Supporting Our Veterans
Veterans of our armed forces are vital members of our community, and deserve access to the best programs and care available. Representative Vasquez will always work to ensure that the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our country receive the care and support they deserve.
If you are a veteran and need assistance accessing your VA benefits or need assistance with other federal agencies, please click here.
Here are some ways he has been working to support our vets:
Access to Care and Outreach
- Introduced his bipartisan New Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act to allow veterans in Otero and Eddy Counties to receive services at the El Paso VA facility, rather than having to travel hundreds of miles to the Albuquerque location.
- Led the Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act to help veterans in rural areas get transportation to VA or VA-authorized health care facilities.
- Advocated for the Veteran Medical Exams for Distant Areas Act to increase access to care for rural veterans.
- Pushed for the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act to enhance outreach and assistance programs for veterans and their families.
- Introduced the GUARD VA Benefits Act to protect veterans from predatory groups and ensure they receive their entitled benefits.
Advocacy and Support
- Championed the Veterans Patient Advocacy Act to amplify veteran voices by increasing the number of patient advocates within the VA.
- Supported the Not Just a Number Act to enhance suicide prevention efforts among veterans.
- Advocated for the BRAVE Act to provide mental health resources and services for veterans who have faced traumatic experiences.
Benefits and Assistance
- Introduced the Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act to increase the GI Bill book and supply stipend from $1,000 to $1,400, addressing the rising costs of educational materials that have not been updated since 2008.
- Ensured veterans with combat-related injuries receive their Department of Defense (DOD) and VA benefits through the Major Richard Star Act.
- Assisted homeless veterans in transitioning to stable housing with the Return Home to Housing Act.
- Expanded eligibility for work-study allowance programs for student veterans with the Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act
Introduced Honor and Hire Veterans Act to expand Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC) for businesses who hire veterans, helping small businesses keep more of their profits and incentivizing employment opportunities for veterans.
More on Supporting Our Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 5, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted to pass the 2026 Farm Bill out of the House Agriculture Committee, marking a major bipartisan win for New Mexico’s farmers, ranchers, and producers. Over the course of the lengthy Farm Bill markup — which included over 20 hours of deliberation and stretched into the early morning hours Thursday — Rep.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 4, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) fought to ensure New Mexico’s veterans do not go hungry, demanding Congress roll back the SNAP work requirements added for veterans under the Republican tax law.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On February 2, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez’s bipartisan VETS Opportunity Act passed the House and is one step closer to becoming law. This legislation would expand education benefits to ensure veterans can attend skilled trade and vocational schools and find gainful employment in high-demand trades.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On February 4, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the Feed Our Veterans Act to cut red tape imposed under the Republican tax law and ensure no veteran is forced to go hungry after serving their country.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a year marked by partisan gridlock and politics, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) managed to put common sense over D.C. dysfunction to deliver big, bipartisan wins for New Mexicans.
In 2025, seven of Rep. Vasquez’s bipartisan bills were signed into law by President Trump, including:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On November 11, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) commemorated Veterans Day by meeting with local veterans at a ceremony in Mesilla. The Veterans Day ceremony, hosted by the Town of Mesilla at Parque de los Veteranos, included remarks from the Congressman, the raising of colors, a singing of the national anthem, remarks from veterans, and more. During the event, Rep.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to halt all efforts to roll back access to reproductive health services, including abortion care for veterans.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, where he will play a key role in advising and overseeing the Academy’s operations, curriculum, and policies. Vasquez was recommended for the position by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith.
Roland Cooper, Veteran Advocate, to Attend Joint Session of Congress as Vasquez’s Guest
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez(NM-02) is reaffirming his commitment to America’s veterans by introducing a comprehensive legislative package that aims to improve access to health care, expand education benefits, and ensure veterans receive the support they deserve.
This package includes three key bills:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On January 15, U.S. RepresentativeGabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) delivered a speech on the House floor to honor the Marine Corps League El Perro Diablo Detachment 478, based in Las Cruces. For decades, the members of this detachment have provided military funeral honors for veterans, with several members participating in more than a thousand ceremonies and winning multiple awards at Honor Guard Conferences.