MELANIE ANN STANSBURY
(Dem)
Biographical Information
mailingstate
NM
Twitter
Campaign Phone
505-850-4138
Occupation
Congresswoman
1. What qualifies you for this office?
As a native New Mexican, born and raised, I have spent my career in public service fighting for New Mexico—at the local, state and federal level. I have worked as an educator, researcher, and policymaker in Congress, the State House, and our communities. Growing up in a working family, I grew up bussing tables and digging ditches, and I know what it’s like to work hard and struggle to make ends me These lived experiences have enabled me to deliver historic investments for our communities across NM—including millions for schools, healthcare, housing, and our people, fought relentlessly to defend our democracy, and continued to pass bipartisan legislation—while celebrating the histories, cultures, and communities that make New Mexico special.
2. How would you address your highest priorities?
My priorities are always with New Mexico and our communities. Right now, that means addressing the costs of everything from housing, food, healthcare, and gas to utilities, fighting back against corruption, defending our lands and waters, and protecting our democracy and rights. That is why I have brought millions home for housing, food programs, public safety, healthcare, behavioral health, education, water, and other infrastructure projects. I helped pass the largest infrastructure, clean energy, and science, technology, and manufacturing bills in generations—to create new jobs. And, it’s why I am fighting every day to get big money out of politics, protect our democracy, and forge a new path forward for this country.
3. What measures do you propose to sustain the Social Security Trust Fund?
Social Security is a promise that must be protected. That is why I have fought relentlessly to protect the Social Security system from dismantling, am the lead sponsor of the “Hands off our Social Security” bill, am a cosponsor of multiple bills to expand Social Security and Medicare benefits, and bills to protect Social Security data, offices, and workers as they have been under attack by DOGE. I am also proud to support legislation to ensure the long-term solvency of the fund. And, I have worked every day to help New Mexicans access their benefits and to support our families, seniors, and people with disabilities for whom Social Security is a lifeline.
4. What changes to immigration laws, if any, would you recommend or support?
We need comprehensive immigration reform. The system is broken. And, it has only been further broken by an Administration that has violated the law and rights of families and terrorized communities. The entire system must be reformed on a bipartisan basis. This means creating a pathway to citizenship, modernizing the system, protecting Dreamers, and securing our border from human and drug trafficking. This will require meaningful legislative reforms that are fair and humane, investments in immigration services, and adoption of modern technology—and a system that centers our communities and the longterm well-being of our country, our economy, and the incredible diversity and opportunity that makes this great country what it is.
5. What actions, if any, would you take to address water and air quality issues facing the United States?
As a water and science professional, I have worked on land, water, and climate issues my entire career. I have worked to defend our public lands, protect our water rights, and secure millions for conservation and stewardship of our natural resources. I have served on the House Natural Resources Committee and State Energy and Environment Committee where I have championed climate and environmental justice, helped pass the largest climate and clean energy bill in American history, passed bipartisan water and energy bills, fought to protect the Clean Water and Air Acts, clean up pollution, and protect tribal sacred sites, our Land Grants, and acequias, As chair of an Environmental Working Group I am helping lead on our policies for the future.
6. What, if anything, should Congress do to ensure quality healthcare at an affordable cost?
Healthcare is a human right. We need a universal healthcare system. As we work to do so, we must fix a broken system by expanding access to all Americans, building our healthcare workforce, and bringing more doctors to NM. We must reverse cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act and lower Rx costs. In NM we must expand our workforce, bring more healthcare workers, expand access to hospitals and clinics, and integrative care. That’s why I have worked to bring millions to NM for hospitals, clinics, and emergency services, led on bipartisan bills to hire doctors and nurses, expand the VA, and address the behavioral health crisis. Because,