David Valadao

Moving forward, how do you plan on balancing the needs of those in the southeast dealing with the hurricane-related damages and those in the West dealing with very different kinds of damage caused by wildfires?

Last Friday, the Office of Management and Budget submitted a request for $44 billion for additional supplemental disaster funding, with $12 billion specifically designated for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds.

Unfortunately, the State of California was not included in that package.

As the son of immigrants, immigration is an issue close to my heart.

The success of our agriculture industry depends on immigrants, and without them the industry's economic viability and our rural communities will greatly suffer.

I am hopeful that the work done in this subcommittee today will further our efforts to successfully update our Nation's immigration policies.

I think we need to have good, sound policy. I think it is time for the Governor and our Senators to play a role in this as well. This bill has been passed. We have gotten some things passed, and I know that my friend across the aisle…

The first slide that I wanted to present here is one that I think is very important when we talk about water going out into the ocean. The first bar there, the dark blue one, is how much water was flowing through the estuary this past…

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 230. ____________________

I have been a proud supporter of our Nation's veterans and I am excited to sponsor this critical legislation today.

Providing for them when they return home is the least we can do to show our unwavering commitment to our veterans and appreciation for their service.

It is important for Congress to ensure our blue water Navy Vietnam veterans receive the support and care they need.

The veterans who served off the coast in blue water must now provide service-connection and exposure to Agent Orange, which can often prove a long and burdensome process.

Veterans have earned these benefits and should have the peace of mind of knowing that they will receive a COLA every year without having to wait for Congress to act.

Our government must now ensure that those who were exposed to Agent Orange during wartime are provided for when they return home.

My legislation, H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, would restore the presumptive--the presumption of service-connection for blue water Navy veterans that existed prior to 2002 VA decision.

If someone calls in to make an appointment and it takes them 2 months, where is the confusion?

one of the issues I have focused on in my career and my actual first piece of legislation I ever signed into law had to do with securing someone's ID and their personal information.

I appreciate the fact that you acknowledge that there is other science out there.

This year I introduced legislation to right this wrong, H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Veterans Act, which currently has over 270 bipartisan cosponsors.

Here at the federal level we have to ensure that Congress makes it a requirement for the DOD to say that, 'You will outline your certifications to either match what is acceptable within the State or somehow establish those partnerships,'…

The VA continues to deny claims for Blue Water Navy veterans, despite studies showing higher rates of cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among shipboard veterans.

I personally would like to applaud your decision to adopt the same electronic healthcare system as the DOD.

Thank you again for taking some time today.

I am concerned that the authority will start to use the grant money as a slush fund.