Representative Gabe Vasquez Hosts Virtual Town Hall to Address Economic Opportunities and Affordability for New Mexican Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) hosted community members in a virtual town hall to discuss the state of the economy, affordability for working families and provide resources for more economic opportunities in the district. Vasquez was joined by Lorena Rivera of the Mesilla Valley Public Housing Authority, Stacy Johnston of the Department of Workforce Solutions and Jessia Falk of the U.S. Economic Development Administration.  

“I believe that people who work a hard day’s job deserve a fair wage and a fair day’s pay,” Vasquez said during the hour-long town hall. “We need to make sure that folks have opportunity, that we have both the workforce training, the higher education training, the availability of jobs, the types of opportunities that are going to help New Mexicans stay in New Mexico, that are going to help our rural economies grow.” 

Over 15,000 New Mexicans listened in to the town hall. Constituents were able to ask Vasquez and three expert panelists about economic opportunities in New Mexico. Vasquez underscored his accomplishments in Congress to help New Mexican communities.

In a discussion on housing, Vasquez highlighted resources for constituents and his recent co-sponsorships of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act that addresses the critical shortage of homes in New Mexico and nationwide. 

“New Mexicans are paying a much larger share of their take-home pay on rent than they ever have before. That is a problem because then you have to decide whether you’re going to be able to put food on the table, whether you can make a doctor's appointment, whether you can put gas in your car, whether you can afford the groceries that you need for your family, and rent should not be this high of a proportion of somebody's paycheck. We need to make sure that people have affordable places to live in this district,” Vasquez said. 

Vasquez also emphasized his work in housing for service members after a caller raised issues about insufficient pay in the Air Force. Vasquez co-sponsored the Basic Allowance for Housing Restoration Act which puts money back into the pockets of service members to spend on housing. 

“I am laser-focused on bringing results home to the district,” Vasquez concluded. 

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