This week, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party issued its report on the illegal biolab in Reedley, its connection to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the federal government's response to the discovery of the lab. 

I am seriously alarmed by the findings of this report. Not only was this lab a blatant national security threat, but it put every single resident of the Central Valley at serious risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FBI, and other federal agencies were slow to respond to local officials or take their concerns seriously. It is also unacceptable that Governor Newsom failed to step in. I will continue to monitor this investigation and work with my Congressional colleagues to address vulnerabilities in our pathogen-related regulations. Americans deserve assurance that labs like this are not operating in their own backyard.  

You can read the Committee’s full report here.

This week, I joined my colleagues Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) to introduce the Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion (Specialty CROP) Act. Our specialty crop producers in California have faced many challenges over the last few years - from supply chain backlogs at our ports, to rising input costs, labor shortages, and drought. The Specialty CROP Act will better identify trade obstacles so American-grown specialty crops have fair access to foreign markets.

You can read more about our bill here

Last Saturday, we celebrated Veterans Day, and I was honored to attend the Veterans Day Festival here in Hanford. This annual event is a great tribute to our veterans and brings the community together for live music, car shows, and a shared sense of gratitude for the brave men and women who’ve worn the uniform. During the event, I also got to participate in a pinning ceremony for Vietnam veterans.

While I was in Hanford, members of Team Valadao were attending the Bakersfield Veterans Day Parade, honoring our veterans and their service. Thank you to all the organizers of these events, and thank you to all our Central Valley veterans for your service to our country.  

Our farmers and producers in the Central Valley supply a quarter of our nation’s food and the majority of our nation’s fruit, nuts, and vegetables. But they often face enormous challenges while doing so – including drought and unpredictable, unfair water allocations. Our farmers know how to manage drought and conserve water.

I was proud to join my colleagues Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) to introduce the WEST Act. This bipartisan legislation would support the agriculture practices more commonly used in drought-prone areas, like the Central Valley, so that our farmers have the resources they need to continue growing the food that feeds the nation

This week, we celebrated National Rural Health Day. Expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare for rural areas is essential, which is why I've been proud to support legislation to increase funding for rural health clinics, address doctor and nurse shortages, and expand telehealth services. Thank you to all of the providers, advocates, and organizations dedicated to making it easier for rural communities to access healthcare. 

Our question this week comes from Frank in Bakersfield. They ask:

"Have you looked at the Southern Border and all the millions of people coming from over 140 countries flowing into the U.S.? Have you been to the border lately?"

Thank you for your question, Frank. What we've seen at the southern border this year, and during the entire Biden Administration, is a national security and humanitarian crisis. 

I've been to the border multiple times during my time in Congress, and most recently visited in April of this year. The situation on the ground when I was there earlier this year was the worst I have ever seen, and it has only gotten worse since then. Congress and the President must come together to secure our border and end the humanitarian crisis. 

Earlier this year, the House passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. This legislation would increase the number of Border Patrol agents, end catch and release, streamline the asylum process, and fund the deployment of new technologies to help our agents on the ground. The only way to finally fix our broken immigration system is to take a comprehensive approach to the problem.  I'll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure our southern border and end this crisis. 

Do you have a question about my position on an issue? How the Congress operates? My thoughts on the news of the day?

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