{"id":20650,"date":"2022-02-02T10:37:48","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T15:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=20650"},"modified":"2022-02-02T10:37:49","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T15:37:49","slug":"sen-ben-ray-lujan-hospitalized-after-suffering-stroke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/02\/sen-ben-ray-lujan-hospitalized-after-suffering-stroke\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n hospitalized after suffering stroke"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Ben<\/a>
Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-New Mexico), then serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, is seen on a Congressional delegation visit to New Mexico on April 14, 2019. Photo by Monica Sanchez, Courtesy House Committee on Natural Resources Democrats<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n hospitalized after suffering stroke<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, February 2, 2022<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nSen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n<\/a> (D-New Mexico), a key member of Congress who serves on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a>, has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nLuj\u00e1n began experiencing \u201cdizziness and fatigue\u201d last Thursday, according to a statement from his chief of staff Carlos Sanchez<\/a>. He was hospitalized at the University of New Mexico and is in recovery there after undergoing surgery connected to the stroke.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cHe is currently being cared for at UNM Hospital, resting comfortably, and expected to make a full recovery,\u201d Sanchez said in a statement<\/a> on Wednesday. \u201cThe Senator\u2019s offices remain open and will continue providing constituent services to all New Mexicans without any interruption.\u201d\r\n

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<\/p>\r\nAfter winning election to the U.S. Senate<\/a> in November 2020, Luj\u00e1n joined the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a> at the start of the 117th Congress in January 2021<\/a>. As a member of the legislative panel, he has focused on protecting Native voting rights, safeguarding Native sacred places, improving infrastructure in Indian Country and securing stable funding for Indian programs.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cOur budget is a reflection of our values, and that must include robust and reliable funding for programs that serve tribal nations,\u201d Luj\u00e1n said upon the introduction of S.2985<\/a>, the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act, last October.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nLuj\u00e1n previously served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives<\/a>. Between 2009 and 2020, he represented New Mexico’s 3rd congressional district, which includes several Pueblo tribes, the Jicarilla Apache Nation<\/a> and parts of the Navajo Nation<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cWe offer our thoughts and prayers for Senator Luj\u00e1n, his family, and colleagues. We ask our Navajo people to join us in praying for a quick and full recovery for our Senator,\u201d Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez<\/a> said in a post on social media<\/a> on Wednesday.\r\n

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<\/p>\r\nA day before his hospitalization, Luj\u00e1n met virtually with leaders across New Mexico to discuss ways to improve infrastructure in the state. As part of the work, he serves on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation<\/a>, where he has led hearings on addressing the digital divide in Indian Country.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cMeeting with local leaders is one of the most important parts of my job,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cNew Mexicans are best served by federal, state, and local officials working together to address the unique challenges New Mexicans face,\u201d Luj\u00e1n said of his meeting last Wednesday. \u201cI\u2019m proud of the critical investments delivered in the bipartisan infrastructure package for my state.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\n \u201cNow comes the joint effort to use those funds efficiently to help local communities,\u201d Luj\u00e1n said. \u201cI also appreciated hearing the thoughts of local officials on how the federal government can help New Mexicans recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic and support our schools.\u201d\r\n

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