The House-approved spending package includes funding for veterans health care, military housing and rural access initiatives tied to southern New Mexico.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez voted Thursday in support of the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, a spending package that includes funding for veterans health care, military housing and military family support programs.

According to Vasquez’s office, the legislation provides $157 billion for veterans’ benefits, health care and housing, along with $19.2 billion for Department of Defense military construction and family support programs. The bill passed the House on a 400-15 vote and now heads to the Senate.

“I’m proud to support these bipartisan, commonsense investments to improve services for veterans and active-duty servicemembers,” Vasquez said in a statement. “Those who raise their hand to serve and protect our country, whether they are currently serving or served our nation honorably, deserve a good home, good health care, and a good life for their family.”

The bill includes additional funding for military barracks, child development centers and oversight of privatized military family housing, according to the release.

Vasquez’s office also highlighted several veterans-related provisions in the legislation, including:

• $138.2 billion for veterans health care programs
• $54.6 billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund
• More than $2 billion for capital improvements at VA medical facilities and national cemeteries
• $349 million for the Office of Rural Health

The congressman’s office said the package also urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the Post-9/11 GI Bill books and supplies stipend.

According to the release, Vasquez also introduced amendments tied to several pieces of legislation focused on veterans and military families in southern New Mexico, including:

• The Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act, which would increase the annual books and supplies stipend for student veterans from $1,000 to $1,400
• The New Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act, aimed at expanding care access for veterans in Otero and Eddy counties
• The Las Cruces Bataan Memorial Clinic Act, which would rename the Las Cruces Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in honor of New Mexicans killed during World War II

Vasquez’s office also noted that the congressman recently met with veterans and community leaders at the Lincoln Otero County Veterans Leadership Council meeting in Alamogordo to discuss veterans issues affecting rural southern New Mexico communities.