{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-passes-national-defense-bill-secures-major-wins-new-mexico", "Rep. Gabe Vasquez Passes National Defense Bill, Secures Major Wins for New Mexico", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, December 10, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), delivering vital investments for New Mexico\u2019s military installations, service members, and national laboratories.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I fought to ensure this year\u2019s defense bill reflects the needs of New Mexico\u2019s military families and makes smart investments that leave the U.S. stronger and safer,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cFrom expanding access to care for rural service members to delivering long-overdue recognition to New Mexico\u2019s Downwinders, this is a bipartisan win that honors those who have served and delivers real, meaningful progress for New Mexico.\u201d\n\nVasquez\u2019s bipartisan TRICARE Travel Improvement Act was passed in the final NDAA. His legislation expands access to medical travel reimbursement for military families by lowering the mileage threshold under TRICARE Prime to 75 miles. This provision will directly help families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base who routinely drive up to 95 miles each way for care.\n\nThe bill also includes Vasquez\u2019s Downwinder Commemoration Act, which directs the Department of Defense to establish memorials at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base honoring New Mexicans impacted by the 1945 Trinity Test. By permanently commemorating the suffering endured by New Mexico\u2019s Downwinder community, this bill delivers long-overdue recognition and preserves their legacy for future generations.\n\nVasquez also secured bipartisan passage of the COUNTER Act, which strengthens the ability of base commanders to defend installations like White Sands Missile Range against dangerous drone incursions.\n\nAlongside these wins, the FY26 NDAA provides a 3.8% pay raise for service members and authorizes $1.5 billion for upgrades to quality of life infrastructure such as barracks, family housing, and child development centers. The bill also authorizes significant investments in New Mexico\u2019s military infrastructure, including upgrades at White Sands Missile Range, Cannon Air Force Base, Kirtland Air Force Base, and the Santa Fe Army National Guard Training Center, as well as major support for Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. These investments will strengthen national security, create jobs, and support New Mexico\u2019s role in cutting-edge research and defense readiness.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA reflects the priorities I have heard firsthand from service members and their families across southern New Mexico,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cWe are improving quality of life, protecting rural jobs, and making sure our state continues to play a central role in our national defense.\u201d\n\nThe bill now moves to the Senate for final passage. \u201cServicemembers and their families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base shouldn\u2019t have to pay out of pocket just to access basic medical care,\u201d said SenatorMartin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who is leading the Senate version of the TRICARE Travel Improvement Act. \u201cI\u2019m proud that my commonsense legislation to ensure they\u2019re reimbursed for travel and can get the high-quality care they\u2019ve earned was included in the conferenced NDAA and passed the House. I'll keep fighting to get this bill passed through the Senate and signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe full list of New Mexico NDAA provisions can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-passes-national-defense-bill-secures-major-wins-new-mexico"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.0589036867022514, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}