By Organ Mountain News on Oct 28, 2025

Vasquez meets with Las Cruces seniors to discuss cost-of-living challenges

Rep. Gabe Vasquez met with Las Cruces seniors to discuss the impact of rising costs on groceries, housing and health care, pledging to defend Social Security and lower everyday expenses.

(Courtesy photo / Rep. Gabe Vasquez)

Rep. Gabe Vasquez spoke with Las Cruces retirees about rising prices and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Social Security, Medicare and access to affordable food, housing and health care.

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) met with Las Cruces seniors Saturday to hear how inflation and rising costs are affecting their daily lives — from the grocery aisle to prescription refills.

Vasquez spoke with Karen and Jack Zilbert at a local grocery store about how the cost of essentials continues to climb, forcing many seniors to make difficult choices to make ends meet.

“Seniors like Karen and Jack are making tough decisions about what they can afford at the grocery store, and like many New Mexicans they’re rationing week by week,” Vasquez said. “It’s unacceptable that this administration is focused on giving tax cuts to the rich while seniors and middle-class families struggle. In the wealthiest nation in the world, folks like Karen and Jack who have worked hard all their lives deserve to age with dignity, stability and peace of mind, without having to choose between food and health care.”

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez stands with Las Cruces residents Karen and Jack Zilbert beside a freezer filled with packaged meat, discussing grocery prices during a visit to a local store. — U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez talks with Las Cruces residents Karen and Jack Zilbert about the rising cost of groceries during a visit to a local supermarket. *(Courtesy photo / Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez)*

Vasquez highlighted recent efforts to protect benefits and address rising costs for older New Mexicans, including:

Protecting Social Security: Supported the Social Security Fairness Act, now law, to ensure retired public servants receive full benefits; opposed legislation that would cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid; and pushed back against staffing reductions at the Social Security Administration.
Lowering health care costs: Co-sponsored the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act and the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act to preserve ACA subsidies; voted against tax policies that added Medicaid work requirements and limited provider payments; and backed capping insulin at $35 per month.
Promoting affordable housing: Introduced the Keep Mobile Homes Affordable Act and the HOME Act to prevent price gouging and keep housing attainable for seniors.
Expanding food access: Voted to protect SNAP benefits and introduced the Healthy Foods for Native Seniors Act to improve nutrition in Tribal communities.