03/20/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joshua McNeil, (202) 785-8683 or joshua_mcneil@lcv.org

LCV and CVNM Endorse Martin Heinrich for Congress

New Mexico Democrat’s Life Shows Commitment to Conservation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The League of Conservation Voters and Conservation Voters New Mexico announced today their joint endorsement of Albuquerque City Councilman Martin Heinrich for New Mexico’s 1st District seat.  The seat is currently held by Congresswoman Heather Wilson, a longtime enemy of the environment and two-time Dirty Dozen member.  For more information on the Dirty Dozen, visit http://lcv.org/campaigns/dirty-dozen.
 
“Councilman Heinrich’s commitment to conservation extends beyond his council votes,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “Not only did he fight to bring curbside recycling back to Albuquerque, he helped build a solar car in college.  Not only has he stood firm to protect the Bosque and Valle Vidal, his own home is powered by renewable energy.  When elected, Martin Heinrich will be one of the greatest conservation champions in Washington and a tremendous improvement for both Albuquerque and the nation.”

“Since elected to public office, Martin Heinrich has been a staunch advocate for conservation and New Mexico’s wild spaces,” said Sandy Buffett of Conservation Voters New Mexico.  “We are thrilled that Martin will take his commitment to conservation and his profound understanding of New Mexico’s unique issues with him to Washington.”

“I am honored by the support of the conservation community and look forward to working with LCV to create a green economy here in greater Albuquerque,” Heinrich said.

In response to an LCV questionnaire, Heinrich, a former Natural Resources Trustee for the State of New Mexico, pledged to:

Seek a seat on the House energy committee to help create an Apollo Program for energy independence and to fight for the use and development of wind and solar energy

Support legislation that achieves 15 to 20 % reductions in global warming pollution by 2020 and reductions on the order of 80% by 2050;
Actively seek legislation to encourage green building, such as the bill he championed and passed in the Albuquerque City Council, and 

Work to bring land and water conservation issues to the forefront and to use his experience as a conservationist to protect America’s wild spaces.

Heinrich has worked with Governor Richardson and Congressman Udall to protect many of New Mexico’s wild spaces, including Tijeras Canyon, the Valle Vidal, the Bosque, Petroglyph National Monument, and the Ojito Wilderness.  As a councilman, he helped create tax incentives for hybrid vehicles in Albuquerque.  In his previous work experience, he helped introduce urban children to the natural environment and to protect the endangered Mexican gray wolf.

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 LCV, the nation’s independent voice for the environment, engages in public education, lobbying and accountability to turn environmental values into public policy. LCV has made global warming and America’s energy future a central focus of its activities in Congress and in the 2008 election cycle