Rep. Gabe Vasquez Visits Las Cruces Area High School to Support Trade Training Program

LAS CRUCES, N.M.- On April 7, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)visited Mayfield High School in Las Cruces to meet with staff and students engaged with the school's Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Congressman Vasquez has been a longtime supporter of the CTE program, a commonsense initiative that provides students with hands-on training and prepares them to work in high-demand fields in roles such as welders and auto mechanics.

"New Mexicans are eager to work hard and build better futures for themselves and their families. CTE programming in our high schools gives our students a head start in a competitive job market, learning real-life skills that translate to good-paying jobs," said Vasquez."It also gives New Mexico's economy a boost - supporting a homegrown workforce that attracts employers and fills critical jobs. We need more CTE funding and support, in partnership with our state, colleges, unions and industry.

During this visit, Rep. Vasquez sat in on the advanced welding class, met directly with students in the program, and heard about their career interests and goals. He also met with educators and program staff to hear firsthand about both the successes and challenges of implementing CTE programming - including the fact that 99% of students who take at least three CTE classes graduate from high school at Mayfield.

The Congressman is a strong advocate for public education funding:

• Co-sponsored the bipartisan CONSTRUCTS Act, a bill to expand workforce training opportunities for New Mexicans in residential construction to ultimately bring down the cost of housing.
• Co-sponsored the Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act, which addresses the shortage of school-based counselors, social workers, and psychologists by supporting graduate students entering those fields.
• Sent a letter pressuring Education Secretary McMahon and OMB Director Russ Vought to release an illegally withheld $7 billion in education funding for K-12 programs, successfully securing the release of those funds one week later.

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