Belen library hosts info sessions with Sen. Heinrich’s staff

BELEN — Like many people in the United States right now, Eleanor Talamante just wants to have her voice heard, which is why she said she made the drive to Belen on Thursday morning to talk to staff members from U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich.

“Hopefully, they’ll listen to us and the future doesn’t get any worse than what we have now,” she said.

Tlamante, a retired educator and Valencia County native living in Peralta, came to the Belen Public Library to sit down and speak about her concerns with Heinrich’s staff, and local officials from the Democratic Party. Heinrich’s team is currently canvassing New Mexicans as part of their “Voice of New Mexico” outreach drive.

The goal is to get in-person feedback on issues ranging from the rising costs of living to threats to Medicaid and Medicare, which are two issues weighing on Talamante’s mind, she said.

“I wanted to talk about Medicaid and Medicare, and retirement, just everything in general,” Talamante said. “Who is going to be affected? What groups of people are going to be affected? Are they going to take it away from us?

“What about retirement? I wanted to know if they can take that money away. I’ve called about it and they told me, no, and they would let me know if anything becomes of it. I’m thinking, ‘Yeah. Yeah. (They’ll tell me) after they’ve taken it.’”

Summer Ludwig, chairwoman for Democratic Party of Valencia County, said events such as the one in Belen, are important for multiple reasons.

“For this event, specifically, we just wanted to support our local folks in sharing what’s happening with them and connecting with Sen. Heinrich’s team,” she said. “We’re trying to also gather these types of stories and, you know, maybe put it in our podcast, our website … so we can get the information out.

Ludwig said it’s important that the state’s federal representatives know what is happening locally, and that local residents know they’re not alone.

“It’s not just things that you hear about in another state, like it’s here and it’s happening here,” she said. “This current administration is impacting so many people and even municipalities in the county, just with all of the uncertainty, (such as) not knowing if your federal funds are going to be available.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there,” she said. “We really want to confront that and make sure that people know that these things are happening here in Valencia County.”

Talamante said those local issues are just as important as national issues, such as job security and the negative impacts caused by tariffs on other countries.

“Well, yeah, my groceries are going up,” Talamante said. “We’re stuck with just making minimal food, you know? So, yeah, we’re worried.

Talamante is also concerned about her children and grandchildren and their futures.

“Well, if we keep on the way we’re going, they’re not getting anything — nothing,” she said. “They don’t have a future. They’re not going to get Social Security. They’re just not, you know.”

Valencia County residents wanting help or information can call Sen. Heinrich’s Albuquerque office at 505-346-6601 or his Washington, D.C. office at 202-224-5521. Constituents can also go online and visit heinrich.senate.gov/helping-you/help.