Martin Heinrich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Heinrich
Official portrait, 2019
Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	John Barrasso
United States Senator from New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013 Serving with Ben Ray Luján
Preceded by	Jeff Bingaman
Committee positions Chair of the Joint Economic Committee In office April 26, 2023 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by Don Beyer Succeeded by David Schweikert Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee In office February 3, 2021 – April 26, 2023 Preceded by Don Beyer Succeeded by David Schweikert
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 1st district
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Heather Wilson
Succeeded by	Michelle Lujan Grisham
Member of the Albuquerque City Council from the 6th district
In office January 3, 2004 – January 3, 2008
Preceded by	Hess Yntema
Succeeded by	Rey Garduno
Personal details
Born	Martin Trevor Heinrich (1971-10-17) October 17, 1971 (age 53) Fallon, Nevada, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Julie Hicks ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	2
Residences	Albuquerque, New Mexico Silver Spring, Maryland
Education	University of Missouri (BS) University of New Mexico
Signature
Website

Martin Trevor Heinrich (born October 17, 1971) is an American politician. He is a U.S. Senator for New Mexico. He has held this important role since 2013.

Before becoming a Senator, Heinrich was a U.S. Representative for New Mexico. He served in the House from 2009 to 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Born in Fallon, Nevada, Heinrich spent most of his adult life in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also has a home in Silver Spring, Maryland for his work. From 2004 to 2008, he was a member of the Albuquerque City Council.

Early Life and Education

Martin Trevor Heinrich was born in Fallon, Nevada. His mother, Shirley A. Bybee, was a seamstress. His father, Pete C. Heinrich, worked for a utility company. His father was born in Germany and later became an American citizen.

Martin grew up in Cole Camp, Missouri. He went to public schools there. In 1989, he moved to Columbia, Missouri, to attend the University of Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1995. After that, he took graduate classes at the University of New Mexico.

Early Career and Public Service

After college, Heinrich worked as an AmeriCorps fellow in New Mexico. This program helps people serve their communities.

From 1996 to 2001, Heinrich was the leader of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation. This group teaches young people about natural science and the environment in New Mexico. In 2002, he started his own company. It focused on advising people about public policy.

Serving on the Albuquerque City Council

Heinrich was elected to the Albuquerque City Council in 2004. He served there until 2008. In 2006, he was the president of the city council. His main goals were to lower crime, increase the minimum wage, and create new jobs. He also supported using wind and solar power.

In 2006, Governor Bill Richardson chose Heinrich to be the state's Natural Resources Trustee. This role involves protecting New Mexico's natural resources.

U.S. House of Representatives

Becoming a Representative

In 2008, Martin Heinrich decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He ran for New Mexico's 1st district, which includes Albuquerque. The person who held the seat, Heather Wilson, decided to run for the Senate instead.

Heinrich won the Democratic primary election in June 2008. In the main election, he ran against Darren White. Heinrich focused on issues like energy independence and ending the Iraq War. He won the election with 56% of the votes. This made him the first Democrat to represent this district since 1969.

Second Term and Key Votes

Heinrich was reelected for a second term in 2010. He defeated Jon Barela. In January 2009, his fellow new Democratic representatives chose him as their class president. He also supported a bill to stop automatic salary raises for members of Congress.

Health Care and Environment

In 2010, Heinrich voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This law is also known as Obamacare. In 2017, he supported a plan called Medicare-For-All.

Heinrich has always been interested in environmental protection. He supported using wind and solar power. He also served on the Sierra Club's Rio Grande Chapter. The Sierra Club is a large environmental organization. He is against building the Keystone Pipeline. He also supports laws that would limit carbon emissions. In 2019, he co-sponsored the Green New Deal. This plan aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Gun Laws and Other Issues

Heinrich is an outdoorsman and a gun owner. He was once a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA supported him in his 2010 election. However, he later donated their contribution to charity.

He has supported some gun rights, like easing restrictions on gun sales across state lines. He also supported repealing the Dickey Amendment, which limited government research on gun violence. However, he also supports banning bump stocks and stopping gun sales to people on the federal no fly list.

Heinrich supported same-sex marriage. He also worked to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Serving on Committees

While in the House, Heinrich was a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He was against the war in Iraq and wanted a quick end to fighting in Afghanistan.

U.S. Senate

Becoming a Senator

In 2012, Martin Heinrich decided to run for the U.S. Senate. Senator Jeff Bingaman was retiring, leaving an open seat. Heinrich won the Democratic primary election. In the general election, he ran against Heather Wilson, whom he had replaced in the House. Heinrich won the Senate election with 51% of the votes.

Heinrich being sworn in as a U.S. Senator by Vice President Joe Biden, January 3, 2013

Reelection and Key Events

Heinrich was reelected for his second Senate term in 2018. He won against Mick Rich and Gary Johnson. He was elected to a third Senate term in 2024, defeating Nella Domenici.

In January 2021, Heinrich became New Mexico's senior senator. This means he has served longer than the other senator from New Mexico.

January 6, 2021, Capitol Attack

On January 6, 2021, Heinrich was at the U.S. Capitol when it was attacked. He saw the rioters trying to break into the building. He called the attack an "assault on democracy." He believed that the then-President should be removed from office.

Votes and Policies

In 2013, Heinrich voted to expand background checks for gun purchases. He also voted to restore funding for the Affordable Care Act.

In 2017, he helped introduce the Secure Elections Act. This law would help states update their voting technology and improve cybersecurity for elections.

In 2021, Heinrich was one of seven Democratic senators who voted against a ban on hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. In the same year, he introduced a bill to make Puerto Rico a U.S. state.

In 2024, Heinrich voted on several resolutions about U.S. aid to Israel's military. He voted to apply human rights rules to the aid. He also voted to block some U.S. arms sales to Israel.

In July 2024, Heinrich called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Senate Committees and Caucuses

As a Senator, Heinrich serves on several important committees:

• Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government spends money.
• Committee on Armed Services: This committee deals with military matters.
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: This committee focuses on energy and environmental issues.
• Select Committee on Intelligence: This committee oversees U.S. intelligence agencies.
• Joint Economic Committee: He is the Chair of this committee, which studies economic issues.

In 2019, Heinrich helped start the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus. This group focuses on issues related to artificial intelligence.

Survival Trip for Teamwork

In 2014, Heinrich and Senator Jeff Flake went on a survival trip to a small island in the Marshall Islands. A TV crew filmed their trip for a show. They had to survive for six days with very few resources. Heinrich said they did this to show that politicians from different parties can work together.

Personal Life

Martin Heinrich lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He lives with his wife, Julie, and their two children. He is a Lutheran.

Images for kids

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  U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich during the 111th United States Congress

See also

In Spanish: Martin Heinrich para niños