Gabe Vasquez

Rep. Vasquez Hosts Bipartisan Town Hall on Housing Affordability, Delivers Law Enforcement Funding, and Supports Airport Upgrade in Carlsbad

CARLSBAD, N.M. – On May 6 and 7, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) met with constituents across Carlsbad, listening to their concerns and sharing updates on his work to lower the cost of housing, bring increased public safety resources to the community, and update the Cavern City airport to allow for flights to Dallas. Bipartisan Housing Affordability Town Hall Hosted by Vasquez - May 6 Image

Rep. Gabe Vasquez Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of the Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, Keeps Push to Protect Public Lands

Position: Rep. Vasquez opposes the proposed reorganization and downsizing of the U.S. Forest Service, particularly the closure of research stations, and supports legislation to protect public lands and maintain Forest Service workforce stability.

WASHINGTON, DC – On May 7, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) celebrated the one-year anniversary of the launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, which he co-founded on May 7, 2025. Last summer, bipartisan Public Lands Caucus Members helped successfully defeat attempts to sell off millions of acres of public lands under the Republican tax law. Since the founding of the Public Lands Caucus Vasquez has celebrated the following wins for protecting public lands: Blocking the sell-off of public lands in Nevada and Utah in the Republican tax bill. Blasting a backroom Senate deal to steal 3.3 million acres of public lands across the American West. Supporting the Public Lands in Public Hands Act to safeguard America’s public lands and ensure they remain open and accessible for all. “Coming together across the aisle to protect public lands can create lasting, impactful policy that persists beyond cyclical political environments and stands the test of time," said Vasquez. "That’s why I’m proud to have co-founded the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, which helped prevent the largest sell-off of public lands in our nation’s history. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to find areas of agreement to protect and manage our public lands, expand access, support rural economies, and grow outdoor recreation.” Today, Vasquez continued his push to protect public lands by sending a letter to Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz opposing the reorganization of the United States Forest Service (USFS) and underscoring the threats it poses to public lands this wildfire season. The U.S. Forest Service recently announced it would be closing 55 of its 77 research stations across the nation, including six potential closings in western states. New Mexico ranks among the top ten U.S. states for public land agency job losses in 2025, and many U.S. Forest Service workers now face the renewed threat of layoffs after the Administration’s proposed reorganization and downsizing of the agency. Rep. Vasquez has come out against this plan numerous times and is also helping introduce the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act to officially prohibit workforce reductions in the Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior. “The United States is about to enter what many predict will be a devastating fire season, driven by extremely dry vegetation and a severe snow deficit directly linked to climate change,” wrote the members in the letter. “This reorganization proposal would close 57 of the agency’s 77 research stations across 31 states, including stations that study wildfire, drought, pests, and climate change—all of which pose immediate and growing threats to our national forests and nearby communities—and threaten to take decades of staff expertise with them.” ### Issues:Environment & Conservation

Rep. Gabe Vasquez, Locals Celebrate Wins for Rural Veterans and Service Members in Alamogordo

ALAMOGORDO, N.M.– On May 6, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) met with local veterans and community leaders at the Lincoln Otero County Veterans Leadership Council (LOCVLC) monthly meeting in Alamogordo to hear their concerns and celebrate recent progress on the Congressman’s legislation supporting veterans and active-duty service members living in rural communities across southern New Mexico. The discussion focused on challenges facing rural veterans, including access to VA health care, transportation barriers, staffing shortages at VA facilities, affordability pressures, and the need for opportunities for veterans to transition into civilian careers. Rep. Vasquez emphasized that many of the bills he is currently leading in Congress were directly inspired by past conversations with veterans and military families in Otero County. Image

Rep. Vasquez Keeps up Bipartisan Push to Regulate Prediction Markets and Crack Down on Corruption and Insider Trading

