VIDEO: N.M. Delegation Convene Press Conference on Trump's Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) held a press conference to demand that Republicans in Congress work with Democrats to end Donald Trump's government shutdown and pass a bipartisan government funding bill that lowers the cost of health care and delivers for New Mexicans.

New Mexico Congressional Delegation holds a press conference to demand that Republicans in Congress work with Democrats to end Trump's government shutdown and lower health care costs for New Mexicans, October 1, 2025.

"We are only one day into this shutdown, but I can tell you this: It was entirely preventable. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. They had every single lever they needed to negotiate a deal," said Heinrich. "All Democrats asked for was to protect New Mexicans from higher health care costs. Now, despite what the other side is telling you, Democrats are trying to negotiate in good faith with the Republicans. The truth is that if the Republicans have their way, hardworking folks in New Mexico will suffer."

"Last night, President Trump marched our country into his fourth government shutdown," said Luján. "Hardworking New Mexicans don't deserve to be used as political pawns or suffer the consequences of the president's reckless shutdown and ongoing health care crisis. It's time to stand up and protect health care access for families in New Mexico and across the country. Republicans control the White House, the House, and the Senate - they can end this shutdown today. My door remains open, as it has been, for Republicans to work with us to reopen the government and safeguard Americans' health care."

"I know people keep asking-who will be blamed for a shutdown? That's the wrong question. The real question is who feels the pain. Who will feel the pain if we don't address the health care crisis,"said Leger Fernández. "Yesterday, I spoke on the phone with one of my constituents, one of so many New Mexicans whose story keeps us fighting for their health care. Jenn, her husband and their 13 year old son rely on the ACA Marketplace, New Mexico's BeWell, for health insurance. They directly benefit from the ACA tax credits. Right now, they pay $605 a month for their health insurance plan. That same plan will cost $3,800 for their family which is 36 percent of their income. She said her message to Republicans is that 'families shouldn't have to choose between health care and survival.'"

"Right now, Trump and the GOP would rather shut down the government than fund vital programs and address a looming healthcare crisis affecting tens of millions of Americans. While New Mexico's delegation has fought to protect healthcare, food, and educational assistance, Republicans have slashed Medicaid, Medicare and other crucial programs - while handing out tax breaks to billionaires," said Stansbury. "We won't stand by as they dismantle the programs our communities depend on. I'm grateful New Mexico is leading the way and stepping up with a special session to protect families from these cruel and reckless cuts."

"This shutdown will harm millions of Americans, but so will allowing Republicans to permanently close rural hospitals in our district and kick millions off their health insurance," said Vasquez."While Republicans cancel votes and refuse to negotiate, I remain ready to reach across the aisle to pass a funding bill that works for the American people and protects New Mexicans' health care."

Background on How Trump's Government Shutdown is Harming New Mexicans:

On October 1, Trump shut down the federal government after his Republican party failed to work with Democrats to pass a bipartisan government funding bill that serves the American people and lowers the cost of health care.

In addition to Trump's government shutdown crisis, Republicans' Big, Bad Bill has created a health care crisis by driving up the cost of health care - causing New Mexicans' premiums to skyrocket. Republicans' refusal to extend the tax credits that help families afford health insurance on the BeWell New Mexico health exchange will force New Mexico families to pay $300 or more a month for their health care.

The N.M. Delegation has made clear that they are eager to vote for a bipartisan budget that fixes the harm Trump and Republicans have caused to New Mexicans' pocketbooks and access to health care.

Background on How Trump's Health Care Crisis is Hurting New Mexico Families:

Last month, Senate Republicans blocked legislation to keep the government open and address the health care crisis they have created by refusing to extend the enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC), which was passed into law by Democrats in the N.M. Delegation in 2021 and expires at the end of this calendar year. Health insurance costs will rise significantly for individuals and families in New Mexico and nationwide because Trump and Republicans refuse to extend the enhanced APTC. New Mexico enrollees will begin receiving notices for open enrollment starting October 15. BeWell estimates that over 6,300 New Mexico enrollees will face increased health insurance costs starting January 1, 2026, if the enhanced APTC is not extended.

Democrats in the N.M. Delegation voted to pass the American Rescue Plan in 2021, which authorized initial enhancements to the premium tax credit to make health insurance more affordable for more people and increase subsidies for working, middle-income families in New Mexico. In 2022, Democrats in the N.M. Delegation voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which extended the enhanced premium tax credit through 2025.

Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández, and Vasquez cosponsor the Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 to make the enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credit permanent and build upon record health care marketplace enrollment.

For more information on how Republicans' refusal to extend the enhanced Advanced Premium Tax Credit will harm New Mexicans, click here.

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