Making sure the priorities of the Central Valley are heard in Washington is a responsibility I take seriously. That's why I was honored to welcome Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Oz to Kern Medical in Bakersfield for a roundtable to hear directly from local healthcare leaders about the challenges facing our region.

Together, we discussed the effects of H.R. 1, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut, the new Rural Health Transformation Program, and upcoming CMS regulations and federal policies. Before the roundtable, we also took a tour of Kern Medical and saw their new mobile health clinics, the medical student union building, and spoke with the hospital’s doctors and nurses about the lifesaving care they provide the community.

I appreciate Dr. Oz taking the time to engage with those on the front lines of healthcare, and I look forward to continuing to work together to make sure our providers can keep serving our community effectively.

Central Valley hospitals play a vital role in caring for our communities, but they can’t do that without the resources they need. That’s why I was proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act. This bipartisan bill would create an “essential health system” designation in federal law to help better identify rural and underserved hospitals that require critical investments, making it easier to direct federal resources where they’re needed most. Supporting Central Valley healthcare providers is one of my top priorities, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to meet that goal.

After serving our nation, veterans deserve timely access to quality care, including stable housing and mental health support when needed. That’s why I was proud to introduce the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act this week. This legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) homeless program staff to identify and support at-risk veterans to identify appropriate housing options and mental health care. My bill strengthens VA coordination and accountability and helps connect veterans with the benefits they’ve earned, ensuring vulnerable veterans don’t slip through the cracks.

The Central Valley is one of the nation’s leading regions for olive oil production, and as demand grows, it’s important industry standards can keep up. Yet despite the growing domestic industry, the U.S. still lacks uniform, enforceable standards for producers. That's why I was proud to join Congressman Josh Harder (CA-09) to introduce the bipartisan Olive Oil Standards Act. By establishing these standards, we can protect consumers from misleading labeling, promote transparency in the marketplace, and ensure a level playing field for our Central Valley olive oil producers.

To start the week, Team Valadao met with Tulare City Councilmember Dennis Mederos to discuss how our office can be of assistance in the new year. They also presented a Certificate of Recognition at the Dess Perkins Eyes Wide Shut Human Trafficking Symposium, to honor the Dess Perkins’ Empowerment Foundation’s support for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Then, at the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce meeting, community leaders and my staff toured the Kern Community College District’s new Dreamscape Virtual Reality Mobile Learning Lab. Team Valadao joined Richland School District for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Redwood Elementary School Expanded Opportunities Learning Program in Shafter. This extracurricular program provides students with opportunities to gain life skills, build friendships, and discover new passions. Next, my team attended the Tulare Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee meeting to deliver legislative updates and discuss the chamber’s plans for the coming year. My staff ended the day by delivering Certificates of Recognition to Granite Pointe Elementary School for their upcoming awards assembly, honoring students for their academic achievements. 

On Tuesday, my staff attended the Kings County Board of Supervisors meeting. Later, they met with the Tulare County Association of Realtors Governmental Affairs to discuss their plans for 2026 and how our team can help. Next, my team gave a legislative update to Delano Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sunshine Hernandez and Delano City Manager Maribel Reyna and learned about upcoming events, initiatives, and projects for the new year. Team Valadao then attended the Delano Joint Union High School District Board meeting to present Certificates of Recognition to the Cesar Chavez High School Titan Band in celebration of their state championship win at the CSBC Field Show Band Competition. This marks the Titan Band’s third state championship in a row—a major milestone for the school and Delano Community.

On Wednesday, Team Valadao attended a business roundtable where Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh delivered city updates and they had the opportunity to talk with local business owners and community leaders about important business trends and upcoming events. My team also had a meeting with Victor Chavarin, Field Representative for Senator Melissa Hurtado, to discuss upcoming Kings County events. My team then met with Shafter City Manager Lance Lippincott to learn more about the city’s projects and initiatives for the new year. Afterwards, my staff met with the Shafter Community Collaborative, where they heard from guest presenters from United Way of Central Eastern California and California State University of Bakersfield. Team Valadao then had the honor of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the St. Vincent De Paul Homeless Center’s new remodel and expansion project, which provides updated bathrooms, showers, and kitchen for our underserved community members. Later at the McFarland Police Department swearing-in ceremony, my staff presented a Certificate of Recognition to the new Police Chief, Adrian Olmos. 

On Thursday, Team Valadao attended the groundbreaking ceremony for CSUB’s Energy Innovation Building, where the university will conduct energy research, community and industry collaborations, and STEM education activities. My staff also met with Philip Daubenspeck, Sequoia Riverlands Trust Chief Investments and Partnerships Officer, to discuss his organization’s plans for the new year. Later, they met with Pastor Gregory Tatum to discuss an upcoming event for Change Community Church. Then, my staff visited the Caring Corner for the ribbon cutting ceremony of their newly remodeled facility for kids. The team also met with Kings County Office of Education Superintendent Todd Barlow to discuss legislative priorities and the 2026 Congressional Art Challenge. To wrap up the week, Team Valadao attended Kern County Farm Bureau's pesticide awareness event, highlighting the importance of Central Valley farm industry, farmers, and farm workers.

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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