Rep. Gabe Vasquez Stands Against Partisan Provisions in Defense Bill to Protect Reproductive Freedom

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  On Friday, June 14, 2024, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), expressing disappointment in the extreme Republican partisan provisions that overshadowed this traditionally bipartisan process. Despite securing significant wins for New Mexico, Vasquez stood firm against the inclusion of anti-choice provisions that undermine the rights of service members and their families.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, my priority is ensuring that our service members and their families have the support they need and that our military installations in New Mexico remain at the forefront of national defense,” said Vasquez. “Our military personnel deserve our full support without having their personal freedoms compromised by extreme partisan agendas. Point blank, women who serve our country deserve our full support and access to the reproductive health benefits to which they are entitled. I am deeply disappointed that the final House version of the NDAA included divisive and harmful provisions that do nothing to advance our nation’s national security interests but instead inflamed the divisive rhetoric that MAGA Republicans insist on shoving down our throats. I remain committed to fighting for the best interests of New Mexico and our service members.”

In his role on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), Vasquez played a crucial part in drafting the bipartisan FY25 NDAA. Following the nearly unanimous bipartisan passage of the bill from the committee, extreme Republicans added partisan provisions that restrict reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. 

Earlier this month, Vasquez led a group of 9 other Members calling on House Leadership to pass a bipartisan NDAA to support America’s national defense and ensure our brave service members have the equipment, resources and benefits necessary to defend our nation.

Vasquez is particularly proud of securing more than 20 provisions in the Committee-passed bipartisan FY25 NDAA that will directly benefit New Mexico. These include significant investments in innovation, security and research, as well as quality-of-life improvements for service members and their families. Among these are critical projects for installation and housing infrastructure, clean water initiatives and unexploded ordnance remediation to support Tribal communities.

Vasquez remains committed to ensuring that New Mexico’s military installations receive the necessary support and that service members and their families have the resources and freedoms they are fighting to defend.

Background:

Below are a few notable wins that were included in this year’s bill.

Growing and Protecting Jobs: 

• Rural Jobs: To protect rural jobs, Vasquez’s bill, the Rural Installation Job Protection Act, was included in the NDAA. The bill states that Congress must be notified about potential contract cancellations at rural military bases when 50 or more people are affected.

• New Mexico Spaceport: To help places such as Spaceport America become a leading hub for space transportation, aerospace operations, and national security efforts, Vasquez secured the expansion of the use of inland launch sites, bringing more investment and job opportunities to Sierra County.

Service Member Quality of Life Improvements:

• Pay Raise: Vasquez secured a 19.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other service members, as well as increases in the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Needs Allowance (BNA).
• Health Care: Vasquez secured more access to specialty health care providers, which is impactful in places such as New Mexico, where finding in-network specialists can be extremely difficult.
• Child Care: Vasquez expanded an in-home child care pilot program at several rural installations, including Holloman Air Force Base, to ensure service members have the access to essential child care services they need in rural communities such as Alamogordo.

Infrastructure Improvements: 

• White Sands Missile Range Infrastructure: Vasquez secured $29 million for a new Missile Assembly Building at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). The military will also now identify infrastructure gaps at WSMR and outline the risks if modernization efforts are neglected. This proactive approach ensures that WSMR stays ahead of potential dangers by prioritizing necessary upgrades to its infrastructure. 
• Kirtland Helicopter Missions: Vasquez secured $15.5 million for a Combat Rescue Helicopter Simulator at Kirtland Air Force Base. This funding will be critical to improving training capabilities at Kirtland.
• Military Housing: The bill also invests $1.15 billion in military housing improvements. To address potential housing shortages head-on, Vasquez secured a report on housing availability for civilians and contractors who provide critical functions at rural bases.

Safety Efforts:

• Supporting Tribal Lands: Vasquez secured a $5 million increase in funding for the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) to clean up unexploded ordnance left by the Department of Defense on Tribal lands and this is a critical step to remove these dangerous unexploded weapons from Tribal lands in New Mexico completely.
• Cleaning up Pollution: Vasquez was able to secure provisions that mandate the continued clean-up efforts for Kirtland Air Force Base’s Bulk Fuels Facility jet fuel leak and ensure service members and their families have access to clean, safe water.
• Fighting Fentanyl: Vasquez secured language to ensure the Department of Defense focuses its counter drug efforts on threats coming into the United States, prioritizing the safety of New Mexican and American communities.

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