About the Assistant Speaker
Since being sworn into Congress in 2008, Congressman Luján has worked to create good-paying jobs in New Mexico, increase access to affordable, quality health care, protect New Mexico’s natural resources, build a clean energy economy, and restore checks and balances in our government. He is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, sitting on the Health Subcommittee, Consumer Protection & Commerce Subcommittee, and the Communications & Technology Subcommittee.
Congressman Luján has focused on spurring local economic growth through a number of legislative initiatives. His bill to make it easier for local entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to the marketplace was signed into law. He has also written legislation that would leverage New Mexico’s labs to drive job creation while addressing tomorrow’s energy challenges. And, the Congressman is a strong supporter of expanding access to broadband to close the digital divide in underserved communities.
He has also been a fierce advocate for environmental protection in New Mexico. Luján was part of an effort during the Obama administration to establish a national monument designation for the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act, preserving one of New Mexico’s great treasures.
Luján is a long-time advocate for New Mexico’s acequias and traditional lands. He continually works to ensure adequate funding for these cultural assets through both the legislation he has authored and through the Farm Bill. He’s also supports rural farming and ranching by securing grants to help food producing communities advance entrepreneurship.
Throughout his time in Congress, Luján has fought to increase New Mexicans’ access to quality health care, no matter where someone lives or how much money they make. He has had legislation signed into law to bolster the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), strengthen Medicaid and Medicare, and combat the opioid crisis. He has also secured behavioral health care funding for expanded prevention, treatment, and recovery services in New Mexico and across the country.
Congressman Luján represents his diverse district by participating in a variety of Caucuses, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Native American Caucus. He serves as co-chair of the bipartisan National Labs Caucus and the Congressional Cleanup Caucus. Luján is a founding member of the Tech Transfer Caucus, which works to move technological innovations from New Mexico’s national labs and universities into the marketplace.
In 2013, Congressman Luján was appointed to the House Democratic Leadership as a Chief Deputy Whip. In the 114th Congress, Luján served as Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and was elected by his colleagues to again serve in this role for the 115th Congress. He currently serves as the Assistant Speaker in the 116th Congress.
Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Luján served as the Chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. As a Commissioner, he worked with his colleagues to develop a renewable portfolio standard to increase clean energy production by New Mexico utilities. He also advocated for first responders, working to overhaul the New Mexico Fire Fund so that all distributions from the fund would go to improving fire services in New Mexico.
Prior to his service on the Public Regulation Commission, Congressman Luján was the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department’s director of administrative services and chief financial officer.
Congressman Luján earned his Bachelor's degree from New Mexico Highlands University in Business Administration.