WASHINGTON, D.C.- On December 18, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)released the following statement on his vote on the SPEED Act:

"I strongly believe in an all-of-the-above energy approach. Southeast New Mexico is blessed with an abundance of natural energy resources, and I will always support smart energy policies that cut red tape and ensure our district remains an American energy powerhouse."

"Our energy producers have made it clear that to unleash our district's full energy production potential, something must be done to slash costly regulatory delays, ease onerous permitting processes, and boost certainty for projects across the energy spectrum. Unfortunately, the SPEED Actgoes too far and fails to deliver the permitting predictability New Mexico's energy producers need across all energy sources."

Rep. Vasquez engaged in bipartisan, good faith negotiations to improve the SPEED Act, including leading a letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman urging changes to the bill to make the permitting process more efficient and reduce energy costs for New Mexicans. However, the final bill failed to include provisions that would treat all energy sectors equally regardless of the political party in power, protect meaningful consultation with local and Tribal leaders, and increase certainty for American investments.

"Over the past decade, we've seen how shifting policies from one administration to the next lead to stalled energy projects and make long-term planning impossible, and we cannot afford to leave our energy producers exposed to this political pendulum. That's why I'm proud to be leading the CERTAIN Act, a bipartisan solution that protects the permitting process for all types of energy projects from undue political interference."

Congressman Vasquez is a strong advocate for smart energy policies that support New Mexico's economy, prioritize domestic energy production to meet growing demand, lower electricity bills, and support the men and women who work every day to keep our lights on.

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