Recently, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) raised water allocations for South-of-Delta contractors from 35% to 40%. This increase is insufficient considering California is in its second consecutive wet year, our reservoirs are all above the 15-year average, and we have more than 100% snowpack in the Sierras. This week, I went to the House Floor to urge Reclamation to increase these allocations so Central Valley farmers and communities get the water they need to meet our nation’s food supply needs.  

You can watch my full speech here or below.

This week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg testified before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. During the hearing, I asked Secretary Buttigieg about the impact of California’s devastating new environmental regulations on our supply chain and California’s failed High-Speed Rail project.  

You can watch my full questioning of Secretary Buttigieg here.

Last week, the McFarland High School Robotics Team traveled to Dallas to participate in the VEX Robotics World Championship and compete against more than 1,000 of the best high school robotics teams from over 50 different nations. The McFarland team made it to the quarterfinals, ending the competition in the top 1% of all VEX Robotics teams in the world. I got to visit the team last year and see their robot design firsthand, so I know how hard these students worked to make it to the Championship. I am so proud to see the Central Valley well-represented on the world stage. Congratulations to the whole McFarland High School team for all your success!

It was great to meet with the team from the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) this week in Washington. During our meeting, we discussed some of the most important issues facing our law enforcement officers in the Central Valley, such as improving recruitment and retention in our local departments. PORAC does great work to support our men and women in law enforcement, and I’m proud to work with them to ensure our communities are safe.

This week is National Small Business Week – a great opportunity to support the local businesses that keep our Central Valley economy going. Small Businesses are the backbone of the American economy, employing thousands of people and providing a sense of community for millions of people. Whether it’s our family farms, local barbers, or your favorite restaurants – make sure to support #CA22 businesses this week!

Unexploded landmines have long caused incredible damage in nations across the globe. These explosives are typically laid during wartime, but remain underground long after a conflict has ended - threatening the lives of innocent civilians, pets, and farm animals. That's why this week, I was proud to co-host the Mine Awareness Day Celebration and Exhibit with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).  As the Co-Chair of the Congressional UXO/Demining Caucus, I'm proud to support those who are working to clear these landmines and save innocent lives around the world. 

Each week, I try to use this e-newsletter to keep you updated on the legislation my team and I are working on here in Washington. While Congress’ main job is to pass laws, there are many critical issues that my office works on where passing a law might not always be the best solution.  I wanted to give you some insight into some of the issues my team and I worked on this week, even if you may not have heard about it:

• Avian (Bird) Flu Outbreak in Cattle
  • Since the outbreak, my staff and I have had multiple calls and meetings with dairy farmers, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to discuss their testing methods and how they’re monitoring the spread of the disease.
  • I want to reiterate that every expert we’ve contacted has repeatedly stressed that meat and milk from cows are safe to consume for humans.

• Submitting Appropriations Requests
  • This week, my team and I reviewed more than 1,000 appropriations requests our office received for the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations bills.  
  • Submitting my priorities for each of these bills is one of the first steps of the government funding process, and a critical way for me to bring federal dollars back to the Central Valley.  

• Reimbursements for Flooding Damage
  • The historic flooding in the Valley last created ongoing challenges for farmers and communities, and ensuring those impacted have access to the relief they need is a topic I discussed this week with a few of our local officials.  
  • My team and I will continue working to ensure Valley communities have the resources they need.  

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 Steve in Hanford. He asks:

“I was shocked to hear our local unemployment rate has increased to more than 10%. With the nation enjoying rates in the mid 3% range, what are you doing to address this problem?”

Thank you for your question, Steve. Sadly, it’s true that the Central Valley has a much higher unemployment rate than other areas in California and the nation. Rural communities, like many of those in the Valley, have faced chronic underfunding for decades. This lack of investment, and the limited resources that result from it, have directly contributed to the higher unemployment rate we see today.

Unfortunately, the policies coming out of the Biden Administration and Sacramento don't make it any easier for our rural communities to expand. Our two largest industries in the Valley - agriculture and energy - are some of the most regulated and overburdened industries in the country. The endless bureaucratic red tape forced on businesses in California, as well as misguided policy on water, land use, and other challenges we face make it incredibly difficult to attract new investments to our area. 

My number one goal in Congress is to support and advance rural communities in the Central Valley. That’s why I’ve co-introduced or supported multiple pieces of legislation, including the Investing in Rural America Act, the Rural Development Modernization Act, and the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act, to help increase federal grants and investments in our Central Valley cities, towns, and unincorporated areas. These resources would also create incentives for businesses to invest in rural communities they’ve historically overlooked, increasing economic development in our area. I’ll continue working with my colleagues to advance rural communities and level the playing field.

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.