Rep. George Whitesides

Great to see members of the AV Business Collective today, at their networking event at Baracoa! They do such important work bringing together local entrepreneurs and businesses to connect and network, helping grow economic opportunity across our region.

This morning I had the pleasure of attending @AsmJuanCarrillo’s backpack giveaway in Littlerock. It was so great seeing the community come together for a good cause. Thanks to everyone who came out and to Asm. Juan Carillo and Mary Jeters for organizing this wonderful event.

It’s time to pass Fix Our Forests Act through the Senate! This bipartisan legislation is so important, and would help communities across the country protect themselves from catastrophic wildfire.

The Artemis II crew went further into space than any human had gone before. They deserve honor and recognition for such an incredible achievement. That is why I introduced legislation that would give them the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress can bestow. usatoday.com/story/news/nat…

It was great meeting with Casey Cuney, a 2024 California Teacher of the Year who works at Valencia High School!  Casey is a great teacher, helping his students navigate the powerful technologies that are expanding every day.  He's seen first hand how those technologies can improve student outcomes, and how they can also impede student learning. We're lucky to have leaders like Casey helping us to navigate these challenging times.

We cannot grow reliant on memory chips made in China that would put our memory manufacturing base and supply chains at risk.  As Apple and other U.S. tech companies seek to purchase memory from Chinese semiconductor manufacturers, including those with ties to the Chinese military, I sent a letter with @RepMoolenaar to Secretary of Commerce Lutnick urging him to restrict the purchase of Chinese chips abroad and protect our national security.

You may not know this, but space is getting more crowded every year! With thousands more satellites headed to orbit, we need to make sure they can operate safely. During our @sciencedems hearing, I highlighted why improving space traffic coordination is so important. Preventing collisions protects our satellites and helps ensure the United States remains the global leader in space.

Every day, my team works one-on-one with constituents to put hard-earned money back in their pockets. We help neighbors like Angela from Canyon Country, who finally received $2,098 per month in disability benefits and more than $84,000 in retroactive payments after years of delays! If you’re struggling to navigate a federal agency, please contact my Santa Clarita office at (661) 568-4855 or Antelope Valley office at (661) 839-0532.

My team had the honor of attending Torch 11’s Memorial Service for the B52 crew at Edwards Air Force Base. I am grateful to everyone who organized this tribute to these heroes and for providing a meaningful opportunity for the community to come together in their grief and remembrance.

Today, I introduced the bipartisan TOTAL Screen Time Act alongside @RepPatHarrigan, @RepAprilDelaney, and @RepHaridopolos to give parents a simpler way to manage their children's screen time across all of their devices. Parents shouldn’t have to juggle separate settings for every phone, tablet, computer, game console, and TV to protect their kids online. Our bipartisan legislation gives parents one simple way to set and enforce screen time limits across devices while protecting children's privacy and keeping families in control.

Proud to have brought home nearly $1 million for the Old Road Improvements Project in Santa Clarita! Team Whitesides joined the groundbreaking for the project, an investment that will make Santa Clarita's roads safer, ease traffic congestion, expand walking and biking access, and strengthen a key evacuation route for our community.

The best way to fight wildfires is to stop them from becoming catastrophic in the first place. New research from UC Davis reinforces that investing in wildfire prevention protects communities, saves taxpayer dollars, and makes our forests more resilient. I'll keep fighting for the resources our communities need to reduce wildfire risk. ucdavis.edu/climate/news/f…

California is the innovation capital of the world because research funding has long been awarded based on merit, not politics. I joined my California colleagues in defending scientific research after the administration proposed a rule that would allow political appointees to influence grant decisions, directly harming states like California. Politicizing scientific research would threaten medical breakthroughs, slow innovation, and put America's competitiveness at risk.

Team Whitesides had a great day at Edwards Air Force Base learning about the incredible history of our Aerospace Valley. And yes, we even got to hold Neil Armstrong’s flight suit!

I spoke with my friend Bill Clerico from the @DisasterproofHQ Podcast about how it felt when a fire broke out in my district just days after being sworn in to Congress. I shared what it meant to have to evacuate my own house, and how so many of our neighbors still haven’t been able to return home.

Today, the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act officially became law. I was proud to support this historic legislation because it takes real steps to lower housing costs, expand affordable housing, and help more Californians and families across the country achieve the dream of homeownership. The President refused to sign the bill, but he did not veto it, so it became law after 10 days of waiting. His refusal to sign makes it clear that addressing affordability is not a priority for this administration.

Helping our community access their hard earned benefits is one of my most important responsibilities as your representative.  My team helps residents like Jean K. navigate federal agencies like the Social Security Administration, that might have held up or delayed their benefits. We were able to return more than $33,000 in Social Security backpay directly to Jean — and we can help you too! If you’re struggling to navigate a federal agency, please contact my Santa Clarita office at (661) 568-4855 or Antelope Valley office at (661) 839-0532.

Congratulations to Staci Holliday, owner of Wetzel's Pretzels in Palmdale, on her business being recognized by Assemblymember Tom Lackey as the Small Business of the Year! Through her leadership at Wetzel's Pretzels and You Are Extraordinary, Staci has made a lasting impact by supporting foster youth and giving back to our Palmdale Sheriff's Station and the community. We're grateful for all she does and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition!

Team Whitesides toured the Valencia Water Reclamation Plant in Santa Clarita with @SanDistricts to learn more about how our community’s water is cleaned, recycled, and protected. The team got a behind-the-scenes look at the water filtering process, how recycled water is used, and how treated water returns to the Santa Clara River, Southern California's largest natural river system. Thanks to LA County Sanitation Districts for showing us the important work happening right here in the SCV!

I demanded California state leaders review the potential placement of a Sexually Violent Predator in the Antelope Valley. Any placement decision must carefully evaluate its impact on local communities, law enforcement resources, and nearby schools and other sensitive locations. The AV deserve to have their voices heard, and I will continue demanding that the Department of State Hospitals and the Housing Committee fully consider our region’s unique challenges and the potential strain on local resources when evaluating SVP placements.