Representative Kiley Introduces the Coastal Commission Accountability Act to Rein in CA Coastal Commission Abuses

WASHINGTON – Today Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) introduced the Coastal Commission Accountability Act to strip the California Coastal Commission of its powers under federal law. Kiley’s bill will amend the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) to expedite important coastal activities, including national security initiatives, critical infrastructure development, and disaster mitigation and recovery efforts.

“The California Coastal Commission is simply out of control and has veered far from its purpose of protecting the coast,” said Rep. Kiley. “From blocking SpaceX rocket launches to obstructing fire prevention projects, the Commission has repeatedly threatened the safety of Californians and weakened our national defense, while needlessly undercutting innovation and economic progress. The need to rein in the Commission has become urgent as we face the challenge of rebuilding Los Angeles following the fires. ”

Click here view text of the bill.

Background:

The CZMA allows coastal states to review federal activities for consistency with state coastal management policies. However, recent objections from the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to SpaceX’s request to expand Falcon 9 launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base demonstrate how the politicization of the state agency decisions can delay projects critical to national security. The Commission’s 6-4 vote against granting concurrence hinders both defense operations and California’s leadership in aerospace innovation. The debate prior to the vote included criticism of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s political views and labor practices, highlighting concerns about political bias influencing the decision.

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