Specialty crop growers contribute over $75 billion annually to the U.S. economy, yet they continue to face rising input costs, limited access to labor, trade disruptions, and other unprecedented challenges. That's why, as co-chair of the Specialty Crop Caucus, I joined a bipartisan group of members in sending a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees urging immediate relief for specialty crop producers. The letter comes in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which promises $11 billion in economic assistance to row crop producers, and $1 billion for specialty crops and other commodities. As USDA rolls out the FBA Program, I urge the Committees to ensure that the $1 billion set aside for specialty crops is distributed quickly, fairly, and equitably, so growers can continue producing for our nation and remain globally competitive.

The Central Valley has no shortage of essential projects ready to move forward, but unfortunately, it’s near impossible to put shovels in the ground due to our outdated, burdensome permitting process. That's why I was proud to vote for the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act this week. This bipartisan bill would allow federal agencies to rely on previously conducted, scientifically sound environmental reviews to cut down on excessive paperwork, reduce delays, and get projects moving sooner. I'm also proud that portions of my bill, the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act, were included. The SPEED Act brings much-needed certainty to our permitting process and will jumpstart crucial investment in our communities.

This week, I had a great meeting with Pritpal Singh to discuss my resolution which recognizes the Sikh Genocide of 1984. As co-chair of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, I'm proud to represent the vibrant Central Valley Sikh community and continue working to address anti-Sikh discrimination.

Over the weekend, Team Valadao attended the Kings County Area Public Transit Agency’s grand opening ribbon cutting, celebrating the completion of an eight-year effort to build a new multi-modal transit center. I was proud to see this project completed after helping secure $5 million in Community Project Funding for Fiscal Year 2023. My team also met with Chris Mitchell, Director of External Affairs for the California National Guard, to tour their facility and attend a groundbreaking ceremony highlighting continued investment in our Guard and their mission.

On Tuesday, Team Valadao joined the Kern County Honor Flight for their monthly coffee and donuts, sharing a meal with local veterans and listening to their stories. Later that day, they presented a certificate of recognition to the Shafter Police Department in celebration of their new police substation and library extension, an important milestone for the Shafter community. The team then joined the McFarland community for the groundbreaking of their new police station and community center, marking a significant investment in public safety and McFarland’s future. On Wednesday, they met with Kern County’s judicial leadership and executive team to discuss the court’s priorities and challenges, hear directly about community needs, and tour the courthouse. To end the week, Team Valadao attended the grand opening of Roosevelt Elementary School’s Addition and Modernization Project in Tulare, celebrating new upgrades that will enhance learning opportunities for both students and teachers.

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!

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