Carbajal, Salud RSS Articles

Carbajal, Huffman Reintroduce Bill to Protect Blue Whales & Cut Coastal Air Pollution

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) reintroduced the Alan S. Lowenthal Blue Whales, Blue Skies Act, a bill to create a new federal program encouraging commercial shipping companies operating off the Pacific coast to reduce the speeds of their vessels in order to protect marine life and cut air pollution.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

The bill models the new federal program off the regional Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies vessel speed reduction (VSR) program, which recognizes shipping companies that reduce speeds off California’s coast – including shipping lanes within the Greater Santa Barbara Channel Region off Rep. Carbajal’s Central Coast district.

“Since 2014, the Protecting Blue Whales Blue Skies program has made California’s coastline cleaner and safer for both marine life and local communities. It’s a commonsense solution that has delivered a win-win for both the environment and public health. The program’s successful regional impact supports a case for scaling it to the federal level,” said Rep. Carbajal. “My legislation will do just that by expanding the program’s scope to include the entire Western coast of our country. I thank Congressman Huffman for partnering with me on this important bill, which honors my former colleague Alan Lowenthal’s advocacy and strengthens federal protections for our whales and our air quality.”

“When ships are barreling through the ocean, not only does it guzzle up fuel and throw out more emissions, it makes it hard for them to avoid collisions with whales – leading to the death of these iconic and endangered species on top of impacts to our climate and communities,” said Rep. Huffman. “California came up with a solution to tackle both of these problems that my friend and former colleague Alan Lowenthal championed locally as well as here in Congress. I’m glad to join Rep. Carbajal in this renewed and expanded legislation that would incentivize shipping companies to reduce their speeds along the entire West Coast, protecting marine mammals and our planet.”

“The Environmental Defense Center (EDC) and our partners have been working to reduce the impacts of shipping in the Santa Barbara Channel since 2007, when five endangered blue whales were killed by ship strikes,” said EDC Chief Counsel Linda Krop. “The vessel speed reduction program has provided significant benefits to whales and air quality, and this legislation builds on its success by recognizing shipping companies for doing the right thing. This unique partnership between agencies, non-profits, foundations, and the shipping industry should be celebrated, and we commend Representatives Carbajal and Huffman for proposing this legislation.”

Since 2018, 76 shipping companies have participated in the regional Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies VSR program. Over the past decade, the program has cut air pollution at a scale equivalent to taking nearly 6 million cars off the road for an entire year.

The Alan S. Lowenthal Blue Whales, Blue Skies Act honors the retired California Congressman who had previously championed legislation to create federal recognition for speed reduction off California’s coastline. The legislation reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week expands on Lowenthal’s advocacy by mandating the creation of a federal program that would cover the eligible recognition area to the entire Western coast of the lower 48 U.S. states.

The bill would create the federal recognition program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the California program serving as the model for the qualifications and the recognition to be provided by NOAA to participating shipping companies.

The regional program is run by a partnership of public and nonprofit entities including the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and others.

Carbajal Condemns Republican Push to Boost ICE Funding

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) voted against the Republican-led reconciliation bill to provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with an extra $70 billion in funding. Carbajal issued the statement below following the vote.

“At a time when families on the Central Coast and across the country are struggling to afford groceries, housing, gas, and even basic medical care, Republicans have chosen to hand ICE yet another $70 billion blank check. ICE has become an out‑of‑control agency using extreme tactics that terrorize our communities — including right here on the Central Coast. They should not receive a single additional dollar until they undergo commonsense reforms and are held accountable for the violence they’ve instigated nationwide, from Carpinteria to Newark.

“This package also fails to block Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund designed to reward the criminals who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. Once again, Trump and his enablers in Congress are funneling money to their political allies and cronies while working families are left without support. Let’s call it what it is: extreme corruption. While Republicans bury their heads in the sand, my Democratic colleagues and I will continue fighting for working people and pushing to hold Trump accountable for his many abuses of power,” said Rep. Carbajal.

Carbajal is a leader in Congress in pushing for commonsense immigration reform and holding federal immigration enforcement officers accountable.

Last month, Carbajal conducted an oversight visit to the Adelanto ICE processing facility to meet with detainees, three of which are Central Coast constituents. The detained constituents are from Goleta, Santa Maria, and Ojai. The Congressman also assessed conditions in the facility and inquired about the reported deaths of detainees.

The May 14th Adelanto visit marks Carbajal’s third oversight visit to an ICE facility since the current Trump administration began. He previously visited the Santa Maria ICE processing facility twice in 2025.

