REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS, AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F.<br/> TODAY, I'M SO DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE OUR GUEST IS TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM NEW MEXICO'S THIRD DISTRICT, THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE.

>>TERESA: I LOVE YOUR PROGRAM AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU ARE, YOU DO SO MUCH FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOUR WEBSITE IS FERNANDEZ.HOUSE.GOV AND YOU IN A WAY REPRESENT WD40 FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.

TELL US WHAT ONE OF YOUR HIDDEN TALENTS IS.

>>TERESA: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOUR CONGRESSWOMAN DOES IS, YOU KNOW, WE PASS BILLS, WE MAKE SURE WE GET MONEY FOR BIG PROJECTS AND SMALL PROJECTS, AND WE HAVE THAT TRILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET WE DO.

BUT AN IMPORTANT THING YOUR CONGRESSPERSON DOES IS HELP YOU WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, SO I CALL IT THE WD40 FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES BECAUSE WE CAN GET THINGS UNSTUCK, WHICH IS WHY I WANT PEOPLE TO GO TO MY WEBSITE, FERNANDEZ.HOUSE.GOV, SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER, BUT ALSO, IF YOU NEED HELP, CALL US.

WE HELP VETERANS GET THEIR BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY, WE JUST RECENTLY GOT A PASSPORT FOR AN AMAZING KID WHO IS AN AWARD-WINNING ARTIST AND HE'S GOING ON A SCHOOL TRIP TO ROME AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM THE PASSPORT, RIGHT?

>>LORENE: YES.

>>TERESA: LITTLE THINGS THAT JUST MAKE YOU HAPPY, WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE DOING, MY STAFF LOVES DOING IT.

>>LORENE: WELL, THE GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT FROM YOUR WEBSITE AND FROM YOU, I REALLY APPRECIATE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.

YOU ARE A 17TH GENERATION NEW MEXICAN BORN IN LAS VEGAS, BUT WHAT I LOVE IS THAT YOU ARE PART OF NEW MEXICO'S FIRST HEAD START CLASS.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW IN CONGRESS WITH HEAD START.

>>TERESA: SO, I JUST STARTED THE HEAD START TO CONGRESS CAUCUS.

THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT SIX OF US WHO WENT TO HEAD START AND ARE NOW SERVING IN CAUCUS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT MORE OF HEAD STARTERS IN CONGRESS, HEAD START BABIES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, IT ALTERS YOUR LIFE FOREVER.

NEW MEXICO IS A LEADER ON THAT, WE JUST PASSED THAT AMAZING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE FUNDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN CONGRESS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

NOW, THIS IS NOT EASY, EVERY YEAR OR SO WE HAVE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO GET RID OF HEAD START, WE MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF PROJECT 2025.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>TERESA: THAT PROPOSAL WOULD ELIMINATE HEAD START BUT WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, NEW MEXICO RELIES ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COMES TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, HIGH POVERTY SCHOOLS.

THE REALITY IS WE HAVE OVER 700 OF THOSE IN NEW MEXICO THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING, SO WHAT HEAD START DID FOR ME WAS MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH LEARNING.

AND WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO IN CONGRESS WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE IS MAKE SURE THAT WE FUND LEARNING FOR ALL CHILDREN.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>TERESA: NO MATTER YOUR ZIP CODE AND NO MATTER YOUR PARENTS' PAYCHECK.

>>LORENE: WONDERFUL.

YOU'RE A YALE AND STANFORD LAW SCHOOL GRAD, IN CONGRESS YOU SERVE ON THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES.

YOU'RE THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN INSULAR AFFAIRS AND YOU HELPED PASS SOMETHING CALLED THE STOP ACT, TELL ME WHAT THAT DID.

>>TERESA: WHAT THE STOP ACT DOES IS PROTECT OBJECTS OF CULTURAL PATRIMONY FROM LEAVING THE UNITED STATES.

WE KNOW THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CANNOT LOOT ITEMS FROM GREECE OR FRANCE AND BRING THEM AND SELL THEM HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, RIGHT, THE UNITED STATES HAS LAWS THAT PREVENT YOU FROM BRINGING THOSE INTO THE COUNTRY.

GUESS WHAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY LAW TO PREVENT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE STOLEN CULTURAL OBJECTS OF PATRIMONY THAT BELONG TO TRIBES TO TAKE THEM AND SELL THEM TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.

