I will continue to advocate for its expansion.

It is an honor to get to speak with you today about the issues relevant to New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District.

Since I was sworn in, I have visited all 19 counties in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District and in each place, I visited, residents voiced the same message.

I strongly encourage the committee to support this bill.

We have an obligation to address them.

Access to basic healthcare leads nearly every conversation, because in southern New Mexico, it's not just about healthcare affordability, it's also about healthcare accessibility.

I think it is clear that one way to increase healthcare access in rural areas is increasing the number of doctors serving them.

I love our values and way of life, but our rural communities are facing increased hardships like never before.

These are daily challenges for the 60 million Americans living in rural communities.

Members of this committee, even with the hardships rural communities face, we are often the first to be forgotten when legislators and healthcare experts discuss healthcare quality, access, and affordability.

I have met teenagers in crisis who face a long waiting list for a much-needed mental health appointment.