Vasquez Brings Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member to Listen to New Mexico Veterans’ Concerns

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On Friday, July 19, 2024, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02), alongside House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Takano (Calif.-39), hosted a roundtable discussion with local veterans to ensure their voices are heard in Washington. Participants voiced their concerns regarding health care costs, Veterans Affairs (VA) accessibility and the PACT Act that supports veterans affected by toxic exposures while serving overseas.

“Veterans are always deserving of our support and attention, which is why I brought the House Veteran Affairs Ranking Member to New Mexico to listen directly about the challenges our veterans face,” said Vasquez. “We discussed issues related to quality or care, rural transportation, access to the PACT Act, and new legislation I’m proposing to change the boundaries of our VA care system to better serve veterans living in our rural communities.”

“Thank you to Rep. Vasquez for hosting me and the committee in New Mexico. It was great to meet with Native American veterans in Rep. Vasquez's district and hear about the issues facing the veterans in his community. Rural veterans deserve equal access to care and I will keep working with Rep. Vasquez to ensure equal access and quality care is delivered to every veteran in America,” said Ranking Member Mark Takano.

Before the roundtable, Vasquez toured the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center with Reps. Mark Takano and Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01). 

One of the most pressing issues discussed at the roundtable was the difficulty rural veterans face in accessing reliable, quality health care providers. Vasquez introduced the bipartisan Veteran Medical Exams for Distant Areas Act (VET MEDS) to ensure that rural veterans have continued access to certified health care providers. 

In Otero County specifically, veterans are struggling to attend required medical appointments and receive little to no money for mileage reimbursement when traveling to El Paso and Las Cruces, despite the fact that those locations are closer than their assigned VA facility in Albuquerque, almost four hours away. The lack of buses means veterans are forced to drive without adequate reimbursement. Vasquez committed to working on a solution to permanently include Otero County veterans within the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) lines that would give them access to the El Paso VA hospital–ensuring New Mexico’s rural veterans have access to their closest VA. 

Vasquez and Takano spoke about the bipartisan Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act, which would increase the stipend to buy books and other supplies for veterans pursuing continuing education. The current stipend is $1000 and has remained unchanged since 2008. Vasquez’s bill would raise the amount to $1,400 per year and introduce a cost-of-living adjustment each year. This bill is endorsed by American Legion and Student Veterans of America.

Another critical bill discussed was the PACT Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and provides health care and benefits to veterans affected by burn pits and other toxic exposures while serving overseas. Veterans can go to VA.gov/PACT for more information and to apply for their benefits under the law.

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