In February 2026, Carbajal joined over 50 Members of Congress outside of ICE’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to call for the firing of former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

In June 2025, Carbajal co-sponsored the No Secret Police Act, which would require law enforcement officers and agents of DHS engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.

In July 2025, Carbajal co-led the introduction of the bipartisan Dignity Act, a bipartisan bill that would introduce reforms into our country’s immigration system. The bill includes commonsense reforms to legal status and protections for undocumented immigrants, border security investments, and improved asylum and visa processes.

In the same month, Carbajal introduced the Fight for the American Dream Act, legislation that allows participants of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program to serve in the United States military and provides them a pathway toward U.S. citizenship after their service.

In June 2025, Carbajal introduced the Protect Patriot Parents Act, which would make parents of U.S. military servicemembers eligible for Lawful Permanent Resident status, preventing potential deportations or separations of military families.

Carbajal is also a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which establishes a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contributions to the U.S. agricultural economy.

Carbajal Launches Oversight into Foreign Vessel Operators that Benefited from Jones Act Waiver

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

As we observe the Jones Act’s 106th anniversary, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Top Democrat on the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, sent letters to vessel owners and operators that benefited from the Trump administration’s Jones Act waiver, seeking information about their use of the waiver, compliance with U.S. law, and the impacts on American maritime jobs and domestic shipping capacity. The letters are part of Carbajal’s ongoing oversight of the Administration’s April 23 extension of the waiver.

Since the waiver was issued, Maritime Administration (MARAD) records show that several foreign operators provided either vague justifications for the waiver or, in some cases, identified the national security rationale as 'not applicable.' In his letters, Carbajal outlines how this is not how Congress intended the waiver to be used.

“While this Administration may play fast and loose with the law, your requirements under the law are clear. Even when operating under a Jones Act waiver, every vessel that operates in the domestic trades must comply with all other federal and state statutes,” wrote Rep. Carbajal. “As Ranking Member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation subcommittee, I have always been an outspoken supporter of the Jones Act, and this waiver has shown that now is the time to engage in rigorous oversight to protect the American maritime industry.”

In addition, Carbajal requests detailed information from each company to ensure the organizations are in compliance with applicable federal and state laws.

“I intend to work with relevant federal and state agencies to ensure that all operators utilizing the waiver have complied with applicable U.S. laws and regulations,” concluded Rep. Carbajal. “Accordingly, I request that you provide detailed information regarding your compliance with all applicable federal and state laws for any vessel that has operated, is operating, or intends to operate in domestic commerce pursuant to the current Jones Act waiver. This information will assist Congress in evaluating both compliance with existing law and the broader impacts of the waiver on U.S. maritime interests.”

For illustrative purposes, a sample letter is provided here.

Carbajal serves as Ranking Member of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.

Last month, Carbajal was recognized by the International Propeller Club and received the Frank Courtenay “Salute to Congress” Award for championing legislation to support the American maritime industry.

In addition, as Chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Carbajal helped lead congressional efforts to address supply chain disruptions and strengthen oversight of the shipping industry to reduce everyday costs for all Americans. In 2022, Carbajal joined President Joe Biden at the White House for the signing of the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act into law.

Since FY22, Carbajal has led the bipartisan appropriations letter requesting robust funding for the Small Shipyard Grant Program. The program is designed to support small shipyard projects that make capital and related improvements; or provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries.

Small shipyards are a critical component of U.S. maritime operations and economic security, employing more than 100,000 Americans and contributing tens of billions in gross domestic product.

ICYMI: Carbajal Votes to Pass Transportation Infrastructure Bill Out of Committee

Fri, 29 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

On May 22nd, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) voted to advance the BUILD America 250 Act out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where Carbajal serves as a senior member. The BUILD America 250 is a bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that invests in America’s roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs.

“To build an economy that works for everyone and lowers costs, we need reliable infrastructure. While I helped write and pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, there is still much more we can do to modernize our roads, highways, and railroads,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This new legislation builds on that foundation and lays out a strong pathway forward to renew our nation’s infrastructure. I will continue working on a bipartisan basis to get this bill across the finish line.”

