Ensuring trust in our nation's elections is vital, and for people to have confidence in our democratic process, we need to do everything we can to secure any vulnerabilities. That’s why I was proud to join Congressman Deluzio (PA-17) in introducing the Strengthening Election Cybersecurity to Uphold Respect for Elections through Independent Testing (SECURE IT) Act. This bipartisan bill would require that voting systems undergo simulated cyberattacks as part of their standard certification process to help boost the security of our election systems from foreign and domestic bad actors. By working to discover potential security flaws ahead of time, we can strengthen our election infrastructure and restore confidence in our electoral system.

Our nation’s job market is changing rapidly, and workers need strong technological skills to keep up. To provide workers with these crucial digital skills, I joined Congressman Vindman (VA-07) and Senator Kaine (D-VA) to reintroduce the Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act—a bipartisan bill which would create a new “Digital Skills at Work” grant program. This legislation would help people enter the workforce with the foundation they need while easing the burden on employers and small business owners. I’m proud to work with my colleagues to set Central Valley workers on a path to success and strengthen our economy in the process.

In 2023, local officials discovered an illegal biolab with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ties operating out of Reedley, CA. After an investigation, officials discovered multiple dangerous biological agents, including COVID-19, Malaria, E. coli, blood, and biological waste. This incident was a dangerous national security failure, and it’s critical we put safeguards in place to ensure it never happens again.

To help address this issue, I joined Congressman Costa (CA-21) to reintroduce the Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill would close federal loopholes that allowed a facility like Reedley to operate under the radar and strengthens oversight so bad actors can’t exploit gaps in the future. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Costa to reintroduce this commonsense bill and improve coordination at the local, state, and federal levels.

This week, I met with Lindsay Unified School District’s Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Grant Schimelpfening. We had a great conversation about the importance of federal support for educational innovation, strengthening career pathways for all students, and improving the workforce pipeline into colleges and the trades. I really appreciated his insights and look forward to further conversations about education in the Central Valley.

This week, I met with the Vice President of Student Services at Bakersfield College, Cesar Jimenez. We discussed the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program and the positive impact it has on student parents looking to pursue higher education. This program helps adults pursue long-term family economic security, and I'm looking forward to our continued conversations.

To start the week, my team met with Armondo Da Silva, Director of Lindsay Parks and Recreation, to discuss legislative priorities for the new year. Shortly afterward, they attended the 50th Anniversary of Kings County WIC, where they presented a Certificate of Recognition honoring the organization’s decades-long commitment to supporting infants, mothers, and children in need.

Next, the team met with the City of Lindsay to review legislative priorities for the upcoming congressional session and reflect on this year’s progress. Team Valadao then joined the River Walk Care Center for its ribbon cutting ceremony, celebrating the addition of new technology designed to improve the cognitive health, mood, and overall well-being of seniors. Later, they attended the opening of Clinica Sierra Vista’s newest specialty services center in Bakersfield, presenting a certificate recognizing the organization’s continued service to more than 200,000 community members across Fresno and Kern counties. That evening, my team held an end-of-year wrap-up meeting with the Lindsay Public Safety Chief to discuss priorities and prepare for the year ahead and met with the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce to close out the year, reflect on shared work, and highlight upcoming legislative goals.

On Wednesday, Team Valadao joined the Tulare County Association of Realtors to celebrate the year’s achievements and usher in a new class of officers. Later, they met with the City of Porterville’s Development Associate to discuss community development plans for the coming year. To close the day, they attended PSW’s ribbon cutting ceremony unveiling their new branding—honoring their history while looking toward a future of empowering individuals with disabilities.

My team began Thursday by joining the Kern County Honor Flight to help serve food during their monthly breakfast. That afternoon, they presented a VFW veteran in Hanford with a certificate recognizing his exceptional service to our community and nation. They also participated in a South Valley Neighborhood Partnership meeting, collaborating with local agencies to strengthen community connections during a potluck celebration. Team Valadao then attended the 86th Annual Kern County Taxpayers Association meeting to hear speakers discuss career training, workforce development, and other key issues affecting Kern County.

On Friday morning, my team presented a Certificate of Recognition to the Bakersfield Army National Guard during their groundbreaking ceremony, celebrating the start of construction on their new field maintenance shop. They also attended the Porterville State of the City event to recognize outstanding businesses and receive updates on major projects and community initiatives. Afterwards, Team Valadao joined the grand opening of Triolet Feeding Technology in Tulare to welcome the manufacturer to the region and celebrate its commitment to advancing modern agriculture through innovation. Finally, my team will wrap up the week by judging the Delano Parade!

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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