Nunes calls on Biden to extract Americans and Afghani allies trapped in Afghanistan

President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan has needlessly imperiled countless American and Afghani lives. The President withdrew American security forces before first extracting American personnel and Afghani allies to whom we granted Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to prevent their slaughter by the Taliban. The Biden administration must now do all it can to ensure that those they left to the Taliban’s mercy are swiftly extracted from that collapsed nation.

If you or someone you know is an American stranded in Afghanistan or if you are a constituent looking to aid an Afghan SIV applicant stranded in Afghanistan, please call my office at (559) 733-3861, and we will do all we can to help.

Californians deserve cheap, reliable energy

In case you missed it, I recently authored the Clean Energy Protection Act, a bill that would keep open Diablo Canyon, California’s last remaining nuclear power plant. The state’s push to close the site is part of Sacramento Democrats’ long campaign to subvert California’s reliable energy sources in order to transition to unreliable renewable sources like solar and wind power. The results speak for themselves: the highest electricity prices in the nation, increased energy importation, and Venezuelan-style rolling blackouts.

Since entering Congress in 2003, I have pursued legislative solutions that would secure cheap, reliable energy sources – particularly nuclear energy – for all Americans. To read more about my fight for energy, I recommend this article from The San Joaquin Valley Sun.

ICYMI: Yesterday’s Fox News interview with Maria Bartiromo

In case you missed it, yesterday I spoke with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on the latest issues impacting our nation. You can watch the interview by clicking here.

House Republicans aim to modernize America’s dysfunctional health care system

I recently met with Craig Castro, President and CEO of Community Medical Centers, to discuss my efforts to provide Central Valley residents with high quality, affordable, and personalized health care. As the co-lead of House Republicans’ newly formed Healthy Future Task Force, I will be working with my Republican colleagues to craft legislative proposals that empower patients, lower costs, and expand choices and treatments for a healthier America. We will also strengthen U.S. manufacturing of medical products to reduce our dependence on Communist China and other nations for medical supplies.

Americans deserve better than Democrats’ ineffective, one-size-fits-all, government-run health care system. I’m eager to continue working with local health care networks like Community Medical Centers to develop a modern, innovative, and flexible health care system that meets the needs of my constituents and the American people.

The people of Cuba deserve freedom

The Cuban people are rising up against the Communist dictatorship that has ruled them for more than half a century.

The Cuban regime is already deploying its vast security forces to suppress the protestors. But as we saw in the Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and countless other Communist nightmares, there comes a time when people simply cannot tolerate the humiliation and oppression of Communism anymore—a time when they’ll risk everything, including their own lives, for liberty.

Communists everywhere come to power promising equality, justice, and social progress. But inevitably, their corruption and economic policies are so disastrous that they can only keep power by creating a massive police state. They constantly spy on the people they’re supposedly serving; secret police squads ruthlessly suppress every element of personal freedom; and society is subject to an all-encompassing propaganda and indoctrination campaign that touts the regime’s success in the face of every conceivable shred of evidence.

Let’s hope the current attacks on the Cuban people will prove to be the last gasp of a depraved, dying regime. The long-suffering people of Cuba deserve their freedom.

Don’t let California nuke affordable energy

Due to utopian green energy mandates, California is facing a sustained energy crisis. The Democrats in Sacramento are trying to phase out fossil fuels without practical, affordable alternatives in place. The result has been Venezuelan-style rolling blackouts and a 40 percent jump in electricity prices in the last decade.

If the Democrats believed their own warnings about an approaching climate apocalypse, they’d be actively building nuclear power plants—a clean, efficient, and safe energy source with zero carbon emissions. Instead, they are forcing the shutdown of California’s last operational nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, which is slated to retire in 2025.

Should California Democrats succeed in wiping out both fossil fuels and nuclear power, Californians will face a bleak energy future of even higher electricity prices and more unreliable energy production.

That’s why today I introduced in Congress the Clean Energy Protection Act, a bill that will require California to issue Diablo Canyon the permits needed to keep nuclear power operating in the state, as well as direct the appropriate federal agencies to issue permits to allow the plant to develop an additional 8,000 megawatts of next generation nuclear capacity. In short, the bill will stop California from shutting down a crucial source of reliable, clean baseload energy.

To learn more about my fight to restore sensible energy policies to California, you can watch my interview with Fox Business’ Elizabeth MacDonald here or read my op-ed in the Washington Examiner here.

Nunes and Guthrie Announce Goal of Healthy Future Task Force

Washington, D.C. – House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy today announced the formation of the Healthy Future Task Force, led by Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Devin Nunes (CA-22) and Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (KY-02).

The Task Force will build on Republican health policy successes and craft a patient-focused agenda for the future.

