Dear [firstname],
Read below for an update on my work in Washington on behalf of CA-22. Make sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive regular updates on what's happening in D.C. and the Central Valley. Know someone who would want to read this newsletter? Make sure to forward it to a friend!
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From the beginning, I’ve made it clear to House Leadership that I won’t support a final reconciliation bill that threatens access to Medicaid coverage for our most vulnerable populations or jeopardizes the stability of our rural hospitals and healthcare providers. Unfortunately, the Senate’s current budget proposal goes beyond the House’s reasonable reforms outlined in H.R. 1, or the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. That’s why I led a group of 15 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune expressing our concerns to the Medicaid provisions included in the Senate Finance Committee’s text. While the House’s version reflects a more reasonable and compassionate approach, the Senate’s version in its current form includes provisions that would disproportionately affect California and fails to give our hospitals enough time to adjust to new funding changes. As negotiations continue, I’ll keep working closely with my colleagues in both chambers to advocate in favor of the House’s more common-sense approach.
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After months of hard work preparing the Fiscal Year 2026 bill as Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, I’m proud to see it advance out of full committee markup. This bill not only ensures Congress has the resources needed to effectively serve the American people—it also reins in unnecessary spending and refocuses our priorities to reflect our core values. Most importantly, this legislation provides the necessary funding to support Capitol Police as they work to keep Members of Congress, visitors, and staff safe. I’m grateful to Chairman Cole for his leadership and guidance throughout this process, and I look forward to building on this momentum as the bill heads to the House floor.
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This week, I led the entire California Republican delegation in sending a letter to Governor Newsom, urging him to suspend the state’s upcoming gas tax. increase. On July 1st, California’s gas tax is set to increase to 61.2 cents—directly affecting your wallet at the pump. Our state already has the highest gas prices in the nation—over a dollar more than the national average—and instead of providing some relief, Governor Newsom continues to make it worse. This also comes in the wake of the closure of several in-state refineries, including the Valero Benicia refinery, which has directly affected California’s already limited fuel supply. It’s time for Governor Newsom and the Democratic supermajority in Sacramento to finally suspend the gas tax increase, stop these harmful price hikes, and ease the burden on working Central Valley families instead of adding to it.
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Millions of Americans from all ages and backgrounds use online dating platforms to connect with romantic partners, but unfortunately, they’ve also become a way for scammers to target and exploit unsuspecting victims. While it’s sadly common to see users lie about things like their age or occupation, romance scammers use fake profiles to develop connections and emotionally or financially exploit their target. There have been countless stories of people being conned out of their entire life savings, all because they believed they had found love online.
As criminals become more sophisticated, it’s important that we have safeguards in place to protect people online, which is why I was proud to see my bill, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, unanimously pass the House this week. People who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, which means they may not know they're talking to someone who has been removed by a platform for suspected fraud. This bipartisan bill helps keep users safe by requiring online dating sites to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have spoken with a person removed from the app for fraudulent activity. This is an effort to enhance online safety and combat financial fraud, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get this bill across the finish line.
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I’m proud to announce that the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act was passed in the House this week. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I was proud to support this bill that delivers on our promise to America’s veterans and strengthens support for our military families. This bill fully funds veterans’ health care, the VA, and key benefits our veterans have earned, while also investing in a new program to combat veteran homelessness. I’m also happy to see Central Valley priorities included—like important language related to the Bakersfield VA clinic and funding for an F-35 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at NAS Lemoore. This is the first FY26 appropriations bill to clear the House, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to move the rest of our funding bills forward.
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The First Amendment right to peacefully protest is fundamental, but the violence and vandalism that occurred in Los Angeles earlier this month went far beyond free speech. Today, I was proud to see the resolution I co-sponsored condemning the riots and commending law enforcement for their bravery was passed on a bipartisan basis. This resolution reaffirms out commitment to standing with law and order, and I'm happy to see common sense win.
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This week, I met with the San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority to discuss their upcoming projects and how they’ll impact the over 2 million people and 1.2 million acres of agricultural land in the Central Valley they serve. As a lifelong Valley resident and farmer, I know firsthand the challenges faced by families, farmers, and small businesses when water becomes scarce. Water is our lifeblood, and ensuring reliable access to this critical resource is one of my top priorities in Congress. I look forward to our continued partnership and will continue working to ensure CA-22 has the water supply we depend on.
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On Wednesday, I sat down with representatives from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to talk about their ongoing efforts to improve air quality in our region. We had a great conversation about the air pollution challenges we face in the Central Valley and the steps being taken to address them. Improving air quality is a win for breathability and our agriculture sector, and I'll keep working to support initiatives that prioritize cleaner air for our communities.
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This week, I met with representatives from Baker Commodities, a company that plays an important role in rendering agricultural and organic waste. We spoke about how Congress can better support this key part of the ag industry and how rendering helps farmers manage waste by turning byproducts into useful material. This process reduces environmental impact and supports sustainability, and I look forward to continuing our partnership and making sure we're supporting industries that directly help our farmers and producers.
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This week, my team visited California MENTOR homes, which provide around-the-clock care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and allows them to lead fuller, more independent lives. Team Valadao also joined New Life Ministries for their Juneteenth celebration, recognizing the end of slavery in the United States. In Bakersfield, they attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Community Action Partnership of Kern’s (CAPK) new Cover Cottages, which will provide safe, supportive housing for at-risk veterans. Finally in Hanford, Team Valadao celebrated the 50th anniversary of Kings County Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which has spent five decades delivering vital health and nutrition services to help local families thrive.
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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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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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Did you know you can now sign up for texts from my office to stay up to date on my work in Washington D.C.? To sign up to receive updates from me directly to your phone, just text VALADAO to (559) 387-4346 and you will be automatically subscribed. You can also sign up for text alerts using this form here.
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California House members urge Rollins to develop H5N1 cattle vaccine
Five House members from California’s San Joaquin Valley sent Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins a letter urging her to develop and evaluate an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cattle.
"Dairy vaccination may be the most effective way to protect cattle and, consequently, protect poultry in many regions of the country, including California..."
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House Approves Valadao's Romance Scam Prevention Act
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) that aims to help reduce online crime and keep people safe from online scammers.
Read more
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I'll be using this newsletter as a way to keep you updated on my work in Congress. Make sure to sign up for regular updates and follow my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with my work.
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David G.Valadao Member of Congress
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