Position: Rep. Vasquez supports regulatory measures to prevent prediction markets from enabling insider trading, corruption, and betting on events contrary to the public interest, including violence and classified military operations. He advocates for federal oversight to protect consumers and tribal gaming interests.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) is renewing his push to close regulatory loopholes for prediction markets and ensure people are not using the platforms to profit off events that go against the public interest or take advantage of non-public information. Rep. Vasquez recently supported the bipartisan Event Contract Enforcement Act, a bill to prevent billion-dollar prediction market companies from profiting off unregulated bets on sports and certain world affairs. Specifically, the bill specifically prevents people from placing bets on terrorism, assassination, war, gaming, illegal activity, election outcomes, government activities, and other activities deemed to be “contrary to the public interest” on prediction markets. Vasquez also sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding the Secretary issue a general order prohibiting service members and Department of Defense employees from placing national security-related bets on prediction market platforms. This demand comes in response to troubling reports of service members illegally using prediction markets to leverage insider government information to place bets and profit on classified U.S. military action in places like Iran and Venezuela. “These are easy fixes to crack down on corruption and ensure people are not betting on things that are illegal, morally bankrupt, or erode trust in our institutions – including violence, war, or assassinations," said Vasquez. “Allowing prediction markets to continue evading meaningful regulation risks corruption, insider trading, and real harm to the Tribal gaming industry in New Mexico.” Recently, Rep. Vasquez pressed Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael S. Selig during a House Agriculture Committee hearing, calling out event contracts as functionally indistinguishable from sports betting and urging the CFTC to focus on its core mission to ensure consumers are getting the protections they deserve. Vasquez has been a leader in holding the CFTC accountable and calling for protections, integrity, and transparency in prediction markets. Vasquez first brought this issue up in a December 2025 House Agriculture Committee hearing on the reauthorization of the CFTC. He then fought for an amendment to close this loophole during the Farm Bill markup and protect Tribal sovereignty. Vasquez is a cosponsor of the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act, a bill that addresses flagrant corruption to stop government employees from using insider information for personal gain on prediction markets. Vasquez pushed House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Glenn Thompson to hold a roundtable on prediction markets affecting tribal gaming revenue. ### Issues:CongressSupporting Tribal Communities

