WASHINGTON — A champion of drought-relief legislation, Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) called water and labor, two issues on United Fresh Produce Association’s agenda this week on Capitol Hill, the top issues for his state.

Produce business leaders met with members of the U.S. House of Representatives Sept. 29 and planned visits with senators and their staffs on Sept. 30.

Speaking at the United Fresh Washington Conference, Valadao said his family runs a dairy farm and a top concern is making sure his cows have enough water to drink.

“It’s something very personal for me,” he said.

Valadao is a champion for water and a strong leader for United Fresh, said Robert Guenther, United’s senior vice president of public policy, in introducing the Republican congressman.

Valadao’s bill, the Western Water & American Food Security Act of 2015, which passed the House in July, would require federal agencies to use current data when making regulatory decisions and to cut the red tape holding back major water storage projects.

On the immigration issue, Valadao said the anti-immigrant rhetoric during the Republican presidential debates is making the fight for immigration reform tougher on Capitol Hill.

Valadao complained it’s difficult to get the federal government to respond to specific guest worker issues for constituents and, in some cases, businesses have been told inaccurate information, he said.

With the House consumed by the leadership race in the wake of Rep. John Boehner’s (R-OH) early departure, Valadao said he’s making a point to ask candidates for their views on immigration.

If Congress focuses solely on border security, “we’re going to be in a world of hurt,” especially those in agriculture, he said.

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) spoke to the group before their Capitol Hill visits on the issue of child nutrition and his salad bar legislation.

Looking at the rising medical costs that fuel the government health care programs, Ryan said a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables should be viewed as a solution.

“If we do not become a healthier country, we will never balance the budget in the United States,” he said.

He called for a salad bar and a kitchen in every school, and suggested the need to create big markets for state institutions, such as universities and prisons, to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Ten school food directors are joining produce leaders in visits to Capitol Hill to talk about the difference school meal standards are making to improve children’s diets, said Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of United Fresh.

Directors from New York City, Georgia and Minneapolis discussed the popularity of salad bars in their schools, while dismissing the calls for increased plate waste.

Eric Goldstein, chief executive officer of the New York City Department of Education, said children need to get exposure to a variety of fruits and vegetables, a recipe for healthier kids who are more likely to become future customers.

With school nutrition standards under attack, United’s Lorelei DiSogra, vice president of nutrition and health, said there are two key messages to bring to Capitol Hill.

It’s important to maintain the “modest” one-half cup of fruits and vegetables with every school meal, and to protect the integrity of the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program by keeping it “fresh” only.