Carrillo wins $144M for courts in Palmdale and Lancaster
Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D – Palmdale, Lancaster, Littlerock, Lake Los Angeles), chair of the Inland Empire Legislative Caucus, helped secure $144 million in the 2026-27 State Budget to expand judicial capacity in California’s most under-resourced courts — including those serving Palmdale and Lancaster.
The budget provides $44 million annually to support the phased implementation of 13 new superior court judgeships, plus $100 million for related court facilities authorized by state law in 2023.
“For decades, the Inland Empire has struggled with a shortage of judges despite being one of California’s fastest-growing regions,” said Carrillo. “This budget represents real progress toward bringing our courts closer to the level of service our residents deserve. It reflects years of work by legislators from both parties, our local court leadership, counties, and many others who refused to let this issue fall off the radar.”
The funding follows years of bipartisan advocacy by Inland Empire and Antelope Valley legislators, local governments, the Judicial Council and regional court leaders to address a judge shortage that has driven up caseloads and extended wait times for residents seeking access to justice.
Sherman’s disabled veterans housing bill becomes law without Trump’s signature
U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks, Encino, Woodland Hills, Northridge, Malibu, Pacific Palisades) saw his Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA) become law Friday night as part of the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act — despite President Trump’s refusal to sign the legislation.
Under the U.S. Constitution, a bill becomes law without the president’s signature if he fails to act on it within ten days while Congress is in session. Trump declined to sign the bill, calling it “unimportant,” but ultimately allowed it to lapse into law rather than veto it outright.
“Today is a victory for homeless veterans and for every American struggling to find affordable housing,” said Sherman. “President Trump tried to hold this bill hostage in a misguided effort to force Congress to accept his unrelated political demands. Fortunately, the Constitution prevented one man’s political tantrum from stopping legislation that will improve millions of lives.”
Sherman’s HUDVA provision authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development to use Housing Choice Vouchers to provide housing assistance specifically for disabled veterans experiencing homelessness. The broader law expands the nation’s housing supply, cuts construction red tape, modernizes federal housing programs and includes affordability measures for families nationwide.
“This law includes my Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, which will help ensure that disabled veterans who sacrificed for our country are not forced to sleep on our streets,” said Sherman. “No veteran who served our nation should ever be left without a safe place to call home.”
Lieu delivers $1 million cybersecurity check to Manhattan Beach
U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Rancho Palos Verdes) joined Manhattan Beach officials last week for a ceremonial check presentation, marking the $1,040,000 in federal funding secured for the city’s Ensuring Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure Project.
The funding will enable Manhattan Beach to upgrade its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system — the computer network that manages the city’s water infrastructure — to protect it against cyberattacks.
“I am pleased to have secured over $1 million to support the Ensuring Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure Project,” said Lieu. “This project will help protect our essential infrastructure from cyberattacks. I’m thankful for the partnerships of local officials to get federal dollars where our community needs them.”
Upgrades will include installing fiber optic cables at vulnerable sites, upgrading programmable logic controllers, and adding new switches and more robust firewalls.
Padilla, Schiff mourns Lindsey Graham
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined colleagues across the aisle Sunday in mourning the sudden death of South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died Saturday night of an aortic dissection hours after returning from his tenth trip to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Graham, 71, collapsed at his Capitol Hill home Saturday evening. Emergency personnel responded to a cardiac arrest call and were observed performing CPR before transporting him by ambulance. The DC medical examiner’s preliminary findings attributed his death to aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
“I am shocked to hear of the sudden passing of Senator Graham,” said Padilla. “While we disagreed on much, I respect Lindsey’s dedication to public service, from his time in the military, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Angela and I are praying for his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
“Many of us consider him the Trump whisperer,” said Schiff on Meet the Press. “If we wanted to know what the president’s thinking was, or how he might be moved on something, you would go to Lindsey to discuss.”
Graham’s death leaves a significant void in Washington’s already fragile bipartisan infrastructure — he was one of the few members of either party capable of bridging the gap between Trump and the Democratic caucus on major legislation.