>>LORENE: LIKE FRANCE.

>>TERESA: WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT, LIKE HOW COULD WE PROTECT GREECE'S PATRIMONY AND NOT AMERICAN, NOT THE INDIGENOUS AMERICAN.

SO, I PASSED THAT BILL, IT WAS MY BILL, SENATOR HEINRICH IN THE SENATE, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED BECAUSE EVEN AS WE PASSED THE BILL, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A WHILE TO IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE WORLD NOW VOLUNTARILY REPATRIATING THESE SACRED OBJECTS TO TRIBES.

WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO INSTANCES OF THAT IN NEW MEXICO, AND WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT, BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING IS SACRED, IT BELONGS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO HONOR THAT OBJECT.

>>LORENE: AND SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT ONLY SACRED, BUT THEY'RE SECRET AND THEY'RE REALLY FOR EYES ONLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT A PUBLIC THING, THEY'RE NOT A DOG AND PONY SHOW, THEY'RE HOLY.

>>TERESA: YES EXACTLY AND THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT NEW MEXICO TRIBES, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THEY LOVE SHARING.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL, MANY OF US, WENT TO THE SANTA DOMINGO FEAST DAY, THE KEWA FEAST DAY, WHERE THEY HAD THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DANCERS.

THEY INVITED US TO COME AND SHARE IN THOSE DANCES WHICH ARE OFFERED AS BLESSINGS TO NOT JUST THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, BUT TO THE WORLD.

SO, THEY WANT TO SHARE THEIR BLESSINGS IN THEIR RELIGION IN THOSE MANNERS, BUT THINGS THAT ARE SACRED AND PRIVATE TO THEM MUST STAY PRIVATE TO THEM, AND WE MUST HONOR AND RESPECT THAT.

SO, I LOVE THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO BOTH INTRODUCE A STOP ACT AND GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE AND GET IT SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>>LORENE: OH GREAT, GREAT.

ONE THING THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, YOU'VE TAKEN THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED PERSONALLY IN YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOU'VE PURSUED, THERE WERE SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT YOU REALLY WORKED ON, ADDICTION ISSUES, SOMETHING THAT MATTERS A LOT TO US, THE PFAS, THE FOREVER CHEMICALS CAUCUS AND OF COURSE, I THINK THE MENTAL HEALTH WORK IS JUST SO, SO IMPORTANT.

ANOTHER THING THAT YOU'VE DONE, WE'VE HAD RECENTLY, IT'S ALMOST A TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE HERMIT'S PEAK CALF CANYON FIRE AND ALTHOUGH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE STARTED THAT AS A CONTROLLED BURN ON A WINDY DAY, YOU'RE REALLY INSISTING THAT THEY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT THEY PAY.

SO YOU PASSED THE HERMIT'S PEAK CALF CANYON FIRE ASSISTANCE ACT, PUTTING IN $3.5 BILLION TO DO SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.

>>TERESA: YES, WE MADE SURE, THIS WAS AN INJUSTICE, RIGHT, THE FOREST SERVICE STARTED THE FIRE AND IT DESTROYED SO MUCH, IT DESTROYED BUSINESSES AND RANCHES AND FARMS AND, YOU KNOW, FORESTS, HERITAGE.

USUALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE UNITED STATES DOES SOMETHING WRONG, YOU CAN'T REALLY EASILY SUE THEM, YOU CAN'T GET COMPENSATED AND WE KNEW THAT THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LAWSUIT, YOU DON'T WIN THOSE.

>>LORENE: YOUR HOUSE BURNED DOWN, IT'LL BE SETTLED IN 20 YEARS.

>>TERESA: IT WILL BE SETTLED IN 20 YEARS OR WHEN IT'S THE UNITED STATES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE TORTS CLAIMS ACT, YOU DON'T WIN.

SO, WHAT WE SAID WAS THAT'S NOT RIGHT, THIS IS AN INJUSTICE AND WE NEED TO FIX IT.

THEN SENATOR LUJAN AND THE SENATE AND HEINRICH VERY MUCH SUPPORTED THAT AND THEN ME IN THE HOUSE, I CARRIED THE BILL BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO LOSE SO MUCH IN MY COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE THE PLACES THAT I PLAYED IN AND I GREW UP IN, I RODE HORSES AND THEY MEANT SO MUCH TO ME, SO WE MADE SURE THAT WE DID IT.

