Rep. Gabe Vasquez Sends Bipartisan Demand to DOJ to Release Critical Law Enforcement Funding

September 3, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) partnered with Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) and demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) release funding for the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program immediately in a bipartisan letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche. RISS funding goes towards law enforcement efforts to arrest violent criminals, get illegal drugs off our streets, resolve criminal investigations, and ensure officer and public safety. It has sustained strong bipartisan support in Congress because it is proven to work. Over the last ten years, officers leveraging RISS services reported more than $2.3 billion in narcotics, property, and currency seizures – a 500% return on federal investment – and aided in the arrest of more than 23,000 offenders. “Congress included $44 million for the RISS program in the FY26 spending bill, however, these funds have yet to be distributed,” wrote Vasquez in the letter. “This funding is critical for local law enforcement agencies, particularly those in rural and small communities, and any delay puts public safety at risk.” In 2025, RISS funding supported 94 criminal justice agencies and 5,464 sworn personnel throughout New Mexico, including the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office in a burglary investigation. The Sheriff’s office requested digital forensic examination from Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN), the regional RISS program for New Mexico. RMIN assisted the office with identifying a suspect of three burglaries spanning over 2 months, and accessing the suspect’s phone to gather critical data that allowed for Cibola County to bring the case to a jury trial before the suspect pled guilty. "I strongly urge you to release the funding for the RISS program,” said Steve Hebbe, President of the New Mexico Association of Chiefs of Police. “This program is instrumental in helping smaller agencies address serious crimes in their communities. Any delays hurt public safety." Read the full letter HERE . Rep. Vasquez has repeatedly led efforts to support local law enforcement and public safety in New Mexico’s 2nd district: Reps. Vasquez and Kustoff led a bipartisan letter early in the year calling on the House Appropriations Committee to support $55 million in funding for the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program. Rep. Vasquez has supported over $9 billion for state and local law enforcement , ensuring they have the resources they need to combat cartels and support crime victims. Rep. Vasquez introduced the bipartisan Secure Our Skies Drone Safety Act to ensure that law enforcement agencies’ use of drones and counter-drone technology are keeping pace with rapidly evolving threats to public safety and national security. ### Issues : Keeping Our Communities Safe