Pictured (from left): LA County Supervisor, 4th District Janice Hahn; DCBA Director Rafael Carbajal; Speaker Emerita of the House Nancy Pelosi; LA County Supervisor, 1st District Hilda L. Solis
When local leaders travel to Washington D.C. to advocate for our communities, they go with one goal in mind: making sure the needs of Los Angeles County’s residents are understood and addressed at the federal level. Last week, DCBA’s director, Rafael Carbajal, joined a delegation of LA County Supervisors and other County leaders to speak up for residents on the issues that impact their daily lives including immigration, housing stability, food insecurity, and long-term recovery resources for communities impacted by wildfires. For immigrant families, many recent federal policies are having a cumulative impact on everything from access to services to economic security.
A key part of Director Carbajal’s role during this advocacy trip was helping elected officials understand how these policy shifts have real-world consequences for low-income families, older adults, and our most vulnerable residents who depend on stable, accessible programs. He shared examples of how these changes ripple through immigrant households, where even the smallest changes can cause significant challenges. His priority was to ensure that the lived experiences of LA County families remained at the center of every conversation.
DCBA Director Rafael Carbajal
“It was encouraging to see how many people cared and genuinely wanted to listen,” he reflected. “There was real interest in understanding what our communities are experiencing and that gave me hope.”
As the delegation returned home, the focus shifted to turning these conversations into continued partnerships and tangible results. Their work in Washington is just one step in a longer process, but an essential one that helps shape programs, investments, and systems that millions of County residents rely on every day.
The LA County delegation also advocated for protecting safety‑net programs for the County’s most vulnerable residents. This included raising concerns about the impacts of HR 1, a federal budget proposal that includes significant reductions to a range of domestic programs, including nutrition assistance, housing supports, and other services relied on by many low‑income households. They also pushed for additional support and resources for wildfire recovery and highlighted how recent policy changes affect immigrant communities. Together, these shifts have a compounding effect that destabilize many households, underscoring the need for strong federal support.
In the end, the trip underscored why these conversations with federal agencies matter. Helping them understand the realities facing LA County residents is essential to shaping programs and systems that work for people who depend on them. The delegation returned home with a renewed commitment to keep these conversations going and push for the resources and protections that families, older adults, and immigrant communities depend on.
Pictured (from left): DPSS Director Dr. Jackie Contreras; LA County Supervisor, 4th District Janice Hahn; Public Works Director Mark Pestrella; LA County Supervisor, 1st District Hilda L. Solis; Congressman Robert Garcia
