Press Releases

This week, U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Mike Ezell (R-MS-4) introduced the Mariner Exam Modernization Act, which directs the U.S. Coast Guard to develop and implement a plan to modernize the Merchant Mariner Credentialing exam, aiming to eliminate redundancies and improve efficiency within 270 days of receiving recommendations from a dedicated working group. “The men… Read more »

As Republicans push an extreme budget that hands $7 trillion in giveaways to billionaires and big corporations, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) joined House Democrats in introducing legislation to block the extreme and unprecedented cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in the Republican budget. “The Republican budget is harmful to the Central Coast’s working… Read more »

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Ami Bera (D-CA-06) are leading 94 House Democrats in calling for the Israeli government to immediately resume shipments of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. “As supporters of a strong US-Israel relationship, we write to express our opposition to the current Israeli government policy to block all humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza… Read more »

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) joined 142 Members of Congress in demanding answers regarding the termination of students’ legal status. Despite the Trump Administration’s recent claim that it would reverse course, only Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made any policy change.  While students are no longer immediately deportable, they will be unable to return… Read more »

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) issued the statement below following the release of President Trump’s 2026 budget. “I strongly oppose President Trump’s proposed budget, which asks for unprecedented cuts to vital programs that many Central Coast residents depend on,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Slashing funding for health care, education, food assistance, and more will… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced the five winners of the 2025 Congressional Women of the Year award from the Central Coast. The five winners of this year’s award are: Alison Wales from Lompoc, JoAnne Meade Young from Santa Barbara, Lisa Kawamura from Arroyo Grande, Julie Rodewald from Los Osos, and Cherie Eulau from Ventura. “Each year, I am inspired by the… Read more »

Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL-02) joined Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Ashley Moody (R-FL) to reintroduce bicameral and bipartisan legislation to incentivize investment in spaceport infrastructure. The Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act will provide spaceports like Vandenberg Space Force Base eligibility for tax-exempt municipal revenue bonds,… Read more »

Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) reintroduced two bipartisan bills focused on addressing the effects of climate change on U.S. coastlines, coastal communities, and marine ecosystems. "The climate crisis is hitting our coasts hard — from eroding beaches and stronger storms to declining fisheries. Regions like the Central Coast are already feeling… Read more »

This week, Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced the reintroduction of the California Clean Coast Act. The California Clean Coast Act was the first bill Congressman Carbajal introduced as a Member of Congress, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to protecting California’s coast from offshore drilling and the devastating impact of oil spills. The California Clean Coast… Read more »

On April 21, Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) hosted a ceremony to formally rename the U.S. Post Office in Santa Maria for former Mayor and City Councilmember Larry Lavagnino. Download photos here. “Renaming the Santa Maria Post Office in honor of Larry Lavagnino is a fitting tribute to a man whose leadership and dedication left a lasting impact on the Santa Maria community,” said… Read more »