ICYMI: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Supports Over $9 Billion for State and Local Law Enforcement, Combating Cartels & Supporting Crime Victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In January 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted in support of over $9 billion in funding for state and local law enforcement, combating cartels, and supporting crime victims as part of the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations package.

This bill includes critical programs that help keep New Mexico safe and support local law enforcement agencies and victim service providers across the state, including:

• Police Funding: Over $4 billion in funding for state and local law enforcement, including investments to help law enforcement agencies recruit and retain officers, modernize equipment, improve training, combat crime, and keep communities safer. This funding includes:
  • $375 million for Juvenile Justice grants
  • $800 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs
  • $964 million for Byrne Justice Assistance grants
  • $50 million for Community Violence Intervention and Prevention grants
  • $30 million for bulletproof vests
• Combating Fentanyl:
  • $2.6 billion for the DEA to disrupt and dismantle the Mexican cartels responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl
• Combating Violence and Supporting Victims of Crime:
  • $720 million for Violence Against Women Act grants
  • $1.95 billion for the Crime Victims Fund
  • $43 million for Victims of Child Abuse Act grants

Last week, Rep. Vasquez also met with Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen and Major Patrick Burk to discuss federal funding the Congressman secured for new public safety technology to combat crime and reduce response times in the Albuquerque area. Congressman Vasquez secured $500,000 in Community Project Funding for Bernalillo County to acquire public safety technology, including Automatic License Plate Readers, gunshot detection technologies, and updated Geographical Information Systems (GIS). These upgrades will help law enforcement’s efforts to curb violent crime, reduce response times, and combat traffic crime in Albuquerque and surrounding areas. 

“These investments will make our district safer and support local law enforcement efforts with new tools and technology,” said Rep. Vasquez. “Crime and public safety are pressing issues for New Mexicans, and I’ll continue to support funding and policies that protect our families, businesses and neighbors.”

Making New Mexico safer and stronger is a top priority for the Congressman, and his ongoing work to support safety, law, and order includes: 

• Introducing bipartisan legislation to counter criminal drone activity, protect youth from cartels, and support New Mexico’s law enforcement agencies.
• Cosponsoring the Invest to Protect Act to expand the use of COPS grants to improve recruitment, retention, and training efforts for small to medium sized police departments with less than 175 sworn officers.
• Supporting the Bipartisan Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program Expansion Act to allow state and local law enforcement departments to purchase additional safety equipment by increasing the reimbursement rate for the purchase of body armor through the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program from 50% to 60% and doubling the annual authorized budget for this program from $30 million to $60 million.
• Leading the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Reauthorization Act to provide federal resources to local law enforcement to crack down on drug trafficking and speaking out against the current Administration’s recent proposal to cut funding to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program – which combats drug trafficking in critical high-trafficking regions of the United States – by 35%.
• Voting in in support of the Stop Illegal Reentry Act, a bill to protect the rule of law and uphold the regular legal process for those convicted of crimes.

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