This week, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries came to Tulare County to hold a field hearing on my bill, the WATER for California Act.  This gave the committee an opportunity to hear directly from water stakeholders, farmers, and communities impacted by California's water storage problems.  

The devastating flooding impacting the Central Valley right now emphasizes the urgent need to be proactive about fixing our water storage and infrastructure issues so that we are better prepared for these kinds of weather events and resilient to periods of drought. The WATER for California Act will help to streamline water operations, increase storage infrastructure, and hold water regulators accountable – all of which would help us be more prepared the next time major storms come to California. I’m thankful for Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman and Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz for their continued leadership on this critical issue.

You can watch the full Subcommittee hearing here. 

This week, I was able to take members of the Natural Resources Committee on a series of site visits so they could see firsthand the impact of recent storms and the urgent need to be proactive about water storage. We stopped at the Friant Dam as well as a dairy farm that had been badly damaged by flooding.

It is critical for my colleagues to understand how important proper water storage and management is for the Central Valley, and the consequences of not taking action to fix the complicated and contradictory regulations that govern our water.

Last weekend, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and I did an aerial tour of the damage caused by recent storms. While the recovery efforts will require long term coordination between local, state, and federal officials, I am incredibly thankful to all the first responders and emergency workers who have helped to keep people safe during these storms. I will continue working to ensure the Central Valley has the resources they need.

If you were impacted by recent storms and flooding, you can apply for assistance through FEMA:

Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Call the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585)

This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Kern County DA Cynthia Zimmer to learn more about the important work being done at the Kern County Family Justice Center in Lamont. The FJC provides victims of domestic violence and child abuse with counseling, legal assistance, and child support services.

It is essential that victims of domestic abuse know they are not alone. If you or a loved one have been a victim of domestic violence, or if you want to learn more about the work being done at the Family Justice Center, click here. 

The IRS has extended tax filing deadlines for those impacted by recent storms. This is welcomed news for Valley families, farmers, and business owners who have had their livelihoods completely disrupted by the storms.

Victims of severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in California beginning March 9, 2023, now have until Oct. 16, 2023, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. This applies to anyone who has been impacted across Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties.

For more information, click here.

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