Salud O. Carbajal

Wants to reintegrate veterans into the workforce with job training and housing assistance.

“I am advocating to expand services for crucial programs to reintegrate veterans into the workforce with resources like job training and housing assistance.”⁷

Supports creating opportunities for people to lift themselves into the middle class and thrive through good-paying jobs.

“We have to create more opportunities for people to lift themselves into the middle class and thrive.”⁸

Supports addressing the gender pay gap and demanding pay equity.

“and to address the gender pay gap and demand pay equity.”⁸

Supports upgrading infrastructure to boost the economy and expand the middle class.

“Upgrading our infrastructure is critical to our long-term economic growth and key to expanding the middle class.”⁸

Believes protecting the environment and creating good-paying jobs can go hand in hand.

“I believe protecting the environment and creating good-paying jobs can go hand in hand.”⁸

Supports energy efficiency programs and large-scale solar projects.

“In Santa Barbara, we established the EMPower energy efficiency program for our residents and approved the Cuyama Solar Project, the first large-scale solar project in our county.”⁸

Wants to lower costs for families and help them find prosperity by addressing rising prices.

“Lowering costs for you and your family is my number one priority in Congress, because I know that higher prices keep folks from getting ahead and finding prosperity.”⁹

Pushed to increase funding for programs that help food insecure families.

“That’s why I pushed to increase funding for programs that help food insecure families.”⁹

Backed releases from strategic petroleum reserves to offset market disruptions at the pump.

“And its why I’ve backed releases from our strategic petroleum reserves to offset the market disruptions that Californians have felt at the pump.”⁹

Supports improving the healthcare system to ensure everyone can afford care and medicine.

“Congress needs to focus on improving our health care system and ensuring that everyone can afford lifesaving care and medicine—not on rolling back protections for millions of Americans.”²⁰

Opposed the Republican repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“During my first term in Congress, I voted against the Republican repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and fought for legislation to improve and expand our health care system.”²⁰

Supports capping out-of-pocket costs and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

“I've fought for bills like the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), the Build Back Better Act, and the Affordable Insulin Now Act so that out of pocket costs are capped, Medicare can negotiate directly with drug companies, and all patients can access lower prescription costs.”²⁰

Supports expanding ACA tax cuts to lower premiums and provide free COVID-19 resources.

“And through measures like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan, I successfully got ACA tax cuts expanded for millions of families to get lower premiums, free COVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatment, and additional support for the community health clinics and centers that are the cornerstone of the Central Coast’s public health.”²⁰

Supports expanding TRICARE services to provide free contraceptive services and screenings.

“On the House Armed Services Committee, I have introduced legislation to expand TRICARE services for our military members to provide free contraceptive services, allow gestational diabetes screening without copayment and waive statutorily imposed pharmacy costs for preventive services.”²⁰

Supports strengthening Medicare and Medicaid programs to prevent families from choosing between housing and care.

“I'm also fighting to strengthen our Medicare and Medicaid programs that ensure millions of older Americans and low-income families are not forced to choose between paying their mortgage or paying for lifesaving care.”²⁰

Wants to expand services for mental health programs for veterans.

“We have to implement more programs to ensure that veterans living with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma can get the care they need.”⁷

Advocates for measures that lower the cost of health care.

“I’ve been advocating for measures that lower the cost of health care since before I came to Congress.”⁹

Delivered lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs through expansions of ACA tax cuts.

“After successfully preventing Republicans from repealing the Affordable Care Act dozens of times, I also delivered lower premiums and out of pocket costs through expansions of ACA tax cuts in our COVID-19 relief bills.”⁹

Advocates for legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

“I’ve also specifically worked to get legislation to lower the extraordinary costs of prescriptions drugs passed in the House multiple times in recent years, and will continue to advocate for those measures in months and years to come.”⁹

Wants a fair immigration system that works and keeps families together to grow the economy.

“It is important that we have a fair immigration system that works. Unfortunately, our current system is deeply flawed, and in Congress I am working to make our immigration laws more fair to keep families together and continue to grow our economy.”²⁶

Supports permanently codifying DACA to allow young people to live, work, and learn legally.

“The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has given nearly 800,000 young people a shot at the American Dream, allowing them to come forward, live, work, and learn in the United States legally and without fear of deportation.”²⁶

Supports the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to provide a pathway to legal status for farmworkers.

