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.