“The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) welcomes the bipartisan markup and passage of the BUILD America 250 Act out of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I) this past week – securing an emphatic 62-2 passage. The asphalt industry – the producers, pavers and contractors – who are responsible for maintaining and advancing over 94% of the entire roadway market paved with asphalt pavements, depend on passage of a robust surface transportation reauthorization package this year. Further, we are appreciative of the great work of Congressman Carbajal, who has been a consistent collaborator with industry stakeholders, like NAPA, throughout this Congress ahead of consequential markup. As Vice Chair for Outreach of the New Democrat Coalition, Rep. Carbajal has been a pragmatic and engaged partner focused on shared priorities with NAPA, including advocating for policies focused on work zone safety enhancements, Highway Trust Fund solvency and continued protections for the construction material supply chain via our longstanding Buy America exemptions. All of these efforts were on full display during the markup, as Rep. Carbajal raised sensible comments during the markup’s amendment debate. We look forward to continuing our close partnership with Congressman Carbajal, and encourage all of his colleagues in the House to pass the BUILD America 250 Act as quickly as possible,” said Nile Elam, Vice President of Government Affairs, National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA).

The BUILD America 250 Act provides the largest ever investment in America’s bridges, focuses on proven surface transportation infrastructure programs, provides passenger rail investments and reforms, improves rail safety, ensures that transportation projects and programs are more efficient, encourages innovation, provides the first ever autonomous commercial motor vehicle framework, and injects the Highway Trust Fund with its first new stream of revenue in over three decades.

Carbajal advocated for, and successfully included, over 40 of his priorities in the bill, including:

Bolstering funding for railroads, including intercity passenger rail such as the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.
Supporting infrastructure improvements along important highway and rail corridors that serve our nation’s ports, such as Port of Hueneme.
Commissioning a study on the feasibility of establishing National Infrastructure Bank to provide loans and loan guarantees to local infrastructure projects.
Reauthorizing the Wildlife Crossings Grant Program to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity.
Securing funding to be allocated directly to local governments and agencies for the improvement and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, and other transportation corridors.
Supporting Metropolitan Planning Organizations, like Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) and San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), to access “PL” funds by increasing funding by 18 percent above Bipartisan Infrastructure Law levels. The bill would increase the federal cost-share for PL funds from 80 percent to 90 percent.

The bill now must be considered by the full House and Senate before final passage.

Carbajal, Schiff Launch Investigation into Sable Offshore’s Politicized Efforts to Restart of Oil Drilling Operations Off Santa Barbara Coast

Thu, 28 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and members of the California congressional delegation are launching an inquiry into Sable Offshore’s efforts to restart oil drilling off the California coast and are demanding answers on the company’s collaboration with the Trump administration to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) in relation to this project.

In a letter to Sable Offshore Corp.’s CEO and Chairman Jim C. Flores, the lawmakers raise concerns about the timeline of Sable’s accrued lawsuits, cease and desist orders, fines, etc. dating back from April 2025 to March 2026. They demand Sable preserve all of their internal communication records between the company and administration officials related to the restart.

“The administration’s reliance on the Defense Production Act (DPA)—no doubt in consultation and coordination with lawyers representing Sable—is a serious misuse of a federal law meant to be involved for national security reasons, not to enrich an industry already making record profits. To help Congress better understand this effort to circumvent California law and coastal protections, we seek detailed information on the company’s role in this decision, and your communications with the Trump administration in relation to Sable Offshore’s SYU project,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers also point to concerning financial ties between Sable and President Trump, including executives at Sable directly contributing to the president’s campaigns. They emphasize that Sable has closely worked with the Trump administration to restart the oil pipelines that have been dormant for over a decade all in an effort to “benefit industry partners and preferred energy sources” rather than protect our coastlines.

“Californians do not want oil production restarting along their coasts and have voted repeatedly for California laws that block coastal oil production. The environmental impacts, along with the economic fallout from those impacts, are simply too great, especially when there is little to no benefit for California consumers. We urge you to pause and consider the long-term legal and financial ramifications of collaborating with the Trump administration to circumvent California law,” the lawmakers concluded.

In addition to Carbajal and Schiff, the letter was signed by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04).

Carbajal has long opposed the expansion of offshore oil drilling along California’s coastline.

In April 2025, Carbajal 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.

Most recently, Carbajal and Schiff joined local Central Coast environmental leaders to rally against the Trump administration’s attempt to restart offshore oil platforms owned by Sable.

