Rep. Gabe Vasquez Celebrates Decisive Bipartisan Victories for New Mexico Farmers & Ranchers with House’s Passage of Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted to pass the 2026 Farm Bill out of the House, marking a major bipartisan win for New Mexico's farmers, ranchers, and producers. A member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Vasquez secured a host of decisive victories for New Mexicans in this Farm Bill, garnering Republican support for nine of his provisions to protect ranchers from the Administration's push to import Argentinian beef, cut red tape for ranch improvements, and improve critical programs for Tribal communities and speciality crop growers. With the support of only 14 House Democrats, including Vasquez, the Farm Bill now heads to the Senate for final passage.

Vasquez's nine priority bills and amendments that passed out of the House with bipartisan support were focused on:

• Fighting for NM ranchers by condemning the Administration's push to prioritize Argentinian beef imports at the expense of our American cattle ranchers. The amendment - which got unanimous support on both sides of the aisle - also directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a report on the harms of such imports
• Cutting red tape to empower ranchers to make necessary range improvements in a timely manner, and to create a virtual fencing pilot program at USDA, like the one that already exists at New Mexico State University
• Making a commonsense adjustment to allow the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to cover hot rotisserie chicken purchases, ensuring hardworking New Mexican families have access to healthy, convenient options
• Supporting producers' voluntary efforts to restore and enhance wildlife habitat connectivity and migration corridors on their working lands by strengthening USDA conservation programs
• Supporting specialty crop growers by preventing the imposition of new red tape that would hinder growers' access to the Specialty Crop Block Grant program.
• Boosting agricultural output by empowering farmers to learn best practices from their neighbors by allowing farmer cooperatives to receive funding from the USDA for farmer-to-farmer education
• Bringing down utility bills for homes and businesses, and boost rural power generation by recognizing waste energy recovery as renewable energy under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
• Ensuring 1994 land-grant Tribal Colleges and Universities have full and equitable access to USDA Rural Development programs
• Allowing Tribes to provide healthy and culturally relevant food to Native seniors by letting them procure agricultural commodities directly under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

The Congressman also voted in support of a bipartisan Republican-led amendment to remove protections for large pesticide companies. The now-stripped provision would have shielded pesticide companies and made it harder for Americans to sue them for the harms caused by their products.

"When I say I'll always put delivering for New Mexicans ahead of partisan politics, I mean it, and this bill is a bipartisan step in the right direction for New Mexico's farmers and ranchers," said Vasquez. "This Farm Bill is proof that it's still possible to make progress in Washington if you're willing to work across the aisle, and I'm proud to have brought together Republican and Democrat colleagues to provide our agriculture sector with much-needed stability. This Farm Bill protects domestic cattle growers from unfair Argentinian beef imports, strengthens conservation efforts, lowers utility bills, and improves equity for Tribal Colleges and Universities."

The Congressman's sweeping bipartisan wins mark a welcome departure from the hyperpartisan climate on Capitol Hill and an important step toward breaking the gridlock that has long stalled passage of a new Farm Bill. The most recent Farm Bill was enacted in 2018, despite the fact that Congress has traditionally reauthorized the legislation every five years.

During the Farm Bill mark up in the House Agriculture Committee, the Congressman also spoke out against sweeping cuts to food assistance enacted under the Republican tax law. He voted in favor of amendments that would reverse these harmful SNAP cuts and address the costs that the Republican tax law passed on to states like New Mexico. Additionally, Rep. Vasquez fought to pass his amendment that would cut red tape and restore SNAP flexibility and paperwork exemptions for veterans that were nixed in the Republican tax law, but these provisions were not included in the final bill.

"Despite the many gains and much-needed stability this bill provides for our farmers and ranchers, this Farm Bill is not perfect. I'm disappointed that most of my Republican colleagues allowed MAGA to keep cutting food assistance for millions of hardworking Americans, including seniors, children, veterans, and folks with disabilities," Vasquez added. "No one should be forced to go hungry in America, and I will keep fighting to restore SNAP funding."

Agricultural stakeholders across New Mexico and from both sides of the aisle celebrated Rep. Vasquez's leadership in getting the Farm Bill across the finish line in the House and thanked him for his partnership and work to ensure New Mexico priorities passed into law.

The New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau welcomed the passage of the Farm Bill and Rep. Vasquez's bills, stating, "The New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau appreciates the opportunity to meet with Congressman Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) to discuss the Farm Bill and its impact on New Mexico's agricultural producers and rural communities. We value continued dialogue with policymakers and remain committed to working collaboratively to support the long-term strength and sustainability of agriculture across our state and nation."

"We appreciate Congressman Vasquez's work on the House Agriculture Committee to advance a Farm Bill that strengthens our nation's food security while supporting the New Mexico cattlemen and women who help produce it," said Thomas Paterson, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association. "This legislation recognizes that responsible stewardship and a resilient agricultural economy go hand in hand. New Mexico Cattle Growers thanks him for his commitment to get this legislation across the finish line."

"In farming communities across America, helping one another is just part of their way of life," said Jenny Conner, Associate Director of Legislative Affairs at The Nature Conservancy, regarding the Congressman's farmer-to-farmer amendment. "Local, producer-led networks are an effective, common-sense way for farmers and ranchers to share information with their neighbors and manage challenges like drought and floods. We are grateful to Rep. Vasquez for his amendment to champion farmer-to-farmer education in the Farm Bill, which will help producers, communities, and nature thrive."

"When it comes to adopting conservation practices, farmers and ranchers trust guidance and support from their fellow producers who give them the practical advice borne out of experience that translates to long term, successful adoption with minimized financial risk," said Samantha Levy, American Farmland Trust's Senior Policy Manager for Conservation and Energy. "We applaud Congressman Vasquez for his successful leadership in including a farmer-to-farmer education amendment in the House Farm Bill. This addition will enable more organizations to connect farmers and ranchers so they can provide the practical, ongoing information and guidance their peers need to supplement technical assistance from NRCS, nonprofit conservation organizations, conservation districts, and others through traditional conservation programs. All of this will lead to the successful integration of practices critical to the resilience and viability of farm and ranch operations at a very challenging economic time."

###