Congressman Vasquez to discuss SNAP cuts at El Caldito Soup Kitchen in Las Cruces
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez will visit El Caldito Soup Kitchen in Las Cruces Friday on the one-year anniversary of the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The bill resulted in the largest cuts to food stamps in history. Since the cuts, more than 10,000 children lost access to food stamps, according to the New Mexico HealthCare Authority. Rep. Vasquez said about 21,000 stopped enrolling for SNAP.
During Friday's visit, Rep. Vasquez will serve hot meals to clients and have a conversation with those struggling with food insecurity.
Rep. Vasquez said the Republican tax law slashed $180 billion from SNAP and nutrition assistance and cut $1 trillion from Medicaid.
According to the congressman, Medicaid cuts are projected to result in 7.6 million Americans losing access to their healthcare coverage by 2034. Additionally, eight rural hospitals in Vasquez's district are at risk of closing due to health care provisions in the law.
Martha Sanchez, a volunteer at El Caldito, began her service wanting to contribute to her community but did not anticipate the level of need she now witnesses.
“It's really sad,” Sanchez said. “You know, we would think in this day and age it wouldn't be this bad. And it seems to be getting worse.”
Rep. Vasquez said, “It's really interesting to see just the different life stories of people who are experiencing food insecurity.”
The policy mandates that able-bodied adults without young children must work or volunteer 20 hours per week to receive SNAP benefits.
Gabe Anaya, who has volunteered at El Caldito for 27 years, has witnessed a substantial increase in demand for meals. When he first started, approximately 80 people visited daily, a number that has now grown to around 350.
“It makes me feel not as proud of being an American—that we're not living the American way, that all people are Americans and we're here to help each other,” Anaya said.
Sanchez hopes more people understand that El Caldito is open to everyone needing a meal.
“There is a need and the people who come here are friendly,” Sanchez said. “It's not scary at all.”
Rep. Vasquez is set to run against Republican Greg Cunningham for U.S. House District 2 in November. Cunningham, a combat veteran and a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was not available for an on-camera interview but provided a statement.
In his statement, Cunningham criticized Rep. Vasquez's visit.
“Gabe Vasquez is serving soup for the cameras to distract from his extreme record. He wants you scared, so he won't tell you what this law actually does. It asks able-bodied adults with no young kids to work or volunteer 20 hours a week. It cracks down on the billions in fraud and bad payments every year. And it stops your tax dollars from going to people who are here illegally. Seniors, kids, pregnant moms, folks with disabilities are all protected and Gabe knows it. No photo op changes the truth.”
Rep. Vasquez said he voted against the Republican tax law and has worked to protect access to SNAP, shield New Mexicans from healthcare rate hikes and combat soaring utility bills.
Rep. Vasquez ran unopposed in the New Mexico Democratic primary.
