As Valley farmers and families know too well, California has suffered from drought conditions for years. While the recent storms have helped to improve drought conditions, the reality is most of California is still in a drought – meaning we cannot take this rain for granted.  As we prepare for more atmospheric rivers to pass through the Central Valley this weekend, it is critical that we capture and store as much rain as possible to make sure we don’t find ourselves in yet another man-made water storage.

This week, I spoke on the House floor about just how critical rain capture and water storage is for Valley farmers and families. You can watch my full speech here or below:

As a lifelong dairy farmer, I know firsthand the challenges government overreach places on the day-to-day operations of farms and businesses. Giving the federal government more control over our water in California has already proven devastating for rural communities, and we must do all we can to ease the burden this places on families, farmers, and small business owners across the Central Valley.

That is why this week, I proudly voted for H.J.Res. 27, a joint resolution of disapproval for President Biden’s new Water of the United States (WOTUS) rule. This proposed rule expands the federal government's jurisdiction over America's waterways, adding more regulatory uncertainty for our rural communities.

You can read my full statement here. 

As energy prices continue soaring for Central Valley families, it is critical that we do everything we can to increase our supply of safe, clean, and affordable energy to drive down costs. That is why this week, I introduced the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act – a bill that will make it easier to approve domestic energy production projects.

You can read more about my bill here. 

Tax season is here again. If you have questions or need help with filing your taxes, the IRS is offering assistance to make sure you file correctly.

The IRS announced special Saturday hours at many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) in California to offer in-person tax filing help without an appointment. The Bakersfield TAC and Fresno TAC will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 11, April 8 and May 13. Taxpayers should come prepared with all documentation needed to file their taxes. For more information, visit irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help

If you need assistance with a government agency, my office is always here to help. Please reach out to my Hanford office at 559.460.6070 or visit my website to request help. While we cannot guarantee a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem.

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.

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