2025 in Review: Rep. Vasquez Delivered Big, Bipartisan Wins for New Mexico

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In a year marked by partisan gridlock and politics, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)managed to put common sense over D.C. dysfunction to deliver big, bipartisan wins for New Mexicans.

In 2025, seven of Rep. Vasquez's bipartisan bills were signed into law by President Trump, including:

• Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act- boosts resources for aerial wildfire suppression to better combat the year-round threat of catastrophic wildfires
• Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act- restores $9 millionin annual federal support for rural New Mexico counties to fund essential infrastructure like roads and schools
• TRICARE Travel Improvement Act- expands access to medical travel reimbursement for military families by lowering the mileage threshold under TRICARE Prime to 75 miles, helping families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base who routinely drive up to 95 miles each way for care
• Wolf and Livestock Fairness Act- ensures ranchers are made whole when wolves kill their livestock by raising federal reimbursement from 75% to 100%
• Downwinder Commemoration Act - directs the Department of Defense to establish permanent memorials at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base honoring New Mexican Downwinders impacted by the 1945 Trinity Test
• COUNTER Act - combats national security risks posed by unidentified drones by bolstering military base commanders' counter-drone authorities
• Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act- allows schools to serve whole milk to ensure that students receive the many health benefits and nutrients whole milk provides to young Americans

In addition to fighting to pass the above pieces of practical, bipartisan legislation, Rep. Vasquez remained laser-focused on protectinghis constituents from extreme Republican plans to jack up the price of health care and other essentialslike foodand utilities. He also introduced legislationto protect New Mexican renters from being priced out of their homes by greedy, corporate landlords.

"From boosting New Mexico's ability to fight wildfires to protecting our rural schools and roads to ensuring our military families can access the health care they deserve, every day I am working to make life better for New Mexicans. I am proud that the seven bipartisan bills I led to passage this year will do just that," said Vasquez. "Whether they voted for me or not, I represent all New Mexicans who call our district home, and these are the folks I work for - not any one political party or special interest group."

Other wins Rep. Vasquez delivered in 2025 for New Mexicans included:

Returned $4.5 Million to NM Taxpayers: In 2025, Rep. Vasquez supported New Mexicans when they needed it most. His team resolved 654 constituent cases this year, including 59 caseswith the IRS, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and more, helping folks navigate red tape and bureaucracy to make the federal government work for them and returning nearly $4.5 millionto taxpayers who were rightfully owed.

Kept Public Lands in Public Hands: The Congressman built a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers - the first-ever Public Lands Caucus - and successfully blockedextreme Republicans' attempts to sell off millions of acres of public lands.

Secured Federal Dollars for Smart Investments Back Home: Rep. Vasquez also worked hard to secure federal grants to improve life in New Mexico, including:

• $11 millionto address homelessnessin New Mexico
• $745,000for rural New Mexico airportsto improve safety and boost local economies
• $4 millionfor new Las Cruces-El Paso Express Bus Service
• $500,000for the Las Cruces Fire Department to train 15 additional paramedics
• $850,000to construct a workforce training centerin Bayard, NM
• $1 millionto construct a public meeting space and multi-use community area in the Mesilla Town Hall

Went the Extra Mile: New Mexico's second Congressional district is roughly the size of Pennsylvania - one of the largest in the country - but that didn't stop Rep. Vasquez from going the extra mile to hear from his constituents directly. In 2025, he traveled over 5,000 milesacross New Mexico's second district and visited 14 countiesand five Tribal nationsto make sure New Mexicans' voices are heard and acted on.

Put Constituent Service First: With over 190 stakeholder meetings and nearly 35,000 constituent letters, Rep. Vasquez stayed in constant contact with New Mexicans. He also made sure the doors to his D.C. office were always wide open to welcome New Mexicans, and his team provided 104 tours of the Capitolto groups visiting from the Land of Enchantment.

Introduced a New, Commonsense Immigration Plan: As someone raised on both sides of the border who now represents 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, the Congressman knows both parties have gotten immigration and border security wrong for far too long. That's why he introduced his New American Immigration Plan- a commonsense path forward to secure our borders, grow our economy, live up to our American values, and create strategic pathways to legal status.

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