This week, I voted to advance the Continuing Resolution (CR). While a CR isn't the ideal way to fund the government, shutdowns are costly to the American taxpayer. This measure ensures critical government services remain operational, protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients from unnecessary disruptions, and guarantees our veterans receive their full benefits. It also makes sure junior enlisted troops receive a raise. 

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to transparency and responsible management of the funding process. With this CR in place, we can turn our focus to passing full-year appropriations bills that provide certainty for Central Valley families, businesses, and our economy.

This week, I had the privilege of meeting with Tom Addington, Superintendent of Central Union Elementary in Lemoore. We had a great conversation about Impact Aid and the importance of ensuring our students in rural communities receive the education they deserve. Impact Aid is a great tool to make sure our public school districts on non-taxable federal property still get the resources they need. I look forward to my continued conversations with Tom and remain committed to supporting education in the Central Valley.

On Wednesday, I met with representatives from Private Essential Access Community Hospitals (PEACH), a group of safety-net hospitals that serve Medicaid patients across our state. These hospitals are on the front lines of care for some of our most vulnerable neighbors, and the work they do is invaluable. We discussed the challenges they face, including rising costs and workforce shortages, as well as the importance of protecting Medicaid funding to keep these hospitals open and fully staffed. I understand how important Medicaid is to the Central Valley, and I will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen our healthcare safety net.

I want to thank my Hanford office intern, Bethany, for all her hard work this winter semester. She worked tirelessly to serve California's 22nd Congressional District and was an crucial piece of my district team.

Internships are a great way to learn more about our government and the legislative process. If you or someone you know is interested in interning in my district or Washington, D.C. offices, please visit my website for more information.

The tax filing deadline is April 15. If you need help filing your taxes for this year, the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program helps taxpayers with low-to-moderate income prepare their tax returns for free.

To learn more about the VITA program, you can click here or call a local partner below:

• Kern County VITA – 661-834-1820
• Kings County VITA – 559-582-4386
• Tulare County VITA – 559-732-4194

You can also file your taxes online by using myfreetaxes.com if you do not need assistance. 

La fecha límite para la delcaracion de impuestos es el 15 de Abril. Si necesita ayuda para presentar sus impuestos este año, el programa de Asistencia Voluntaria para el Impuesto sobre la Renta (VITA, por sus siglas en inglés) del IRS ayuda a los contribuyentes con ingresos bajos a moderados a preparar sus declaraciones de impuestos de forma gratuita.

Para obtener más información sobre el programa VITA, puede hacer clic aquí o llamar a un socio local a continuación:

• VITA del condado de Kern – 661-834-1820
• VITA del condado de Kings – 559-582-4386
• VITA del condado de Tulare – 559-732-4194

También puede presentar sus impuestos en línea utilizando myfreetaxes.com si no necesita ayuda.

While I was in Washington this week, Team Valadao was out in the Valley connecting with the community. Today, my staff attended the grand opening of Maverick Medical. Maverick Medical is a veteran-owned business and a great step forward for patient-centered care in Kern County. I'm grateful for the Kern County Veteran Chamber of Commerce for supporting businesses like this, which not only serve our veterans but also strengthen our local economy. Congratulations Maverick Medical—our community is lucky to have you.

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!

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.