“We would like to thank House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy for giving us the opportunity to put together solutions to modernize, personalize, and improve health care in the United States. Our goal is to bring together the best ideas that we can implement in order to make health care more affordable, promote innovation for new treatments, and increase health care choices for all Americans. Republicans are united in preventing Democrats’ goal of a government takeover of health care, which will lead to fewer cures, less choices, and worse health care. We have a great team ready to get to work and listen to the American people to form a solution-based health care agenda,” said Nunes and Guthrie.

Republicans have a long record of patient-oriented accomplishments including:

• A Historic Ban on Surprise Medical Bills
• 21^st Century Cures
• The Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit for Seniors
• Medicare Advantage
• Expanding Telehealth
• Record Investments in the NIH
• Fighting the Opioid Epidemic
• The Children’s Health Insurance Program
• Protections for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions

Democrats focus on top-down approaches, papering over the failures of our current programs and insisting on “one size fits all” government takeovers like Medicare for All. By contrast, Republicans believe in a more modern, innovative, and flexible agenda that emphasizes:

• Lower costs,
• Keeping people healthy,
• Finding better therapies and cures,
• And giving all Americans a wide array of choices to provide them with peace of mind.

Over the next year and a half, the Healthy Future Task Force will listen, learn, and lead in developing this next chapter of the health care agenda. The Task Force will craft legislative proposals that Republicans can advance after retaking the majority. This agenda will focus on:

• Breaking down barriers to help all Americans live healthier and longer
• Increasing care choices
• Expanding the range of available providers
• Encouraging investment in new cures and therapies
• Lowering the cost of health services
• Providing a strong safety net for the most vulnerable Americans
• Protecting access to care for all Americans
• Ensuring patients remain in control of their health care

Leader McCarthy also appointed the following House Republicans to serve on the Task Force:

Tom Cole (OK-04)
Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08)
Morgan Griffith (VA-09)
Mike Kelly (PA-16)
Richard Hudson (NC-08)
Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02)
Rick Allen (GA-12)
Bruce Westerman (AR-04)
Jim Banks (IN-03)
Kevin Hern (OK-01)
John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13)
Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03)
Beth Van Duyne (TX-24)
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-02)
Victoria Spartz (IN-05)

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Local Tulare boxer headed to Tokyo Olympics

I want to congratulate Tulare native Richard Torrez Jr. on qualifying for the U.S. Olympic boxing team as the top-ranked American in the super heavyweight division. Torrez Jr. hails from a third generation boxing family; his grandfather, Manuel, started the Tulare Athletic Boxing Club in 1945. Be sure to read about Richard’s inspiring story in this profile piece from The San Joaquin Valley Sun.

The Tokyo Olympics open on July 23, 2021. I’ll be rooting for Richard to bring home Olympic gold.

Valley Boys and Girls Club visits me in D.C.

Today, I was honored to meet with a group of Central Valley students representing the Boys and Girls Club of the Sequoias at my Washington, D.C. office. It was a pleasure to speak with them and welcome a group of my constituents back to the Capitol for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Although the Capitol building currently remains closed for tours, I am hopeful that more Central Valley residents will soon be able to visit D.C. and enjoy the countless landmarks and museums that chronicle our nation’s great history.

My meeting with Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig

Yesterday, I met with Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig at The Red Caboose restaurant in Clovis for a productive discussion on the various issues impacting Fresno County. Supervisor Magsig and I look forward to continuing our work on behalf of the people of Fresno County.

My meeting with Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval

Today I met with Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval at Fresno State to discuss the local, state, and federal issues impacting the university community. I look forward to working closely with President Jiménez-Sandoval as he continues a proud tradition of helping Fresno State students succeed in the classroom and in our local communities.

House Intelligence Committee Republicans probe COVID-19 origin

Since 2012, Republican Members of the House Intelligence Committee have been examining the growing threat to America posed by the Communist Chinese government. As part of our ongoing investigation, we recently released an interim report on the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak. Significant circumstantial evidence indicates that the COVID-19 outbreak resulted from a laboratory leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. You can read the report here.

As noted by Byron York in The Washington Examiner, President Biden’s recent call for the Intelligence Community to more closely examine the origins of COVID-19 follows a letter I sent to the President notifying him of the circumstantial evidence collected by House Intelligence Committee Republicans and asking him to begin a whole-of-government effort to identify the origins of the virus. Regardless, I will continue to investigate the truth behind the spread of COVID-19 from China, the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to cover up the virus’ origin, and whether U.S. taxpayer money directly or indirectly supported dangerous dual-use scientific research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

My meeting with Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld

Yesterday, I met with Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld to discuss his important work on the Fresno City Council and the various federal issues impacting the San Joaquin Valley. Councilman Bredefeld and I look forward to continuing our work on behalf of the people of Fresno.

