Central Valley producers have had a difficult and uncertain couple of years due to severe weather events like drought and flooding. I introduced the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act this week, which would provide an additional $14 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist producers who have suffered losses due to natural disasters. I’ll continue working to ensure Central Valley producers have the resources and support they need to grow the food that feeds the world. Read more about my bill here.

This week I voted in favor of a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through December 20th, allowing Congress more time to continue work on Appropriations Bills. The CR also included my legislation to extend critical veterans resources and programs that were set to expire at the end of the fiscal year. Our work is far from finished here. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’ll continue working to rein in wasteful Washington spending. Read more about my vote here.

I was proud to introduce a bipartisan resolution to designate November 12^th as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Awareness Day. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare brain disease that causes a rapid decline in cognitive health. Unfortunately, most patients die within a year of symptom onset. Longtime Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall passed away from CJD in 2018. I was joined by Mayor Hall’s widow, Lavonne Hall, to speak on the House floor in support of my resolution and to honor Mayor Hall’s memory. Read more about my resolution here.

This week I led the California Republican delegation in a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging them to deny California’s waiver request for the Advanced Clean Fleets rule. This rule mandates trucking companies begin transitioning to zero-emission vehicles this year, with a complete ban on the sale of conventional trucks by 2036. While I support efforts to cut down on emissions and improve air quality, this one-size fits all rule is impractical and would ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers. To read my full letter to the EPA, click here.

Before heading to Washington this week, I stopped by the Fresno VA to visit a local veteran. Mr. Phillip Paden honorably served our country in the Vietnam War. I was honored to present him with a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin to thank him for his service. We owe Mr. Paden and all our veterans a great debt of gratitude.

I've heard from many veterans in the Central Valley about the frustrating parking situation at the VA Hospital in Fresno. The VA is working to raise awareness about nearby parking lots with additional space for patients with shuttle services offered. Click here to see a map of the additional parking options.

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!

Our question this week comes from Ellen in Stratford. She asked: 

"What is being done to make sure there is no illegal voting in the election?"

Thanks for your question, Ellen. I understand your concerns about a secure and fair election this November. Confidence in our elections is the foundation of our democracy- people must have confidence that only legally-cast votes are counted, and that the results aren’t being manipulated. Without faith in our elections, our democracy can’t thrive.

We need meaningful reforms in our election system to restore trust. Earlier this year, I joined my colleague Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) to introduce the SECURE IT Act. This bill would mandate voting technology undergo simulated cyber-attacks to ensure they aren’t vulnerable to security threats from foreign or domestic bad actors. In addition to cybersecurity, it’s also essential that only eligible voters are able to cast ballots. That’s why I support identification requirements for all voters. Just as we need IDs to rent a car, board a plane, or check into a hotel, we should also require them for voting. Earlier this week I also voted for legislation that included the SAVE Act, a bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. I’ll continue pushing for reforms that strengthen the security of our elections.

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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