Earlier this week, I signed two discharge petitions to address the scheduled expiration of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. The petitions would bring two bipartisan bills, the Bipartisan Health Coverage Affordability Act and CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act, to the House Floor for votes. Without immediate congressional action, the cost of health insurance premiums for millions of Americans—including 17,000 of my Central Valley constituents—to spike.

Families and small business owners across the Central Valley have told me they’re frustrated and worried as their health insurance premiums keep climbing. Republicans didn’t create this problem, but we have an opportunity and responsibility to fix it. We can’t allow these credits to expire without a reasonable plan in place, and passing either bipartisan bill would make sure that individuals who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace continue to receive the enhanced tax credit while Congress works toward a more permanent solution. As healthcare costs continue to rise, I remain committed to fighting for affordable, accessible care for my constituents in the Central Valley.

A good education is the key to future opportunity, and it’s important the next generation can accomplish their goals. Unfortunately, in underserved communities, students can fall behind and schools don’t always have the resources to ensure they can get back on track. That’s why I reintroduced the Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-Needs Schools (PATHS) to Tutor Act alongside Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) this week. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would place aspiring teachers enrolled in preparation programs into tutoring roles, strengthening the pipeline of future teachers while making sure students in underserved communities receive targeted academic support. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting the next generation by making sure students get the support they need while giving teachers real experience in the classroom to prepare them for their career.

This week, I was proud to support the passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure our military has the resources needed to keep Americans safe while delivering meaningful quality-of-life improvements for our servicemembers and their families. The FY26 NDAA provides a well-deserved pay raise for our troops and improves housing, education, and access to childcare for military families. It also ensures the Department of Defense (DoD) is prepared to confront growing global threats, promotes the development of new and innovative defense technologies, and deepens partnerships with our allies. I’m especially proud that key provisions from my bill, the SECURE IT Act, were included to help improve confidence in our elections by requiring voting systems to undergo simulated cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities. For over 60 years, the NDAA has been a bipartisan commitment to our national defense, and I’m glad to see the House and Senate once again came together to get this critical legislation over the finish line.

We've almost reached the end of 2025, but I'm already looking toward 2026. What issues do you think Congress should prioritize next year? Hearing from my constituents allows me to better represent you in Washington and I look forward to reading your response to the survey below!

Over the weekend, Team Valadao attended the We the People awards ceremony in Bakersfield and met students from Golden Valley High School, East Bakersfield High School, and West High School. This program is a nationwide civic education initiative that engages students in simulated congressional hearings to demonstrate their understanding of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. A special congratulations to the students from Arvin High School, who won 1st place in all six units and also secured an impressive 2nd place overall in the competition, strongly representing the Central Valley. My team also spoke with students and families part of the Migrant Program Leadership Academy. The program serves as a gateway for opportunities and grant programs that allow children of migrant families to get involved in politics at home and in Washington. 

Later in the week, my team celebrated the grand reopening ceremony for Kern Bridge Youth Homes’ Almklov House by presenting a certificate of recognition for their dedication to providing mental health and rehabilitative services to our community’s foster youth. Then, my staff went to the Clinica Sierra Visa Lexington Community Health Center grand opening to celebrate their newest 13 exam-room facility, which is expected to support more than 20,000 patient visits each year, better serving the health care needs of Delano’s growing population. Finally, Team Valadao joined Kern County General Services and Kern's Third District Supervisor, Jeff Flores, at the grand reopening of Stramler Park, celebrating its new amenities and expanded recreational space for residents of all ages. 

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 or call my Hanford office at (559) 460-6070. My team is ready to assist you!

Tratar de obtener una respuesta de una agencia federal a menudo puede ser un proceso frustrante y que requiere mucho tiempo. Si alguna vez necesita ayuda con una agencia federal, puede visitar mi sitio de web aquí o llamar a mi oficina de Hanford al (559) 460-6070. ¡Mi equipo está listo para ayudarte!

Our question this week comes from Geoff from Lindsay. He asked for an explanation about why the Bureau of Reclamation’s announcement last week would be beneficial for water access in the Central Valley.

Thanks for your question, Geoff. Last week, the Bureau of Reclamation released an updated long-term operations plan for the Central Valley Project (CVP). The CVP is a vast network of dams, reservoirs, hydroelectric plants, and other facilities that help reduce flood risk, deliver water, and generate power for the Central Valley. Together, the CVP and State Water Project (SWP) provide water for more than 25 million Californians and millions of acres of farmland across the state. 

Under this updated operations plan, both CVP and SWP would be able to increase annual water deliveries. This new guidance safeguards our environment while also ensuring our families, farmers, and small businesses have the water resources they need to operate successfully. This is a major step toward securing reliable access to water resources for our region, and I look forward to seeing its positive impact.

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

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