Rep. Vasquez Introduces CHILE Act to Support New Mexico’s Specialty Crop Farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 22, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the CHILE Act, a bill to deliver much-needed federal funding to New Mexico’s specialty crop farmers who produce staples like red and green chile, onions, tomatoes, and more. Specifically, the bill would provide $5 billion in direct assistance to specialty crop producers, require the Department of Agriculture to use the Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance Framework when providing direct assistance to specialty crop growers, and clarify that specialty crops include New Mexico’s fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops.

Currently, USDA does not have a disaster assistance plan for specialty crop farmers. This bill would create a dedicated program and protect our farmers from increasingly common extreme weather events and economic instability.

“There’s nothing more New Mexican than our chile, but unfortunately the farmers who grow these beloved crops have been through a lot in recent years, from extreme weather to tariffs to economic turmoil. That’s exactly why I introduced the CHILE Act,” said Vasquez. “This bill would provide $5 billion in much-needed federal funding to our specialty crop growers and create disaster relief programs so they have the stability they need to stay on the land they love and grow the chiles, onions, and tomatoes that New Mexicans love to eat every day.”

This legislation is supported by the New Mexico Chile Association and Western Growers Association. 

"The New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau appreciates the continued efforts of our congressional delegation and federal leaders to engage with the needs of New Mexico agriculture. We welcome the introduction of the CHILE Act of 2026 as an important conversation about strengthening support for specialty crop producers," said Josh Wood, Coordinator of Government Affairs for the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau. "New Mexico’s chile industry plays a vital role in our state’s economy and agricultural heritage, and we look forward to working with policymakers to ensure producers have access to practical, effective tools that help them navigate future challenges."

This legislation builds on Rep. Vasquez’s long record of fighting for farmers and delivering real wins for New Mexico agriculture: 

• Rep. Vasquez secured several bipartisan wins in the process of passing this year’s Farm Bill through the House, including preventing the imposition of new red tape that would hinder growers’ access to the Specialty Crop Block Grant program.
• Rep. Vasquez has held the USDA accountable countless times, including introducing his Honor Farmer Contracts Act, which ensures the USDA pays farmers what they’re owed.
• He’s taken concerns directly from New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers to Washington and turned them into action through his Agriculture Advisory Group.
• In January, Rep. Vasquez introduced the Farm and Family Relief Act to help farmers recover from chaos caused by the Administration’s reckless tariff policy.

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