Ben R. Luján Information & Ben R. Luján Links at HealthHaven.com

Ben Ray 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 (age 37); Santa Fe, New Mexico
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	single
Residence	Nambé, New Mexico
Alma mater	New Mexico Highlands University
Occupation	political assistant
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	benrlujan.com

Ben Ray Luján (born June 7, 1972) is an American politician from northern New Mexico. He is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd congressional district. The district is based in Santa Fe, the state capital, and includes most of the northern portion of the state.

[edit] Early life and career

Ben Ray Luján was born in Santa Fe to Carmen and Ben Lujan, 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.

[edit] 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 initiated an investigation into the denial practices by the health insurance industry and, with his fellow commissioners, developed legislation to close loopholes that had allowed insurance companies to deny individuals coverage for nonrelevant, preexisting conditions.^[3]

[edit] House of Representatives

[edit] 2008 congressional election

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 2008-06-03, 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%.^[4]

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Key Votes and Stances

Since entering office Lujan has voted yay on every budget spending and tax bill, the recent House health care bill, and nay on an amendment that would ban federal funding for abortion services.^[7] Lujan has been a strong proponent of health care reform, including a public option. On October 23, 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.” ^[8]

In June of 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.^[9] In September of 2009 Lujan wrote a letter urging the Obama administration not to increase the number of troops in Iraq. Lujan drew on conversations he had with U.S. General Stanley McChrystal and Afghan president Hamid Karzai, when he visited Afghanistan in August of 2009, in the letter.^[10]

In his short time in congress Lujan has been a strong advocate for American Indians. His district contains 19 separate pueblo tribes and members of the Jicarilla Apache and Navajo nations.^[11] In February of 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.^[12]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c [1]
^ [2]
^ [3]
^ [4]
^ Reichbach, Matthew (January 6, 2009). "New Mexico’s new members of Congress get committee assignments". New Mexico Independent. http://newmexicoindependent.com/14146/new-members-of-congress-get-committee-assignments.
^ 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.
^ http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=102842
^ http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=505516&keyword=&phrase=&contain=
^ http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=498892&keyword=&phrase=&contain=
^ http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=498892&keyword=&phrase=&contain=
^ http://lujan.house.gov/index.php/3rd-district
^ http://www.votesmart.org/speech.php?can_id=102842

[edit] External links

Congressman Ben R. Lujan official U.S. House website
Ben R. Luján for U.S. Congress official campaign website

Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
Ben R. Luján profile at the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
Ben R. Luján at the Open Directory Project

[nmprc.state.nm.us-0] [1]

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[4] Reichbach, Matthew (January 6, 2009). "New Mexico’s new members of Congress get committee assignments". New Mexico Independent. http://newmexicoindependent.com/14146/new-members-of-congress-get-committee-assignments.

[5] 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.

[6] ttp://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=102842

[7] ttp://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=505516&keyword=&phrase=&contain=

[8] ttp://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=498892&keyword=&phrase=&contain=

[9] ttp://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=498892&keyword=&phrase=&contain=

[10] ttp://lujan.house.gov/index.php/3rd-district

[11] ttp://www.votesmart.org/speech.php?can_id=102842

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