Last week, the Bureau of Reclamation announced a 35% water allocation for South-of-Delta agricultural repayment and water service contractors, up from their initial allocation of 15%. While I was glad to see Reclamation increase its initial allocation, this is still simply not enough to ensure our farmers and producers have the water they need to feed the world - especially considering 2023 was one of the wettest years in California in recent memory. 

This week I sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton urging Reclamation to increase these water allocations for South-of-Delta contractors. You can read my full letter here. 

Our veterans have made unimaginable sacrifices in defense of our freedoms, and it’s our duty to provide the highest level of care for these brave men and women when they return home. That’s why I’m proud to be the lead sponsor of H.R. 7342, the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act which would establish an advisory committee within the VA to improve access and care for disabled veterans.

Recently, I spoke before the House Veteran Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight to urge my colleagues to support this legislation. You can watch my full statement to the committee here or below. 

Supplemental oxygen is a lifeline for so many people, but too many struggle to access the oxygen that works best for their lifestyle. That’s why this week, I introduced the bipartisan Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act. The SOAR Act will make it easier for people to get the oxygen treatment they need to live healthy, active lives.

You can read more about my bill here.

This week, Christians around the world have been celebrating Holy Week. I hope everyone in CA-22 who's celebrating has a great Easter Sunday with loved ones. 

One of my highest honors as a member of Congress is nominating Central Valley students to attend a United States Service Academy. I’m excited to announce that my office will be hosting a Service Academy Night on April 3, 2024 at Hanford West High School.

This informational event will help students learn about attending U.S. service academies and applying for a congressional nomination. Students will also be able to meet with representatives from the Naval Academy, West Point, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and other local ROTC programs.

To RSVP for Service Academy Night, click here. For more information, you can visit valadao.house.gov or call (559) 460-6070.

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 James in Kettleman City. He asks:

“Why did you vote for the government spending deal last week?”

Thank you for your question, James. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, determining how taxpayer dollars are spent is a responsibility I take incredibly seriously. I know many people had concerns about this funding package – including myself. This was by no means a perfect bill. However, the bill we passed last week funded a historic pay raise for our troops, and thousands of new Border Patrol Agents to secure the border. It also bolstered our military’s ability to counter threats from those who wish to do us harm.  

The bill cut spending in each federal department's budget, with the exception of the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, and kept the historic Fiscal Responsibility Act spending caps in place. It also clawed back more than $20 billion from Biden’s inflated IRS, and $6.4 billion in unspent COVID funds. I'll continue working with my colleagues to reduce out-of-control Washington spending.

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.