Additionally, Carbajal and Schiff wrote to Governor Gavin Newsom raising concerns about the potential restart of offshore oil drilling operations along California’s Gaviota Coast by Sable Offshore Corp, and demanded answers from the Trump administration on its involvement in Sable Offshore Corporation’s attempts to restart offshore oil drilling using the same pipelines that caused the Refugio State Beach oil spill of 2015.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Mr. Jim Flores:

We write to express our grave concern over the restart of Sable Offshore Corporation’s (Sable) Santa Ynez Unit (SYU) offshore oil activities near the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and your company’s disregard for California law and the well-being of our constituents. The administration’s reliance on the Defense Production Act (DPA)—no doubt in consultation and coordination with lawyers representing Sable—is a serious misuse of a federal law meant to be invoked for national security reasons, not to enrich an industry already making record profits. To help Congress better understand this effort to circumvent California law and coastal protections, we seek detailed information on the company’s role in this decision, and your communications with the Trump administration in relation to Sable Offshore’s SYU project. We also demand that all relevant documents and records pertaining to the SYU project as described in detail below be preserved.

In February 2024, your family-owned special purpose acquisition company, Flame Acquisition Corp., struck a deal with ExxonMobil to acquire SYU for roughly $700 million, creating the Sable merger. Given the liabilities attached to SYU operations, including ten years of platform and equipment inactivity, challenges with complying with State regulations, and twenty-seven other risk factors identified in Sable’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 10-K Form, this was a risky purchase.

Since April 2025, Sable has accrued multiple lawsuits, shareholder complaints, notices of violation, cease and desist orders, and fines from California state agencies and nonprofit organizations. Sable has responded by disobeying directives and filing counterclaims for monetary damages. A timeline of state agency and court penalizations are outlined below:

April 2025: The California Coastal Commission (CCC) issued an $18 million fine and cease and desist order against Sable for unpermitted work that harmed habitats and waters on California’s coastline in violation of California’s Coastal Act. At the hearing, CCC staff presented evidence of Sable ignoring state orders; Sable had previously received two cease and desist orders from CCC for violating the Coastal Act and Sable responded by suing the CCC and vowing to continue work in defiance of the order. In October 2025, Sable filed a complaint seeking over $347 million in damages from the CCC, claiming “unlawful delay” of the pipeline restart.3 The CCC won a preliminary injunction against Sable in May 2025.

July 2025: Multiple class action lawsuits were filed by Rosen Law Firm and Schall Law Firm on behalf of purchasers of Sable securities, alleging the company made misleading statements by claiming they had restarted oil production when they had not. Sable is also currently under investigation by the SEC for allegations of advance information being shared selectively among company insiders in October 2025, right before Sable raised $250 million by selling shares of its common stocks to private investors to help keep the company afloat. This same month, a Santa Barbara court placed a separate injunction against Sable preventing the restart of operations unless and until Sable obtains all necessary state approvals.

September 2025: The Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch filed 21 criminal charges, including five felony counts, against Sable for unlawful discharge of pollutants into waterways and improper excavation during pipeline repair. The District Attorney alleged that these actions are in violation of the California Fish and Game Code and the Water Code. Sable responded by calling theses criminal charges “inflammatory and extremely misleading” and a “politically motivated attack”.

October 2025: The California Office of the State Fire Marshal determined that Sable had failed to comply with safety standards on its pipeline corrosion repair work and therefore its restart could not proceed. That same month, on behalf of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, filed a lawsuit against Sable asserting three causes of action: 1) Sable repeatedly discharged or threatened to discharge waste to waters of the state without authorization, despite being notified by the Central Coast Water Board that permits were required for the activities; 2) Sable activities resulted in the discharge of sediment and vegetative debris to various bodies of water inland and near the Gaviota Coast, harming water quality and aquatic habitat; and 3) Sable failed to submit information to the board that was required by law. Sable responded by working with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to update its federal Development and Production Plan to allow the company to bypass its onshore pipeline and use a floating barge operating in federal waters (an Offshore Storage and Treating Vessel).

March 2026: Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright issued an order claiming that SYU oil production was a national security concern invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA), which unlawfully superseded state laws and restarted SYU oil production. On behalf of the State of California, Attorney General Bonta responded by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to halt the use of the DPA Order as a basis for executive overreach. The lawsuit alleges that the DPA Order, which DOE issued at Sable’s request, violates the Administrative Procedure Act and infringes on California’s sovereign power under the Tenth Amendment. The Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel opinion supporting DOE’s move to invoke the DPA explicitly references a letter from Sable through Holland and Knight to the DOE General Counsel requesting the invocation of the DPA.

