This week I had the pleasure of meeting with members of the California Fresh Fruit Association during their visit to Washington, D.C. We had a productive discussion about the needs of our specialty crop and stone fruit industries in the Valley, as well as some of the challenges they face, including rising costs and burdensome trade regulations. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to address these issues as we work to pass a Farm Bill and new Agriculture Appropriations legislation.

This past week several students from the Central Valley were in Washington, D.C. attending a conference. I was happy to welcome them to the Capitol for a tour and show them one of the best views in the city! If you're planning a trip to Washington D.C. be sure to reach out to my office so we can help secure tour tickets. Fill out the request form here. 

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 Paula in Bakersfield. She asked: 

"Now that you’ve won a new term, what will your priorities be for the next two years?"

Thanks for your question, Paula. I’m truly honored and humbled by the trust the people of California’s 22^nd Congressional district have placed in me. Since my first day in Congress, my top priority has always been to try to make life better for Central Valley families. This remains my focus as we wrap up the 118^th Congress and we head into the 119^th. With that in mind, there are a few areas I’m especially eager to work on.

Access to water in our communities is vital. The Central Valley plays a crucial role in feeding the nation, and without a proper water supply, this isn’t possible. I’m committed to finding solutions for farmers to ensure they have access to the water supply they need to produce. This includes cutting red tape and streamlining the permitting process for building more water infrastructure. I’m eager to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this happen. I’m also focused on passing a strong Farm Bill that provides support to Valley farmers.

I’ll be working to expand the production of clean, affordable, and reliable energy in the United States. In California there has been a non-stop assault of harmful regulations on the energy sector which has driven prices sky-high for the everyday American.

Securing the southern border must also be a top priority to ensure our nation’s security. It’s crucial that we know who is entering the country at all times- a goal that isn’t being met today. At the same time, as the son of immigrants myself, I understand and appreciate the tremendous contributions made by those pursuing the American Dream. Many Central Valley industries depend on immigrant labor, and we must recognize this reality to maintain a stable agricultural workforce and local economy. The immigration system is broken, and comprehensive reform is needed to address these concerns.

While these are just some of my top priorities as my new term begins, I'll also be focused on shrinking inflation, reducing wasteful government spending, supporting our veterans, and bringing federal resources to our communities. There's lots to be done and I'm eager to get back to work for Central Valley families.

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.  

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