WASHINGTON - Today, on a conference call with New Mexico reporters, U.S. Senator Tom Udall discussed a bill he introduced with other members of the N.M. delegation to prohibit schools from using "lunch shaming" tactics -- discriminating against or stigmatizing children who have outstanding credit or don't have enough money to pay for meals at school. Udall also discussed his opposition to TrumpCare, the Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act that passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week; and the Republican efforts to repeal the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s natural gas waste prevention rule.

Udall and the delegation's Anti-Lunch Shaming Act, would ban schools from singling out children ' such as by requiring them to wear wristbands or hand stamps or do extra chores ' because their parents have not paid their school meal bills. The bill is a national response to the strong steps that New Mexico has taken to end school meal shaming. Udall highlighted the need to prevent this harmful practice nationwide saying, "meal shaming can stand in the way of a child's only healthy meal of the day. We can't expect our kids to succeed in the classroom if they are hungry. It's time for legislation on a federal level to prohibit lunch shaming and to find solutions to help struggling families."

Udall also emphasized his opposition to the American Health Care Act (or TrumpCare), saying it would be devastating for New Mexico and cancel health care for hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans. Udall said he would "fight to defeat this legislation or anything like it in the Senate" because "TrumpCare would take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. The bill would let insurance companies charge sick people more and charge women more for services like maternity care. At the same time, the bill gives a $600 billion tax cut to the wealthiest Americans."

In addition, Udall addressed the Republican effort to repeal the BLM's natural gas waste prevention rule through the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This is the last week the CRA can be used to repeal the rule,which saves taxpayers millions of dollars, creates jobs, and protects against climate change. Udall said repealing the rule would be "nothing more than a giveaway to big oil companies and big polluters" and warned that Republicans are closer than ever to passing a repeal of the rule, saying "everyone needs to speak out, and make their voices heard to help us block this misguided effort."

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Below are Udall's remarks:

0:00 ' Udall welcomes everyone to the call.

0:04 ' "This week, I introduced a bipartisan bill to prohibit lunch shaming in schools. I'm proud that New Mexico became the first state to outlaw this harmful practice. New Mexico's law is a model for the nation."

0:18 ' "Our bill aims to provide similar protections to students throughout the country. It would ban schools from publicly singling out children if they can't pay for school meals."

0:30 ' "Kids should not be shamed or punished at school or go hungry because their parents can't pay for meals or have outstanding debt. Lunch shaming stigmatizes our most vulnerable children. And requiring kids to do extra chores because of their parents' debts takes away time from schoolwork, and time with their peers."

0:54 ' "Meal shaming can stand in the way of a child's only healthy meal of the day. We can't expect our kids to succeed in the classroom if they are hungry."

1:04 ' "It's time for legislation on a federal level to prohibit lunch shaming and to find solutions to help struggling families. I will do everything I can to pass this bill in the Senate."

1:17 ' "I also want to give an update on my efforts in the Senate to protect the health care of New Mexicans. Last week, House Republicans passed a health care bill that would be devastating for our state."

1:30 ' "TrumpCare would take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. The bill would let insurance companies charge sick people more and charge women more for services like maternity care. At the same time, the bill gives a $600 billion dollar tax cut to the wealthiest Americans."

1:53 ' "TrumpCare would cancel health care for hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans. It would also cost nearly 32,000 jobs - likely sending our economy into another recession."

2:05 ' "Rural New Mexicans would be among the worst off under this bill. Many rural hospitals could be forced to shut their doors."

2:14 ' "This bill would be a disaster for the country and for New Mexico. I am going to fight to defeat this legislation or anything like it in the Senate."

2:23 ' "Finally, I want to address the Republican effort to repeal the BLM's natural gas waste prevention rule which saves taxpayers millions of dollars, creates jobs, and protects against climate change."

2:36 ' "Repealing this rule would be nothing more than a giveaway to big oil companies and big polluters. Senators in both parties know the BLM rule is good for taxpayers ' and for our states."

2:49 ' "Before the rule was implemented, $100 million in taxpayer-owned natural gas was lost each year on federal public lands in New Mexico. That's money our cash strapped state desperately needs. And there's a methane cloud the size of Delaware hanging over the Four Corners region."

3:08 ' "Republicans are closer than ever to repealing this rule. Everyone needs to speak out, and make their voices heard to help us block this misguided effort."

3:23 ' Udall answers questions about the lunch shaming bill, President Trump's tax proposal, Governor Martinez' silence on TrumpCare's proposed cuts to Medicaid, and the confirmation of Heather Wilson as Secretary of the Air Force.