LET ME TELL YOU HOW I DID THAT THAT BECAUSE NORMALLY A FRESHMAN CONGRESSWOMAN CAN'T GET ALMOST $4 BILLION FOR A RURAL COMMUNITY.

I INVITED THE PRESIDENT TO COME OUT TO NEW MEXICO, AND HE DID.

HE FLEW OUT HERE, HE MET WITH THE VICTIMS, HE FLEW OVER THE BURN SITE, AND HE SAID, IF YOU GET ME THAT BILL, I WILL SIGN IT AND I WILL ENCOURAGE MY FRIENDS IN CONGRESS TO PASS IT.

I ASKED THE SPEAKER PELOSI, NANCY PELOSI, TO COME AND MEET WITH THE FAMILIES, WHEN YOU PUT CHILDREN IN FRONT OF NANCY PELOSI, YOU WIN, RIGHT.

SHE SAID YES AND SHE CAME OUT, SHE MET WITH THE CHILDREN, SHE HEARD THEIR VOICES, SHE HEARD ABOUT HOW THEY HAD GONE TO THESE PLACES WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO INHERIT THIS BEAUTIFUL FOREST AND THEY WERE ALL ASHES.

AND SO I GOT LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT ME IN THIS EFFORT AND JUSTICE HAPPENS WHEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY IT, BECAUSE IT'S TRUE, JUSTICE HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A DEMOCRAT SENATE, A DEMOCRAT HOUSE AND A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT AND THAT'S WHAT IT TOOK.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE FIGHTING TO EXTEND THE ACT BECAUSE WE NEED MORE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR CLAIMS IN AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT.

BUT BOY, IT'S A LOT HARDER NOW WHEN THE DEMOCRATS AREN'T IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, BUT I WORK REALLY WELL WITH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

THE CAUCUS I REFERRED TO EARLIER, THAT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL, MANY OF MY BILLS ARE BIPARTISAN.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED WAS THE HARDSHIP, I LOST TWO BROTHERS TO ADDICTION AND SUICIDE.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE INTRODUCED IS THE CAMPUS ADDICTION AND PREVENTION ACT, THAT'S BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES, IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT FOR SOME.

ADDICTION PROBLEMS START IN COLLEGE, AND THE PAIN THAT MY FAMILY CARRIES WILL NEVER GO AWAY, EVER.

BUT I WANT TO HELP OTHERS TO AVOID THAT PAIN, SO THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT WOULD BRING RESOURCES TO COLLEGES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN COLLEGE.

>>LORENE: AND SO MANY TIMES IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT YOUNG PERSON IS ON THEIR OWN AND IF THEY'RE HANGING OUT WITH THE WRONG PERSON OR NEEDS SOME AMPHETAMINES TO STAY UP TO STUDY FOR A TEST, I MEAN, THAT PATH BECKONS.

THE BILL IS CALLED CAMPUS PREVENTION AND RECOVERY SERVICES FOR STUDENTS ACT OF 2024 AND AGAIN, IT'S I LOVE THAT YOU LOOK AROUND AND TAKE YOUR OWN PAIN AND SUFFERING AND TRY TO MAKE THE WORLD SAFE FROM THAT HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.

ANOTHER ONE I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE THIS IS EVERYBODY'S DREAM, A HOME OF YOUR OWN ACT.

SO, THEY SAY THESE DAYS, EITHER YOU'RE GOING TO INHERIT A HOME, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S, MOM'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAMILY HOME OR, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE A MULTIMILLIONAIRE TO BE ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE AND THERE'S LIMITED SUPPLY OF HOUSES AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

WHAT DOES A HOME OF YOUR OWN ACT OFFER?

>>TERESA: WE KNOW THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP IS GETTING OUT OF REACH FOR TOO MANY, WE ALSO KNOW THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP IS KEY BECAUSE IT HELPS A FAMILY BUILD WEALTH SO THEY CAN PASS IT ON TO THEIR CHILDREN.

IT HELPS SUSTAIN A COMMUNITY, RIGHT, SO PEOPLE ARE VESTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT GIVES HOPE AND RIGHT NOW THAT HOPE IS MISSING BECAUSE EVEN IF YOUR PARENTS OWNED A HOME, YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A HOME ANYMORE.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES, THE DOWN PAYMENT.