The Trump administration has clearly been working hand in glove with Sable to try to force the restart of SYU. For example, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) made misleading statements about SYU oil production in July 2025 that paralleled statements made by Sable, the same statements that resulted in securities class action lawsuits by your shareholders. California Congressional Members also requested further information about these statements in a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum and BSEE Deputy Director Kenneth Stevens. To date, we have not received any response. While this fight between California and the Trump administration continues, these actions suggest that the Trump administration is willing to circumvent state laws to benefit industry partners and preferred energy sources, and you appear to be a willing partner in its efforts.

Furthermore, we have concerns regarding financial ties between Sable and President Trump. Executives at Sable have directly contributed to President Trump’s campaigns. You have contributed over $300,000 to Super PACs like Right to Rise USA and Senate Leadership Fund, which made contributions to President Trump’s 2016 and 2024 campaigns. Additionally, Gregory Patrinely, Executive Vice President and CFO of Sable, contributed thousands of dollars to Trump-aligned committees in 2020 and 2024. During his campaign, President Trump promised to reverse environmental rules for your industry in exchange for $1 billion in donations. It is difficult to avoid the inference that actions like the use of DPA to overcome state laws on behalf of an oil producer represents a fulfillment of that “pay to play” promise.

In addition to the information requests below, please preserve all records and communications related to your efforts to work with the Trump administration or campaign to restart the SYU from January 1, 2024, to March 13, 2026, and on an ongoing basis moving forward. This preservation hold applies to your personal records, corporate records, and all communications with President Trump, the White House, the Department of Energy, the Trump presidential campaign and outside entities, and any person representing or purporting to be acting on behalf of President Trump, as well as communications with any intermediary that communicated with these entities on your behalf. This includes but is not limited to: records and communications via email, whether official or personal; mobile devices; encrypted or disappearing messaging applications; social media; calendar entries; meeting notes; and voicemail and text messages. To the extent that you or Sable use any auto-delete functions, you should immediately suspend autodelete functions and notify persons with control over potentially relevant records of their preservation obligations. You should also preserve all records of your or Sable’s communications with the White House or White House personnel, Department of Energy political appointees and staff, others appointed by the President or his advisors, or any member of the Trump presidential campaign.

We request responses to the following:

When did your relationship with President Donald Trump begin? Please outline those communications, including any meetings with Trump, his family, or his representatives, to date.
When did your relationship with Secretary Chris Wright begin? Please outline those communications to date.
Did Sable, its executives, attorneys, or other representatives at any point discuss with President Trump or any member of his administration or campaign the SYU project and did you link it in any way with any campaign or political donations made by you or executives of your company?
Did you, your attorneys, your representatives, or any executive of Sable ever make contributions to 501(c)(4) organizations or any other entity for which public disclosure would not be required, and were these contributions ever discussed with President Trump, any member of his family, any member of his campaign, or any political appointee of the current administration in relation to the SYU project?
Did you, your attorneys, your representatives, or any executive of Sable ever discuss campaign or political donations at all—before or after it was given—with President Trump, any member of his family, any member of his campaign, or any political appointee of the current administration? What was communicated and when did these communications begin?
Has Sable, its executives, attorneys, or other representatives ever communicated with anyone in the DOE General Counsel’s office or the White House Counsel’s office? Please detail those communications.
Has Sable, its executives, attorneys, or other representatives communicated with anyone in the Executive Office of the President, the President, the President’s campaign, or any Cabinet members since the start of President Trump’s second term? Or direct others to do so on your behalf? If so, please outline those communications to date.
Please provide any and all communications to the Department of Energy (DOE) from Sable (including through Holland and Knight), asking DOE to invoke the Defense Production Act, including the December 12, 2025, letter Re: Sable Offshore Corp.— Request for Action Under the Defense Production Act.
Who initiated the request to DOE to ask for an opinion on the Defense Production Act? Did Sable’s attorneys, DOE, or a member of the President’s administration advise you to do so?
Did you communicate nonpublic information to a select group of investors concerning your strategy to convince Secretary Wright, Secretary Lutnick, or President Trump to assist in your preemption of California law, and did this strategy involve offering a round of golf with Phil Mickelson to Secretary Lutnick or having an intermediary promise President Trump to affix gold leaf to your offshore oil platform in exchange for helping to override California law?

Californians do not want oil production restarting along their coasts and have voted repeatedly for California laws that block coastal oil production. The environmental impacts, along with the economic fallout from those impacts, are simply too great, especially when there is little to no benefit for California consumers.

We urge you to pause and consider the long-term legal and financial ramifications of collaborating with the Trump administration to circumvent California law. We also advise you that we will continue our oversight and investigative efforts in the next Congress. We look forward to your response and acknowledgement of compliance with this preservation request by June 10, 2026.

