El Paso is home to Fort Bliss Army Base, a major power projection site and strategic asset for our national defense. For many soldiers, we are the last stop before they deploy and the first to welcome them home when they return. We need to continue the support for our active and veteran military community
Co-Sponsored Legislation
- H.R.1956: Adjusts the housing allowance for service members to reflect current housing costs.
- Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025: Modernize and equalize medical coverage for veterans receiving care abroad, ensuring they have access to necessary medical services regardless of location.
- Codifying DoD Abortion Policy: Establishes leave policies for Armed Forces members to obtain abortion services.
- Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act: Provides veterans with equal access to contraceptive services without copayments, aligning healthcare benefits with active-duty service members.
Funding for Military & Veterans
During the Biden Administration:
- $700 million for the construction of a brand-new VA healthcare center. The facility will be built on 36 acres on the campus of the William Beaumont Army Medical Center complex on Fort Bliss land in East El Paso.
- $20 Million increase in funding for Department of Defense Research and Development Programs that support Minority Serving Institutions
- $15 Million from the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grants firehouse station at Fort Bliss to serve the William Beaumont Army Medical Center area.
- $10 Million from the Additive Manufacturing in Future Vertical Lift program that will allow America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining to work closely with minority-serving institutions like UTEP to diversify the defense workforce and build up our supply chain.
- $10 Million over the President’s Budget request for Low-Cost Missile Systems Development in collaboration with El Paso Makes.
- $6.5 million announced by the Under Secretary of the Army, Gabe Camarillo, to create an expanded talent Pipeline with UTEP to link El Paso students with Army opportunities.
Investment in Our Military Community Through NDAA
Congresswoman Escobar was privileged to be one of only eight members of Congress to serve on the bipartisan Quality of Life panel in 2024; some key FY24 NDAA provisions she authored and championed, all of which were implemented:
Historic Investments for Ft. Bliss:
- $74 Million for the full construction of a rail yard to bolster rapid deployment capabilities
- $10 Million to ensure that El Paso continues to leverage its exceptional additive manufacturing capabilities to support a key future defense program for the Department of the Army
- $10 Million in authorized procurement funding for Predictive Maintenance for Abrams tanks to improve the readiness and sustainability of the Abrams platforms
- $7.2 Million for the planning and design of transient training barracks
Pay & Compensation
- 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members.
- 4.5% basic pay increase for all other service members.
- Reevaluates cost-of-living allowances to ensure they reflect local expenses.
- Expands JROTC programs.
Healthcare
- Eliminates TRICARE co-pays for contraceptives.
- Enhances privacy protections for victims of sexual assault.
- Expands medical services for reservists.
- Invests in brain and mental health initiatives.
Housing
- Requires full funding for Facility Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization.
- $177 million investment in military housing and barracks upgrades.
Childcare
- Fully funds childcare fee assistance to eliminate waitlists.
- $50 million for schools with military-dependent students.
- Ensures DoD childcare staff receive competitive pay.
Spousal Support
- Extends the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot.
- Simplifies professional license transfers for military spouses.
