Representative David Valadao

Dear [firstname],

Read below for an update on my work in Washington on behalf of the Central Valley.

Make sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive regular updates on what's happening in D.C. and the Central Valley.

Stay Alert and Stay Prepared

This week, another round of atmospheric rivers hit California - bringing lots of rain, strong winds, and an increased risk of flooding. While the Central Valley has not faced the brunt of the storms at this point, it is important to stay informed as flooding and other emergencies can often happen quickly and with little warning. You can sign up to receive County Emergency Alerts below:

You can also find additional resources to ensure you’re prepared for any potential flooding below:

Red Cross Flood Preparedness Checklist (English)

Red Cross Flood Preparedness Checklist (Spanish)

I will continue monitoring the situation as the storm systems move across California. Make sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to receive any updates about the storms, potential flooding, and any resources made available to those impacted by natural disasters.

Combatting Fentanyl in our Communities

Fentanyl has continued to plague our communities across the nation, especially here in the Central Valley. That’s why this week, I joined my colleagues in introducing the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan bill would help in the fight against fentanyl by increasing coordination between various state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. We must ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to get fentanyl and other illegal drugs off our streets, and the HIDTA Reauthorization Act will help do just that.

You can read more about our bill here.

Rep. Valadao introduces the HIDTA Reauthorization Act

Welcoming the Friant Water Authority to Washington

This week, I met with the team from Friant Water Authority in Washington, D.C. During our meeting, we discussed the ongoing repair efforts to the Friant Kern Canal and how they’re preparing for another wet year. I was also able to provide an update on my bill, the WATER for California Act, which passed through the House last fall.

Rep. Valadao meets with Friant Water Authority in Washington D.C.

Pushing Back on Misguided Energy Mandates

Recently, President Biden’s Department of Energy issued a moratorium on approvals of all new pending permits for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export sites. This pause on LNG permitting is yet another misguided energy policy from the Biden administration that puts extreme environmentalists over the needs of hardworking Americans. Stopping these important export sites is a gift to our adversaries and puts American jobs at risk. This week, I joined my colleagues in a letter to President Biden strongly encouraging him to reverse this misguided decision.

You can read our full letter here.

Rep. Valadao joins colleagues asking the President to reconsider LNG moratorium

Working to End Human Trafficking

Sadly, human trafficking plagues all our communities across the nation – including right here in the Central Valley. That’s why this week, I was proud to join my colleagues in voting for the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation would require the Department of Labor to train their employees to recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking, as well as how to better work with law enforcement when reporting potential victims. As the co-chair of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus, I’m committed to continuing to work with my colleagues to end this horrific crime.

Casework Corner

Tax season is upon us, and it's important to make sure you get your returns filed before the Monday, April 15th deadline.

Need help preparing your tax returns this year? The IRS provides resources to taxpayers to help ensure their filings are done correctly and filed on time. You can contact your local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center for in-person help, or find a list of reputable tax preparers by clicking here.

Additionally, the IRS provides free tax preparation help to those who qualify through their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. You can learn more about the VITA program by clicking here or calling a local partner below:

Kern County VITA – 661-834-1820

Kings County VITA – 559-582-4386

Tulare County VITA – 559-732-4194

You can also file your taxes online by using myfreetaxes.com if you do not need assistance.

Visit irs.gov/vita for free tax preparation assistance

Ask David

Our question this week comes from Robert in Lemoore. He asks:

"What can we do about the homelessness problem in the Valley?"

Thank you for your question, Robert. I think everyone can agree the homelessness problem in California is one of the biggest challenges we face as a state. Homelessness isn’t just impacting our major cities, but it’s overwhelming rural communities throughout the Central Valley. Unfortunately, there is not one easy fix to this very complicated issue.

Many of the homeless on our streets are there because of serious mental health conditions and/or substance abuse disorders. While providing folks with temporary housing is one piece of the puzzle, we have to address the root cause of why these individuals are on the streets in the first place. Recently, I signed on as a co-sponsor of the Treatment and Homeless Housing Integration Act, which would require those receiving federal housing support to participate in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.

While there's not one silver bullet fix to this issue, this bill is an important step towards getting people off the street and into a treatment program to help them turn their lives around.

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.

Stay Connected with Text Alerts!

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.

In the News

Rep. Valadao, 5 others introduce fentanyl legislation

Congressman David Valadao, R-Hanford, joined five colleagues Monday in introducing new legislation aimed at curbing the reach and impact of fentanyl trafficked by cartels through the U.S. border with Mexico.