Carbajal Announces Over $2 Million in Federal Funding for SLO Airport

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced $2,255,000 in federal funding for the San Luis Obispo County Airport to improve the baggage screening system. The airport’s current system is too undersized and outdated to adequately meet current operational demand. The grant will fund a complete system replacement to improve the travel experience for passengers.

“Given SLO’s beautiful landscapes, innovative companies, and acclaimed universities, it is no surprise that SLO County Airport welcomed a record-breaking number of passengers last year,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This federal funding will support necessary infrastructure upgrades, allowing the airport to accommodate the growing number of travelers coming into SLO County each year.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Carbajal and his team for their continued partnership and support of SLO County Airport. This funding supports the replacement of the terminal’s undersized outbound baggage screening system, to better meet current operational demand and enhance the travel experience for families and passengers traveling through our community airport. Investments like this are critical to maintaining safe, efficient and reliable service as passenger activity continues to grow,” said Courtney Johnson, Airport Director, SLO County Airport.

This funding is from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Terminals Program. These grants provide funding for safe, sustainable and accessible airport terminals, airport-owned airport traffic control towers, and on-airport rail and bus projects that improve multimodal connections, ensuring a safe and seamless travel experience for families across the U.S.

Since its passage in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has delivered more than $1 billion in funding to projects up and down the Central Coast of California. As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Carbajal played a key role in crafting and passing the landmark legislation in partnership with the Biden Administration.

Last fall, Carbajal announced over $3 million in funding for two airports in San Luis Obispo County for infrastructure improvements. SLO County Airport received $2,725,597 to construct a new 315-foot Taxiway B3 to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. Oceano Airport received $313,500 to reseal 2,325 feet of existing Runway 11/29 pavement to extend its useful life.

Carbajal Questions Trump Administration on Iran War During Committee Hearing

Tue, 19 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

During today’s House Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) questioned Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Daniel Zimmerman and Admiral Brad Cooper, the Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), about the cost of the ongoing war in Iran, the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and the current status of U.S. humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.

The hearing, entitled “U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Greater Middle East and Africa”, examines Defense Department policies, programs, and activities in the Greater Middle East and Africa in preparation for negotiations on the 2027 defense budget.

Download a video clip of Rep. Carbajal’s questions here. See the full hearing here.

A rough transcript is available below:

Rep. Carbajal
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. You know, it's interesting to hear that during Biden and Obama, there were challenges, gas prices were high, and that was terrible back then, but now it's okay. Now it's okay. Talking about partisanship, I think it's important to understand what's being said. I want to start by expressing my condolences to the families of the 13 service members who lost their lives in this war, and of the two service members who passed away during the training exercises earlier this month in Africa. Admiral Cooper, I also want to thank you and all the men and women serving under you for your service to our nation during this difficult time and a misguided war. We are quickly approaching three months of deeply unpopular war, a war that still has no clear objectives and end in sight. A war that is costing billions of taxpayer dollars, a war that is driving up the cost of living for every American, especially at the pump. This war was not authorized or budgeted, which means the Department will be asking Congress for a supplemental funding package on top of the proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027. Secretary Zimmerman, we know the cost of oil has gone up globally, with some estimates over 55%. How much has this increase in oil cost CENTCOM directly over the duration of Operation Epic Fury, and now into Operation Project Freedom?

Secretary Zimmerman
Congressman, I would be happy to take that question back and get you as accurate an answer as I can.

Rep. Carbajal
Is there any percentage in the increase of cost? Anything?

Secretary Zimmerman
I think I'll have to get back to you on that.

Rep. Carbajal
I don't think that anyone is questioning that Iran's military capabilities have been severely degraded over the course of this campaign. Yet, despite the intense bombing campaign and the apparent eradication of Iran's navy, they are still able to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and hold targets around the region at risk. Admiral Cooper, do we possess the military capability to open the Strait of Hormuz against a military that has been severely weakened?

Admiral Cooper
Congressman, I wouldn't want to talk about any specific capability, but broadly speaking, we have - we are well postured to execute military operations across virtually any contingent.

Rep. Carbajal
But the Strait of Hormuz is still closed.

Admiral Cooper
Congressman, the Strait of Hormuz, in the last couple of weeks, has had multiple instances of ships passing through, including U.S. destroyers, U.S. flagships, and just last night…

Rep. Carbajal
Secretary Zimmerman, earlier this month, there were reports that the Civil-Military Coordination Center, or the CMCC, was set to be shut down. The administration denied these reports. Can you confirm whether the CMCC is actually closed or there is a plan that it will be absorbed into another entity?

