Representative Kiley to Introduce Legislation to Rein in CA Coastal Commission Abuses
WASHINGTON – Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) will introduce legislation to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) to limit the scope of state authority to review certain activities, including national security-related activities, critical infrastructure projects, and activities with high economic impact, including post-disaster recovery and rebuilding. This initiative will ensure that vital aerospace and defense initiatives can move forward without undue delays and that rebuilding efforts are not unduly impeded following the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles.
“The Coastal Zone Management Act was never intended to allow state agencies to prioritize partisan considerations over national security and economic progress,” said Rep. Kiley. “The Commission’s vote to block additional launches at Vandenberg undermines our national defense readiness and threatens California’s leadership in aerospace innovation, and its history of irrational decision-making could threaten rebuilding efforts in the Los Angeles area. My legislation will ensure that critical projects are not held hostage by unnecessary red tape or political bias.”
Background:
The Coastal Zone Management Act (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.
Read More:
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