This installment of the Signal Tribune’s monthly series covers actions taken and statements made by Long Beach’s federal and state representatives in February 2026.
Elected officials were involved in discussions, debate and legislation surrounding immigration, tariffs, healthcare and housing.
The purpose of this ongoing series is to help the public stay abreast of their elected officials and hold them accountable beyond Election Day.
Federal representatives:
Robert Garcia – U.S. Representative for California’s 42nd Congressional District
LBCC: Garcia announced on Feb. 6 that Long Beach City College will receive $1.5 million in federal funding to upgrade the school’s Child Development Center. Improvements will be made to the outdoor learning space, additional playground equipment will be added, and access to early childhood education will be expanded.
“We know reliable childcare can make a real difference for families, and the LBCC Child Development Center is a space that so many families rely on,” Garcia said in a public statement. “At LBCC, many of our students and faculty are also parents, and having a safe, welcoming place for their kids matters.”
Tariffs: On Feb. 20, the Supreme Court ruled against the trade tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on imports from other nations, deciding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give the president the power to impose tariffs. In response to the Supreme Court ruling, Trump has imposed additional tariffs.
“Donald Trump has caused chaos globally with his reckless tariff policies that have raised prices and impacted America’s ports,” Garcia said in a public statement. “The Supreme Court has made it clear that these tariffs are illegal and harming consumers. It’s time to move forward and bring costs down for families.”
Venezuela: Garcia sent letters to the Treasury, State, and Energy Departments on Feb. 23, demanding these departments provide details of any funds and agreements made between the United States and Venezuelan governments. Since the U.S. abducted Venezuela’s leader and took control of the smaller nation’s oil, over $1 billion of oil has been sold. The U.S. has also agreed to sell Venezuelan oil to the Cuban private sector.
“The Trump Administration’s shady oil deal in Venezuela should concern every American,” Garcia said in a public statement. “It’s clear the White House is avoiding congressional oversight and dodging accountability. Given this Administration’s track record of corruption, it’s even more critical that Congress has full visibility and receives answers immediately. Oversight Democrats will not stop until we know exactly who is profiting from these decisions and the full extent of this scheme is exposed.”
Nanette Díaz Barragán – U.S. representative for California’s 44th Congressional District
ICE: Barragán joined other members of the Steering and Policy Committee for a hearing on the intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. During the hearing, officials heard from the son of a veteran who had been allegedly assaulted by ICE, a pastor, the policy director of the American Immigration Council, the Mendota Heights chief of police, and the lawyer for Renee Good’s family.
“Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller and Donald Trump have unleashed unaccountable, untrained, and lawless immigration enforcement agents to terrorize and strike fear into our communities,” Barragán said in a public statement. “What we heard today reaffirms what we have seen in communities across the country, including in my district in Los Angeles County: disturbing patterns of abuse, racial profiling, verbal intimidation, unnecessary use of force, and blatant disregard for due process. These actions tear apart our families, destabilize communities, and erode trust in government. ICE should be bound by the same rules as any other law enforcement organization. They are not exempt from the Constitution.”
Healthcare: Barragán met with decision-makers and doctors from the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County and AltaMed to discuss rising medical costs and cuts to federal programs, such as Medi-Cal.
Participants discussed how recent cuts in federal funding are affecting patients and medical facilities. Those present expressed concern over proposed slashes to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants that could cost California hundreds of millions of dollars, potentially impacting HIV prevention, disease tracking and access to care. After $50 million in federal funding was previously cut, some clinics have been forced to close, while others can no longer afford to provide services such as vaccinations and STI testing.
“Americans pay too much and receive too little,” Barragán said in a public statement. “Due to skyrocketing health care costs, many working families are forced to have to decide between feeding their families or being able to afford to see a doctor. You deserve better. House Democrats continue to fight to restore critical federal funding, protect Medi-Cal, and extend the expired insurance premium tax credits.”
Housing: In San Pedro on Feb. 18, Barragán brought together housing providers, landlords, advocates and renters for a roundtable discussion focused on the rising cost of housing. The group spoke about challenges families face finding and keeping affordable homes, as well as concerns about proposed cuts to federally funded housing programs, such as the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Lourdes Castro Ramirez, president and chief executive officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, said the Housing Choice Voucher Program, or Section 8, has a waitlist of 10 to 15 years. She also stated the average annual income of beneficiaries of this program is about $13,874, with about 20% being seniors.
