Opinion Pieces

Eight years ago this month, I was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on the same night that Donald Trump was first elected President. I have reflected a lot on that night these past few weeks, remembering the complicated feelings I had confronting the reality of his unexpected win along with my own — which, as an immigrant speaking English as my second language and someone who grew up in public housing, was its own kind of unlikely event. Read more »

For years, the immigration conversation in Washington has centered around border security. A strong and secure border is essential, there's no disagreement. But if Congress doesn't act to fix our broken immigration system, we're putting the American economy at a disadvantage for decades to come. Read more »

Climate change is costing us, literally.  In 2020 alone, weather and climate disasters fueled by global warming cost the nation $94 billion in damages. This past year has been no different. In fact, climate-related disasters are only becoming more frequent and more severe.  We bore witness to record-shattering heat waves in the Pacific Northwest that melted… Read more »

Freezing out science at EPA By: Rep. Salud Carbajal | 10/22/2018 Recent reports indicate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator plans to eliminate the Office of Science Advisor, which counsels the agency head on the scientific implications of his policy decisions. This is a stark indication of where the Trump Administration stands on making informed, fact-base… Read more »

Future of the Central Coast depends on immigration reform http://www.santamariasun.com/commentary/17907/future-of-the-central-coast-depends-on-immigration-reform/ By: Rep. Salud Carbajal | 10/10/2018 One of the greatest moments of my life was the day I took my oath of allegiance and became a citizen of this great nation. When I was elected to serve the Central Coast in Congress, I… Read more »

Trade war hurts Central Coast farmers https://santamariatimes.com/opinion/columnists/salud-carbajal-trade-war-hurts-central-coast-farmers/article_2e6f85fb-f1b5-57ca-bd46-063ec525fbb6.html Salud Carbajal | 8/1/2018 The Central Coast agriculture industry stands to lose in President Trump’s trade war. The Chinese retaliatory tariffs — primarily on U.S. agriculture — and fruit hit us… Read more »

Un-American https://www.independent.com/news/2018/jun/15/un-american/ By: Rep. Salud Carbajal | 6/15/2018 In recent weeks, the Trump Administration has disturbingly begun a systematic separation of children, including infants and toddlers as young as 18 months, from their parents when they cross our border. In recent testimony before Congress, the Department of Homeland Security… Read more »

Shining a light on corporate spending in our elections https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/386705-shining-a-light-on-corporate-spending-in-our-elections By: Rep. Salud Carbajal | 5/8/2018 The Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizen’s United v FEC opened the door for unrestricted campaign spending by corporations, institutionalizing the influence that special interests have on… Read more »

Letters to the Editor: Diffusing trade issue https://santamariatimes.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-diffusing-trade-issue-comey-book-waste/article_e42c842a-580e-5ca3-b336-d9ca6f37f333.html By: Rep. Salud Carbajal | 4/19/2018 Diffusing trade issue With recent rhetoric coming out of the White House, our Central Coast agriculture industry is currently feeling the direct… Read more »

Fighting for a profitable future in Central Coast agriculture http://www.santamariasun.com/commentary/17346/fighting-for-a-profitable-future-in-central-coast-agriculture/ By: Rep. Salud Carbajal | 4/17/2018 From passing a strong Farm Bill, to addressing the critical labor shortage and drought conditions, Congress must take these opportunities to step up and support our local… Read more »