• U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-California), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), and Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) introduced the Liquid Cooling for AI Act of 2025 on Nov. 20. As the U.S. works to maintain technological supremacy and ramp-up AI innovation, this legislation puts new directives to certain federal agencies in place. For example, the legislation directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to research conditions surrounding liquid cooling use in data centers, and requires the Department of Energy to evaluate GAO’s findings and submit a report to Congress with recommendations, while also creating a liquid cooling advisory organization of industry experts to consult with federal agencies and establish government-wide best practices for liquid cooling in AI facilities. “With the dramatic growth of AI and the accompanying increase in electricity demand from data centers, we must ensure we are using the most efficient cooling technologies and protecting consumers from price hikes,” Schiff said in a Nov. 20 statement. “This bipartisan legislation will help advance liquid cooling systems—a critical and sustainable method of cooling that improves energy efficiency and thermal performance, while improving affordability for consumers.”
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) outlined their demands for information from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott on current hiring and training practices in a Nov. 20 letter. “We write regarding the surge in hiring of thousands of new [ICE] and [CBP] officers by the end of 2025. Given the magnitude and pace of this expansion of federal law enforcement forces, we are seeking information on the hiring standards and training protocols in place to ensure that this rapid expansion does not compromise the integrity, professionalism, or readiness of the federal immigration law enforcement workforce,” the senators wrote. “Alarmingly, while ICE officers previously received nearly five months of training, reports indicate they now receive just 47 days, a number chosen for its symbolic connection to President Trump being the 47th president, not any legitimate law enforcement metric to assess.”
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) recently secured new federal funding for city infrastructure improvement projects in Solvang and Guadalupe. While Solvang was awarded $1 million to modernize its wastewater treatment plant, Guadalupe was awarded $275,000 to renovate the city’s senior center, which also serves as an evacuation center for Guadalupe and surrounding unincorporated communities. “These federal investments in Solvang and Guadalupe are about strengthening the foundation of our North County communities,” Carbajal said in a Nov. 18 statement. “We’re not only upgrading critical infrastructure but also ensuring clean water, safe community spaces, and stronger emergency preparedness for generations to come.” The funding was secured through the Community Project Funding (CPF) initiative, first launched in 2022. During the spring of 2025, Carbajal began to push for the funding—approved in mid-November—toward the Solvang and Guadalupe projects through formal requests to the House Appropriations Committee. “The renovation of the Guadalupe Senior Center represents a meaningful investment in the well-being and dignity of our seniors,” Guadalupe Mayor Ariston Julian stated. “This project reflects our shared commitment to supporting Guadalupe’s older adults and preserving the sense of connection and community that defines our Central Coast.” In a Nov. 20 release, Solvang Mayor David Brown described the new funding as representing a critical investment in Solvang’s future. “Modernizing our wastewater treatment plant infrastructure is essential to maintaining reliable service for our residents and businesses,” Brown said.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 4, 2025.