This week, I led my colleagues in a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) raising concerns about their contracting of consulting firm McKinsey and Co (McKinsey). Reports show that McKinsey was providing consulting services to the VA while simultaneously advising opioid manufacturers on ways to increase the usage of prescription opioids among veterans.

Veterans need to be confident that the medical care they receive at the VA is actually what is best for them and their health – not what’s best for private contractors looking to increase profits. I look forward to hearing from Secretary Dennis McDonough about how the VA is prioritizing transparency and accountability in their contracts moving forward.

You can read our full letter here.

This week, the House voted on H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act – the latest bill to address concerns surrounding TikTok. This legislation does not ban TikTok. It simply gives TikTok a choice – divest from foreign adversary control or face a prohibition in the United States.

I voted in favor of this bill because I have serious concerns about the control the CCP has over TikTok. We should not want a foreign adversary to have this much control over American data and information.

You can read more about H.R. 7521 here.

This week, I joined my colleagues to introduce the Air Quality Standards Implementation Act of 2024. This legislation implements new changes to the Clean Air Act following a decade of work identifying problems states have faced while trying to improve air quality standards. 

Washington should be making it easier for local governments, small businesses, and others to comply with federal regulation - not constantly moving the goalposts. Having an EPA national air quality standard that states are able to easily implement will not only improve air quality, but also improve the everyday lives of those suffering from chronic respiratory diseases like asthma. 

You can read more about our bill here. 

One of my highest honors as a member of Congress is nominating Central Valley students to attend a United States Service Academy. I’m excited to announce that my office will be hosting a Service Academy Night on April 3, 2024 at Hanford West High School.

This informational event will help students learn about attending U.S. service academies and applying for a congressional nomination. Students will also be able to meet with representatives from the Naval Academy, West Point, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and other local ROTC programs.

To RSVP for Service Academy Night, click here. For more information, you can visit valadao.house.gov or call (559) 460-6070.

I often hear from people across the Valley about how frustrated they are with the partisanship in Washington. If you spend much time watching cable news or scrolling on social media, I’m sure you feel like our country is the most divided we’ve ever been. But that’s not always the case.  

While we of course disagree about many different things, every day in Congress, Republicans and Democrats find ways to work together on critical issues impacting their communities, states, and regions. Below, you can find a list of some of the bills the House passed this week with widespread, bipartisan support:

• H.R. 6249 – Think Differently About Emergencies Act
• H.R. 6254 – Public Buildings Accountability Act of 2023
• S. 1858 – Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act
• H.R. 1752 – E-BRIDGE Act
• H.R. 4693 – TVA Salary Transparency Act
• H. Con. Res. 83 – Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition

Trying to get an answer from a federal agency can often be a time-consuming and frustrating process. If you ever need help navigating a federal agency, you can visit my website here or call my Hanford office at (559) 460-6070. My team is ready to assist you!

Our question this week comes from Sandra in Wasco. She asked:

"I saw your post about all the funding that's coming back to the Central Valley. Where is this money coming from?" 

Thank you for your question, Sandra. Each year, Congress must pass 12 appropriations bills to fund each government agency. Last week, 6 of these government funding bills were passed and signed into law. I was proud to secure over $55 million in funding for projects across the Valley through Community Project Funding in these bills (CPF). Community Project Funding requests bring certain projects, which are already eligible, to the front of the line for federal grant funding. When the funding is approved through the annual appropriations process, these organizations or local governments are essentially fast-tracked through the competitive federal grant process.

It's important to note that this money is already being appropriated, and through Community Project Funding, I’m able to direct these available dollars back to our community. If I don’t submit these requests, the decisions about where this money would go would be made by bureaucrats in Washington. Too often, our rural communities throughout the Valley are overlooked for federal investments. This process allows me to advocate for these projects and ensure your tax dollars are funneled back into our community.

I’m excited to see the positive impact these projects will have on our community. To see a full list of the projects I secured funding for in our district, you can click here.

Do you have a question about my position on an issue? How the Congress operates? My thoughts on the news of the day?

Send your first name, town, and question to AskDavid@mail.house.gov and I might answer yours right here in one of my weekly newsletters. Make sure to subscribe to my weekly email updates to see if your question was answered!

If you want to share your opinion with me on issues of importance, you can always contact me on my website.

Did you know you can now sign up for texts from my office to stay up to date on my work in Washington D.C.? To sign up to receive updates from me directly to your phone, just text VALADAO to (559) 387-4346 and you will be automatically subscribed. You can also sign up for text alerts using this form here.  

I'll be using this newsletter as a way to keep you updated on my work in Congress. Make sure to sign up for regular updates and follow my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with my work.