On Labor Day 2024, Hon. Xochitl Torres Small shared her journey, insights, and hopes for rural America and Latino communities. Born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, just an hour from the border town of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Torres Small’s personal experiences fuel her dedication to public service.
As the granddaughter of Mexican farmworkers and the daughter of educators, Torres Small’s background is one of resilience and ambition. She grew up witnessing her family’s hard work and sacrifices and understood firsthand the challenges Latino communities face in rural America. Inspired by this legacy, she pursued law at the University of New Mexico, a step that would ultimately lead her to become a powerful advocate for those often overlooked in national conversations.
In her early political career, Torres Small made history by winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representing a rural district along the U.S.-Mexico border, she quickly became a strong voice for healthcare reform and economic development. Reflecting on her time in Congress, she shared, “It was a joy to represent my home in Congress. Running for office in a rural border state gave me the opportunity to work on critical healthcare issues that affect so many people.”
rural areas.(Photo: RRSS)
One of the key issues she championed was lowering the cost of insulin, a fight that resonated deeply with her. «I have family members with diabetes, and I’ve seen the personal and economic impact that a lack of access to affordable insulin has on low- and middle-class families, especially seniors,» she explained. Her work with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to push for change became a critical part of President Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s efforts to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month. «It’s inspiring to see our leadership take on big pharma and make real, tangible differences in people’s lives,» she said.
As the conversation turned to the upcoming presidential election, Torres Small spoke with pride about the potential for Kamala Harris to become the next president of the United States. She recalled her emotional experience at a recent convention, where she sat next to a young Latina and felt a profound sense of hope as they watched Harris, a powerful woman of color, take center stage. «Kamala Harris cares about our communities and our country. She’s focused on our economy and on creating jobs. Under the Biden-Harris administration, 16 million jobs have been created, and 4.8 million of those have gone to Latinos. We need to keep that momentum going,» she urged.
Immigration is also a deeply personal issue for Torres Small. In her first week in office as a Congresswoman, she made an immediate impact by traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. This visit came in the wake of the tragic death of an eight-year-old immigrant child in U.S. Border Patrol custody. The experience reinforced her commitment to addressing the human rights concerns at the border and advocating for compassionate immigration reform. «We must do better by those seeking a better life in this country. It’s about ensuring that every person is treated with dignity and respect, no matter their background or their journey,» she stated.
