Latest news with #DavidValadao
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rep. Vince Fong introduces SKIM Act to combat EBT fraud
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — For months, KGET has followed the EBT fraud crisis in Kern County. What started out as calls to our newsroom led to the revelation of dozens of victims and thousands of dollars in benefits stolen. The investigation shed light on millions of stolen dollars and a sophisticated Romanian crime ring operating across the county. After countless attempts of asking elected officials for answers, change may be coming from Capitol Hill. Skimming Scheme: The Romanian crime ring stealing EBT benefits in Kern County On Friday, Rep. Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) introduced the 'Stopping Klepto-card and Identity Misuse Act' — or SKIM Act. This legislative effort is specifically designed to crack down EBT theft, that is Electronic Benefit Transfer, known as CalFresh and CalWorks in California. Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) is a co-sponsor of the bill. Through 17 News' investigation, we uncovered that the California Department of Social Services has lost more than $439 million in EBT benefits since 2021. In the last seven months, more than $2 million in Kern County taxpayer money has been stolen. Ex-Arvin teacher accused of sex with underage student set for hearing next week The SKIM Act directs the U.S. Attorney to coordinate federal, state, and local efforts to fight EBT fraud. It also asks sentencing guidelines to be much harder on EBT thieves. The bill also asks the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress on their efforts to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and sentence convicted EBT thieves. You can read the SKIM Act in full here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Republican removes post criticising Sikh congressional prayer
Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller is facing criticism after she said it was 'troubling' that a Muslim led the morning prayer in US Congress, and then changed her social media post once she learnt that it was actually a Sikh man who had spoken. 'America was founded as a Christian nation, and I believe our government should reflect that truth,' she wrote in her social media post on X on Friday. The representative later removed her post after being admonished by both her Democratic and Republican colleagues. 'Mary, you're a racist, bigoted, disgusting, and shameful person, you don't deserve to represent anyone in public office,' wrote Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost. The man who led the prayer, Giani Surinder Singh of the Gurdwara South Jersey Sikh Society, was invited to be the morning guest chaplain by Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew according to Politico. Republican Representative David Valadao took Ms Miller to task for her post. 'I'm troubled by my colleague's remarks about this morning's Sikh prayer, which have since been deleted,' he wrote on X. 'Religious freedom is one of our nation's founding principles, and I started the American Sikh Congressional Caucus to draw attention to this very issue and work towards religious tolerance for all.' Representative Miller's comments, which were also widely considered to be Islamophobic, came on the first day of Eid Al Adha, one of the most important holidays of Islam. Morning invocations are not unusual in the US Congress, and are often given by religious leaders and figures.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Outrage after Republican representative disparages Sikh prayer in the US House
A Republican congresswoman is facing widespread backlash after saying that a Sikh should not have conducted a prayer in the US House. Mary Miller, an Illinois representative, on Friday published – then deleted – a post on X saying that Giani Singh, a Sikh Granthi from southern New Jersey, should not have delivered the House's morning prayer. Miller at first mistakenly identified Singh as a Muslim and said that it was 'deeply troubling' someone of that faith had been allowed to lead prayer in the House and it 'should never have been allowed', Miller posted on X. 'America was founded as a Christian nation, and I believe our government should reflect that truth, not drift further from it,' Miller continued. 'May God have mercy.' Miller first edited her post to change Muslim to Sikh – then opted to delete it. Her comments triggered swift outrage, with the Democratic House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries saying: 'It's deeply troubling that such an ignorant and hateful extremist is serving in the United States Congress. That would be you, Mary.' Similarly, David Valadao, a Republican congressman of California, said Friday: 'I'm troubled by my colleague's remarks about this morning's Sikh prayer, which have since been deleted. Throughout the country – and in the Central Valley – Sikh-Americans are valued and respected members of our communities, yet they continue to face harassment and discrimination.' Jared Huffman, another Democratic US House member from California, wrote on X: 'I often say that I serve in Congress with some of the greatest minds of the 18th century. With [representative] Miller I may need to take it back a few more centuries.' Meanwhile, the Democratic congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey said on X: 'It's deeply troubling that someone with such contempt for religious freedom is allowed to serve in this body. This should have never been allowed to happen. America was founded as free nation, and I believe the conduct of its legislators should reflect that truth, not drift further from it.' Grace Meng, a Democratic congresswoman from New York, also weighed in on Miller's tweets, saying: 'What's deeply disturbing is the blatant ignorance and anti-Sikh, anti-Muslim xenophobia coming from my colleague across the aisle. There is no place in our country, and especially the halls of Congress, for this hate and intolerance.' Meng went on to add: 'The tweet may have been deleted, but we still have the receipts.' The Congressional Asian Pacific American caucus (CAPAC) also condemned Miller, saying she had engaged in 'anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim bigotry'. 