This week, I visited the Kern Regional Center (KRC) to tour the facility and announce the introduction of my new bill, the Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act. This legislation would remove the marriage penalty for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for individuals with disabilities, who currently face a reduction when both individuals receive SSI. I introduced this bill to ensure married adults with intellectual disabilities have the resources they need to meet their basic needs and lead independent lives. I want to thank one of my constituents, Kelly, who brought this important issue to my attention on behalf of her daughter and the folks at KRC for a productive site visit.

You can read more about my bill here.

Earlier this week, I had the chance to visit the USDA’s Agriculture Sciences Center in Parlier to tour their facility and learn more about the important work their team is doing on behalf of the Central Valley ag community. While I was there, I got to see their food quality and insect quarantine facilities, as well as meet with their water management research team. I want to thank the researchers, experts, and other staff for such a productive tour.

The opioid epidemic continues to have a devastating impact on communities across the country, especially here in the Central Valley. Our healthcare professionals are on the frontlines of battling this epidemic, but shortages in our healthcare workforce are making this fight even more challenging. Recently, I joined my colleagues to introduce the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act. This bill will help to increase the number of healthcare professionals trained in addiction and pain medicine so we can get folks the treatment they need to recover.

Read more about the bipartisan bill here. 

As the son of immigrants, I grew up speaking Portuguese at home. When I began attending school, I had to become proficient in English – a task that is much easier said than done. That’s why I was so honored to attend Vineland School District’s recent ceremony to recognize students who have been reclassified as English proficient. It was great to present these students certificates of achievement to recognize all of their hard work.

Additionally this week, I had a productive meeting with Arvin Community Services District General Manager Raul Barraza. During our meeting, we got to discuss important issues facing the city such as the reliable delivery of drinking water, upcoming projects in the area, and more. We also discussed how my bill, the WATER for California Act, would impact the Valley’s water supply.

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