In the News

A center that’s geared toward preparing Valley students for the agricultural technology jobs of tomorrow is now within sight of becoming a reality.

Merced College officials and local leaders broke ground Thursday on the AgTEC Innovation Center, a $21 million state-of-the-art facility focused on agricultural techology, automation techology and robotics.

A new bill introduced by Congressman Adam Gray aims to protect U.S. farmers from economic harm caused by retaliatory tariffs. The “Stop Raising Prices on Food Act” would require the President to get congressional approval before placing tariffs on countries that are major buyers of U.S. agricultural products.

We need to talk about tariffs. 

Let’s start with the obvious truth: Whether they are imposed by Democrats or Republicans, tariffs are taxes paid by us — not by foreign countries. 

Walk around your house and pick up anything that says “Made in China.” Now, imagine the price of this item is double or triple what you paid for it because of an escalating 145% tariff. Inflation was already bad enough, but what happens when tariffs start making necessities like food even more unaffordable? That hurts America’s farmers and families.

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A bipartisan effort to rein in President Donald Trump’s tariff authority is being considered in Washington, D.C., as markets around the nation have been volatile since last week.

Now, a valley lawmaker is weighing in on what Congress can do to bring tariff authority back to the legislative branch, just as the framers of the Constitution intended.

On his second official trip back to the district since being sworn into office, Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced, met with officials in three West Side communities to hear their concerns and learn how he can help them accomplish their goals.

Unfortunately, he also had to deliver some bad news.

Some 16 budget requests originally submitted during the term of former Rep. John Duarte have been eliminated from the “continuing resolution” drafted by the Republican majority and passed in both houses last week.

Rep. Jim Costa (D–Fresno) and Rep. Adam Gray (D–Merced) have introduced legislation that would help build medical schools to provide more physicians in underserved areas. 

They introduced the bill into the House of Representatives, while Senators Alex Padilla (D–CA) and Tim Kaine (D–VA) introduced the Senate version of the bill. 

The big picture: The bill, titled the Expanding Medical Education Act, would provide federal grants to colleges by prioritizing minority-serving institutions, as well as those located in rural and underserved areas. 

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- This open lot of dirt may not look like much now, but UC Merced said it'll develop into a new medical education building by Fall 2026.

But it's one of the very few options for students looking to get into the medical field.

Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced) held the inaugural Veterans Advisory Committee meeting at the Atwater Veterans Hall. It was the first in a series of meetings Congressman Gray will convene with district stakeholders, advocates and local officials.