•U.S. Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) were among the co-signers behind a recent amicus brief in California v. Wright. This pending case in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California challenges the Trump administration’s use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to facilitate the restart of the Sable Offshore oil pipeline system, including the Santa Ynez Unit. “The people of Santa Barbara County and California have every right to be concerned about the pipeline restart given its role in the 2015 Refugio oil spill,” Carbajal said in a Sept. 8 statement. “This administration is clearly fixated on boosting the fossil fuel industry, even when doing so risks putting our environment and public health in harm’s way.” The amicus brief argues that Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright failed to identify a legitimate national defense need for Sable’s crude oil, leaving statutory requirements to invoke the DPA unmet. The brief notes that Sable produces crude oil—distinct from finished fuels used by the military—and that the DPA order does not establish a connection between Sable’s production and an unmet military fuel requirement. “As our brief outlines, there was no legitimate national security justification for invoking the Defense Production Act on behalf of Sable,” Carbajal stated. “The Sable pipeline restart is a classic example of the Trump administration abusing power to benefit political allies at the expense of local communities.” Other co-signers of the brief include U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Nanette Barragán (D-Los Angeles), and a dozen other legislators. “Trump is turning the Defense Production Act into a blank check for Big Oil,” Huffman said in a statement. “Emergency national security powers exist to protect this country in a crisis. They were never meant to force open an oil pipeline that has sat idle for more than a decade after fouling our coast. This is a fossil fuel giveaway dressed up as national security, designed to enrich Trump and reward his political allies.”
•Jointly authored by State Sens. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Senate Bill 931 proclaims Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day in California, as a “9-2-5” tribute to the late musician, humanitarian, and philanthropist’s legacy. “Dolly Parton brought joy to a lot of people, but her legacy goes well beyond her music,” Laird stated in early September. “Through the Imagination Library, she put books into the hands of millions of children and helped give them a love of reading from an early age,” he added. “She also led with kindness and acceptance, standing by the LGBTQ-plus community and reminding people that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.” She was also no stranger to the Central Coast, Laird added, pointing to her stays over the years at the Madonna Inn.
•U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) issued a statement on Sept. 11 to remember the innocent lives lost during the deadliest attack on American soil in the nation’s history. “Today … we continue to stand with the families carrying the unimaginable grief of losing loved ones. We recognize the heroism and sacrifice of the many firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and other first responders who put their lives on the line,” Padilla stated. “We remember the construction workers and countless others who worked tirelessly to rescue those they could. … And we honor the Muslim and Sikh communities who faced bigotry and violence in the aftermath of the attacks because of their faith.”
This article appears in September 17 – September 24, 2026.
