Vasquez Appointed to Forestry and Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittees

Washington, D.C. – This week, the House Agriculture Committee announced U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) will serve on the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry and the Forestry Subcommittees, where he will bring his conservation and rural development experience and contribute to the 2023 Farm Bill to support the needs of all New Mexicans. 

“These two subcommittees are incredibly important to New Mexico, as they are both critical to our economy, our agricultural heritage, our farmers, and our farm workers,” said Vasquez. “I strongly believe we have a role to protect our planet for our kids and their kids – to have access to clean water, healthy air, and making sure we employ sustainable agricultural practices to feed our families. We can implement smart solutions to tackle climate action, which impacts New Mexico with record drought, wildfires, and air quality. We can accomplish our climate goals while growing our economy.”

As a member of the Forestry Subcommittee, Vasquez’s work will be vital to supporting the U.S. Forest Service and working with the district’s national forests based on more than 150 units across the nation. Serving on this committee will be an opportunity to uplift New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy as it directly supports $1.2 billion in income and 33,500 jobs. 

As a member of the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee, Vasquez will work on policy and New Mexico’s dairy and beef industries – two of the largest commodities in the state. The New Mexico dairy industry alone accounted for $1.3 billion in milk sales in 2020. Vasquez looks forward to working alongside the district’s ranchers and farmers. 

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Background

The Forestry Subcommittee handles all things forestry and all forests under the jurisdiction of the House Agriculture Committee. Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and parts of Coronado National Forests are located within the district, managed by the US Forest Service. 

The Livestock, Dairy and Poultry subcommittee handles everything related to livestock, poultry, dairy and seafood. It also handles the inspection, marketing and promotion of these commodities as well aquaculture, animal welfare, grazing and oversight of these issues. Dairy and beef are the respective two largest commodities in New Mexico in terms of cash receipts, with many ranches and cattle farms concentrated in Southern New Mexico.