U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez Of New Mexico Urges Bipartisan Passage Of National Defense Authorization Act
- Submitted by Carol A. Clark
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From the Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez led a group of nine members calling on House leadership to ensure the swift, bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Vasquez fought to protect jobs, increase safety and quality of life for service members and ensure New Mexico remains at the forefront of national security.
“For over 60 consecutive years, Congress has passed an NDAA in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion that has been signed into law by the President. This amazing feat, regardless of who occupied the White House or which party was in control of Congress, is a testament to the essential work of supporting America’s national defense and ensuring our brave service members have the equipment, resources, and benefits necessary to defend our nation,” wrote Vasquez.
Vasquez serves on the House Armed Services Committee and helped draft the bipartisan FY25 NDAA. The final bill includes more than 20 provisions Vasquez authored, such as installation and housing infrastructure improvements, increasing quality-of-life benefits for service members, prioritizing clean water and additional funding for unexploded ordnance remediation to support Tribal communities.
“Promoting a strong national defense and taking care of our service members are not partisan issues, and the rich history of this legislation accounts for that fact,” Vasquez continued. “As Members of the House of Representatives, we have an obligation to protect the safety of our constituents and the United States, and ensuring a bipartisan NDAA that reflects that shared priority is signed into law is essential to achieve that goal.”
Full text of the letter is available here.
Background:
Below are a few notable wins that Vasquez secured in this year’s bill.
Growing and Protecting Jobs:
- Rural Jobs: To protect rural jobs, Congress must now be notified about potential contract cancellations at rural military bases when 50 or more people are affected, instead of the previous requirement of 100 people; and
- New Mexico Spaceport: To help places such as Spaceport America become a leading hub for space transportation, aerospace operations, and national security efforts, Vasquez secured the expansion of the use of inland launch sites, bringing more investment and job opportunities to Sierra County.
Service Member Quality of Life Improvements:
- Pay Raise: Vasquez secured a 19.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 percent pay raises for all other service members, as well as increases in the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Needs Allowance (BNA);
- Health Care: Vasquez secured more access to specialty health care providers, which is impactful in places such as New Mexico, where finding in-network specialists can be extremely difficult; and
- Child Care: Vasquez expanded an in-home childcare pilot program at several rural installations, including Holloman Air Force Base, to ensure service members have the access to essential childcare services they need in rural communities such as Alamogordo.
Infrastructure Improvements:
- White Sands Missile Range Infrastructure: Vasquez secured $29 million for a new Missile Assembly Building at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). The military will also now identify infrastructure gaps at WSMR and outline the risks if modernization efforts are neglected. This proactive approach ensures that WSMR stays ahead of potential dangers by prioritizing necessary upgrades to its infrastructure;
- Kirtland Helicopter Missions: Vasquez secured $15.5 million for a Combat Rescue Helicopter Simulator at Kirtland Air Force Base. This funding will be critical to improving training capabilities at Kirtland; and
- Military Housing: The bill also invests $1.15 billion in military housing improvements. To address potential housing shortages head-on, Vasquez secured a report on housing availability for civilians and contractors who provide critical functions at rural bases.
Safety Efforts:
- Supporting Tribal Lands: Vasquez secured a $5 million increase in funding for the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) to clean up unexploded ordnance left by the Department of Defense on Tribal lands, and this is a critical step to remove these dangerous unexploded weapons from Tribal lands in New Mexico completely;
- Cleaning up Pollution: Vasquez was able to secure provisions that mandate the continued clean-up efforts for Kirtland Air Force Base’s Bulk Fuels Facility jet fuel leak and ensure service members and their families have access to clean, safe water; and
- Fighting Fentanyl: Vasquez secured language to ensure the Department of Defense focuses its counterdrug efforts on threats coming into the United States, prioritizing the safety of New Mexican and American communities.