'Sikhs and Muslims practice two separate and distinct religions, and conflating the two based on how someone looks is not only ignorant, but also racist,' CAPAC said in a statement. The Sikh Coalition also took to X, saying: 'To be clear, deleting the tweet is not enough. Congresswoman Miller should apologize for her remarks – to both the Sikh and Muslim communities, because no one should be targeted on the basis of their identity.' Similarly, the Hindu American Foundation said: 'Whichever version of the tweet [Miller] was going with, it is racist, xenophobic and plainly un-American to lash out over a Sikh prayer. When you took your oath of office [congresswoman] Miller, you swore to uphold our constitution, whose first amendment prohibits your establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another.' Miller's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Guardian.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: From Medicaid to the courts, readers raise concerns about Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
To the editor: As Congress considers a sweeping legislative package that includes deep cuts to Medicaid, Californians should pay close attention ('White House pushes for quick approval of 'big, beautiful bill,' but key hurdles remain,' May 19). The Congressional Budget Office estimates that proposed changes would strip health coverage from at least 7.6 million Americans by 2034, a devastating blow to families already facing serious health challenges. Thankfully, Reps. Young Kim and David Valadao took a strong stance, writing to House leadership, 'We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.' This statement is welcome news to the millions of Californians who rely on Medicaid, including those battling chronic diseases such as cancer or liver disease. Proposed cuts, including work requirements, create unnecessary red tape and increase wasteful administrative spending. In fact, 92% of working-age individuals with Medicaid coverage are already working or are physically unable to work due to chronic illness or disability. As the executive director of the Liver Coalition of California, I am joining with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to demand that our representatives continue to vote against cuts to Medicaid in any form. Healthcare should not be used as a bargaining chip. Scott Suckow, San Diego .. To the editor: According to Professor Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, hidden in President Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill is a provision that will prohibit any court, including the Supreme Court, from stopping the administration from imposing a contempt ruling on any case unless there was a bond included in the case. Obviously, it's rare that a federal case would require a bond, leaving the courts with almost no power to stop these cases. If it is not removed from the House bill and is passed by the Senate, the courts will essentially be powerless. This means Congress, which has voluntarily relinquished any responsibility to stop the administration, and the courts will have little recourse to prevent this country from collapsing into an authoritarian dictatorship. Carole Lutness, Valencia This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: From Medicaid to the courts, readers raise concerns about Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill'
To the editor: As Congress considers a sweeping legislative package that includes deep cuts to Medicaid, Californians should pay close attention ('White House pushes for quick approval of 'big, beautiful bill,' but key hurdles remain,' May 19). The Congressional Budget Office estimates that proposed changes would strip health coverage from at least 7.6 million Americans by 2034, a devastating blow to families already facing serious health challenges. Thankfully, Reps. Young Kim and David Valadao took a strong stance, writing to House leadership, 'We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.' This statement is welcome news to the millions of Californians who rely on Medicaid, including those battling chronic diseases such as cancer or liver disease. Proposed cuts, including work requirements, create unnecessary red tape and increase wasteful administrative spending. In fact, 92% of working-age individuals with Medicaid coverage are already working or are physically unable to work due to chronic illness or disability. As the executive director of the Liver Coalition of California, I am joining with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to demand that our representatives continue to vote against cuts to Medicaid in any form. Healthcare should not be used as a bargaining chip. Scott Suckow, San Diego .. To the editor: According to Professor Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, hidden in President Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill is a provision that will prohibit any court, including the Supreme Court, from stopping the administration from imposing a contempt ruling on any case unless there was a bond included in the case. Obviously, it's rare that a federal case would require a bond, leaving the courts with almost no power to stop these cases. If it is not removed from the House bill and is passed by the Senate, the courts will essentially be powerless. This means Congress, which has voluntarily relinquished any responsibility to stop the administration, and the courts will have little recourse to prevent this country from collapsing into an authoritarian dictatorship. Carole Lutness, Valencia