Secretary Zimmerman
Congressman, my understanding is no final decision has been made along those lines, and the thing I would like to say is that first of all, as has been said before, no one does more to protect civilians in a wartime scenario, in a conflict scenario, than the United States. And we are moving, if I may borrow a phrase, actually from, from the Admiral, we are moving from compliance to culture. The principles that are inherent in protecting civilians are now baked into our processes in a way that hadn't been before.

Rep. Carbajal
Let me, let me continue. How much is the CMCC currently overseeing the distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza? What are the current obstacles to aid delivery, and how would the closing of the CMCC affect aid delivery?

Secretary Zimmerman
Can I defer to you on that? Let me defer to Admiral Cooper on that.

Admiral Cooper
So, the CMCC plays an indispensable role in both stabilization and the coordination of the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Since its inception, more than 70 countries and international organizations are in the CMCC.

Rep. Carbajal
Admiral, what are they doing right now?

Admiral Cooper
They are helping to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and keep the ceasefire in effect, which has been successful for the last seven months.

Rep. Carbajal
How much aid has been delivered in the last six months?

Admiral Cooper
I can come back with the exact number, but back in December, the IPC, who is the oversight organization for aid, said that famine is no longer a threat in Gaza. I think it's a reflection of U.S. service members' absolute commitment to this mission, which has gone extremely well.

Rep. Carbajal
Thank you. Mr. Chair, I yield back.

Carbajal Visits Adelanto ICE Facility to Meet with Detained Constituents

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

On Monday, May 11, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) conducted an oversight visit to the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility to meet with detainees, three of which were Central Coast constituents. The detained constituents are from Goleta, Santa Maria, and Ojai. The Congressman also assessed conditions in the facility and inquired about the reported deaths of detainees. Since the beginning of the current Trump administration, at least four detainee deaths have been reported at Adelanto.

“I visited the Adelanto ICE facility to meet with constituents from the Central Coast and hear the truth about their detention,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Their stories echo what other detainees from facilities across the U.S. have consistently reported: substandard medical care, inadequate facility maintenance, and a lack of some basic essentials like blankets. The stories shared by these Central Coast residents reflect the disastrous reality of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. While ICE may argue that the issues I saw at the facility could be fixed with more funding; I argue that the solution is to stop the mass detention policies that have overcrowded these facilities, separated families, and inflicted terror across our country. I will continue to block additional federal funds for ICE and will not stop showing up at these facilities until we see comprehensive reform.”

The Adelanto ICE facility is California’s largest immigration detention facility and currently holds over 2,000 detainees. The facility is privately operated by the GEO Group.

Carbajal is a leader in Congress in pushing for commonsense immigration reform and holding federal immigration enforcement officers accountable.

This week’s Adelanto visit marks Carbajal’s third tour of an ICE facility since the current Trump administration began. He previously visited the Santa Maria ICE processing facility twice in 2025.

Carbajal, Moore Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Transit Infrastructure in Mid Sized Cities

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Blake Moore (R-UT-01) introduced the bipartisan Medium Transit Intensive Cities (MTIC) Authorization Act, a bill to provide more federal support for transportation infrastructure in medium-sized cities. The bill would create a new Medium Transit Intensive Cities (MTIC) category within the Section 5307 transit‑funding program. The program would be modeled on the successful Small Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) formula but designed for medium‑sized urban areas with 200,000 to 999,999 residents.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

While medium‑sized urban areas often provide transit service comparable in quality and intensity to large metropolitan systems, the current federal funding formula for infrastructure projects does not adequately recognize or reward their performance.

“Many medium‑sized cities on the Central Coast and across the country have strong transit systems that people depend on to get to work, school, and to stay connected with their communities,” said Rep. Carbajal. “But the current federal transit funding framework isn’t adequate for these communities, leaving too many of them without the support they need. My bipartisan bill closes that gap by ensuring we invest in transit systems that serve their riders effectively, no matter the community’s size.”

"Existing transit programs often favor either small or large cities, overlooking medium-sized cities such as Ogden and Layton in Northern Utah. By creating a federal set-aside to reward high-performing transit agencies operating in medium-sized cities, we can ensure that transit agencies are able to meet citizens' needs and make the long-term investments necessary to support growing populations. I’m excited to work with Representative Carbajal to introduce the Medium Transit Intensive Cities Authorization Act to support medium-sized communities that are providing high-quality transit options,” said Rep. Moore.

