Rolling back commonsense policies that protected endangered species for 50 years is shameful. Weakening these protections will put wildlife at risk across the country, including local species such as the southern California steelhead trout. www.independent.com/2026/07/30/t...

Trump Administration Rescinds Definition of ‘Harm’ in Endangered Species Act

Santa Barbara County species at risk include frogs and fish.

independent.com

Happy 236 years, US Coast Guard! Since 1790, Coasties have answered the call — from search and rescue missions to keeping our coastlines safe. Thank you for your service, it's an honor to support you in Congress.

I’m fighting to lower costs across the Central Coast. We deserve an economy that works for everyone — not just those at the top.

I met with Louise Lampara, the new CEO of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, to discuss the challenges facing our agricultural communities, from labor shortages and rising production costs to tariffs and the Farm Bill.

Congratulations to Jackson Martinez for being appointed by Governor Newsom to the CSU Board of Trustees!

If you’re wondering why CA clean energy projects got canceled, look no further. The Trump Administration admitted in court that it canceled federal funding for energy projects based on politics — not merit, not cost, not performance. This is crystal clear politicization of federal resources.

Under Donald Trump, ICE is separating families and locking up kids in substandard detention facilities. At the Dilley Immigration and Processing Center in Texas, the reported conditions are alarming — from denied medical care to spoiled food. No child deserves this.

Great to visit SB Botanic Garden and learn how their team has been supporting the National Park Service’s recovery efforts after the devastating Santa Rosa Island Fire.

36,000 people died on our roads last year and the Trump Administration’s "common sense" solution is to remove proven safety measures. This is an absolute failure of leadership. www.npr.org/2026/07/23/n...

DOT cranks up its campaign to strip bike lane references from federal websites

Transportation officials have removed a growing list of safety materials that mention bike lanes from federal websites. Safety advocates warn that's undermining proven measures for reducing crashes.

npr.org

Stealing from the sick to score political points is the only real fraud here. www.cbsnews.com/news/medicai...

Trump administration halts $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota as part of fraud crackdown

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his agency is pausing $867.5 million in Medicaid payments to California and $199 million to Minnesota.

cbsnews.com

Trump and Hegseth forced us into a disastrous, illegal war in Iran and now they want $1.5 trillion to keep it going. The American people want to end forever wars, not to fund them. I am a NO on this excessive military budget, period.

We're seeing incredible results from California's Protecting Blue Whales Blue Skies program. It's helping protect endangered whales while cutting air pollution at the same time — a win-win. The program’s successful regional impact supports a case for scaling it to the federal level.

One year ago, the ICE raids in Carpinteria shocked our community. Their actions did not improve public safety, they inflicted terror.

I'm saddened to hear of Airman 1st Class Cedric Eneluna’s passing. He was a valued member of the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Known for his exceptional work ethic and dedication, he will be deeply missed by his fellow Airmen.

Trump's speech tonight repeated the same debunked voter fraud claims — claims that multiple recounts and audits already disproved. There is no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Central Coast, thank you so much for joining my telephone town hall last night! I appreciated the questions, concerns, and ideas you shared. Hearing directly from you shapes the work I do here in DC.

Wait times for DACA renewal applications have quadrupled under this administration. This failure to address mounting processing delays is unacceptable. I’m working with my colleagues to demand answers for Dreamers who deserve prompt responses.

I hope you’ll join the conversation!

For the second time in one week, ICE shot and killed a person on the street. We need an independent investigation immediately and accountability for those responsible. apnews.com/article/ice-...

ICE shot and killed a motorist in Maine. Advocates say he's a 26-year-old from Colombia

The motorist killed by ICE officers in a Maine shooting Monday was not the target of the warrant the officers were executing, Sen.

apnews.com

ICE killed another innocent person and is lying to cover up what really happened. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo lived in Houston for 35 years, building homes and raising three kids. He wasn't a danger to anyone. We demand a full, independent investigation to hold ICE accountable.

Mexican Man Fatally Shot by ICE Wasn’t the Intended Target

Officials say agents believed a passenger resembled one suspect, but the encounter quickly escalated into a fatal shooting.

nytimes.com

I had a great conversation with Russ Maloney, Director of Programming & Operations at KCLU, about the vital role public broadcasting plays on the Central Coast.

For over 150 years, the 14th Amendment has guaranteed birthright citizenship and equal protection under the law, helping fulfill our nation's promise that every person deserves equal justice under the Constitution.

I'm deeply saddened to hear of Sheila Lodge's passing. As Santa Barbara's first woman and longest-serving mayor, she dedicated much of her life to improving the City of Santa Barbara and left an incredible mark on our community.

I’m concerned about NOAA’s proposal to some remove habitat protections for the Southern California Steelhead. I’ve long advocated to protect this endangered species for the critical role it plays in the Central Coast’s ecosystem.

I was proud to attend the Environmental Defense Center’s Green & Blue celebration in Goleta and join so many people dedicated to protecting the Central Coast.

Happy 4th of July, Central Coast! As we mark our country’s 250th birthday, let’s also celebrate the people and values that make our country a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

In November, I secured over $1 million in funding to replace the Santa Margarita Volunteer Fire Department’s station. Now, we’re breaking ground! After more than 100 years of service to Santa Margarita and SLO County, these volunteer firefighters deserve a facility that’s as dependable as they are.

In May, the Pentagon told Congress the war of choice in Iran had cost $29 billion. Now, they want taxpayers to fund an $87 billion check to pay for a war that Americans never wanted. I will oppose this request should the House consider it. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

White House seeks extra funds for Iran war as part of $87.6bn request

Top Democrat signals party will not back paying for unpopular conflict never authorized by Congress

theguardian.com

Six years after signing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal he called 'the largest, most significant, modern, and balanced trade agreement in history,' Trump is now walking away from his own trade deal.

California grape farms are being threatened by a pest: the glassy-winged sharpshooter. If this pest spreads further, it could threaten our state’s agriculture.