My meeting with Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer

Today I met with Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer to discuss his plans to revitalize the city of Fresno in the wake of Governor Newsom’s destructive COVID-19 lockdowns. I look forward to working with Mayor Dyer on issues where congressional action can help Fresno communities and small businesses, such as securing federal grants for key infrastructure projects like Veterans Boulevard.

Biden reignites the California water wars

Yesterday, the Biden administration reignited the California water wars. Following a previous announcement that the initial Central Valley Project water allocation for San Joaquin Valley farmers had been temporarily suspended, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that farmers in Fresno County and Tulare County will now receive zero percent of the water they are contracted for. Municipal and industrial water contractors in Fresno County and Tulare County will have their water allocations reduced from 55 percent to 25 percent. For more information, read this article from The San Joaquin Valley Sun.

The Biden administration’s reckless decision puts some of California’s most vulnerable communities at risk of running out of water. Instead of arrogantly issuing these devastating decrees, the administration must work with the San Joaquin Valley congressional delegation to ensure Valley families and farmers receive the water that is rightfully theirs.

Biden admin surrenders U.S. intellectual property to the CCP

 The Biden administration recently announced its support for a proposal that would force American developers of COVID-19 vaccines to surrender their intellectual property rights to hostile foreign competitors, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Of course, the CCP routinely steals Americans’ intellectual property by way of cybercrime, industrial espionage, and forced technology transfers.

It’s hard to imagine a more self-defeating or unjust policy. Indeed, I recently penned an op-ed outlining why the Biden administration must reverse course and protect American developers’ intellectual property from Communist China, which you can read here. Additionally, today I asked U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai if President Biden will protect American technology from being willingly surrendered to the CCP and other belligerent foreign governments, which you can watch here.

106 years later, the United States officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide

106 years after the Ottoman Empire began the mass murder of Armenians, the United States government has ended the historical vandalism of Armenian Genocide denial by recognizing the Armenian Genocide. This is a step I have sought for years despite the refusal of both Republican and Democrat administrations to call this tragedy by its proper name. Today, I continue to support the Armenian people, particularly in the face of continued aggression against Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Tulare Union students vie to win national Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition

I was happy to learn that Tulare Union’s Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) class was recently selected as one of 10 National Finalists in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition. The only school selected from California, Tulare Union’s STEM class is vying to become one of three National Winners. If chosen, Tulare Union will win a $130,000 prize package to spend on Samsung technology or products and other class resources, equipment, or materials for their students.

To vote for Tulare Union to be selected as a National Winner, click here. You can vote for Tulare Union once per day through April 26.

ICYMI: My latest interview with Mike Huckabee

In case you missed it, I recently spoke with Mike Huckabee about the Biden administration’s mishandling of the immigration crisis at our southern border, Californians’ efforts to recall Governor Gavin Newsom, and more. To watch the interview, click here.

Deferment period for all COVID-19 EIDL and other Disaster Loans extended until 2022

 The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced that it will extend deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022. All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020 will have the first payment due date extended from 12 months to 24 months from the date of the note. Similarly, all SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2021 will have the first payment due date extended from 12 months to 18 months from the date of the note.

For more information, click here. Questions on SBA COVID-19 EIDL and disaster loan payments can be answered by email at DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955.

High schoolers: Don’t miss the 2021 Congressional Art Competition

Each year, one outstanding high school artist from the 22nd Congressional District has the opportunity to display his or her artwork for a year at a national exhibition in the U.S. Capitol. Members of Congress choose a winner of the contest, known as the Congressional Art Competition, from their district whose art will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol. Typically, the tunnel is the most highly traveled access point to the Capitol, with Members of Congress and thousands of tourists viewing the artwork daily.

If you are interested in competing for a place in the national exhibition, please review the guidelines. In addition, all participants will need to complete the student release form, which should be included with all art entries. Finally, all art must be delivered by April 21, 2021, to my Visalia office at 113 North Church Street, Suite 208. For more information please call (559) 733-3861 or stop by my Visalia office.

The San Joaquin Valley has lost a legend

I am deeply saddened by the news that a San Joaquin Valley legend, Robert Smittcamp, has passed away.

Bob was a one-man Valley institution. A businessman, philanthropist, and community activist, he headed both Lyons Magnus food company and Wawona Packing. He had a particular passion for expanding healthcare access and improving education, donating millions of dollars to enhance both sectors throughout the Valley.

I’m lucky to have had Bob as a close friend and mentor. I was among countless Valley residents who frequently turned to him for advice on Valley issues. His assistance was invaluable on critical issues such as the Valley water crisis and the 2008 recession.

Bob and I also spent many hours discussing how to bring high-quality, affordable healthcare to every Valley family. I valued his insights on that question because he developed innovative ways to provide healthcare for his employees, who he always viewed as part of his own family. I’m convinced Bob’s approach provides a model for drastically improving healthcare for the entire country.