“When rent goes up, the cost of living goes up,” Barragán said in a public statement. “But Trump and Republicans continue to try and make drastic cuts to our affordable housing programs that make it harder and harder for Americans to remain housed. This is unacceptable. Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs on Day 1, but they have only increased the costs of our groceries, rent, utilities, child care, and elder care. Americans deserve better and House Democrats will fight for your right to remain housed.”
Lena Gonzalez – California State Senator for the 33rd District
Disability Advocacy: Gonzalez introduced Senate Bill 1052 on Feb. 12, which aims to ensure Californians with mental and physical disabilities are still able to access necessary services if their primary caregiver is detained or deported by immigration agents.
Under current law, representatives can be appointed to advocate for individuals with disabilities, but cannot be pre-designated for emergencies.
If passed, this bill would allow the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to assign authorized representatives when someone’s primary caregiver is detained or deported, helping people maintain their access to housing, employment and regional center services.
“No family should live in fear of what happens to their loved one with a disability if they are suddenly no longer able to be there to provide support,” Gonzalez said in a public statement. “Yet that is the reality families are facing more and more every day, as reckless federal immigration raids tear families apart. SB 1052 provides clear, commonsense safeguards to protect the rights of people with disabilities and ensure they never lose the support, stability, and peace of mind they deserve, especially in these difficult times.”
Traffic Safety: Gonzalez introduced Senate Bill 1279 on Feb. 20, which would allow Long Beach to install speed cameras on Pacific Coast Highway. Because PCH is a state route, the City is not currently allowed to place speed cameras there.
Although PCH represents 8 of the city’s 217 miles of major roadway, it has accounted for 39 of 192 traffic deaths since 2020—about 20% of vehicle-related fatalities in Long Beach.
“We can’t ignore that one in five of our city’s speed-related deaths occur on the PCH,” Gonzalez said in a public statement. “To protect the pedestrians, bikers, and drivers of Long Beach effectively, we need to improve safety along this corridor. Let’s give Long Beach the authority it needs to use proven tools and calming-traffic measures that keep our city safe.”
AI Deepfakes: Gonzalez introduced Senate Bill 1146, a proposal aimed at addressing the use of artificial intelligence to create fake videos and audio recordings of doctors. The measure, sponsored by the California Medical Association, seeks to prevent scams in which physicians’ images and voices are copied without their permission.
According to a statement from Gonzalez’s office, some scammers are using AI-generated “deepfake” content to sell unproven supplements and so-called miracle cures, and to share false medical advice.
“Scammers who use deepfake doctors are exploiting the credibility of the medical profession to trick vulnerable Californians into buying unproven and potentially harmful products,” Gonzalez said in a public statement. “SB 1146 will put a stop to this deceptive practice and ensure that when patients see a doctor online, they can trust that the person – and their medical advice – is real.”
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Josh Lowenthal – California Assemblymember for the 69th District
Trans Kids in Sports: On Feb. 6, a press conference and protest was held in Long Beach calling for transgender children’s participation in sports to be limited. Lowenthal showed up to speak against the gathering.
“We all know that they don’t actually care about women,” Lowenthal said.
Lowenthal then challenged the Republican politicians who organized the press conference to vote in favor of an early action budget vote to allocate $90 million for women’s healthcare, reproductive health, cancer care screenings and children’s health, if they actually cared about women.
In the video Lowenthal posted in front of the anti-trans press conference, he could be seen wearing a button reading “ICE OUT!”
Netizens have accused Lowenthal of showing his middle finger to demonstrators during the press conference, and have been leaving angry comments on his social media posts since then.
Bob Foster: Lowenthal made a public statement on the floor of the state legislature honoring late Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, calling him “a public servant who led with integrity, who led with courage, who led with an unwavering commitment to doing what was right even when it wasn’t easy.”
ICE: Lowenthal posted a video alongside Garcia and Gonzalez on Feb. 3, where they expressed support for immigrant communities and condemned ICE.
“We are all immigrants,” Lowenthal said in the video. “[…] And we’re proud of our community and we stand with you shoulder to shoulder.”
