U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury (left), and Gabe Vasquez, right, get a warm welcome from fellow Democrats as they enter the state House chamber to address a joint session of the Legislature Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Photo by Jim Weber/The New Mexican

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (right), gets a warm welcome from fellow Democrats as he steps up to the podium to address a joint session of the Legislature Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Photo by Jim Weber/The New Mexican

By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez praised themselves and the Legislature while bemoaning a tense political environment under President Donald Trump during a joint session of the House and Senate on Thursday.

Stansbury and Vasquez, two of New Mexico’s five all-Democratic federal delegation, touted their accomplishments in Congress and the state’s achievements in everything from early childhood education and taxpayer-funded college to abortion and voting rights.

“We have set New Mexico on a path to deliver on a promise that is as big, as bold and as beautiful as the people of our state,” said Stansbury, who represents New Mexico’s central 1st Congressional District.

“You are the history-makers, the dragon slayers, the change-makers and the leaders who are going to continue to keep this state moving forward,” she added.

Still, she said elected officials have a lot of work ahead.

“Even absent the political climate and the challenging times that we find ourselves in, the needs of New Mexico’s communities are great, and we must continue to deliver for them,” she said while calling for bipartisanship.

Vasquez, who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, said New Mexico continues to be an example for the rest of the country “in a time of deep division in our nation.”

“There’s one thing that we all have in common,” he said. “A lot of people up here in the north, they call it querencia. it is a love for the place that we live, and each of us is responsible for representing the hopes and the dreams of the people of New Mexico will this unity and this shared purpose.”

But Vasquez said lawmakers can’t talk about the future “without tackling head-on some of the serious concerns” related to public safety.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this body bring forth solutions that create safer, healthier and more prosperous communities,” he said. “This is an opportunity for everybody to work together in a bipartisan way to address the short- and the long-term needs to address crime, mental health and judicial reform. New Mexicans understand that the path to safer communities begins with addressing the root causes of crime and public safety.”

Vasquez said he’s no stranger to the challenges stemming from the nation’s broken immigration system.

“I grew up on both sides of the border,” he said. “I didn’t learn English till I was in third grade.”

Vasquez said he didn’t know how to identify himself in his youth.

“That’s why, in this very tense national political environment, I remain committed to achieving commonsense immigration reform that treats people humanely and that modernizes what we’re doing at the border,” he said, to applause from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Vasquez said the crime, coyotes and cartels in Southern New Mexico cannot be ignored.

“But at the same time, we also have to make sure that the legacy of immigration and immigrants who contribute to our community have a fair shot at residency and citizenship in this country,” he said, also generating sustained applause.

“And for everybody in the chambers today,” Vasquez added, “I think you know you the truth, that unless you’re Native American, you’re an immigrant, too.”

While discussing health care delivery and affordability in New Mexico, he voiced support for a paid family and medical leave proposal lawmakers are considering during the session.

“It is a vital step forward,” he said.

Vasquez and Stansbury both highlighted the millions of dollars they had a hand in bringing to New Mexico for myriad purposes, including public safety, health care, housing, water and wastewater infrastructure.

“We passed the largest climate bill, not only in the history of the United States but of any country on planet Earth,” Stansbury said.

Both also vowed to continue fighting to not only reauthorize but expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

In her opening remarks, Stansbury, who served in the state House of Representatives before she was elected to Congress, said the nation was at a “major inflection point” in American history.

“Just one week ago, a new administration took office, a new Congress began its work and the New Mexico Legislature ushered in a new era, swearing in the most women in the history of our state and the largest female legislative majority in American history,” she said, generating loud applause.

“Girl power!” a woman yelled from the floor.

Stansbury noted she is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and will serve as the ranking member on the DOGE Subcommittee on Oversight.

“The work on these committees will be enormous, daunting and difficult to wrap our arms around, but I know, because I grew up in the North Valley [of Albuquerque], we are ready for the fight,” she said, adding there will be “many difficult days ahead.”

“For those of you who are feeling scared and uncertain about the future of this country, know that we will fight to protect our communities and especially those who are most vulnerable,” she said. “We will work to ensure that New Mexico remains a safe haven for everyone.”

Stansbury urged the audience not to lose hope.

“We will continue to bend the arc of history towards justice,” she said. “And for those of you who are embracing the changes you are seeing right now across our country, I ask of you, do not lose your humanity.”