Rep. Vasquez Leads Push to Reopen Government and Combat Rising Health Care Costs for Farmers and New Mexicans Living in Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) led a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune demanding action to protect farmers and New Mexicans living in rural areas from disproportionate increases in health care costs. 

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Vasquez is calling on Republican lawmakers to work with Democrats to pass a bipartisan funding bill that reopens the government and extends the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, which millions of farmers and Americans living in rural areas rely on to pay for their health insurance.

“[Republican] inaction on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, combined with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s draconian cuts to Medicaid, are a betrayal of all Americans. But the burden of these cuts falls heavily on those who live in rural communities and those who work tirelessly to feed and fuel our nation,” states the letter, adding: 

• 27% of farmers rely on ACA marketplaces to pay for their health care coverage
• People living in rural areas will experience 28% higher health care cost increases compared to their urban counterparts
• 2.8 million Americans enrolled in ACA marketplace plans live in rural counties
• In the first half of 2025, farm bankruptcies have increased 57% year-over-year

“New Mexicans living in rural communities that work our fields, grow food, and sustain local economies shouldn’t suffer from Republican health care cuts that impact their everyday living. Rural hospital closures, rising input costs, and reckless tariffs will have a huge and unnecessary impact,” said Vasquez. “We are the wealthiest nation in the world and we are fully capable of supporting the folks who keep our country fed and fueled. Instead, they’re being forced to choose between buying medicine and keeping the lights on.”

Since September, Vasquez has been leading an effort urging Republican lawmakers to return to Washington and negotiate in good faith to reopen the government and keep health care affordable. He is also a cosponsor of the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act and the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, both of which would extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits and keep health care costs from skyrocketing for farmers, families, and individuals across New Mexico. 

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