Rep. Gabe Vasquez Tours Albuquerque’s Veterans Integration Center, Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 19, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) toured the Veterans Integration Center (VIC) of Albuquerque to discuss expanding VA benefits and opportunities with veterans and VIC leaders. The VIC is dedicated to providing stable housing, financial security, and community for veterans and their families. 

During the event, Rep. Vasquez spoke with VIC CEO Brock Wolf and Claudia Risner, a Board Member at the Veterans Integration Center and Previous Chair of the Veterans and Military Families Caucus. 

“Places like the VIC are serving our veterans with outstanding care, compassion and respect,” said Vasquez. “Folks who raise their hand to serve and protect our freedom deserve to have an opportunity to reintegrate into society. But too many of our veterans suffer from trauma and end up on the streets - that’s why resources like the VIC are so important. I’m going to continue fighting so that our federal budget reflects the true cost of care for our veterans – from healthcare and housing, to education and workforce training.”

Rep. Vasquez’s advocacy reflects his ongoing commitment to supporting veterans and active-duty servicemembers. His previous work includes: 

• Spearheading the TRICARE Travel Improvement Act, which Vasquez led and got passed into law with bipartisan support through the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill lowers the mileage requirement for TRICARE travel reimbursement from 100 miles to 75 miles — helping military families in rural communities more easily access medical care.
• Leading the New Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act, a bill to add Otero and Eddy county to the Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22, so that New Mexico veterans who live in these counties can be eligible to access care at the El Paso VA Medical Center which is far closer than many other VA healthcare facilities.  
• Introducing the Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act, bipartisan legislation to increase the yearly book and supply stipend for student veterans which hasn’t been updated since 2008. If passed, it would increase the stipend from $1,000 to $1,400 and adjust for inflation.
• The Feed Our Veterans Act, legislation Vasquez introduced and fought for during the most recent Farm Bill markup, to combat food insecurity among veterans and protect them from new burdensome SNAP work requirements introduced under the Republican tax law last summer. 
• Signed a bipartisan discharge petition to require a House vote on the Major Richard Star Act, legislation that would allow combat-injured veterans to receive both their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation.
• Voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to obtain critical funding that would improve the quality of life for veterans and make substantial investments in infrastructure to support the readiness of active-duty servicemembers in New Mexico.  

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