WATCH: Vasquez’s First Speech to Congress Promises to Put New Mexico’s Second Congressional District First 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his first floor speech on Thursday, March 9, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) asked Congress to work on the issues that matter to the majority of Americans and vowed to fight to get New Mexico’s second congressional district its fair share. In his speech, Vasquez focused on fixing Congressional dysfunction and the necessity to work on behalf of Americans who are often overlooked in low-income, rural and minority communities. 

WATCH: Vasquez Delivers First Floor Speech

“After being here just over eight weeks, one thing is clear – Congress isn’t putting constituents like mine or their families first. I want to change that,” said Vasquez. “It's hard to watch other members from urban communities celebrate lower gas prices while residents in our rural counties are still paying  more than the national average. It’s hard to celebrate poverty reduction while we aren’t having conversations about the child tax credit or that one in four children in my district are living in poverty.”

Vasquez touched on his personal experiences of pursuing work opportunities while emphasizing that hard workers are everywhere in the district – and all too often, the finish line is moved further away for too many New Mexicans simply trying to get by. The lack of federal investment dollars in a hard-hit region has worsened the economic needs felt on the ground. 

“Since I was old enough to work, I’ve always had a job - I’ve never had the luxury of wealth. I’ve bagged groceries, worked the drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant, sold vacuum cleaners door to door, painted houses, worked at a chile factory, all to make a living and eventually, pay my way through college at New Mexico State University,” Vasquez said. “For too many New Mexicans, working hard as I did isn’t even enough to pay the bills. They feel like the goal posts just keep getting moved on them, and they look to us for help.”

Vasquez also highlighted the district’s rich culture, strong energy industry, hard-working farmers, and pivotal role in national security. He explained that Washington underestimates NM-02 before adding that he will not let Washington forget about New Mexico any longer. 

Vasquez concluded his speech by promising to ensure New Mexico’s second congressional district gets its fair share in Congress. “I’m committed to getting the Second District’s fair share in Congress. And I’m fighting for that in every room I enter, every meeting I attend and every vote I cast,” Vasquez said. “So to everyone I have the honor of representing, I promise you – I will always make sure that your voice, the voice of the great second district of the state of New Mexico, is heard in this congress.”

Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s full remarks as prepared for delivery are below. 

Mr. Speaker I rise today as the new representative of New Mexico’s 2nd District, home to some of the country’s most-beautiful landscapes, the hardest-working people, the best chile, the nation’s first designated wilderness, seven sovereign nations, and a rich and proud binational culture. 

New Mexico is my home, it’s where I hunt, where I fish, where I went to school and it’s the place that gave me opportunity. However, I continue to be troubled. After being here just over eight weeks, one thing is clear – Congress isn’t putting constituents like mine or their families first. I want to change that.

It's hard to watch other members from urban communities celebrate lower gas prices while residents in our rural counties are still paying  more than the national average. 

It’s hard to celebrate poverty reduction while we aren’t having conversations about the child tax credit or that one in four children in my district are living in poverty. 

It’s difficult to spend my time voting on messaging bills while residents in our Tribal communities still have to haul water to their homes.

We must do better for the American people, and we must get to work on the real issues that impact our communities. 

I know what it’s like to work hard to get ahead. 

Since I was old enough to work, I’ve always had a job - I’ve never had the luxury of financial wealth. I’ve bagged groceries, worked the drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant, sold vacuum cleaners door to door, painted houses and worked at a chile factory, all to make a living and eventually, pay my way through college at New Mexico State University.

For too many New Mexicans, working hard as I did isn’t even enough to pay the bills. They feel like the goal posts just keep getting moved on them, and they look to us for help - but instead, Congress bickers over issues that don’t move the ball forward. That’s wrong. And it’s time we fix that. 

New Mexico is a state rich in culture, pride, and history, it’s part of the American story, but unfortunately, it’s often forgotten. 

But too many New Mexicans are struggling - our rivers are drying, our agricultural industry is in decline, housing costs are rising, and healthcare is too expensive and out of reach. Washington must pay attention to districts like mine and see our potential. 

We have a robust energy industry that supports more than 15,000 good-paying jobs. 

But we also have high rates of respiratory diseases in frontline communities, substandard living conditions, and little accountability for the polluting industries. 

New Mexico is also a vital part of America’s agricultural strength. Our farmers, ranchers and farm workers from the South Valley to the Hatch Valley work the land every single day to ensure all Americans have access to safe, U.S. grown and affordable food. 

But we don’t have enough access to H2A Visas and we’ve made it harder for farmers and workers to get the support they need to feed our country and lower the cost of food.

And New Mexico plays a vital role in our national security— from the most expansive missile testing range in the country at White Sands, to the critical training grounds at Holloman Air Force Base, and the groundbreaking research produced at our two national labs. 

But we lack the critical investments in housing, educational services and transportation services to give our servicemen and women the quality of life they deserve.

Washington can no longer forget about New Mexico. 

My hometown of Las Cruces is home to over 100,000 people, many hardworking families who are dealing with an unemployment rate higher than the national average, too many kids still going hungry and low wages, with the per capita household income at only $26,290. 

For too long, our district has been left behind.

These inequities aren’t just felt – the numbers prove it. I’m here to fix that, but Congress has to focus on the issues that matter, and I ask for your help.

To not leave behind the veterans that bravely dedicated their lives to this country. 

To ensure that we provide federal funding for our rural and remote communities so that every New Mexican has access to high-speed broadband and quality healthcare. 

To ensure that the 1 in 4 New Mexicans on SNAP have access to healthy, nutritious and life-saving food.

I’m committed to getting the Second District’s fair share in Congress. 

And I’m fighting for that in every room I enter, every meeting I attend and every vote I cast. Nothing means more to me than making sure we get our fair share from Washington D.C. 

So to everyone I have the honor of representing, I promise you – I will always make sure that your voice, the voice of the great second district of the state of New Mexico, is heard in this congress. 

I ask my colleagues to join me and focus on the issues that matter to all Americans.

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