Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Contact Senator Bingaman's Office:

Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521

Bingaman Chairs Hearing of New Mexican for Top Bureau of Reclamation Job

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today presided over the confirmation hearing of New Mexican Michael L. Connor, who was nominated by President Obama to lead the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR).

Connor graduated from Las Cruces High School and earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from New Mexico State University.  He also earned his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law. After serving from 1993-2001 as the Department of Interior’s deputy director of the Indian Water Rights Office, Bingaman hired Connor as counsel to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  Connor also directs the Committee’s Water & Power Subcommittee, which has oversight of the BOR. 

“Mike is a tremendous public servant, and I can’t think of anyone who is better suited to run this important federal agency.  He will be very hard to replace,” Bingaman said. 

At the hearing, Connor acknowledged that his roots in the West will help him in his new job.  “Taking the helm of the Bureau of Reclamation is a monumental task.  As a New Mexican, one who understands the importance of water in the West, it is a job that I will relish,” Connor said.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to vote on Connor’s nomination as soon as next week.  A full Senate vote would follow.