This past weekend, I joined 23ABC in Bakersfield to talk about H.R. 1, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. During our conversation, I highlighted how the bill protects Medicaid for our most vulnerable populations—pregnant women, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities—by introducing reasonable changes to work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. The majority of Americans want Medicaid to be sustainable for those who need it most, and introducing reasonable work requirements protects the program for my constituents in the long term.

This past weekend, I was honored to deliver remarks at the Bakersfield National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony. Memorial Day serves as a solemn reminder that freedom is never free—the price is paid by the brave men and women who wore our nation’s uniform and sadly never returned home. They served out of love for our country and a commitment to something greater than themselves. We owe it to them to remember that sacrifice and live in a way that honors it. I’m grateful to everyone who came together to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and ensure their legacy continues.

Wildfires continue to threaten lives, property, and critical infrastructure across California and throughout the West. We must remain prepared year-round—not just during fire season—to protect our communities and support the first responders who put themselves on the line. That's why I joined the bipartisan, bicameral resolution designating May as "National Wildfire Preparedness Month". It’s imperative that we continue to spread awareness of wildfire preparedness to ensure the safety of our communities, and I’m proud to join my House and Senate colleagues to lead the charge. 

This week, my Washington, D.C. and district teams were out in California’s 22nd District connecting with our community. They began with a visit to Valley Children’s Hospital, where they met with healthcare professionals to discuss the state of pediatric care throughout the region. At Wonderful Farms, they saw firsthand how world-class pistachios are grown and learned more about the agricultural economy. The team then stopped at Kern Energy to talk about the importance of local energy infrastructure. They also visited the Tulare County Association of Governments where they spoke about my bill, the Farm to Market Road Improvement Act and the importance of Central Valley infrastructure projects.

Team Valadao also took part in many community events. In Kern County, they celebrated the groundbreaking of Letzring Gardens, a new Housing Authority project for seniors. In Arvin, they joined Mayor Olivia Calderon for the ribbon-cutting of the Colors of Healing mural, recognizing the Arvin-Lamont Kiwanis Club’s outstanding community service. To honor Memorial Day, the team presented a Certificate of Congressional Recognition at the City of Lindsay’s Military Banner Ceremony and attended the Kern County Veterans Chamber’s Memorial Day Tribute. They finished the week in Avenal, celebrating the accomplishments of students and teachers at the Reef-Unified School District’s Milton O. Wilen Awards Ceremony. From honoring our heroes to supporting local infrastructure, Team Valadao is committed to working hard for the Central Valley.

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 Christian from Wasco. He asked about the work requirements for Medicaid that were included in H.R. 1.

Thanks for your question, Christian. To ensure that Medicaid is protected for our vulnerable populations, H.R. 1—or the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act—introduces reasonable work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. Individuals can meet the work requirements by working, attending school, participating in job training, volunteering, or a combination of all for 80 hours per month.

There has been a lot of disinformation about these requirements, and I want to set the record straight: no one is being kicked off the program and there are several exemptions for populations that would face an undue hardship from a work requirement. In the bill, there are reasonable exemptions for:

• Pregnant women
• Children under 19
• Seniors over 64
• Parents of minor children
• Foster youth under 26
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals with substance abuse disorders
• Caregivers of minor children
• Caregivers of disabled individuals
• and more

People living in counties with unemployment over 8%, which is most of CA-22, can also qualify for temporary hardship waivers. 

Work requirements aren’t a punishment—they are meant to encourage a pathway to economic mobility for able-bodied adults while preserving Medicaid for those who truly depend on it. In order to ensure the longevity of the program, it’s important we make reforms today to minimize any fraud within the system, which is something the majority of Americans agree with.
 
To be clear, the changes to Medicaid proposed in the House-passed version of the budget bill must still be considered and voted on in the Senate before it becomes law. 

As the budget reconciliation process continues, my priorities remain the same. I remain committed to working closely with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure critical programs like Medicaid are protected for those who need them most.

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!

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