Correction: In yesterday’s Lawmakers on the Move on the item involving a dispute between Los Angeles County and the City of Calabasas concerning the LA County Landfill on the City’s northwestern border, we incorrectly reported that the City has been accepting Phase 2 fire debris. To clarify, the County, not the City of Calabasas, is accepting Phase 2 fire debris.
Whitesides introduces bill to protect impartiality of federal statistical agencies
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, portions of San Fernando Valley) yesterday introduced the Statistical Agency Integrity and Independence Act, legislation designed to protect and uphold the impartiality of key federal statistical agencies and ensure they can deliver unbiased information to the American people.
The measure came after President Trump, on Friday, moved to terminate the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, after the bureau released July jobs data showing weak hiring and downward trends in job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is responsible for producing data on job growth, inflation, wages, and other important elements of the economy.
“American consumers and businesses deserve independent and impartial data that they can trust from their government, and statistical agencies must be able to deliver this fact-based data without fear of political retribution,” said Whitesides.
“As a business leader, I relied on accurate information to make decisions at every level of my organizations, and knew that my teams were giving me the data I needed — not wanted — to hear. Now more than ever, as our economy reels from the impacts of haphazard tariffs and instability, we need data we can trust.
“The President’s decision to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner solely because he didn’t like their jobs report sets a dangerous precedent, and I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in protecting the independence of our federal statistical agencies.”
The Statistical Agency Integrity and Independence Act asserts that a President may only remove the head of a federal statistical agency for cause, including proven inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. It does not allow termination based on the substance, conclusions, or timing of any statistical data, report, or release prepared by the agency.
This Act protects the Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Hahn supports Muratsuchi’s bill on landslides
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn yesterday saw the full Board of Supervisors vote to support her motion to support Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s (D-Torrance) legislation that would add landslides to the list of disasters that qualify as local emergencies under California law.
The move comes in response to the ongoing, unprecedented land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes, which has destroyed homes, displaced families, and left the city struggling to access critical resources for response and recovery.
“There is no question about it – the land movement that has devastated neighborhoods in Rancho Palos Verdes and displaced families absolutely is a local emergency, and state law should recognize it as such,” said Hahn. “Right now, cities impacted by landslides are forced to respond to these crises with one hand tied behind their back. That has to change.”
Under existing law, disasters recognized as local emergencies include wildfires, floods, storms, droughts, earthquakes, and other specified events — but not landslides. Muratsuchi’s legislation would add landslides and conditions exacerbated by climate change to this list.
Brownley introduces legislation guaranteeing veterans’ rights to abortions
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas) introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act this week, ensuring that veterans and eligible dependents have the right to receive abortion care, medication, and counseling through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The measure refutes the Trump administration’s proposed rule, which would reinstate the VA’s near-total abortion ban, including in cases of rape or incest. If finalized, this policy would strip access to care for veterans across the country, forcing them to either go without essential reproductive health services or seek care outside the VA.
“More than two million women veterans live in the United States today – and they comprise the fastest-growing and most diverse group in our military and veteran community. To deny them access to comprehensive reproductive care is a betrayal of the sacred promise we have made to serve our veterans as well as they have served our nation,” said Brownley.
“The Trump administration’s reckless decision to dismantle the VA’s reproductive health policy is a direct attack on women veterans’ freedom and bodily autonomy. Veterans should be able to make personal decisions about their health and futures without interference from politicians or appointed officials. Their access to care should not change with each administration,” the federal lawmaker added.
