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Our ranchers and farmers are an important part of New Mexican culture and the American economy. They are key voices at the table as we think of the future of our country. That’s why I spent several months on a Farm to Congress tour to meet with farmers, ranchers, nutrition experts, and others across my district. I bring these stories of my district’s farmers with me to DC. In Congress, I have fought hard to bring justice to dairy farmers whose cattle were contaminated by toxic chemicals from Cannon Air Force Base. I secured compensation for these farmers, and I am pushing Cannon to clean up the PFAS contamination. I also secured an amendment to the PFAS Action Act to make sure that the EPA considers the dangers of these chemicals on water used for agriculture. Every five years, Congress must pass a new Farm Bill to make improvements and changes to federal agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry programs. The Farm Bill is one of our best opportunities to make sure that our local communities receive the support they deserve. Below are some of my priorities for the Farm Bill that I crafted after conversations with New Mexicans. From appropriately-designed machinery to child care development in rural areas, I want to address the consistent and unique concerns that I heard from women farmers and ranchers. My bill, the Women in Agriculture Act, would help women in agriculture access the resources, equipment, and assistance they need. From Aztec to Roswell, farmers and ranchers across New Mexico know that agua es vida. Yet, they sometimes lack the proper resources for water conservation. That’s why I introduced the Support the WEST Act. This bill would enhance programs that support drought-resilient agriculture and water-conserving practices. Meanwhile, my bill, the Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act would make sure that acequia parciantes qualify for disaster assistance programs because it’s vital that we support the lifeline of so many of our rural communities. Countless local small farmers and ranchers also shared with me the difficulties to get meat to the market and issues with local meat processing. That’s why I cosponsored the PRIME Act to make it easier for small farms, ranches, and producers to sell their products to consumers, restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores. Finally, the Farm Bill is one of our best tools to combat hunger. For example, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps nearly 500,000 New Mexicans every month. In fact, New Mexico has the highest SNAP participation rate in the country. I firmly oppose cuts to SNAP benefits. Families and kids should never worry about where they will get their next meal. |