Dear Friends, 

On July 4th, the President signed a devastating reconciliation bill that will hurt millions of Americans, including children and families right here in New Mexico.

This bill slashes food assistance, guts health care access, and hands grotesque tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy, all while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt. Lawmakers who supported it chose greed over justice, punishing hardworking families and our most vulnerable neighbors.

At New Mexico Voices for Children, we believe policy should prioritize kids, families, and communities, not billionaires. But this bill does the opposite:

  • It strips lifelines like Medicaid and SNAP that help families access critical medical care and feed our kids.
  • It expands a cruel and costly carceral system instead of reforming an immigration system for people who are our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and contributors to our economy and tax base.
  • It rewards the ultra-rich while ignoring the needs of those working hardest to make ends meet. 

We are grateful to New Mexico’s congressional delegation who stood against this cruel bill. Their votes reflect the values of our state and their commitment to protecting the health, safety, and dignity of our families. To all the New Mexicans who made their voices heard by calling, writing, and rallying against this cruel bill. We are deeply grateful. We have faith that our Governor and local lawmakers will do everything in their power to work tirelessly to meet the needs of children and families in our state.

Our team at New Mexico Voices for Children will continue to do the research to inform policies that uplift all New Mexicans. Thank you for showing up during this fight, and we still need you with us. Together, we can build a future where every New Mexico child has what they need to thrive.

In solidarity,
Gabrielle Uballez
Executive Director
New Mexico Voices for Children

 

Please help us share our outrage over how our New Mexican children and families will be impacted by this bill. Take to social media: 

  • Example Post 1: The President signed the reconciliation bill, and hardworking New Mexicans and children will be hurt. It cuts #SNAP, slashes #Medicaid, and gives tax breaks to the wealthy — all while adding $3.3 trillion to our national debt.
  • Example Post 2: Cuts to #Medicaid and #SNAP will be devastating for our children. We’re taking food and health care away from our kids all to fund tax breaks for the wealthy.

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The passage of the federal budget bill marks the start of a dark new chapter in our country’s history. In New Mexico, where policymakers have worked hard in the last few years to strengthen our state’s commitment to the health, education, and well-being of children and families, much of that progress is threatened. Last week the New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) presented to the Federal Funding Stabilization Committee on the impact of potential federal changes, which are about to become very real. The HCA shared that up to 100,000 New Mexicans stand to lose SNAP food assistance. Our state budget could take a hit of hundreds of millions of dollars as we are forced to absorb the costs of SNAP and Medicaid. More than 800,000 New Mexicans rely on Medicaid, the backbone of our health care system, and this bill puts that care at risk. Between six and eight hospitals may be forced to close or drastically reduce services.

New Mexico Voices for Children will not waver in our commitment to protecting and defending children and families from the economic, fiscal, and moral disaster of this bill. Our leaders in New Mexico have spoken out and begun to take action, including forming a legislative committee to address the impacts of the federal budget bill on New Mexico. We will work alongside advocates and community members to support lawmakers in protecting the progress we’ve made as they make decisions about the state budget in the next several months. We will also continue producing and sharing research, data, and analysis to bring attention to the wealth of tools and resources policy makers have at their disposal—from tax policy and trust funds to protections for immigrant communities and innovative ways of tackling intergenerational poverty. 

We can’t do this work without you. Reach out to your state lawmakers, attend legislative committee hearings, and stay connected with us via social media to learn more. More than ever, we need to draw on the strength and love that makes New Mexico so special and that will sustain us through whatever challenges lie ahead. 

New Mexico’s children deserve every opportunity to thrive, and that starts with bold, data-driven advocacy rooted in equity, justice, and the lived experiences of our communities. At New Mexico Voices for Children, we work to shape policies that improve child well-being, expand access to education and health care, and break down the barriers that hold families back. You can support our work by becoming a monthly donor. 

And we don’t do this work alone. We especially encourage you to support our partners who lead powerful work with impacted communities and provide essential services on the ground. They need your support now, more than ever!  Not sure where to start? Reach out! We’d be happy to connect you with our organizational partners that are feeding children, providing medical care, meeting the needs of families, and supporting immigrants.

 

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