“I helped write the Farm Workforce Modernization Act: bipartisan legislation that both farmers and farmworkers have told Congress needs to sign into law as soon as possible. Our bill provides a pathway for earned legal status for existing farmworkers, makes meaningful reforms to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and creates a first-of-its-kind, merit-based visa program specifically designed for the nation’s agricultural sector.”²⁶

Supports crafting gun safety measures to keep guns away from those who pose a threat to themselves or others.

“We need more commonsense gun safety measures–which is why I’m proud to have helped craft the first new federal gun safety law in 30 years: the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.”³⁴

Supports ‘red flag’ laws that temporarily remove guns from dangerous individuals while preserving due process.

“‘Red flag’ laws are proven to save lives by temporarily removing guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others while preserving due process.”³⁴

Supports cracking down on straw gun purchases, ghost guns, and gun traffickers.

“The law we got approved this year also helps crack down on straw gun purchases, ghost guns, and gun traffickers, improves background checks, and invests in community violence prevention.”³⁴

Supports universal background checks and closing loopholes in vetting systems.

“That’s why I’ve also backed and helped pass commonsense gun safety measures that institute universal background checks and close loopholes in our vetting systems.”³⁴

Supports reinstituting national restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“As a veteran, I’ve seen what weapons of war can do. They have no place on our streets. I support reinstituting national restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”³⁴

Worked to create sustainable climate solutions for states and localities.

“I am proud to have served on President Obama’s task force on climate change where we worked to create sustainable climate solutions for states and localities.”⁴⁰

Supports clean energy jobs by adding EV charging stations, clean transit options, and capping leaking wells.

“Creating clean energy jobs by adding additional EV charging stations, clean transit options, and capping leaking oil and gas wells up and down our coast.”⁸

Advocates for investments in clean energy alternatives to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“We can’t drill our way out of higher prices, however, and I continue to advocate for investments in clean energy alternatives that will ensure our families are less reliant on volatile fossil fuel prices.”⁹

Wants to restore the power of Pell Grants and ensure more families receive the full amount.

“I introduced my Degrees Not Debt Act to restore the power of Pell Grants, ensure more families receive the full Pell Grant amount and incentivize states to invest in higher education.”⁴⁶

Believes in pushing for two years of tuition-free community college.

“I also believe we should push for two years of tuition-free community college to allow students to further their education or get the career technical skills they need to compete in today’s global economy.”⁴⁶

Wants to push universities to keep costs down to receive federal aid.

“pushing universities to keep costs down if they want to continue to receive federal research dollars and other aid.”⁴⁶

Pushed President Biden to continue the delay on student loan payments.

“I’ve also pushed President Biden to continue the delay on student loan payments first begun during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for him to use authorities already granted to him to cancel student debt for borrowers who are struggling to succeed under the weight of crushing debt.”⁴⁶

Wants to help veterans experiencing homelessness obtain resources and get back on their feet.

“I am working to ensure we help veterans experiencing homelessness obtain resources and get back on their feet.”⁷

Wants to increase affordable housing options and help renters and homeowners keep the Central Coast as their home.

“We need more affordable housing options in our communities. It’s that simple. I’ve delivered millions of dollars directly to the Central Coast to create more affordable housing units, and I will continue to fight for policies that help renters and homeowners alike keep the Central Coast as their home.”⁹

Wants veterans to receive the support they deserve after returning home from service.

“Today, our veterans and their families face more challenges than ever before after returning home from service. As a veteran who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, I work every day in Congress to tackle these challenges and ensure veterans receive the support they deserve.”⁷

Wants to make good on the commitment to those who serve.

“From accessible health care to job opportunities to financial aid for continued education, we must make good on our commitment to those who serve.”⁷

Wants to reduce VA wait times, increase accountability and transparency, and improve care.

“Whether its reducing VA wait times, increasing accountability and transparency, improving care or helping returning troops transition back into the civilian world, I will honor their service by taking action to improve the lives of veterans on the Central Coast and across our nation.”⁷

Wants to ensure service members are aware of expedited naturalization opportunities.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) I also led a bipartisan effort to ensure that service members who have permanent resident status are aware of the opportunity for expedited naturalization.”²⁶