Ben Ray Luján
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
| Ben Ray Luján | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2015 |
|
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Steve Israel |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd district |
|
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Tom Udall |
| Member of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission from the 3rd district |
|
| In office 2005–2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Jerome Block (I) |
| Succeeded by | Jerome Block (II) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ben Ray Luján June 7, 1972 Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | New Mexico Highlands University |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism[citation needed] |
| Website | Campaign website |
Ben Ray Luján (born June 7, 1972) is the U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 3rd congressional district, serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Santa Fe, the state capital, and includes most of the northern portion of the state. Luján became the Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on November 18, 2014.
Contents
Early life, education, and early career
Ben Ray Luján was born in Santa Fe to Carmen and Ben Luján, but currently lives near Nambé, New Mexico. His father, Ben Luján, was the speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives[1][dead link] and his mother is a retired administrator with the Pojoaque Valley school system. His cousins include Michelle Lujan Grisham and Manuel Lujan, Jr., a former Republican congressman and Secretary of the Interior. Manuel Lujan's sister was his second grade teacher.[2]
After graduating from Pojoaque Valley High School, he attended the University of New Mexico and later received a degree from New Mexico Highlands University.[3][dead link] Luján has held several public service positions. He was the Deputy State Treasurer and the Director of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer for the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department prior to his election to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
Public Regulation Commission
Luján was elected to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) in November 2004. He represented PRC district 3 which encompasses northeastern, north central and central New Mexico. His served as chairman of the PRC in 2005, 2006 and 2007. His term on the commission ended at the end of 2008.[3][dead link]
Luján helped to increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard in New Mexico that requires utilities to use 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Luján also required utilities to diversify their renewable use to include solar, wind and biomass.[3][dead link]
Luján joined regulators in California, Oregon, and Washington to sign the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change to implement regional solutions to global warming.[4][dead link]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
- 2008
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
In 2008, Luján ran to succeed U.S. Rep. Tom Udall in New Mexico's 3rd congressional district. Udall gave up the seat to make what would be a successful bid for the United States Senate.
On June 3, 2008, Luján won the Democratic primary, defeating five other candidates. His closest competitor, developer Don Wiviott, received 26 percent to Luján's 42 percent.
Luján faced Republican Dan East and independent Carol Miller in the general election and won with 57% of the vote compared to East's 30% and Miller's 13%.[5][dead link]
- 2010
Luján won re-election against Republican nominee Tom Mullins.[citation needed]
- 2012
Luján won re-election against Republican nominee Jefferson L. Byrd.[citation needed]
- 2014
Luján won re-election against Republican nominee Jefferson L. Byrd.[6]
Tenure
Luján has been a proponent of health care reform, including a public option. In October 2009, Luján gave a speech on the House floor calling for a public option to be included in the House health care bill.[7][dead link]
In June 2009, Luján voted for an amendment that would require the Secretary of Defense to present a plan including a complete exit strategy for Afghanistan by the end of the year. The amendment did not pass.[8][dead link] In September 2009, Luján wrote a letter urging the Obama administration not to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan. In his letter, Luján drew on conversations he had with U.S. General Stanley McChrystal and Afghan president Hamid Karzai.[8]
Energy policy
Luján has been active in environmental regulation.[9] He is Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ Green Economy and Renewable Energy Task Force.[9] Luján has initiated several pieces of legislation regarding renewable energy such as the SOLAR Act. He co-authored the Community College Energy Training Act of 2009. He also supports natural gas usage and the New Alternative Transportations to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2009.[9] Luján has high ratings from interest groups such as Environment America and the Sierra Club.[8]
Education policy
Luján has been supported by the National Education Association.[8] Luján supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.[9] He supports student loan reform. He cosponsored the STEM Education Coordination Act in an effort to produce more scientists and innovators in the United States.[9]
Native American issues
Luján has supported increased funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service.[9] Luján opposed the Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 and was in favor of preserving sacred Native American ground.[8] Luján worked to create legislation enabling tribes to directly request disaster assistance from the president.[8] Luján district contains 15 separate pueblo tribes as well as tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Navajo Nation.[10][dead link] In February 2009, Luján introduced a series of five water accessibility bills that, along with improving access to water for the many communities in the district, would also give federal funds to Indian tribes. Along with Harry Teague (D-NM) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Luján sponsored an amendment to the House health care bill that would extend the current Indian Health Care system until 2025. Tribal governments were major donors to his 2012 reelection campaign.[11]
Committee assignments
Caucus Memberships
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
Legislative history
In 2011, Luján was a co-sponsor of Bill H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act.[12]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
- Congressman Ben R. Luján official U.S. House site
- Ben R. Luján for Congress
- Ben Ray Luján at DMOZ
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd congressional district 2009–present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 2015–present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States Representatives by seniority 207th |
Succeeded by Cynthia Lummis |
| Territorial (1851–1912) |
|
 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-large seats (1912–1969) |
|
||||||
| Districts (1969–present) (3rd district established in 1983) |
|
||||||
- ↑ http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Congressional-hopefuls-file-in-crowded-races
- ↑ Prepared Statement of Representative Ben R. Lujan Thomas Loc Gov.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) Who Runs Gov.
- ↑ Oregon Agrees to Climate Change Framework Adopted by Four Public Utility Commissions. State of Oregon Public Utility Commission
- ↑ Baker, Deborah. Lujan wins Democratic nomination, East gets GOP nod, in 3rd District. Portales News-Tribune. June 4, 2008.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Luján: We Must Demand A Public Option. Project Vote Smart. October 23, 2009.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Rep. Luján Urges Administration To Reject Troop Increase In Afghanistan. Project Vote Smart. September 25, 2009. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "votesmart.org" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "votesmart.org" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "votesmart.org" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "votesmart.org" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ About the District. Website of Congressman Ben Jay Luján
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Bill H.R.3261; GovTrack.us;
- Pages with reference errors
- Use mdy dates from August 2015
- Articles with unsourced statements from April 2015
- Articles with dead external links from April 2015
- Articles with DMOZ links
- 1972 births
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- American Roman Catholics
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress
- Living people
- Lujan family
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico
- New Mexico Democrats
- New Mexico Highlands University alumni
- People from Santa Fe County, New Mexico
