The farmers of the 22^nd district are the farmers who feed the world, and their feedback is critical to making sure our Farm Bill reflects the needs of the Central Valley. That’s why this week, I was proud to host Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as well as a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House Agriculture Committee, for a Farm Bill Listening Session at the World Ag Expo.

We heard a lot of valuable input about how to best support California agriculture in the upcoming Farm Bill – from strengthening crop insurance to addressing skyrocketing input costs. I want to thank Chairman Thompson for bringing the committee to Tulare and Speaker McCarthy for continuing to put the Central Valley first. I look forward to working alongside members of the House Agriculture Committee on this vital legislation.

Read more about the Farm Bill and the reauthorization process in my Op-Ed with Chairman Thompson here. 

Like many of us, I spent a few days this week at the World Ag Expo in Tulare. This yearly event is the largest agricultural show in the world, featuring over 1,200 exhibits to showcase the latest in farm technology and equipment.

It was great to welcome Chairman Thompson to the Expo. Chairman Thompson is not only a good friend, but a champion for farmers, growers, and producers across the country. It was great to welcome my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the House Ag Committee to the Valley to show them around the Expo I’ve been going to since I was a kid.

I had a great time showing Chairman GT Thompson and Rep. Doug LaMalfa around the dairy this week. Not only did we tour the property and taste some California milk, but we also met with Clean Energy Fuels to talk about the benefits of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for the dairy industry, the transportation industry, and the environment.

Watch me explain how the digester works with Chairman Thompson here.

Our question this week comes from Blanca. She asks:

“What should we do about China? It seems like they are becoming a lot more aggressive, especially after the spy balloon incident. I’m worried that things are going to escalate into a full-on war.”

Thank you for your question, Blanca. There is no doubt that China is the single greatest strategic challenge facing the United States. While they have been a significant trading partner of ours for decades, the reality is China now seems much more focused on expanding its global influence than being a reliable friend and ally. The spy balloon incident shows just how bold their hostility is becoming and how important it is for the United States to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party.

One of the first votes I took in the new Congress was to establish the bipartisan Select Committee on China to assess the military, economic, and technological threats from China. I was also proud to co-sponsor H.R. 809, the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act, which seeks to prohibit the purchase of U.S. farmland by anyone associated with the government of the People’s Republic of China.  

As your voice in Washington, I will continue to support legislation and actions that hold China accountable and protect American interests. 

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