U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez Serving the 3rd District of New Mexico | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández has highlighted Hispanic Heritage Month and renewed calls for the protection of Chaco Canyon in a series of recent social media posts.
On September 15, 2025, Leger Fernández wrote, "This Hispanic Heritage Month we celebrate the history and resilience of all Latino and Hispano communities. Whether your family has been here for generations or you are a first-generation American, your culture and stories make up the fabric of this place we call home."
A day later, on September 16, 2025, she posted from the U.S. Capitol: " Happening NOW I’m standing with Pueblo Governors, Senator Heinrich, and Congresswoman Stansbury at the U.S. Capitol to demand that Congress and the Trump administration protect Greater Chaco Canyon from oil and gas drilling. For generations, Chaco has been a sacred place".
Later that same day, Leger Fernández reiterated her stance on preserving Chaco Canyon: "Chaco Canyon is a living landscape — a sacred homeland still tied to the ceremonial and religious lives of Indigenous communities today. That’s why I introduced the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, which would permanently protect this sacred place by withdrawing".
Leger Fernández represents New Mexico's 3rd congressional district. She won her seat in several recent elections: defeating Alexis Martinez Johnson in both 2020 (with 58.7% of the vote) and 2022 (with 58.2%), as well as Sharon Clahchischilliage in 2024.
Chaco Canyon holds significant cultural importance for Indigenous communities in New Mexico and has been at the center of ongoing debates over energy development versus preservation efforts.
