Weekly Update from Rep. Denham - April 25, 2014

Statement

Dear Friend,

As you may have seen on Friday the Obama administration announced yet another delay to the pending decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. According to the State Department, they need more time to review. Meanwhile over 40,000 jobs stand waiting to be created. It's been over five years now since the builders first submitted their application, and the American people are ready to fill those jobs shouldn't be kept on hold for political reasons. I remain committed to an all-of-the-above energy strategy.

I've had a busy week at home in the 10th district!

On Monday, I took a tour of Aubin Industries, a world-class designer and manufacturer of mobile wheel systems for the material handling industry and recipient of a 2013 "Best of Tracy" award. That evening I got to meet high school students from across the Central Valley at our reception for the 2014 Congressional Art Competition. Madison Tessera, a student from West High in Tracy, won first place with her piece, "The Cuckoo's Nightmare." Her piece will be flown to Washington, D.C. where it will hang on the walls of the Capitol building for the next year. Madison and a guest will also receive a free round trip to Washington for the winners' reception this summer.

Second place went to Neha Singh from West High for her work, "All of Your Colors."

If you or a student you know is interested in participating in our annual competition, please see my website for more information.

On Tuesday, I took a tour of Central Valley Specialty Hospital, which employs over 250 Central Valley residents. The hospital takes the overload of patients from Doctors Medical Center and Memorial Hospital and is dedicated to providing acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing to patients in the Modesto area.

I had the honor of presenting two new flags to the City of Modesto for hanging over the Modesto City Arch. The current flags, which I donated in 2010, are showing wear and in need of replacement. I look forward to seeing the new ones hang over the arch, where "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health" continue to welcome visitors to the city every day.

On Wednesday morning, I had a great conversation with members of the Turlock Sunrise Rotary Club at Latif's regarding our ongoing drought and federal efforts to alleviate its effects. We need more water storage, and we need it now. The House passed legislation months ago and it is past time for the Senate to act. We also discussed my recent trip to visit our troops in Afghanistan and the work of our military overseas.

I swore in the city of Modesto's new postmaster, Jennifer Gowans, on Thursday morning. Jennifer has been U.S. Postal Service employee since 1985 and has been Modesto's interim postmaster since Postmaster Tomlins' retirement last summer.

This morning I held a town hall meeting in French Camp with members of the national and local VA to discuss my ongoing efforts to bring a VA facility to French Camp. I was joined by Congressman McNerney (D-Stockton) and local area vets. Rep. McNerney and I invited Michelle Kwok, Acting Director of the Oakland Regional Benefit Office; Sheila Cullen, Director of the VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21); Lisa Freeman, Director of the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System; Leonardo Flor, Director of the Western Region of the VA's Office of Construction and Facilities Management; and Jim Sullivan, Director of the VA's Office of Asset Enterprise Management to join us at the town hall.

The 2009 announcement of the new clinic was a huge step forward for all of our veterans, many of whom are driving hours to and from Palo Alto now to get their routine care or see a specialist. As a vet, I think nothing is more important than making sure those who have bravely put their lives on the line for our country have access to the benefits and healthcare they deserve. And what good is a veteran's benefit unless it is accessible to the veteran who has earned it? The new clinic will mean more access for tens of thousands of veterans -- now we just have to get it built. Today's discussion was an important step forward.

Want more information on what I'm doing throughout the week or where I'll be next? Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Have a great weekend!

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