Dear [firstname]

Today marks over two weeks since the government shutdown began. I understand this is causing significant frustration and uncertainty, so I wanted to take this opportunity to address you directly and give an update on where things stand. Even though the government remains closed, my offices in the district and Washington, D.C. remain open and ready to assist. While some agencies will pause or delay processing, my team can continue opening cases, submitting paperwork, and asking them for updates.

For the full list of FAQs, please visit my website.

This week, I had the honor of welcoming veterans and volunteers from the Central Valley and Kern County Honor Flights to Washington, D.C. Their bravery and commitment are truly inspiring, and it was a privilege to personally thank them for their service. Our nation’s heroes have sacrificed so much for our country, and I’m grateful to have played a part in making their visit to the capital memorable.

Greeting the Central Valley Honor Flight at the Lincoln Memorial

Welcoming The Kern County Honor Flight to the U.S. Capitol

Even though the government remains shut down, Team Valadao has continued to engage with constituents and attend community events.

Over the weekend, my team attended the 48th Annual Rededication of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park—a lively event featuring a historic presentation, building tours, live music, and more. Team Valadao also participated in UCP+ Hanford’s annual Fall Fest at the College of the Sequoias. Later, my staff presented a certificate honoring the North of the River Park and Recreation District’s 70th Anniversary Festival.

On Tuesday, Team Valadao attended two ribbon cuttings: the grand opening of the Shafter-Wasco Compost facility and the renovations of the Jamison Children’s Center for the Leadership Bakersfield program. On Wednesday, my team visited Earlimart to tour the CSET Senior Center and meet with the Earlimart Family Resource Center. That same day, they also participated in the Kern High School District’s Principal Partners Day, which included a tour of East Bakersfield High School alongside community leaders.

On Thursday, my staff attended a ribbon cutting for the groundbreaking of a new Save Mart, welcoming their newest location. Finally, my team presented certificates of recognition to employees of Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds at the Pistachio Festival in Avenal.

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 here 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!

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.

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.  

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.