Rep. Gabe Vasquez Celebrates Decisive Bipartisan Victories for New Mexico Farmers & Ranchers with House’s Passage of Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted to pass the 2026 Farm Bill out of the House, marking a major bipartisan win for New Mexico’s farmers, ranchers, and producers. A member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Vasquez secured a host of decisive victories for New Mexicans in this Farm Bill, garnering Republican support for nine of his provisions to protect ranchers from the Administration’s push to import Argentinian beef, cut red tape for ranch improvements, and improve critical programs for Tribal communities and speciality crop growers. With the support of only 14 House Democrats, including Vasquez, the Farm Bill now heads to the Senate for final passage. Vasquez’s nine priority bills and amendments that passed out of the House with bipartisan support were focused on: Fighting for NM ranchers by condemning the Administration’s push to prioritize Argentinian beef imports at the expense of our American cattle ranchers. The amendment — which got unanimous support on both sides of the aisle — also directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a report on the harms of such imports Cutting red tape to empower ranchers to make necessary range improvements in a timely manner, and to create a virtual fencing pilot program at USDA, like the one that already exists at New Mexico State University Making a commonsense adjustment to allow the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to cover hot rotisserie chicken purchases, ensuring hardworking New Mexican families have access to healthy, convenient options Supporting producers’ voluntary efforts to restore and enhance wildlife habitat connectivity and migration corridors on their working lands by strengthening USDA conservation programs Supporting specialty crop growers by preventing the imposition of new red tape that would hinder growers’ access to the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Boosting agricultural output by empowering farmers to learn best practices from their neighbors by allowing farmer cooperatives to receive funding from the USDA for farmer-to-farmer education Bringing down utility bills for homes and businesses, and boost rural power generation by recognizing waste energy recovery as renewable energy under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Ensuring 1994 land-grant Tribal Colleges and Universities have full and equitable access to USDA Rural Development programs Allowing Tribes to provide healthy and culturally relevant food to Native seniors by letting them procure agricultural commodities directly under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The Congressman also voted in support of a bipartisan Republican-led amendment to remove protections for large pesticide companies. The now-stripped provision would have shielded pesticide companies and made it harder for Americans to sue them for the harms caused by their products. “When I say I’ll always put delivering for New Mexicans ahead of partisan politics, I mean it, and this bill is a bipartisan step in the right direction for New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers,” said Vasquez. “This Farm Bill is proof that it’s still possible to make progress in Washington if you’re willing to work across the aisle, and I’m proud to have brought together Republican and Democrat colleagues to provide our agriculture sector with much-needed stability. This Farm Bill protects domestic cattle growers from unfair Argentinian beef imports, strengthens conservation efforts, lowers utility bills, and improves equity for Tribal Colleges and Universities.” The Congressman’s sweeping bipartisan wins mark a welcome departure from the hyperpartisan climate on Capitol Hill and an important step toward breaking the gridlock that has long stalled passage of a new Farm Bill. The most recent Farm Bill was enacted in 2018, despite the fact that Congress has traditionally reauthorized the legislation every five years. During the Farm Bill mark up in the House Agriculture Committee, the Congressman also spoke out against sweeping cuts to food assistance enacted under the Republican tax law. He voted in favor of amendments that would reverse these harmful SNAP cuts and address the costs that the Republican tax law passed on to states like New Mexico. Additionally, Rep. Vasquez fought to pass his amendment that would cut red tape and restore SNAP flexibility and paperwork exemptions for veterans that were nixed in the Republican tax law, but these provisions were not included in the final bill. “Despite the many gains and much-needed stability this bill provides for our farmers and ranchers, this Farm Bill is not perfect. I’m disappointed that most of my Republican colleagues allowed MAGA to keep cutting food assistance for millions of hardworking Americans, including seniors, children, veterans, and folks with disabilities,” Vasquez added. “No one should be forced to go hungry in America, and I will keep fighting to restore SNAP funding.” Agricultural stakeholders across New Mexico and from both sides of the aisle celebrated Rep. Vasquez’s leadership in getting the Farm Bill across the finish line in the House and thanked him for his partnership and work to ensure New Mexico priorities passed into law. The New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau welcomed the passage of the Farm Bill and Rep. Vasquez’s bills, stating, "The New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau appreciates the opportunity to meet with Congressman Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) to discuss the Farm Bill and its impact on New Mexico’s agricultural producers and rural communities. We value continued dialogue with policymakers and remain committed to working collaboratively to support the long-term strength and sustainability of agriculture across our state and nation.” “We appreciate Congressman Vasquez’s work on the House Agriculture Committee to advance a Farm Bill that strengthens our nation’s food security while supporting the New Mexico cattlemen and women who help produce it,” said Thomas Paterson, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association. “This legislation recognizes that responsible stewardship and a resilient agricultural economy go hand in hand. New Mexico Cattle Growers thanks him for his commitment to get this legislation across the finish line.” “In farming communities across America, helping one another is just part of their way of life,” said Jenny Conner, Associate Director of Legislative Affairs at The Nature Conservancy, regarding the Congressman’s farmer-to-farmer amendment. “Local, producer-led networks are an effective, common-sense way for farmers and ranchers to share information with their neighbors and manage challenges like drought and floods. We are grateful to Rep. Vasquez for his amendment to champion farmer-to-farmer education in the Farm Bill, which will help producers, communities, and nature thrive.” “When it comes to adopting conservation practices, farmers and ranchers trust guidance and support from their fellow producers who give them the practical advice borne out of experience that translates to long term, successful adoption with minimized financial risk,” said Samantha Levy, American Farmland Trust’s Senior Policy Manager for Conservation and Energy. “We applaud Congressman Vasquez for his successful leadership in including a farmer-to-farmer education amendment in the House Farm Bill. This addition will enable more organizations to connect farmers and ranchers so they can provide the practical, ongoing information and guidance their peers need to supplement technical assistance from NRCS, nonprofit conservation organizations, conservation districts, and others through traditional conservation programs. All of this will lead to the successful integration of practices critical to the resilience and viability of farm and ranch operations at a very challenging economic time.” "Farmers and ranchers across the country are each other's best resource when it comes to knowledge-sharing about best practices and how to best implement on-farm conservation. We are thankful to Rep. Vasquez for introducing and championing an amendment to support farmer-to-farmer education and networks, which would complement existing technical assistance at NRCS. This amendment will go a long way in helping farmers and ranchers increase their sustainability efforts—particularly in a changing climate—and we look forward to continuing to work with his office on this issue," said Lotanna Obodozie, Climate Policy Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition. "Western Growers thanks Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) for his support of New Mexico’s specialty crop agriculture in today’s bipartisan House passage of H.R. 7567—the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026," said Tracey Chow, Federal Government Affairs Director for Western Growers. "Your leadership on the House Agriculture Committee and commitment to farmers, food security and the resilience of our nation’s fresh produce supply is deeply appreciated." “The National Wildlife Federation appreciates Congressman Vasquez’s tireless work to advocate for bipartisan conservation wins in the 2026 Farm Bill,” said Aviva Glaser, Senior Director of Agriculture Policy at National Wildlife Federation. “His work to get important provisions on wildlife corridors on working lands and farmer to farmer conservation education into the House Farm Bill will have a positive impact not only on New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers, but also on wildlife across the country.” ### Issues:Agriculture

WATCH: Rep. Vasquez Presses Secretary Hegseth to Lower Costs and Improve Quality of Life for Military Families

