Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - NM is called to advocate for justice in public policy with a particular emphasis on alleviating poverty and hunger and supporting ELCA members and congregations, as well as our ecumenical and interfaith partners in the ministry of advocacy.

February 14, 2025

Dear Partners in Advocacy,

As we come to the end of the third full week of the legislative session, we are less than a week from our annual Legislative Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon. Registration has been great! Indeed, so many have registered that we are quickly approaching our capacity. What an amazing reality which has energized me through this busy week.

As a result, please know that we will now cut off registration for the luncheon at midnight on Sunday, February 16th, for the Bishop's Luncheon. Registrations for just the morning Issue Briefing will continue, however. If you have not registered yet, please don't forget to do so!

We have several special speakers planned for the Issue Briefing. I am happy to share that included in that list is Taylor Cook, the new director of homeless initiatives for the Office of the Governor. Exciting initiatives are taking place both on the executive and legislative sides to address more comprehensively the tremendous challenge we confront due to the lack of affordable housing, the large number of New Mexicans living in unstable housing due to the unbearable cost of housing, and the unacceptable numbers living without shelter. (Zero is the only acceptable number.)

Many of you have been following the crisis facing Border Servant Corps financially due to the failure of contracts with FEMA to be funded. Long-time executive director, Kari Lenander, along with Kyle Boyd, will join us for the Issue Briefing to provide an update on what's happening and projected to happen on the border moving forward.

Don't forget the special presentations and awards that will be a highlight of the Bishop's Luncheon. House Majority Leader Rep. Renna Szczepanski will receive our Legislator of the Year for 2024. Ron Solimon (St. Timothy, ABQ) will be honored with the John and Chris Haaland Advocacy Award. LaJune Smith (Peace, Las Cruces) will receive a Lifetime of Advocacy Award, and last, but not least, Bill Jordan (NM Voices, retired) will be honored for his long partnership with and support of LAM-NM.



I can't begin to share fully how critical volunteers are to our work during the legislative session. I am only able to cover the number of bills we track because of them. Many thanks to Judy Messal, Tim Petterson, Pastor Kristin Schultz, and Elaine Solimon for speaking on our behalf this past week and tomorrow. I am also very grateful to Diana Lewis for creating and populating my tracking spreadsheet this session.

It's a large ask, but your presence the day following our big day next week is also needed. On Friday, February 21st, Hunger Action Day takes place at the Roundhouse. Join me and others from LAM-NM who will participate. You will find a link to register included below.

As much as I would appreciate the legislature taking a break next week so we can focus solely on Thursday, the legislative process continues at an ever more demanding pace. You will receive an Action Alert early Monday on how we need your help for the week. Please help as you you can.

Now more than ever, we need your support through awareness, direct participation, and through your prayers. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need more information or have any questions about our work during the 2025 session.

Kurt

Kurt Rager

Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico

"...And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

2025 Advocacy Agenda

The LAM-NM 2025 Advocacy Agenda was recently adopted by our Policy Committee. To download a copy of the agenda, please go HERE!

Key Areas of Focus:

Hunger

Affordable Housing & Homelessness

Family-Sustaining Income

Health Care

Tax Policy

Criminal Justice

Care of Creation

Good Governance

2025 Legislative Advocacy Days

LAM-NM is planning a day each week during the second half of the session for you to join Kurt and other volunteer LAM-NM advocates to work the Roundhouse by speaking to legislators and potentially offering public comment during committee meetings on priority bills for our advocacy agenda. You are also invited to come and watch the process and activity of our state's legislature. There is much to keep you busy!

Please join us one (or more times) on the four consecutive Tuesdays of February 25th, March 4th, 11th, and 18th.

The day before each Advocacy Day, you will receive an email with parking locations and the location to meet.

If you cannot make one of the scheduled days but want to join in in-person advocacy, please email Kurt for other possible days to meet at the Roundhouse.

Let your voice be heard!

Hunger Action Day!

You are invited to join many from across the state, representing many organizations, for Hunger Action Day, which takes place on Friday, February 21st, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The day starts with breakfast at the Loretto Inn. After training and prep participants will head to the Roundhouse for meetings with legislators and a rally in the Rotunda. Lunch will also be provided. Come up and stay as long as you can.

Important Medicaid Supports Need Your Support!

Proposed cuts to Medicaid advancing in Congress threaten the well-being of millions of vulnerable Americans. We have a critical opportunity to raise our voices and share our values and experiences that shed light on the valuable role Medicaid fills... please read more HERE!

How to Access the Legislature

Both House and Senate committee meetings will always be accessible via a webcast, as will all Floor Sessions. A broadcast link is included below. For those who want to provide public comment virtually, and not drive to Santa Fe, you will be able to participate via Zoom. You can provide public testimony by using a Zoom link that each committee will publish with their agendas. Rules will vary from committee to committee, as will the posting of agendas, so it's important to plan ahead. Some committees do require that you sign up the day before or before the start of the meeting if you want to speak.

As the session progresses, please continue to watch for and respond to ACTION ALERT emails that LAM-NM will send. Action Alerts will be targeted toward specific LAM-NM priority legislation, will provide information about the bill and why we support or oppose it, and will "ask" for action from you to contact your legislators. In addition, an updated summary email with additional news and events will also be sent each week of the session.

To find out what's happening each day, follow this link HERE.

To watch committee hearings and floor sessions live, follow this link HERE. Recordings of all committee meetings and floor sessions are also available.

To find and track legislation that has been introduced, follow this link HERE.

To find contact information about your representative or senator, follow this link HERE.

To access the Home Page of the NM Legislature, follow this link HERE.

Advocating Congregations

St. Paul Lutheran (Alb.) * First Presbyterian (Santa Fe) * Bethlehem Lutheran (Los Alamos) * St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal (Alb.) * All Saints Lutheran (Alb.) *

St. Luke Lutheran (Alb.) * Peace Lutheran (Las Cruces) * Christ Lutheran (Santa Fe) * St. Timothy Lutheran (Alb.) * St. Andrew Presbyterian (Alb.) * Albuquerque Mennonite Church (Alb.) * First Presbyterian (Las Vegas) * Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal (Edgewood) * Monte Vista Christian (Abq.) * United Methodist Women of New Mexico

While Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico has active participants from many congregations across New Mexico, Advocating Congregations are communities of faith that are committed to prioritizing advocacy in public policy in specific ways regularly.

Learn more about joining the Advocating Congregation Program HERE!

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM works in advocacy partnerships with the NM Conference of Churches and the Presbytery of Santa Fe.

Connecting faith and public life: We believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God uses our hands, through our direct service work and our voices, through our advocacy efforts, to restore and reconcile our world. Through faithful advocacy, the ELCA lives out our Lutheran belief that governments can help advance the common good.