RIGHT NOW, AS HOME PRICES HAVE GONE UP, THOSE DOWN PAYMENTS HAVE GONE UP, SO NOW IF THE AVERAGE HOME PRICE IS $350,000, $395,000 IN NEW MEXICO, WHO HAS $60,000 IN THE BANK?

SO, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS SAY, LET'S HAVE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT WHICH IS WHEN YOU'RE BUYING THE HOME.

SO THERE ARE SOME PROPOSALS WHERE YOU CAN GET A $15,000 TAX CREDIT, WELL, YOU DON'T NEED IT IN APRIL, YOU NEED IT WHEN YOU ARE BUYING THE HOME.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>TERESA: AND LET ME TELL YOU, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF LET'S DO SOMETHING IN NEW MEXICO AND THEN TAKE IT NATIONWIDE.

I GOT MONEY ABOUT $750,000 FOR HOMEWISE, WE ARE DOING A PILOT PROJECT OF A HOME OF YOUR OWN ACT IN NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW.

SO, IF YOU'RE LISTENING TO THIS, REACH OUT TO HOMEWISE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 35 OF THESE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS.

>>TERESA: AND YOU NEED TO DO FINANCIAL FITNESS BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO BE FINANCIALLY PREPARED TO OWN THAT HOME, FINANCIALLY PREPARED FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

NOW, I ACTUALLY WORKED ON HOMEOWNERSHIP ISSUES, I WORKED ON HOUSING ISSUES FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.

I WAS THE SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>TERESA: I HELPED PUT TOGETHER ONE OF THE VERY FIRST WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCES ON HOUSING, AND I SERVED ON LEADERSHIP WITH HOMEWISE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO THIS IS A PASSION OF MINE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A HOME OF THEIR OWN IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY GREW UP.

SO IF YOU GREW UP IN SANTA FE, I WANT YOU TO HAVE A HOUSE IN SANTA FE, IF YOU GREW UP IN LAS VEGAS, YOU WANT TO HAVE A HOUSE IN VILLANUEVA, I WANT YOU TO GET A HOUSE IN VILLANUEVA OR TAOS OR LOVINGTON OR ROSWELL, ACROSS MY DISTRICT OUR PILOT PROGRAM IS WORKING ACROSS MY DISTRICT, BUT I WANT IT TO WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>>LORENE: WELL AND ACROSS NEW MEXICO TOO.

WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH THERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ OF THE HOME OF YOUR OWN, THAT IS EVERYONE'S DREAM.

THAT JUST MAKES MY HEART SING, BECAUSE IF YOU CAN HELP THEM WITH THAT HUGE CHUNK AT THE BEGINNING, THEN IT'S AFTER THAT.

BUT ONE OTHER THING THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT I'VE BEEN AN EVANGELIST FOR IS FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THAT REALLY SHOULD BE REQUIRED, THE KIDS WHO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL UNDERSTANDING ABOUT CREDIT CARDS, IT'S NOT MAGIC, THAT BILL ALWAYS COMES IN AND WAYS TO PLAN SO THAT YOU CAN FINALLY GET A HOME OF YOUR OWN.

>>TERESA: CAN I INTERRUPT?

>>LORENE: OF COURSE YOU CAN.

>>TERESA: I HAVE ANOTHER BILL THAT ACTUALLY WOULD CREATE A PORTAL FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR ALL KIDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

YEAN, THAT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE IT MOVE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME SUPPORT FOR IT AMONG THE LEADERSHIP.

>>LORENE: BUT WHEN IT DOES MOVE, COME BACK AND WE'LL LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY JUST NEEDS A HAND UP, NOT A HAND OUT.

THE HOPE THAT IT REPRESENTS AND THE OPTIMISM AND IT'S A BRIGHTER FUTURE WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LIFE IN CONTROL OF YOUR HOME AND WITH EVERYTHING.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS.

YOU WROTE A BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT OPED IN THE HOBBS NEWS-SUN AND IT'S ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO PROTECT MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY, THIS WAS CALLED HOW CAN MY FRIENDS SURVIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY ALONE AND WHAT HAPPENS IF SOCIAL SECURITY GOES UNDER?

THERE ARE ELEMENTS RUNNING FOR OFFICE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND GET RID OF MEDICARE, SO WHAT, HOW CAN WE SAVE THESE PROGRAMS, SO MANY PEOPLE DEPEND ON.

