Teresa Leger Fernandez

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Ian Massey, an Electric Power Lineman for Farmer's Electric Cooperative in Clovis, New Mexico. Tragically, Ian succumbed to injuries sustained while attempting to restore power to rural residents of Curry County during damaging rain storms on September 25, 2026.

Ian began his career as a lineman in 2011 after graduating from Portales High School. He cared deeply for his coworkers and friends and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

Ian knew no strangers and gave freely of himself to people around him. Ian's legacy will be one of love, friendship, faith, and family. His love of family filled their home with laughter, energy, joy, and an unwavering commitment to their wellbeing.

It is often stated that Electrical Linemen are the essential and often unsung heroes who climb toward the danger of storms, darkness, and extreme weather to keep our modern world powered. They work in freezing ice, pouring rain, and brutal summer heat waves. Their type of work requires long hours, missed holidays, and family dinners.

This is the legacy Ian leaves for us to remember. A dedicated worker, family man, friend, and outstanding member of the community who was ready and steady whenever the call came.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to provide a history lesson. In 1598, New Mexico got its name. In 2026, Donald Trump's Presidency is the most unpopular of any President. His Iran war has pushed diesel prices to record levels, and his tariffs have cost Americans thousands.

How does he address the affordability crisis he created?

It is by slapping a New America label on the State of New Mexico. Let me give Mr. Trump a history lesson. New Mexicans are proud of our name and proudly patriotic. New Mexican soldiers fought in the Revolutionary War. We defeated the Confederacy at Glorieta Pass and stopped slavery's westward march. We fought for civil rights.

A New Mexican won the Supreme Court case declaring that Native Americans had the right to vote in every election everywhere.

While Trump makes billions off his Presidency and tries to gut Head Start, New Mexicans have universal childcare, free college, and no child will go hungry in our classrooms.

We have multicultural bilingual education that celebrates our diversity in a State that is 49 percent Latino, 11 percent Native American, and has some of the best ranchers and dairy farmers anywhere.

Hardworking New Mexicans are the opposite of the gold-collared, corrupt politicians who cater to Trump no matter how crazy he acts.

Mr. Trump, New Mexico has been New Mexico since before you got to these shores, and we will always be New Mexico.

moment of silence honoring indian boarding school victims

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September 30, 2026, as National Day of Remembrance to honor those who were forced to attend Indian boarding schools and to recognize Indian boarding school victims and survivors.

Across New Mexico, there were 52 Indian boarding schools where Native American children were forced to relinquish their own indigenous heritage and language.

I call upon my colleagues to support H.R. 7325, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States Act, to formally investigate, document, and report on boarding schools, their policies, and the generational effects on Native American peoples.

We must support the healing of survivors, descendants, and Tribal communities. Many of the children never returned home to their families or their communities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence for those children who did not survive, and may they never be forgotten.

honoring the life of randy lupe

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Randy Lupe, a wildland firefighter who helped protect New Mexico during the Frijoles fire.

A member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Randy came with California Complex Incident Management Team 8 as the fire threatened rural communities. He spent 10 days supporting the response, carrying with him nearly 30 years of experience.

Randy brought laughter to long assignments and faith to difficult moments. He prayed with his crew, lifted their spirits, stood up for his fellow firefighters, and lived by a simple creed: Do what is right.

Tragically, Randy died as a result of a medical emergency while serving our communities. He is one of 61 firefighters we have lost this fire season.

Northern New Mexico mourns Randy and honors his sacrifice. He answered the call when we needed him most. We will remember him as a hero.

honoring catherine garduno

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Catherine Garduno who recently passed away in Penasco, New Mexico, at the age of 96.

Catherine embodied resilience, faith, service, and love of country. The youngest of 12 children born to a sheepherder and a cook, she became her family's first college graduate, earning an education degree from the College of St. Joseph in Albuquerque.

A letter to Senator Pete Domenici brought her to our Nation's Capital, an experience she shared throughout her 35 years as an elementary schoolteacher. She even taught my district director in third grade.

Widowed, Catherine raised six children with strength and devotion. A devout Catholic, she received the Archbishop of Santa Fe's St. Francis Award for Volunteer of the Year. Her legacy

passed down through her nephew, the late Raul Grijalva, and her great- niece, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva. Her courage, faith, hope, and love shaped generations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to provide a history lesson. In 1598, New Mexico got its name. In 2026, Donald Trump's Presidency is the most unpopular of any President. His Iran war has pushed diesel prices to record levels, and his tariffs have cost Americans thousands.

How does he address the affordability crisis he created?

It is by slapping a New America label on the State of New Mexico. Let me give Mr. Trump a history lesson. New Mexicans are proud of our name and proudly patriotic. New Mexican soldiers fought in the Revolutionary War. We defeated the Confederacy at Glorieta Pass and stopped slavery's westward march. We fought for civil rights.

A New Mexican won the Supreme Court case declaring that Native Americans had the right to vote in every election everywhere.

While Trump makes billions off his Presidency and tries to gut Head Start, New Mexicans have universal childcare, free college, and no child will go hungry in our classrooms.

We have multicultural bilingual education that celebrates our diversity in a State that is 49 percent Latino, 11 percent Native American, and has some of the best ranchers and dairy farmers anywhere.

Hardworking New Mexicans are the opposite of the gold-collared, corrupt politicians who cater to Trump no matter how crazy he acts.

Mr. Trump, New Mexico has been New Mexico since before you got to these shores, and we will always be New Mexico.

moment of silence honoring indian boarding school victims

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September 30, 2026, as National Day of Remembrance to honor those who were forced to attend Indian boarding schools and to recognize Indian boarding school victims and survivors.

Across New Mexico, there were 52 Indian boarding schools where Native American children were forced to relinquish their own indigenous heritage and language.

I call upon my colleagues to support H.R. 7325, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States Act, to formally investigate, document, and report on boarding schools, their policies, and the generational effects on Native American peoples.

We must support the healing of survivors, descendants, and Tribal communities. Many of the children never returned home to their families or their communities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence for those children who did not survive, and may they never be forgotten.

honoring the life of randy lupe

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Randy Lupe, a wildland firefighter who helped protect New Mexico during the Frijoles fire.

A member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Randy came with California Complex Incident Management Team 8 as the fire threatened rural communities. He spent 10 days supporting the response, carrying with him nearly 30 years of experience.

Randy brought laughter to long assignments and faith to difficult moments. He prayed with his crew, lifted their spirits, stood up for his fellow firefighters, and lived by a simple creed: Do what is right.

Tragically, Randy died as a result of a medical emergency while serving our communities. He is one of 61 firefighters we have lost this fire season.

Northern New Mexico mourns Randy and honors his sacrifice. He answered the call when we needed him most. We will remember him as a hero.

honoring catherine garduno

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Catherine Garduno who recently passed away in Penasco, New Mexico, at the age of 96.

Catherine embodied resilience, faith, service, and love of country. The youngest of 12 children born to a sheepherder and a cook, she became her family's first college graduate, earning an education degree from the College of St. Joseph in Albuquerque.

A letter to Senator Pete Domenici brought her to our Nation's Capital, an experience she shared throughout her 35 years as an elementary schoolteacher. She even taught my district director in third grade.

Widowed, Catherine raised six children with strength and devotion. A devout Catholic, she received the Archbishop of Santa Fe's St. Francis Award for Volunteer of the Year. Her legacy passed down through her nephew, the late Raul Grijalva, and her great-niece, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva. Her courage, faith, hope, and love shaped generations.