STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On March 24, 2026, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) led a letter—joined by 104 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle—to the Appropriations Committee requesting $55 million in funding for the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program. RISS program funds are utilized by 94 law enforcement agencies across New Mexico to arrest violent criminals, get illegal drugs off our streets, resolve criminal investigations, and ensure officer and public safety. 

“For many local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico, especially in our rural communities and smaller towns, RISS funds make the difference between solving a crime or a criminal walking free,” Vasquez said. “From Cibola County, where Sheriffs used RISS to apprehend a serial burglar, to Los Lunas, where the Police Department used RISS to provide detective training, this program is a direct investment in making New Mexico safer.”

Over the last ten years, officers leveraging RISS services have arrested more than 21,000 offenders and reported more than $2.3 billion in narcotics, property, and currency seizures (a 500% return on federal investment). RISS provides local law enforcement with investigative assistance, case support, and training on relevant topics such as human trafficking and mental health issues. 

The program has broad support among law enforcement leaders. 

“RISS is a nationwide program that assists law enforcement in many ways, from forensic investigations to deconfliction to ensure officer safety,” said Chief Steven Hebbe, President of the New Mexico Association of Chiefs of Police. “The impact on smaller agencies across the country, which lack the resources complex cases demand, has resulted in solving many serious cases and delivering justice to victims. RISS is a program that deserves to be spotlighted for its success, at low cost, in aiding law enforcement and enhancing public safety.”

Rep Vasquez is an ardent supporter of New Mexico’s state and local law enforcement agencies.

• Vasquez has supported over $9 billion for state and local law enforcement, ensuring they have the resources they need to combat cartels and support crime victims. 
• He has also fought to bring federal grant money back home to the district to make New Mexico communities safer. Recent grants secured by Rep. Vasquez include:
  • $1.06 million for the Albuquerque Police Department to deploy public safety video infrastructure across the city by integrating new cameras with the “Real Time Crime Center” to strengthen crime prevention, intervention speeds, and investigation efforts.
  • $500,000 for Bernalillo County to acquire advanced public safety hardware and software, including license plate readers, gunshot detection technology, and GIS upgrades, to improve law enforcement efficiency and crime response times.
  • $250,000 for the Carlsbad Police Department Renovation Project to renovate the Police Department’s Main Station, performing infrastructure upgrades to accommodate essential technology equipment.
  • Representative Vasquez also recently introduced the bipartisan Secure Our Skies Drone Safety Act to ensure that law enforcement agencies’ use of drones and counter-drone technology are keeping pace with rapidly evolving threats to public safety and national security.