>>TERESA: WE KNOW THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE EARNED, WORKERS HAVE BEEN PAYING INTO IT AND THEY EXPECT TO RECEIVE THOSE BENEFITS WHEN THEY RETIRE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS PRESENTLY NOT SOLVENT, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT.

THERE ARE TWO APPROACHES, YOU CAN SAY LET'S CUT BENEFITS, LET'S PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY AND SO THEN WHERE ARE PEOPLE, THEIR LOSING THEIR BENEFITS, CAN'T RETIRE UNTIL LATER, THAT'S NOT THE PROMISE THAT WAS MADE.

THERE'S ANOTHER APPROACH, AND THAT IS THE APPROACH THAT THE REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE, THAT PROJECT 2025 WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF SOCIAL SECURITY, BUT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

SO DEMOCRATS AND I AM A CO-SPONSOR OF A BILL CALLED SOCIAL SECURITY 2100, A SACRED TRUST, BECAUSE IT IS A TRUST.

WHAT DOES IT DO, IT SAYS EVERYBODY SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, DID YOU KNOW THAT AFTER YOU EARN A CERTAIN AMOUNT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES, WELL THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

>>LORENE: THAT'S COMPLETELY A UPSIDE DOWN PYRAMID, THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST SHOULD BE PAYING MORE.

>>TERESA: EXACTLY, SO THAT BILL WOULD REQUIRE THAT PEOPLE WHO EARN MORE THAN $400,000 WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

IF THEY PAY THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES, GUESS WHAT, IT BECOMES SOLVENT.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE COULD THEN MAKE SURE WE DO ADEQUATE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATE.

AND ALL THAT TAKES IS SAY INSTEAD OF CUTTING IT, JUST MAKE EVERYBODY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE EARNING OVER $400,000 A YEAR.

NOW THEY MIGHT NOT NEED SOCIAL SECURITY AS MUCH AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN A TEACHER OR WORKED AS A JANITOR IN THE SCHOOLS OR DONE REALLY HARD WORK ALL THEIR LIVES, BUT THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR AND EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO DO THEIR FAIR SHARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, A SACRED TRUST.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS, THE DEMOCRATIC VERSION, THE VERSION I AM CO-SPONSORING IS ONE THAT WOULD MAKE IT SOLVENT BY MAKING SURE EVERYBODY PAYS THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>>LORENE: WHAT'S THE OTHER WAY?

>>TERESA: WELL, THE OTHER WAY IS THE REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE, TRUMP'S PROJECT 2025, WHICH WOULD SLASH SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND RAISE THE COST AND DO AWAY WITH IT.

WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY IS LET'S JUST CUT BENEFITS AND THEN OUR VERSION IS LET'S RAISE THE REVENUE TO MAKE SURE IT'S SOLVENT.

THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS, ONE IS I THINK MEAN AND IT PROTECTS THE WEALTHY AND THE OTHER VERSION I THINK RESPECTS THE HARD WORK THAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN AND SAYS EVERYBODY MUST PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE INCLUDING THE ULTRA-WEALTHY.

>>LORENE: THERE'S ANOTHER EVENT PROTECTING AND FIGHTING FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

IT'S JUST THE WHOLE ABORTION ISSUE, WHICH IS ONE FORM OF, YOU KNOW, AN IMPORTANT PART OF WOMEN'S HEALTH HAS JUST BEEN A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.

AND NOW THE REPUBLICAN TICKET IS TWO ANTI-ABORTION MEN AND THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET HAS A MUCH MORE LIBERAL AND WOMEN'S HEALTH-ORIENTED VIEW.

I KNOW NOT EVERYONE FEELS THAT WAY ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S BECOME A POLITICAL FOOTBALL AND WHO LOSES OUT ARE WOMEN.

SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TRY TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE MORE FAIR AND IT TOOK YEARS FOR MENTAL HEALTH TO BE ON PARITY WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH.

AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE ON THE PARITY WITH MEN'S HEALTH CARE, JUST HUMAN BEING HEALTH CARE, WHAT CAN WE DO?

>>TERESA: I LOVE THE WAY YOU PUT THAT BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY IT, LORENE.

