Last month, the California Energy Commission unanimously approved the Replacement Tire Efficiency Program, a harmful regulation that will severely limit consumer choice and raise costs for replacement tires. That's why I was proud to partner with Rep. James Gallagher (CA-01) and members of the California delegation to send a letter to Governor Newsom, urging his administration to withdraw this rule as soon as possible.

Governor Newsom is advancing a misguided policy in the name of unproven climate goals that will make driving less efficient, less safe, and more expensive. Central Valley families are already feeling the strain of California's high cost of living, and I'm committed to continuing to work to give people some relief.

Central Valley families and farmers know firsthand the devastating impact flooding can have on our communities, like we saw when Tulare Lake flooded in 2023. Instead of just reacting after a disaster strikes, it's important we take proactive steps to reduce damage before the next flood. That's why I joined Rep. Beyer in introducing the National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act. This bipartisan bill would establish a coordinated federal program to improve the understanding of flood risks, strengthen resilience efforts, and help prevent loss of life and property caused by flooding. By making changes now to plan for future disasters and improving coordination between the public and private sector, we can help keep the Central Valley safe from these natural disasters.

This week, Team Valadao toured Bakersfield College’s Delano campus with President Pfluger to learn more about its HVAC pathway and other workforce development programs. They also toured Wonderful College Prep Academy with Superintendent Jorge Aguilar. Staff later attended the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Government Review Council meeting and met with Tri-County Water Authority, Corcoran High School Principal Ed Larkin, and Corcoran City Manager Greg Gatzka.

In Tulare County, the team attended the ribbon cutting for the new Tulare County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder office and toured the facility. They also visited Able Inc., a program that helps adults with disabilities find meaningful employment. Later in Bakersfield, staff toured the California Living Museum Zoo, met with Kern High School District Superintendent Mike Zulfa, and attended the City of Wasco Coalition meeting. They also attended Bakersfield College’s President Welcome Reception and toured the Kern County Network for Children Dream Center, where they met with Program Coordinator Bryanna Wood to learn more about the resources available to local families.

In Porterville, staff attended the West Putnam Elementary ribbon cutting, met with Porterville Unified School District staff, and toured the Porterville Senior Center with Community Services Employment Training staff. They also connected with local leaders at the Porterville Kiwanis Club and met with Porterville Library staff to discuss plans for a new library. Team Valadao also attended the TEDxVisalia and The Collective Catering ribbon cuttings and participated in Advancing the Mission, hosted by Tulare-Kings Resources for Life, focused on education, advocacy, and support in our communities. They toured the Tulare County Museum and met with Tulare Fire Chief Charlie Norman to discuss public safety needs. Staff also met with the Tulare County Resource Management Agency for updates on infrastructure priorities and ongoing projects.

In Kern County, the team attended the Kern County Honor Flight monthly breakfast to support our local veterans. They toured the Arvin Navigation Center and met with Arvin High School administrators to discuss the start of the school year and how our office can be a resource. Staff also toured the Kern County Fire Department’s Arvin Substation with Division Chief Gary Blake, attended the South Valley Neighborhood Partnership Meeting, and met with Arvin Union School District Superintendent Georgia Rhett.

To round out the week, Team Valadao toured the Bakersfield Educational Center with the Farmworker Institute of Education and Leadership Development and met with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Chief Government Relations Officer Carlos Rojas, Sgt. Jiminez of the Arvin Police Department, and Casa Esperanza Bakersfield Executive Director Christine Lollar. They attended Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance’s Open House and Community Resource Fair & Fundraiser, joined the Downtown Shafter First Friday, and attended Rooted in the Valley at the International Agri-Center to hear directly from community members about agriculture and the issues impacting our region.

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!

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.