Bob epitomized all the virtues of the San Joaquin Valley. He was always available to help those of us who sought his guidance. But if you were looking for someone to sugarcoat a tough situation, then Bob was not your best option. He was an honest straight-shooter who’d give you candid answers whether you wanted them or not. That’s why I always consulted him when I had especially tough problems that needed realistic solutions.

Bob’s love for the Valley ran deep, and the region is richer in countless ways thanks to his contributions. He created jobs, ran companies that fed millions of people, shared his wisdom and experience with anyone who asked, generously funded deserving community institutions, and raised an exceptional family.

Bob was simply irreplaceable. He’ll be deeply missed, but he leaves behind an incredible legacy of hard work, success, and unconcealed passion for the Valley and its people. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife Annette, his children Brent, Lisa, and Brandon, and the rest of his family.

After months of delay, Governor Newsom unveils plan for school reopening

On Monday, Governor Newsom revealed that state legislators are working to pass a bill that would incentivize California public schools to reopen for in-person learning by April 1st. Schools that open by April 1st will receive access to $2 billion in state grants to help further their reopening efforts. To be eligible for the grant funding, public schools in Fresno County and Tulare County must reopen in-person instruction for grades TK-2 by April 1st.

The Governor’s announcement comes after months of unnecessary delay have done untold harm to the Central Valley’s youth. For more information, read this article from The San Joaquin Valley Sun.

Newsom visits Fresno empty-handed on vaccine distribution

On Wednesday, Governor Newsom visited Fresno, ostensibly to announce the creation of a mass vaccination center in the city from which much-needed vaccine doses could be rapidly distributed across the Central Valley. Despite an earlier pledge to place a mass vaccination center in the Valley, the Governor admitted Wednesday that details on the Valley’s new center were still unknown.

On the same day, my fellow Valley congressional representatives and I sent a letter to Newsom urging the establishment of multiple mass vaccination centers throughout the Valley. As Governor Newsom attempts to reverse California’s abysmal vaccine rollout, it is imperative that the state work with FEMA to provide swift vaccine distribution to the Central Valley families and workers who risk their health to feed the nation.

ICYMI: My latest interview with investigative journalist John Solomon

I was recently interviewed by investigative journalist John Solomon for his podcast, John Solomon Reports. John and I discussed the latest developments in the Russia collusion hoax and Big Tech’s efforts to shield Speaker Pelosi from difficult questions about the security failures during the Capitol riot. To listen to the podcast episode, click here.

FISA process in jeopardy after Clinesmith skates on probation for Russia Hoax

On Friday, former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith was sentenced to just one year of probation for falsifying evidence during the FBI’s corrupt Crossfire Hurricane investigation into the Trump campaign. Clinesmith doctored an e-mail to hide exculpatory information on Trump campaign associate Carter Page from the FISA court in order to renew a warrant to spy on Page. It is a travesty of justice that he has been allowed to skate on probation.

If there is no meaningful consequence for falsifying evidence to a secret court and using the FISA process to violate an American’s Fourth Amendment rights, then Americans can rightfully ask whether Congress should allow numerous FISA authorities to expire. I recently was interviewed on Fox News about the Clinesmith case and its impact on our national security. You can watch both interviews here and here.

Newsom lifts shelter-in-place order

Today Governor Newsom lifted California’s regional shelter-in-place order. With the order lifted, the state will return to the tiered county-by-county reopening system. Both Fresno County and Tulare County will return to the purple tier of Governor Newsom’s reopening system. Purple allows for restaurants to serve outdoors and allows nail and hair salons to reopen indoor service.

For more information, read this article from The San Joaquin Valley Sun.

My statement on the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick

Rep. Devin Nunes released the following statement today on the death of Officer Brian Sicknick, who succumbed to injuries sustained in the riot at the Capitol building.

“The death of Officer Brian Sicknick is a shocking tragedy. Having interacted with Capitol police officers on a near daily basis for years, I’ve seen that these selfless men and women are true professionals dedicated to protecting America’s legislature and the personal safety of representatives such as myself. Officer Sicknick’s death is a reminder of the steep price paid by individuals, families, and American society overall when political violence becomes normalized. I urge all Americas, across the entire political spectrum, to reject this senseless brutality and to advocate for political change through purely peaceful means. Justice must now be served on those responsible for Officer Sicknick’s death.”

Yesterday’s Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony

Yesterday President Trump awarded me the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an honor I accepted on behalf of the people of the San Joaquin Valley. I wanted to share with you some photographs from the ceremony, which you can see below.

President Trump awarding me the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Trump with my family.

Congressman Nunes receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

This morning President Trump awarded me the Presidential Medal of Freedom for my work to uncover the gross government abuses committed in service of the Russian collusion hoax. I accepted the award on behalf of the people of California’s San Joaquin Valley. My efforts to expose the Russian collusion hoax were recently discussed in The Federalist – you can read the article here.