IT'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, THEY TRY TO SAY IT'S ABORTION, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN GET TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH OUR BODIES, WHEN ALL THINGS GO GOOD OR GO WRONG WITH OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

AND WE GET TO DO IT LIKE NEW MEXICANS KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOW CODIFIED IT IN NEW MEXICO, WE GET TO DO IT IN CONSULTATION WITHOUR OWN FAITH, OUR OWN FAMILIA AND WITH OUR OWN DOCTORS, RIGHT.

THESE ARE HARD DECISIONS AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SHOULD I HAVE AN ABORTION, IT'S ALSO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET PREGNANT AND SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

I'M GOING TO SHARE A STORY, I HAD SEVERAL MISCARRIAGES AND THEN I WAS PREGNANT, I KNEW I WAS PREGNANT.

I HAD MY LITTLE ULTRASOUND THAT SHOWED I WAS CARRYING THE BABY AND HAD PASSED SOME CRITICAL POINTS AND SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND I STARTED HEMORRHAGING AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE EMERGENCY SURGERY.

I HAD LOST SO MUCH BLOOD THEY COULD NOT PUT ME UNDER BECAUSE I WANTED TO TRY TO SAVE THE BABY AND I KEPT HEARING THEM SAY, I'M IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND I'M UNDER THE SURGEON AND THEY'RE SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE HER, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE HER.

THEN I HAD TO MAKE SOME KEY DECISIONS AND THOSE KEY DECISIONS COULD HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE OR SAVED THE BABY AND I MADE A DIFFICULT DECISION THAT SAID, I WANT TO TAKE THIS MORE RISKY PROCEDURE BECAUSE THEN I CAN KEEP THIS PREGNANCY, HARD DECISION TO MAKE.

I'M SO GLAD I MADE IT, THIS BEAUTIFUL CHILD IS NOW 24.

BUT THAT WAS MY DECISION TO MAKE.

A WOMAN IN OHIO, WHERE J.D.

VANCE IS FROM, CANNOT MAKE THAT DECISION, IN FACT, A WOMAN IN OHIO WHO IS HAVING A MISCARRIAGE GOT ARRESTED BECAUSE THEY DECIDED THAT SHE WAS NOT A RISK ENOUGH AND SHE MISCARRIED, SHE HAD TO GO HOME.

THEY CAME AND CHARGED HER WITH A FELONY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT, DO I WANT TO HAVE AN ABORTION, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE HEALTHCARE YOU NEED, EVEN IF YOU DECIDE TO CARRY THAT BABY TO TERM BECAUSE PREGNANCY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WOMEN DIE AND WE NEED TO KEEP US ALIVE AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HONOR WHETHER YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR BABY THROUGH IVF, LIKE OUR WONDERFUL GOVERNOR WALZ TALKS ABOUT, BECAUSE THEY ALSO WANT TO GET RID OF THAT.

ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE SIGNED ONTO A BILL THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW YOU TO HAVE IVF.

IT WOULD DESTROY THAT ABILITY BECAUSE IT WOULD CONSIDER... >>LORENE: THAT'S IN VITRO FERTILIZATION.

>>TERESA: IN VITRO FERTILIZATION.

MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY HAVING A BABY, THEY CHOOSE THAT.

SO REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING AWAY YOUR FREEDOM, YOUR FREEDOM TO DECIDE WHETHER TO CARRY A PREGNANCY TO TERM, YOUR FREEDOM TO DECIDE WHETHER TO HAVE A FAMILY THROUGH ALTERNATIVE MEANS WHEN THE REGULAR PROCESS DOESN'T WORK.

YOUR FREEDOM TO HAVE HEALTH CARE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET RID OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY KEY FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED, BUT WE WOULD SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO A TIME WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH CARE, WHERE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS MEANT YOU COULDN'T GET HEALTH INSURANCE, WHERE YOU, YOU KNOW, MY GOD, GOING BACK PRIOR TO ROE V WADE, BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT WAS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO IS PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HE APPOINTED JURISTS, JUSTICES WHO OVERTURNED ROE V WADE.

>>LORENE: THE DOBBS ACT.

>>TERESA: HE'S PROUD OF THAT AND HIS VICE PRESIDENT RUNNING MATE WANTS US ALL TO STAY IN A MARRIAGE IF YOU'RE BEING BEATEN.

>>LORENE: I KNOW.

