A first-term congressman from New Mexico, Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, has introduced a bill aimed at compensating oil field workers and their immediate relatives for uninsured medical costs associated with air pollution and heat-related illnesses. Vasquez’s proposal would require oil and natural gas companies across the country to contribute to a trust that provides reimbursement for health expenses related to methane and smog-induced ailments, including respiratory problems like asthma. The bill would cover costs not covered by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. Although a full draft of the bill was not immediately available, Vasquez’s motivation stems from concerns raised by oilfield workers in southeastern New Mexico and his observations of significant profits and executive compensation in major petroleum companies. As the second-largest oil producer in the nation, New Mexico is home to many energy workers who would directly benefit from the legislation. The bill aims to establish annual contributions by energy companies to a healthcare trust that should match the compensation of their top ten highest-paid employees. This bill represents a departure from the previous unwavering support for the oil industry by Vasquez’s Republican predecessor, Yvette Herrell, and her criticism of energy exploration policies under the Biden administration. Vasquez secured the district, stretching from the U.S.-Mexico border to Albuquerque, for Democratic control in 2022 through newly drawn congressional districts that divided up a significant oil-producing region of New Mexico among three districts. Redistricting challenges by Republicans are currently being disputed in state district court. Vasquez announced the details of the health compensation bill at a gathering in Hobbs, where advocates for the immigrant-rights group Somos Un Pueblo Unido joined him, and oil field workers and their spouses spoke—in Spanish—about their frustrations with working conditions. Vasquez emphasized the need for support for the proposed legislation and drew parallels between the bill and the compensation program for coal miners disabled by black lung disease established in 1969.
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