This week, President Biden delivered his State of the Union address. There are many of us who are willing to work with the President to solve the issues facing the American people.  However, I was disappointed by the lack of accountability taken over the many issues Central Valley families are facing under this administration’s policies – from the skyrocketing cost of energy to the amount of fentanyl coming across our open border.

This week I gave a speech about my thoughts on the President’s address on the House Floor. WATCH:

While I disagreed with a lot of what the President had to say, I was glad to hear him talk about his commitment to strengthening our supply chain, bringing manufacturing back to America, and ensuring our law enforcement officers have the resources and training they need to keep our communities safe. There are always places we can work together to find common ground. 

This year, I had Chad Hathaway join me as my guest at the State of the Union address. Chad is the owner and operator of Hathaway LLC, an independent oil and gas company based in Bakersfield. Kern county is the leading energy provider for the state of California, and the #7 oil-producing county in the nation. Energy producers like Chad help create high-paying jobs in our community and affordable and clean energy for our country. Unfortunately, this administration and the state of California are making it more and more difficult to produce American-made energy.

Tax season is here again. If you have questions or need help with filing your taxes, the IRS is offering assistance to make sure you file correctly.

The IRS announced special Saturday hours at many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) in California to offer in-person tax filing help without an appointment. The Bakersfield TAC and Fresno TAC will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on February 11, March 11, April 8 and May 13Taxpayers should come prepared with all documentation needed to file their taxes. For more information, visit irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help .

If you need assistance with a government agency, my office is always here to help. Please reach out to my Hanford office at 559.460.6070 or visit my website to request help. While we cannot guarantee a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem.

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.