Armed Services & National Security
Our military service members and their families play a crucial role in our national security. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Vasquez is bringing home results and investments for our service members, military families, and the communities that depend on well-funded military installations and research facilities. New Mexico is a critical component of our national security, and Vasquez is proud to represent our state and national interests.
Here is how Vasquez has worked to support our brave service members, bolster national security, and ensure NM remains at the forefront of our national defense:
Advocating for Service Members and Their Families
- Successfully passed into law his bipartisan TRICARE Travel Improvement Act. This legislation expanded access to medical travel reimbursement for military families by lowering the mileage threshold under TRICARE Prime to 75 miles. This provision will directly help families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base who routinely drive up to 95 miles each way for care.
- Secured the largest pay raise (5.2%) in the last decade for service members, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their service.
- Addressed PFAS contamination in drinking water around military installations by mandating standardized water quality reports.
- Increased the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and pushed for housing modernization to reduce substandard conditions.
- Championed the Savings for Servicemembers Act, reducing tax burdens for reserve soldiers and providing tangible support to our service members.
- Advocated for the Pay Our Military Act to ensure military personnel receive pay even if the government shuts down.
Ensuring NM Stays at the Forefront of National Defense
- Consistently secured billions for New Mexican service members, laboratories and military installations in the National Defense Authorization Act.
- Urged the Secretary of the Air Force to protect nearly 7,000 jobs at Holloman Air Force.
- Champion for local small and medium size defense manufactures in NM, demanded answers on ways to support the workforce in NM to grow the Defense Industrial Base during a committee hearing.
Improving National and Border Security
- Leading the push for a comprehensive counter-drone strategy to protect New Mexican communities, southern border, and military bases.
- Voted for and helped pass the bipartisan COUNTER ACT to strengthen the Department of Defense’s counter-drone authorities to ensure facilities remain safe from drone attacks, spy efforts, and other security risks.
More on Armed Services & National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 17, 2026, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) pressed Department of Defense (DoD) officials for answers and accountability following the Administration’s abrupt closure of the El Paso Airport and surrounding airspace on February 11.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 13, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding answers and accountability following damning reports of mass civilian casualties from American strikes on a girls’ school in Iran.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 5, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released the following statement on his vote of support for the Iran War Powers Resolution:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On February 28, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released the following statement in response to strikes conducted against Iran:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On January 3, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released the following statement in response to the administration’s military action in Venezuela:
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:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On December 17, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released the following statement in response to the administration’s blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On December 10, 2025, U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On December 5, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) led a bipartisan push to boost national security, co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill to combat the risks posed by unidentified drones. The bill, the Comprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization and Threat Elimination Response (COUNTER) Act introduced with Rep.