ABOUT US
A Legacy of Honor
Action Plan to Serve New Mexico Veterans
"A nation reveals itself not only by the men and women it produces, but also by the men and women it honors. The men and women it remembers."
From the beginning of our country, over 40 million soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen have participated in our nation's wars. Of that number, more than 23 million are living today, and over one million have given their lives in combat. We must always remember them.
Here in New Mexico, more than 175,000 veterans share a unique and rich military legacy of honor and service to our nation that spans generations. Our work is dedicated to honoring that legacy by building pathways to wellness, education, employment, and business opportunity.
The Power of Veteran-Owned Businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. Across the United States, there are approximately 30 million small businesses that create the majority of U.S. jobs and employ half of our nation's private-sector workforce.
In New Mexico alone, there are more than 172,113 small businesses, representing over 99% of all businesses in the state and employing more than 340,706 people—53.3% of the state's private workforce.
Veterans are a vital part of this story. In New Mexico, more than 13,000 small businesses (7.2%) are veteran-owned. Nationally, veteran-owned businesses are a powerful economic engine.
Veteran-Owned Business Impact (U.S.)
- 2.52 million businesses are majority-owned by veterans
- 9.1% of all U.S. businesses are veteran-owned
- $1.14 trillion in total annual revenue is generated by veteran-owned businesses
- 5.03 million Americans are employed by veteran-owned businesses
- $195 billion in annual payroll is paid by veteran-owned businesses
To unlock even more opportunity, we champion tools like LinkedIn profile building, professional networking, and mentorship so that veterans and their families can fully participate in New Mexico's growing economy.
Our Policy Vision
It is our duty as New Mexicans to honor the service and sacrifice of every veteran in our state. We are committed to empowering veterans and their families through wellness support, educational advancement, career and employment development, and business entrepreneurial opportunities.
We want every veteran and family member to successfully transition back to civilian life with dignity, purpose, and coordinated support from state agencies. Our goal is to create a truly veteran-service-friendly New Mexico.
To achieve this, we propose the creation of the Veteran WEB—an integrated framework focused on four pillars: Wellness, Education, Employment, and Business.
Wellness & Veteran Health Care
- Mental health care, counseling, and treatment
- Targeted support for homelessness and housing instability
- Caregiver support, assisted living, and long-term care
- Peer support groups and community-based wellness programs
- Fitness and nutritional programs
- Holistic therapies for PTSD
- Transitional housing and education for women veterans with children who are experiencing homelessness
- Expanded health care access through Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and partnerships with the VA to build assisted living facilities for our aging veteran population (95,196 New Mexico veterans are over age 60)
- Support for homeless veterans through the New Mexico Veterans Integration Center (NMVIC)
- Tax incentives and reduced malpractice insurance rates for community care providers who serve veterans, encouraging more providers and specialty care capacity
Education
- GI Bill navigation and support
- College readiness workshops and guidance counseling
- Vocational training pathways
- Technology and digital skills bootcamps
- "Vets Back in School" initiatives to help veterans understand and use their GI Bill benefits to continue their education
- New Mexico certification programs that recognize military training and skill sets (e.g., commercial drivers, medics, and other specialties) to streamline hiring into comparable civilian roles
Concepts & Policy Priorities
Our vision requires close coordination across state agencies, educational institutions, local governments, the private sector, and the federal VA. By aligning efforts, we can create a seamless network of support for veterans and their families.
- Bring together key state agencies to support the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, including the Departments of Health; Aging and Long-Term Services; Economic Development; Education; Workforce Solutions; Taxation and Revenue; and others.
- Encourage unified partnerships with the VA, universities, local governments, and businesses to create truly integrated veteran support systems.
- Provide robust transition support from military service to civilian life, with practical tools and personalized guidance.
- Develop a Veteran Empowerment Initiative as a transformative force for our nation's heroes, delivering the tools they need to thrive after military service through an integrated and innovative WEB program.
- Ensure that "veterans left behind"—including those with less-than-honorable discharges—do not fall through the cracks and have pathways to support and stability.
- Create a New Mexico "one-stop" veteran benefits app, offering a simple mobile experience to access all state veteran benefits and support offices.
- Expand direct housing assistance to help veterans and their families purchase homes.
Leveraging VA Investments for New Mexico
New Mexico veterans receive approximately $2.2 billion in annual federal expenditures for compensation and pensions, education and training, medical care, and other VA benefits. These dollars support families and communities across our state and strengthen our economy.
Yet only about 35% of New Mexico's veterans are currently receiving the benefits they have earned. That means 65% of our veterans still need support filing for federal and state benefits. By helping them access what they are owed, we not only improve lives—we also bring millions of additional federal dollars into New Mexico's economy.
- Provide focused outreach, education, and claims assistance so veterans and their families can fully access their VA benefits.
- Support the establishment of a Code Talker Museum to honor the legacy of our Native American heroes.
- Support the creation of a Veterans Museum and Education Center to recognize Medal of Honor recipients and other New Mexico heroes.
- Back the development of the new $100 million National VA Cemetery on the west side of Albuquerque, as the Santa Fe National Cemetery is projected to close to new burials by 2030.