Lujan, Torres Small Criticize Trump Administration for Veto Threat Harming National Security, New Mexico Dairy Farmers

Statement

Today, Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) sharply criticized the threats from the Trump administration to undercut our country's national security and harm dairy farmers in New Mexico.

This week, President Trump threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act -- legislation that responsibly funds our nation's defense systems -- over the inclusion of language requiring the Air Force to replace or clean water found to be contaminated with PFAS.

In 2018, the U.S. Air Force confirmed that firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals used around Cannon Air Force Base and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico contaminated nearby groundwater. The contamination has affected several agricultural wells near Cannon Air Force Base that feed New Mexican dairies, causing major disruptions for the local dairy industry. The extent of impacts near Holloman is still being determined.

PFAS contaminants have been linked to cancer and developmental issues in kids.

"We can protect both the nation's security and the economic well-being of dairy farmers in New Mexico. That is exactly what the House bill does. The Department of Defense contaminated the groundwater around Cannon Air Force Base with PFAS chemicals. They need to clean it up. It is as simple as that. The President's veto threat is incomprehensible and a slap in the face of our nation's farming community," said Luján.

"Our national defense is more important than party lines. But this year, the Administration is setting up a false choice. We don't need to undermine the economic livelihood of farmers to support our military. We can ensure that the Department of Defense compensates farmers for contaminating their water supply while providing for the needs of the military without delay. Our national defense is too important to turn into a partisan issue," said Torres Small.

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