Position: Rep. Vasquez criticizes the Department of Defense for allocating $25 billion to military operations in Iran while failing to invest Pentagon funding in improving quality of life for military families in New Mexico, including housing, schools, and childcare.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers on the Department’s use of taxpayer funds, urging him to focus on lowering costs and raising quality of life for military families in New Mexico, rather than spending $25 billion dollars on the reckless war in Iran, which is about to hit its 60th day. The Congressman expressed concerns that the Pentagon received $1 trillion dollars last year through the FY2026 government funding bill, including increased funding to improve troops’ quality of life. But the Administration has not invested those funds back in New Mexico, with New Mexican service members still living in outdated, at-capacity barracks, sending their kids to aging schools and losing access to on-base childcare. Watch the full exchange here. Image

Rep. Vasquez Votes Against $70 Billion Slush Fund for ICE, Stands Firm in Call for Real Reforms at DHS

Position: Rep. Vasquez opposes a $70 billion funding resolution for ICE and CBP enforcement activities, arguing it provides unrestricted funding without reforms, accountability, or guardrails, and diverts resources from other DHS agencies while increasing the deficit.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 29, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) stood firm in his call for reforms at the Department of Homeland Security and voted against a resolution that would set the stage for the agency to receive a $70 billion blank check for violent immigration enforcement activities without offsets, guardrails, or reforms. In addition to handing ICE another blank check, this partisan process is likely to fail to provide a single penny to fund vital security agencies like the TSA, Secret Service, FEMA, and Coast Guard. “ICE doesn’t need another blank check to bankroll more violence, mass detention, and assaults on American citizens; this is not how folks want their taxpayer money to be spent,” said Vasquez. “New Mexicans want and deserve an immigration system that respects American rights and values and keeps our country safe — not another slush fund with no guardrails and no accountability that will allow for the continued racial profiling of Hispanic people and communities.” S.Con.Res. 33 directs Congress to pass a new bill to give ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) a $70 billion slush fund for the Administration’s violent immigration enforcement tactics — which has resulted in the killing of U.S. citizens, mass raids, and tearing apart of families without due process. The resolution would increase the deficit without financial offsets, increasing government spending while failing to address the soaring cost of health care, gas, groceries, utilities, and housing that is making life harder for most New Mexicans. How We Got Here: DHS has been shut down for over 70 days. Instead of passing the Senate’s unanimous, bipartisan bill to fund all DHS agencies except for ICE and CBP (both of which are still funded by the Republican tax law) while negotiations about reasonable ICE reforms continue, House Republicans are choosing to start another partisan reconciliation process. This process intentionally sidesteps bipartisan negotiations, cannot include commonsense reforms like unmasking ICE agents, and will drive up the national debt. Last summer, ICE received a $75 million blank check under the Republican tax law (H.R. 1), which Republicans in Congress paid for by cutting health care and food assistance programs that make life more affordable for hardworking New Mexicans — all to pay for massive budget increases to ICE and tax breaks for the rich. This vote builds on Rep. Vasquez’s longstanding record of working to build an immigration system that keeps our country safe while living up to our American values: On April 6, Rep. Vasquez conducted a Congressional oversight visit at the Camp East Montana ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas, where the vast majority of detainees had no criminal record. In the wake of an ICE agent’s killing of Renee Nicole Good — an American citizen and young mother of three — the Congressman led the call for Secretary Noem’s impeachment, citing her mismanagement of ICE, failure to support communities like Ruidoso following natural disasters, and improper use of taxpayer funds. He was one of the first 20 Democratic lawmakers to do so. The Congressman introduced the Humane Accountability Act, a bill that calls for greater transparency and accountability around immigrant detention and removals by requiring detailed reporting on assaults, deaths, complaints, and other treatment of detainees to Congress. Rep. Vasquez voted against the Republican tax law, which granted DHS a $150 billion blank check to pay for mass detentions and deportations, including of American citizens. Following the passage of the Republican tax law, Rep. Vasquez led a group of lawmakers from border communities in demanding transparency and accountability around how DHS will spend more than $150 billion in newly allocated taxpayer dollars. The letter to DHS also outlined detailed spending recommendations to ensure DHS allocates funds in a manner that provides American taxpayers a return on their investment by prioritizing public safety, efficiency, and American values. The Congressman is leading both parties forward with the New American Immigration Plan, a commonsense immigration plan to secure our borders, boost the U.S. economy, and expand legal pathways — all while living up to our American values. ### Issues:Immigration & Border Solutions

Rep. Vasquez Pushes Back on Proposed Changes at HUD That Would Worsen New Mexico Homelessness Crisis

