Sherman Moves to Ban U.S. Oil Exports Until Iran War Ends
U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks, Northridge, Van Nuys) introduced legislation last week to halt all U.S. crude oil exports for the duration of the Iran war, a targeted bid to drive down gas prices for American consumers by keeping domestically produced oil at home.
The Stop Oil Exports to Lower Gas Prices Act would prohibit U.S. crude oil exports until two conditions are met: the President certifies that hostilities with Iran have ceased, and the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to global commerce. The bill includes a narrow exemption for crude oil that cannot be efficiently refined domestically, provided refined products are returned to the United States.
“During this period of international instability, we have a responsibility to use all available tools to defend American families and our economy,” said Sherman. “This bill prioritizes consumers by directing our energy resources toward lowering costs here at home instead of allowing companies to chase higher profits at the expense of American consumers.”
The legislation comes as the Iran war enters its 65th day, with energy markets rattled by uncertainty over access to the Strait of Hormuz. Sherman argues the math is straightforward — the United States produces more oil than it consumes and is a net exporter of both petroleum and refined products. Halting exports, he contends, would create a domestic supply surplus, pushing prices down for American consumers.
Sherman had previously written to President Trump urging him to unilaterally pause petroleum exports, without waiting for legislation.
Bass Tours Convention Center as Nearly 20 Events Book Expanded Space
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass toured the Los Angeles Convention Center Expansion and Modernization Project Friday alongside members of the City Council, state legislators, city officials, and hundreds of union construction workers, touting the project’s early economic impact as construction continues to ramp up ahead of LA28.
The expansion will add 193,000 square feet of exhibit space over Pico Boulevard, bridging the gap between the West and South Halls and bringing the center’s total exhibit space to 900,000 square feet. The project also adds 38,000 square feet of breakout space and a new 98,000-square-foot ballroom with a roof garden terrace and panoramic views of the downtown skyline and the Hollywood Hills.
“For decades, the City failed to act to modernize our convention center, harming downtown and our economy,” said Bass. “Now, the expansion and modernization of the LA Convention Center is creating jobs and driving economic opportunity, with nearly 20 conventions and events already committed to booking the LACC due to the new expansion. We are delivering this project on time, on budget, and hundreds of workers are benefiting from the good-paying, union jobs that have been created.”
In just the first seven months of construction, the project has generated $50.7 million in contracting opportunities awarded to small, local, diverse, and emerging businesses, with $29.8 million going directly to Los Angeles-based firms and more than $4.8 million in wages paid to Angelenos on the job site.
Rodriguez Launches ‘Moms Agenda’ — A 35-Bill Legislative Package for Mothers and Families
Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando, Sylmar, Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City, Sun Valley) announced the “Moms Agenda” Friday, a coordinated package of more than 35 bills aimed at improving maternal and infant health, economic stability, and access to essential services for California mothers and families — with a Mother’s Day rollout designed to put the package front and center in the Capitol.
The legislation spans four broad categories: healthy mothers and family care, economic security for working families, protecting children in the modern world, and dignity, access, and opportunity. Among the bills Rodriguez is authoring directly are AB 2066, which designates pregnancy as a qualifying life event for health insurance purposes, AB 2160, which expands Medi-Cal coverage for lactation services, and AB 2302, which addresses infant formula safety.
“As a mother and Chair of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities, I understand how difficult it can be to navigate systems that were not built with families in mind,” said Rodriguez. “This effort is about meeting mothers where they are, keeping families front and center in policy decisions, and making sure parents have the support they need to raise their children with stability, dignity, and opportunity.”
The package was shaped through legislative hearings, conversations with advocates and providers, and the personal experiences of mothers serving in the legislature. Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, is among the co-authors, contributing AB 65, the Pregnancy Leave for Educators Act, and AB 1981, the True Cost of Childcare Act.
The full package includes bills by more than a dozen authors across both chambers.
Rivas Presents $750,000 in Fed Funding for Parthenia Place in North Hills
U.S. Rep. Luz Rivas (D-Arleta, Pacoima, North Hills) presented $750,000 in federal funding to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles for computer lab renovations, technology upgrades, and outdoor space improvements at Parthenia Place, a permanent supportive housing community serving nearly 160 residents in North Hills.
The funding is part of the nearly $15 million in federal appropriations Rivas secured for California’s 29th Congressional District in Fiscal Year 2026. Parthenia Place is owned by the Housing Authority and operated with supportive services provided by The People Concern.
“I am proud to secure $750,000 in federal funding to support key technological and outdoor space upgrades at Parthenia Place in North Hills,” said Rivas. “With this funding, we are making serious investments in closing the digital divide and providing families with the resources they need to succeed.”
Los Angeles City Councilmember Imelda Padilla (D-Van Nuys, Arleta, North Hills, Panorama City, Sun Valley) praised the funding as part of a broader pattern of neighborhood investment.
“North Hills is a growing community with incredible potential, and we are continuing to make investments that reflect what this neighborhood deserves,” said Padilla. “From improvements at North Hills Community Park, to the Parthenia Place median beautification project, we are building a stronger foundation for residents. As we invest in the infrastructure of this community, we must also provide the technology tools and dignified community spaces our constituents need to thrive — whether that means students completing homework, seniors accessing telehealth, or families connecting to jobs and city services.”
Carrillo Pushes California-Jalisco Sister State Resolution on Assembly Floor
Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale, Lancaster) presented ACR 173 on the Assembly floor last week, a resolution reaffirming California’s commitment to formalizing a sister-state relationship with the State of Jalisco, Mexico — and using the occasion to deliver a pointed defense of immigrant communities and binational diplomacy at a moment of federal pressure on both fronts.
The resolution highlights the deep cultural, economic, and demographic ties between California and Jalisco and encourages continued binational collaboration across agriculture and labor, technology, and education.
“Our state and Jalisco share long-standing cultural, economic and demographic ties,” Carrillo said. “Those ties between our two states represent a shared past and a collaborative future together in policies ranging from agriculture and labor to technology and education.”
Carrillo, who serves as Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, used the floor presentation to push back against what he described as a federal retreat from celebrating immigrant contributions.
“This resolution emphasizes diplomacy independent of federal policy shifts, emphasizing collaboration and respect instead of confrontation and threats,” he said.
