Congressman urges changes to regional boundaries, more staffing and a full-time VA liaison in Socorro

Organ Mountain News report

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand access to care and benefits for veterans in rural and southern New Mexico, including by changing regional service boundaries and increasing in-person assistance.

Vasquez, a Democrat representing New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, sent a letter Wednesday to Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas Collins after meeting recently with veterans in Socorro.

“New Mexico veterans — especially those living in rural areas — should never feel left behind by their government,” Vasquez said in the letter.

He urged the VA to place a full-time liaison in Socorro and allow veterans in southeastern New Mexico to access services in El Paso when those facilities are closer than VA locations toward Albuquerque.

Vasquez also called for changes to VA regional boundaries affecting veterans in Otero and Eddy counties. His New Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act would add those counties to Veterans Integrated Service Network 22, making veterans there eligible to receive care through the El Paso VA Medical Center.

He also pressed the department to increase staffing and in-person assistance across New Mexico and reverse recent staffing reductions.

Vasquez said cuts have worsened existing shortages and made it more difficult for rural veterans to access surgeries, mental health care and other services.

According to Vasquez, 172 VA employees in New Mexico were cut, representing about 4.7% of the state’s VA workforce. Nationally, he cited nearly 28,000 job reductions, including nurses, medical officers, psychologists and social workers.

The congressman has also backed legislation addressing transportation, telemedicine, education benefits and food insecurity among veterans.

His proposals include increasing annual book and supply stipends for student veterans, expanding eligibility for rural transportation grants and permanently authorizing certain VA telemedicine services.