Position: Rep. Vasquez opposes proposed HUD changes that would shift Continuum of Care funding from permanent housing to temporary shelters, arguing the evidence-based 'housing first' model is more effective at reducing homelessness.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) sent a letter to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner demanding the agency reverse proposed changes to its longstanding Continuum of Care program, one of one of the largest federal grants that helps people experiencing homelessness find permanent housing and stay off the streets. The Congressman warned that the Administration’s “proposed changes risk pushing nearly 200,000 Americans into homelessness.” The Administration’s proposed changes shift funding from permanent housing solutions to temporary housing and shelters for people experiencing homelessness. The change in strategy rejects long-standing and evidence-based policy of the “housing first model” that prioritizes providing permanent housing immediately, creating stability so people have a roof over their head while they work to find a job or seek treatment. Providing permanent housing instead of shelters has been proven to curb homelessness. “I continue to hear from my constituents that affordability, public safety, and housing are their top concerns. Instead of making changes that risk pushing more Americans into homelessness, the Administration should be supporting the communities and local leaders who are doing the hard work of combating homelessness on the ground,” wrote Vasquez. “I urge Secretary Turner to reverse the agency’s proposed changes and instead work to responsibly steward the CoC program as leaders from both sides of the aisle have done for over 30 years.” Local advocates in New Mexico have echoed Rep. Vasquez’s concerns about the proposed changes to Continuum of Care. “I am grateful for Congressman Vasquez’s efforts to restore the Continuum of Care NOFO to protect permanent supportive housing and the Housing First model,” said Nicole Martinez, Executive Director of Mesilla Valley Community of Hope/Abode, Inc. “With twenty years of experience as a service provider, I have seen firsthand that prioritizing housing over traditional shelter-only models saves money and improves lives. Furthermore, the Housing First approach helps more people obtain stability and treatment faster, compared to outdated models that leave individuals struggling on the streets.” “We have seen that you can’t and shouldn’t mandate self-sufficiency from a park bench. The new federal changes treat a home like a reward for getting your life together, but for someone struggling with issues that arise from homelessness, a home is the only place where that work can happen,” said Monet Silva. Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. “By cutting the funding that keeps people permanently housed, we’re trading the model of proven success for the revolving door of emergency rooms, shelters and jails.” Vasquez remains committed to protecting access to safe and affordable housing for all New Mexicans, including those living in mobile homes. He recently introduced the Keep Mobile Homes Affordable Act to crack down on predatory price gouging by greedy corporate landlords and protect long-time residents from being displaced from their communities. He also voted in favor of the Affordable HOMES Act, to lower manufactured home costs, pass on savings to New Mexican consumers, and keep hardworking folks off the streets. ### Issues:Lower Costs, More Jobs

Rep. Vasquez Demands Answers from Pentagon on Delayed Approvals for Energy Projects

Position: Rep. Vasquez calls for expedited federal approval of energy development projects in New Mexico, arguing that bureaucratic delays in the Department of Defense's review process are hindering energy production needed for national security and lower energy costs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) sent a letter to the Department of Defense raising urgent concerns about major delays in the Office of Energy, Installations, and Environment’s approval of energy project agreements. Vasquez noted that these approval delays are holding back critical energy development in New Mexico and across the country, putting national security at risk and potentially preventing energy prices for New Mexicans from being lowered during a period when energy costs are at an all-time high. Rep. Vasquez called on the Department’s Office of Energy, Installations, and Environment to provide immediate transparency into why these mitigation agreements have reportedly stalled for months, despite prior approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration. “New Mexico is uniquely positioned to power our nation and support our military readiness,” wrote Vasquez. “From oil and gas in the Permian Basin to our vast solar, wind, and geothermal potential, we have the resources to strengthen America’s energy independence and national security. But right now, unnecessary delays in Washington are standing in the way.” New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District is home to key military installations, including White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base, which rely on consistent, resilient energy sources to maintain operational readiness. According to Department of Defense testimony earlier this year, the vast majority of military energy is sourced off-base — making partnerships with local energy producers essential for national security. “At a time when Americans are facing high energy costs and our grid is under increasing strain, we cannot afford bureaucratic slowdowns that jeopardize both affordability and national security,” Vasquez continued. “Energy producers in New Mexico are ready to deliver—but they need the federal government to act.” In his letter, Rep. Vasquez requested detailed information from the Department, including: Whether mitigation agreements have been paused or suspended, and why The number of agreements executed in the past six months versus those still pending A clear timeline for resuming and completing agreement approvals The criteria used to review and prioritize these projects Rep. Vasquez has asked the Department to respond by May 26, 2026. “Supporting responsible energy development and ensuring our military installations have reliable power should not be mutually exclusive goals,” Vasquez added. “We can—and must—do both.” ### Issues:Armed Services & National SecurityKeeping Energy Costs Down