This is a letter of appreciation for Representative Gabriel Vasquez. He has recently taken action on important issues in our communities, wildfire prevention and protection of water resources.
Recently, Representative Vasquez hiked with community members, and leaders of wildlife and conservation groups, to an area near the Trout Fire burn. He listened to local concerns about cuts to US Forest Service funding. In addition to layoffs and staffing reductions from DOGE, additional cuts are being reviewed by Congress for Fiscal Year 2027. Representative Vasquez is working to protect us locally as a co-sponsor of the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act. The Act protects the jobs of USFS workers, who are our frontline in wildfire prevention.
After meeting with Luna and Hidalgo county ranchers about high-capacity water wells being drilled along the border, Representative Vasquez responded. In a letter to the heads of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Agriculture, he stated that the important protection of our border needed to be done in a way that will not deprive ranchers of vital groundwater. He called on Secretaries Mullen and Rollins to suspend well-drilling along the border and use existing properly permitted water resources for their work.
I thank Representative Vasquez for his work on these matters that impact us all.
Christine Brickley
