In the News

Congressman Salud Carbajal addressed issues concerning health care, the federal government, veterans’ services, and even the not-so-popular Western Snowy Plover during a discussion Thursday with Lompoc residents and community leaders.

Carbajal, a Democrat who represents the 24th District, was in Lompoc for a full day of activities that kicked off with a presentation and then question-and-answer session during a luncheon hosted by the Lompoc Chamber of Commerce. After the hour-long forum, he took a tour and introduced firefighter-related legislation at Hancock College’s Public Safety Training Complex before spending the evening at the Lompoc Elks Lodge for a public safety awards event.

At the early-afternoon luncheon, which was held at the Embassy Suites and attended by about 60 people, Carbajal began by talking about his first three-plus months in Congress.

“My first 100 days, as you can imagine, have been quite interesting,” said Carbajal, who was sworn into office on Jan. 3. “I tell everybody that it seems that I have a front row seat at the circus.

“But it has been a great learning experience,” he added, “and it has been great getting to know my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.”

Reaching across that aisle was a major theme of Carbajal’s presentation, as he often referred to the bipartisan bills he has sponsored, the three bipartisan committees he serves on, and noted that he seeks out opportunities to work with Republicans in Congress.

“It’s easy in Washington, whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, to hang in your partisan world and not be challenged,” he said. “I have made an effort to reach out.”

One of the major topics of the forum was health care.

Carbajal referred to the American Health Care Act, which was pushed by the White House last month but ultimately pulled before a Congressional vote, as “rushed” and noted that it contained many flaws.

“I was opposed to the bill mainly because it was estimated by the independent nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that, if passed, more than 24 million Americans would be kicked off their insurance plans by 2026, and the cost of premiums would dramatically increase for Americans over the age of 50,” he said. “Not to mention that it took three years worth of funding from the Medicare fund.”

“This was undoubtedly a bad deal for the American public,” he added, “and for Central Coast families.”

Carbajal went on to suggest that the federal government should work toward building upon and improving the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, rather than focus on repealing it. That legislation also has its weaknesses, he noted, but he said it includes many great, and much-needed qualities as well.

“Certainly, I don’t defend the flaws in the Affordable Care Act — I point them out,” he said. “We need to find ways to fix a lot of those issues.”

After his roughly 20-minute opening presentation, Carbajal spent about 40 minutes fielding questions and comments from the audience.

The first question came from a woman who asked about planned cutbacks to the Environmental Protection Agency and how that would affect studies being done on the Western Snowy Plover, a nesting bird that breeds along the coastline and is currently considered endangered.

The Snowy Plover has gained a level of fame, or infamy, in Lompoc because the U.S. Air Force annually closes and/or restricts sections of Surf Beach — which is Lompoc’s only public beach, though it is on Vandenberg Air Force Base property — in an effort to protect the bird’s habitat.

“We’ll follow up,” Carbajal said of the woman’s concerns, adding that he would not only raise the issue with the EPA but also with VAFB officials during a planned tour of the base on April 24.

Lompoc City Manager Patrick Wiemiller later asked if Carbajal could provide any insight on the disconnect that exists between the federal government and the governments of states, counties and cities. An example offered by Wiemiller was the conflicting legislation and confusion surrounding marijuana legalization.

Carbajal said he thinks the current makeup of the federal government, in which one party controls the White House, Congress and Senate, leads to limited opportunity for bipartisan solutions and that there are no clear answers.

“I wish I had a better answer for you, but I don’t,” he said. “It’s a paradox.”

Another attendee said she felt that Community Development Block Grants were critical to local residents and agencies and she asked how planned cuts to those grants by President Donald Trump’s administration will affect programs in Lompoc and Santa Barbara County.

Again, Carbajal said the answers are unclear.

“We have a very unorthodox White House and administration,” he said. “Whether you support it or not — that’s just the way it is. (But) I will tell you that there’s more commonality in Congress with the leadership from Republicans and Democrats. This is not a partisan issue.”

The 24th District, which includes all of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and parts of Ventura County, currently receives about $34 million in CDBG funds, Carbajal said. He said that local cuts could equal about $16 million under the proposed budget plans.

“It’s something that our country has really benefited from, in terms of infrastructure,” he said of CBDG funds. “I think there’s enough of a consensus that should there be a cut, which is likely, that it won’t be as draconian.”

Another attendee asked Carbajal how he felt about the idea of sanctuary states, counties and cities — those that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Carbajal said he was in favor of local jurisdictions making their own decisions.

“Republicans oftentimes speak about state’s rights and local controls, and you can’t have it both ways,” he said. “I think that local jurisdictions have the right to enact policies that they feel protect their residents.”

He pointed to America’s history as an example of the importance of local communities having these controls. 

“When there was (racial) segregation once upon a time, there were citizens that stepped up in municipalities and said, ‘Not in my backyard,’” he said. “I think it’s important to remember that.”

Carbajal also pledged to work to improve veterans' access to benefits and to help strengthen the local business community.

After the luncheon, Carbajal visited Hancock’s Public Safety Training Complex to announce the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017, a bill he is sponsoring to ensure that federal firefighters receive the same access to disability and retirement benefits as other firefighters.

He was joined at that announcement by Charlie Martinez, the president of the Vandenberg Professional Firefighters.

“Fires do not discriminate between federal, state or municipal firefighters and neither should legislation that ensures access to benefits earned by firefighters,” Carbajal said. “The burden of proof for federal firefighters to prove work-related illnesses is extraordinarily high compared to their civilian counterparts. This legislation would provide long overdue relief from this inequity and give our brave federal firefighters the benefits that they deserve.”