>>TERESA: CAN YOU IMAGINE, THAT IS SO DISRESPECTFUL TO WOMEN.

I'M SO EXCITED, I'M JUST SO EXCITED THAT OUR CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT.

THEY HONOR WOMEN, THEY RESPECT WOMEN AND THEY RESPECT FAMILY VALUES BECAUSE IT IS A FAMILY VALUE WHEN LIKE NEW MEXICO, YOU INVEST IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

IT IS A FAMILY VALUE WHEN LIKE NEW MEXICO, WE SAY WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL CHILDREN GET FED WHEN THEY'RE AT SCHOOL SO THEY CAN THEN LEARN.

IT IS A FAMILY VALUE WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL GET REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR UNIQUE CONDITIONS ARE.

>>LORENE: THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN THEY PASSED THE FREE LUNCHES FOR EVERYONE, BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE DISCRIMINATION, YOU'RE THE POOR KID.

THEY SAID, NO, WE'RE GOING TO FEED EVERYBODY WE'LL GIVE THEM BREAKFAST, WE'LL GIVE THEM LUNCH AND NOW IN THE SUMMER, THEY'RE PROGRAMS WHERE YOU CAN DRIVE UP A CAR FULL OF KIDS AND THEY WILL, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU LUNCHES FOR EVERY KID IN THE CAR, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, WHETHER THEY'RE LEGAL, JUST WE'RE FEEDING CHILDREN.

WELL, WE'VE JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE, THERE'S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

WE HAVE A MINUTE OR TWO LEFT, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK TO NEW MEXICANS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND LET THEM KNOW THEY'VE SEEN ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO YOUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS FERNANDEZ.HOUSE.GOV, WD40 FOR WORKING THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, BUT THAT THEY CAN GO TO YOU AND ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOUR WEBSITE SAYS.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

SO PLEASE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE.

>>TERESA: YES PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE, FERNANDEZ.HOUSE.GOV, I SERVE YOU.

WHENEVER MY STAFF GETS UP AND SAY I WORK FOR THE CONGRESSWOMAN, I SAY, NO YOU DON'T, YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF CD3 AND THE REALITY BECAUSE REMEMBER WE ARE ALL FAMILY HERE, SO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR DELEGATION WORKS FOR YOU.

WE HAVE A GREAT DELEGATION, WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING FOR YOU.

GO TO MY WEBSITE FERNANDEZ.HOUSE.GOV, SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER AND YOU WILL SEE THE MANY THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING WE'VE BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE, YOU KNOW, I HAD AN ANTI-BULLYING BILL, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE FOR KIDS, FOR THE SCHOOL LUNCHES WE TALKED ABOUT.

ALL THESE THINGS THAT COME UP IN NEW MEXICO I ADDRESS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NEW MEXICO IS A SMALL PLACE, BUT SMALL PLACES DO BIG THINGS.

AND I'M FROM RURAL NEW MEXICO AND NEW MEXICO IS A RURAL STATE, AND I'M ALWAYS FIGHTING FOR RURAL NEW MEXICO AND RURAL AMERICA.

>>LORENE: YOU ABSOLUTELY ARE.

THAT'S THE BEST CLOSING STATEMENT THAT WE COULD HAVE.

AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN A FIGHTER AND I LOVE HOW YOU TAKE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND THOSE OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND YOU MAKE LAWS THAT ADDRESS SOLUTIONS FOR THAT.

I'M SO GRATEFUL, AND ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR WORK WITH THE FIRE, THE HERMIT'S PEAK CALF CANYON FIRE, WE'LL NEVER GET THOSE TREES BACK, I THINK THE CLIMATE CHANGE IS SUCH WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A BIG PONDEROSA FOREST AGAIN, BUT TO LET IT, YOU KNOW, LET SEEDLINGS AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GROW BACK, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF OUR HERITAGE AND PART OF OUR PATRIMONY.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

OUR GUEST, OF COURSE, IS TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, A CONGRESSWOMAN FROM NEW MEXICO'S THIRD DISTRICT.

ON BEHALF OF US IN THE DISTRICT, BECAUSE I'M A RESIDENT AND ALL OF NEW MEXICO, I WANT TO THANK >>TERESA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, LORENE.

>>LORENE: YOU BET.

AND I'M LORENE MILLS, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF REPORT FROM SANTA F.<br/> REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM