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July 20, 2018
Dear Friend,
Today I had the pleasure of welcoming Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, to the Central Valley. The Secretary and I toured the Don Pedro and New Melones Reservoirs to show the Secretary these critical water storage projects first hand and discuss the administration’s role in improving water infrastructure and protecting Valley water rights.
Bureaucrats in Sacramento have announced a reckless water grab and it is more important than ever to protect water resources that are absolutely vital to our community. Under this scientifically flawed plan, vast amounts of water from the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers would be flushed away, causing rates to skyrocket for residents and farmers alike. While they claim the plan would support fish populations, the science just does not back this up.
I look forward to working with Secretary Zinke to find responsible water storage solutions that will protect Central Valley water rights while conserving our natural resources.
Fighting Sacramento’s water grab in Congress
This week I offered two amendments to support Central Valley water which passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a Department of Interior appropriations bill. These amendments put a stop to the state’s disastrous plan to flush water from Valley rivers and ensure federal resources are available to build storage.
My first amendment prohibits federal agencies from participating in the state’s plan to deplete the federally owned New Melones reservoir, which provides water for the Central Valley Project and generates hydropower for our communities. Sacramento’s plan would drain significantly more water from New Melones each year, potentially leaving it completely dry some years. This would put in jeopardy critical water supplies for Central Valley farmers and communities who rely on this water for their homes, businesses, farms, and electric power. My second amendment mirrors my NEW Water Act and would expand financing to water supply projects to help build our water storage projects. We need more water, not less. For more information on what I’m doing to protect our water, visit Denham.house.gov/water.
Looking for a Job? Come to my Central Valley Jobs Fair
This week I announced my 2018 Central Valley Jobs Fair which will be held on August 2 at Modesto Junior College. Over eight years, my jobs fair has connected thousands of CA10 residents to jobs right here in our community. This year, we will be hosting over 60 potential employers, including Amazon, U.S. Army. Turlock Police Department, Taylor Farms, and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.
I’ve been working hard in Congress to bring more jobs to the Central Valley, and this jobs fair will connect job seekers with job creators across our community. My Central Valley Jobs Fair is open to all residents of the 10th District on August 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Doors open for veterans, armed services members and their spouses at 10:00 a.m. For more information, visit Denham.house.gov/jobsfair.
Recognizing those who made the ultimate sacrifice
On Tuesday, I introduced a bill to rename the Ceres Post Office after Lance Corporal Juana Navarro-Arellano, a hero from our local community. Juana made the ultimate sacrifice for her country in 2006, when she was killed in action protecting her convoy from insurgents in Anbar Province, Iraq. Juana became a U.S. citizen at the age of 13 after migrating from Mexico to the Central Valley with her family at a young age. She made herself an integral part of the community, volunteering her time to tutor children with learning disabilities and building shelters for the disadvantaged with Habitats for Humanity. Five years after graduating from Johansen High School in Modesto, CA, Navarro followed her twin brothers’ example and enlisted with the Marine Corps, becoming a Bulk Fuel Specialist with the 9th Engineer Support Battalion. As a Marine, Juana embodied sacrifice, courage, and fidelity to duty. My bill to rename the Ceres Post Office gives us the chance to honor her memory by making sure her life of service to others can inspire us all.
Check out my new veterans e-newsletter and subscribe
Each quarter I distribute a special edition newsletter with the latest veterans news out of Washington to local VFW Halls and on my website; but now you can subscribe to receive this special edition newsletter directly in your inbox by visiting www.Denham.house.gov/vets and filling out the form at the top of the page. I recently I sent out my new veterans e-newsletter, including information about my VA COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act, my Vet-to-Farm amendment in the NDAA, and my work to ensure homeless veterans have equal access to housing assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Check out the most recent edition online here.
Upcoming Mobile District Office Hours
I have two Mobile District Office Hours (MDOs) in the next week where constituents can meet with representatives from my district staff for assistance with variety of services and issues, including Medicare, Veterans Affairs, Social Security and the Internal Revenue Services (to name a few). For a full list of scheduled MDOs, visit the Upcoming Events section of my website. Casework assistance is always available through my Modesto office as well by calling 209-579-5458.
Tuesday, July 24 – Ripon
1-2 p.m.
Ripon Chamber of Commerce
104 South Stockton Ave, Ripon, CA 95366
Thursday, July 26 – Denair
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Denair Community Services District
3850 North Gratton Road, Denair, CA 95316
In the News
July 20, 2018
Rep. Jeff Denham Talks Water Storage in the Central Valley
Fox40
July 19, 2018
Denham Selected For 2018 Farm Bill Conference
The Oakdale Leader
July 17, 2018
Interior Secretary Zinke to visit California as GOP steps up fight over state's water
Emily Cadei and Kate Irby, McClatchy DC and The Modesto Bee
July 17, 2018
House committee passes Denham's bill to reduce medical waste removal costs at VA sites
The Ripon Advance
Sincerely,
Jeff Denham
Member of Congress
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