Current data shows that there's 9.8 million job openings across the country, but there are only 5.9 million unemployed American workers. This labor shortage has had a devastating impact on our small businesses and agricultural producers throughout the Central Valley.

FEMA has announced they are extending the deadline to apply for federal disaster relief. If you were impacted by the storms and flooding in the Valley earlier this year, you are still eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is now SEPTEMBER 1, 2023.

Visit DisasterAssistance.gov to apply or call 800-621-3362

This week, the House voted to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Congress must reauthorize the FAA every 5 years, giving us the opportunity to improve and invest in our nation’s air travel. This bill includes legislation that aims to increase the number of pilots and air traffic controllers to reduce delays and cancellations, invest in our small and rural airports, and preserve America’s place as the global leader in aviation safety. I was proud to vote in support of this bipartisan legislation.

This FAA reauthorization comes as Americans are dealing with record-level flight delays and cancellations. More than 180,000 flights in the U.S. were canceled and nearly 25% experienced delays last year, leaving passengers stranded and our airports in chaos. I want to know how your flight experiences have been lately:

It’s going to be another hot weekend in the Central Valley. It’s important to make sure you stay hydrated and stay safe. If you need a place to cool down, you can find cooling centers across the Valley by clicking the links below:

• Kings County Cooling Centers
• Tulare County Cooling Centers
• Kern County Cooling Centers

This week, I had the opportunity to attend an address from Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a Joint Session of Congress. During his speech, President Herzog discussed the importance of the U.S. and Israel alliance, the special bond that holds our two nations together, and the need to combat antisemitism around the world. I will always stand with our ally Israel and will continue to support the deep friendship between our two countries. 

This week, I had the opportunity to meet with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Homelessness has been a growing issue for years - especially in California. We need innovative new solutions to combat this crisis and help get those with mental illnesses or addiction the treatment they need to get off the streets. I will continue working with our local leaders to find solutions to this issue.   

Are you planning a trip to Washington D.C. and looking to tour the White House? Tours of the White House are some of the most sought-after tours in the nation’s capital, and the White House Visitor Center only allows a limited number of guests to visit each day. While my team will do all it can to help arrange White House tours, we are unable to guarantee a tour for you and your group at this time. 

To give you the best chance at having a White House tour confirmed, please plan on submitting all White House tour requests at least 90 days in advance of your trip to Washington D.C. You can submit your requests by visiting my website here or by calling (202) 225-4695.

Finally, please know that all White House tours are administered at the sole discretion of the White House Visitor Center, and may be rescheduled, delayed, or canceled with or without cause and/or with or without notice. 

While we cannot guarantee tours of the White House, my office is always happy to help schedule a tour of the U.S. Capitol for those visiting Washington D.C. You can request a tour of the Capitol building here. 

Our question this week comes from Jeff in Hanford. He asks: 

"What is your stance on the current situation with human trafficking and what can we do to combat it?" 

Thank you for your question, Jeff. As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus, this is an issue that I take incredibly seriously. Unfortunately, California has the highest number of reported human trafficking cases of any state in the country. It is critical that law enforcement, experts, victims' rights organizations, and lawmakers work together to address this growing and disturbing trend. 

I'm proud to support meaningful legislation to give law enforcement additional tools to target human traffickers both in the U.S. and internationally and establish programs to support victims and prevent potential re-exploitations. While these bills are a great step forward, there is still much more to be done. 

It's important that all leaders in California unite around combatting human trafficking, and punish those who commit these heinous acts to the full extent of the law. I was incredibly disappointed to see some Democrats on the California Assembly Committee on Public Safety vote against State Senator Shannon Grove's legislation, SB 14, to enhance penalties for repeat sex trafficking of minors. 

I'll continue working with law enforcement, our district attorneys, and victims' rights groups to combat human trafficking throughout the Central Valley, the state, and the nation. 

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.