Ben R. Luján

Ben Ray Luján Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd district Incumbent Assumed office  January 3, 2009 Preceded by Tom Udall New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner from the 3rd district In office 2005–2008 Preceded by Jerome D. Block Sr. Succeeded by Jerome D. Block Jr. Born June 7, 1972 (1972-06-07) (age 38) Santa Fe, New Mexico Political party Democratic Residence Nambé, New Mexico Alma mater New Mexico Highlands University Occupation Congressman Religion Roman Catholic Website Ben Ray Luján for U.S. Congress 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. Contents 1 Early life, education, and early career 2 Public Regulation Commission 3 U.S. House of Representatives 3.1 Elections 3.2 Tenure 3.3 Committee assignments 4 References 5 External links 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 is the speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives and his mother is a retired administrator with the Pojoaque Valley school system. After graduating from Pojoaque Valley High School, he attended the University of New Mexico and later received a degree from New Mexico Highlands University.1 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 2008.1 Luján is a strong supporter of renewable energy. He 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.1 Luján joined regulators in California, Oregon, and Washington to sign the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change to implement regional solutions to global warming.2 While at the PRC, Luján helped develop legislation to prohibit insurance companies from denying individuals coverage for preexisting conditions.citation needed U.S. House of Representatives Elections 2008 See also: United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 2008#District 3 and United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 2010#District 3 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. This victory was tantamount to election in this heavily Democratic district. 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%.3 2010 Luján won re-election against Republican nominee Tom Mullins. Tenure Lujan has been a strong proponent of health care reform, including a public option. In October 2009, Lujan gave a speech on the House floor calling for a public option to be included in the House health care bill saying “We need a public option - we must demand a public option.”4 In June 2009, Lujan 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; although, the amendment did not pass.5 In September 2009 Lujan wrote a letter urging the Obama administration not to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan. Lujan drew on conversations he had with U.S. General Stanley McChrystal and Afghan president Hamid Karzai, when he visited Afghanistan in August 2009, in the letter.5 Lujan district contains 15 separate pueblo tribes as well as tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Navajo Nation.6 In February 2009 Lujan 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) Lujan sponsored an amendment to the House health care bill that would extend the current Indian Health Care system until 2025. Committee assignments Committee on Science and Technology7 Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation Subcommittee on Energy and Environment References ^ a b c 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. 4 June 2008. ^ Luján: We Must Demand A Public Option. Project Vote Smart. 23 October 2009. ^ a b Rep. Luján Urges Administration To Reject Troop Increase In Afghanistan. Project Vote Smart. 25 September 2009. ^ About the District. Website of Congressman Ben Jay Luján ^ Reichbach, Matthew (January 14, 2009). "Lujan named to Committee on Science and Technology". New Mexico Independent. http://newmexicoindependent.com/15095/lujan-named-to-committee-on-science-and-technology.  External links Congressman Ben R. Lujan official U.S. House site Ben R. Luján for U.S. Congress official campaign site Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Voting record maintained by The Washington Post Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart Congressional profile at GovTrack.us Congressional profile at OpenCongress Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues Financial information at OpenSecrets.org Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission Appearances on C-SPAN programs United States House of Representatives Preceded by Tom Udall Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd congressional district 2009–Present Succeeded by Incumbent United States order of precedence Preceded by Blaine Luetkemeyer R-Missouri United States Representatives by seniority 320th Succeeded by Cynthia Lummis R-Wyoming v · d · eNew Mexico's current delegation to the United States Congress Senators Jeff Bingaman (D), Tom Udall (D) Representatives Martin Heinrich (D), Steve Pearce (R), Ben R. Lujan (D) Other states' delegations Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming • Non‑voting: American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Northern Mariana Islands • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands v · d · eMembers of the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico Territorial (1851–1912) Weightman · Gallegos · M.A. Otero · Watts · F. Perea · Chaves · Clever · Chaves · Gallegos · Elkins · Romero · M.S. Otero · Luna · Manzanares · Joseph · Catron · Fergusson · P. Perea · Rodey · Andrews At-large seats (1912–1969) Seat Fergusson · Hernández · Walton · Hernández · N. Montoya · Morrow · Simms · Chavez · Dempsey · Anderson · Lusk · Miles · Dempsey · Morris Seat Curry · Fernández · J. Montoya · Walker Districts (1969–present) 1st district Lujan · Schiff · Wilson · Heinrich 2nd district Foreman · Runnels · Skeen · Pearce · Teague · Pearce 3rd district Richardson · Redmond · Udall · Luján v · d · eCurrent members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus House Joe Baca (CA-43) (D), Xavier Becerra (CA-31) (D), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) (D), Jim Costa (CA-20) (D), Henry Cuellar (TX-28) (D), Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20) (D), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07) (D), Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04) (D), Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) (D), Ben R. Luján (NM-03) (D), Grace Napolitano (CA-38) (D), Ed Pastor (AZ-04) (D), Pedro Pierluisi (PR-At large) (D), Silvestre Reyes (TX-16) (D), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) (D), Gregorio Sablan (MP-At large) (D), Linda Sánchez (CA-39) (D), José Enrique Serrano (NY-16) (D), Albio Sires (NJ-13) (D), Nydia Velázquez (NY-12) (D) Senate Bob Menendez (NJ) (D) Persondata Name Lujan, Ben R. Alternative names Short description Date of birth 1972-06-07 Place of birth Santa Fe, New Mexico Date of death Place of death