“Communities shouldn’t be penalized for population growth. The Medium Transit Intensive Cities Authorization Act would ensure that high-performing transit providers who connect people with jobs, school, and opportunity have the resources to do so,” said Jerry Estrada, General Manager of Santa Barbara MTD.

“The Bus Coalition strongly supports the Medium Transit Cities Authorization Act as a smart, targeted step toward a more equitable and performance-driven federal transit program. Across the country, mid-sized transit systems are delivering high-quality, efficient service that connects people to jobs, education, and essential services, yet too often they are disadvantaged by a funding formula that doesn’t fully recognize their impact.

“By creating a Medium Transit Intensive Cities set-aside, this legislation rewards strong performance, encourages continued innovation, and ensures that communities of all sizes have a fair opportunity to compete for federal resources. We commend Congressman Carbajal for advancing a proposal that strengthens mobility, supports economic growth, and better aligns federal investment with real-world transit outcomes,” Ed Redfern, Executive Director of The Bus Coalition.

Under current law, transit agencies in medium-sized regions are effectively measured against—and must compete with—large urban areas with populations over 1 million, which benefit from scale, density, and significantly greater resources. As a result, even high-performing medium-sized transit systems are at a structural disadvantage and are less able to access performance-based funding opportunities available within the existing framework.

The MTIC program would dedicate 1.5 percent of Section 5307 funding to reward transit agencies in these mid-sized regions that meet or exceed performance benchmarks. Metrics such as ridership, service frequency, and service provided per capita would be used to ensure that funding is directed toward systems delivering strong results for their communities.

By aligning incentives with performance, this proposal would:

Reward high-performing transit agencies in medium-sized regions that are often overlooked in the current formula;
Encourage improved service delivery and efficiency, strengthening transit systems nationwide;
Promote equity across urbanized areas by recognizing that strong transit outcomes are not limited to the largest cities;
Support economic growth and mobility in communities that rely on robust transit but lack proportional federal support.

As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Carbajal has long worked to support infrastructure projects on the Central Coast and beyond.

In 2021, Carbajal helped write and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the largest investment in American infrastructure in nearly a century. Since its passage, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has delivered more than $1 billion in funding to projects up and down the Central Coast.

In July 2025, Carbajal introduced the bipartisan National Infrastructure Investment Corporation (NIIC) Act, which would authorize the creation of a national infrastructure bank. The bank created by the NIIC Act would be authorized to provide loans and loan guarantees to local infrastructure projects, giving local governments another potential funding source in addition to support provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or other federal and state funding sources.

In September 2025, Carbajal led a group of bipartisan House members in the introduction of the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act, legislation that would fund upgrades to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to make them more resilient against threats ranging from cyberattacks to extreme weather.

Carbajal Statement on Platform Habitat Fire

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) issued the statement below following the fire on Platform Habitat.

"I want to thank the U.S. Coast Guard, Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol, Santa Barbara City Fire Department, and the Santa Barbara and Ventura County Fire Departments for safely evacuating the crew and extinguishing the fire on Platform Habitat. While we await a full investigation into the cause of the fire and any potential environmental impacts, today’s incident serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent risks that offshore drilling poses to our coast. Our community shouldn't have to gamble with our environment, economy, and public health just to pad the pockets of Big Oil. I will continue to fight any plans to expand offshore drilling in our region, and advocate for alternative energy sources like wind and solar. These alternative energy sources are safer, reduce our dependence on volatile global oil markets, and lower energy costs for families."

Ventura/Santa Barbara County Telephone Town Hall

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 21:30:00 GMT

Residents of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties! – Join me on Wednesday, July 27th at 5:30 PM PDT for a live telephone town hall!

This is a chance for you to ask me questions, and get an updates from me on what I've been working on to help you and your family.

Sign up to be a part of this event at: https://carbajal.house.gov/live/

If you are a resident of San Luis Obispo County, I will be hosting a telephone townhall on July 20th to answer questions and address concerns for your region.

San Luis Obispo County Telephone Town Hall

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 21:30:00 GMT

San Luis Obispo County residents! – Join me on Wednesday, July 20th at 5:30 PM PDT for a live telephone town hall!

This is a chance for you to ask me questions, and get an updates from me on what I've been working on to help you and your family.

Sign up to be a part of this event at: https://carbajal.house.gov/live/

If you are a resident of Santa Barbara or Ventura County, I will be hosting a telephone townhall on July 27th to answer questions and address concerns for your region.