other states that have proven that they can effectively manage their land. My friend and colleague from Utah, Chairman Rob Bishop, has floated a bill that will ensure that not less than 45% of LWCF is sent to states for local recreation initiatives. It ensures the Fund’s long-term solvency by investing in offshore energy education and provides not less than 15% for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. It makes sure that the federal government’s maintenance backlog is addressed and provides 3.5% to federal land acquisition, 33% of which must be used to enhance public access on federal lands for hunting and fishing. We can all agree that New Mexico’s beautiful landscapes must be adequately conserved. However, arguing that we should provide the federal government more responsibility through increased acreage is foolish. I believe that those who live in our local communities will do a better job of protecting and conserving our landscapes than bureaucrats in D.C. We must return funding to where it belongs, states and local governments.
Feb 9, 2015
Lawmakers call for 'virtual Congress'
Reps. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) have introduced a bill urging development of ways for members of Congress to avoid traveling to Washington away from their districts. The resolution offered by Pearce and Swalwell, who both hail from districts on the opposite side of the country as Washington, envisions a Congress allowing members to vote and participate in committee hearings via the Internet.
