Vasquez Stands with Service Members, Pushes for More Affordable Housing, and Celebrates Public Lands Victory

On August 1, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) concluded a productive district work period week in the southern portion of his district.

LAS CRUCES, NM, UNITED STATES, August 1, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- On August 1, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) concluded a productive district work period week in the southern portion of his district. Several events of note during the work period included:

Rep. Vasquez Stands with Service Members
On Tuesday, July 29, Rep. Vasquez visited White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), one of the premier defense facilities in the nation, the birthplace of America’s missile program, and a point of pride for those that call Southern New Mexico home. He met with WSMR’s new Senior Commander, Col. Andrew R. Morgan, and the two discussed the Congressman’s ongoing work to help WSMR secure federal funds to improve outdated housing and school infrastructure — enhancing quality of life for service members and their families.

“Service members at White Sands train tirelessly, work hard, and selflessly serve their country while living in outdated housing that is decades past its prime—that’s just not right,” said Vasquez. “That’s why in mid-July, I pushed Army Secretary Driscoll and Army Installation Management Command to dispense $7 million dollars to make much-needed improvements to service member housing at White Sands Missile Range, and I was promised those funds are on their way.”

Rep. Vasquez also worked to ensure that his bipartisan TRICARE Travel Improvement Act was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will help military families serving in remote areas, including at WSMR, access health care by reducing the travel reimbursement threshold under TRICARE Prime from 100 miles to 50 miles for active-duty service members and their families. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Vasquez helped advance the bill out of Committee with strong bipartisan support and it now awaits consideration by the full House.

Rep. Vasquez and Col. Morgan also discussed the Congressman’s efforts to secure $38.5 million for a power generating microgrid at WSMR under the FY 2026 NDAA, which Col. Morgan said was necessary as WSMR “looks forward to the future.”


Rep. Vasquez Pushes for More Affordable Housing
On Tuesday, July 29, Rep. Vasquez also met with Alamogordo officials, advocates, and residents to find real solutions to lower housing costs and keep homes within reach for working families.

“One in 6 homes in New Mexico are mobile homes, making the scale of this affordability issue enormous,” said Vasquez. “I refuse to sit by and let greedy, negligent landlords from out-of-state price gouge mobile home rental prices, driving our neighbors out of the homes and communities they have known all their lives.”

In the coming weeks, Rep. Vasquez will introduce his Keep Mobile Homes Affordable Act to ensure that outside investor groups do not purchase outsized numbers of mobile homes and pads to drastically increase the rent and price out current residents.

[VIEW A RECORDING OF THE MEETING HERE]


Rep. Vasquez Celebrates Public Lands Victory
On Wednesday, July 30, Rep. Vasquez visited White Sands National Park — marking his first official public lands visit since he successfully led a bipartisan push to protect 3.3 million acres of public land across New Mexico and ten other states from being sold under the Republican tax plan.

During the visit, he had the opportunity to talk with National Park Service staff about the ongoing funding and staffing shortages national parks are facing, the impact the park has on southern New Mexico’s economy, and his commitment to continue advocating for our public lands in Congress.

“Places like White Sands National Park are a reminder of why New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment and why it’s vital to keep public lands in public hands,” said Vasquez. “I’m proud that my bipartisan Public Lands Caucus won a major victory in preventing Senator Lee’s attempt to sell 3.3 million acres of our public land, and we will keep working to preserve these treasured lands for future generations.”

The visit concluded with a special treat: a chance to see the oldest human footprint in the United States.

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Delaney Wehn
Office of Rep. Gabe Vasquez
+1 724-249-7158
email us here

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