Environment and Energy

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 »

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), David Valadao (R-CA-22), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce wildfire risks this week. Rep. Carbajal’s Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act would reduce the procedural steps needed for removing hazardous vegetation near power lines, cutting red tape to allow for a more streamlined… Read more »

Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote to Governor Newsom raising concerns about the potential restart of offshore oil drilling operations along California’s Gaviota Coast by Sable Offshore Corp. Despite the devastating environmental and economic impacts of past oil spills, Sable Offshore Corp. is seeking approval to restart drilling using the same… Read more »

Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) joined Reps. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) to introduce the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act to improve our nation’s aerial firefighting capabilities through expanded use of excess military aircrafts and parts. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the sale of military aircraft for use in aerial… Read more »

As local communities evaluate the impacts of the Trump Administration’s recent flurry of executive orders and memorandum pausing the delivery of all federal financial assistance, U.S. Representatives  Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and Julia Brownley (CA-26) are calling on the Administration to clarify its actions and disclose a full list of… Read more »

Today, bipartisan legislation to reduce wildfire risks written by Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) was advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives. The vote comes as firefighters are battling wildfires across Southern California, including a new fire less than 50 miles from Rep. Carbajal’s district. Rep. Carbajal’s Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act would reduce procedural steps… Read more »

President Joe Biden followed through today on Congressman Salud Carbajal’s (CA-24) request to ban future offshore drilling off the Central Coast by taking new executive action shielding over 625 million acres of federal waters from oil and gas exploration. The request was the latest push by Rep. Carbajal to enact these protections, something he has pushed for since introducing the ban as… Read more »

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) celebrated the official designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary which took place this past Saturday after more than a decade of advocacy on the Central Coast and the final rule published by the Biden-Harris Administration. “Nearly a decade after the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary was first proposed to the federal… Read more »

Congressmen Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) led a call of more than 80 lawmakers today urging House appropriators to fully fund the new grant program they created to help airports replace firefighting foams containing harmful forever chemicals. In May 2024, these lawmakers successfully passed their Pollution-Free Aviation Sites (PFAS) Act, which… Read more »

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) celebrated the final federal step in creating the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary taken today by the Biden-Harris Administration. “The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary has been a twinkle in the eye of the Central Coast for more than a generation. Today, that long-held idea of creating a marine sanctuary off the Central Coast… Read more »