CANDIDATE SURVEY 2026
Santa Susana Field LaB
Federal | California | Los Angeles | Ventura County | Survey Details
U.s. House of representatives candidates
district ca-32
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Very familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Protecting drinking water and watersheds, Pushing for more federal funds to properly and fully clean up the site.
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: The community and I have long fought for a full clean-up of the Santa Susana Field Lab. As I have said many times, safety must be the number one priority, including how any material is handled and ultimately disposed of. We have pushed for action for years, and the Administrative Orders on Consent requiring a full cleanup at the site was signed well over a decade ago.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: I will continue to demand a full cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Lab. I pressed the first Trump Administration to do more to clean up the site, and I have continued to pursue federal funding for the clean up.
Q: Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share with voters about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) and the cleanup?
A: I have repeatedly pushed the federal government to clean up the Santa Susana Field Lab, including Republican and Democratic administrations. Near the start of the Biden Administration (May 2021), I used my position on the House Science Committee to secure a commitment from Biden’s Secretary of energy to prioritize the clean up of Santa Susana Field Lab. Despite this commitment and my advocacy, the Biden Administration failed to advance meaningful progress on the clean-up and failed to even take needed precautions for the actions they took. And, I brought the communities concerns again to the Biden Administration multiple times.
I have joined with community members to urge California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to better protect public health and the environment by enforcing a full clean up of the contamination at the lab. I have urged officials in the Trump Administration, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others to reject cleanup proposals that do not provide for a complete cleanup of the facility and to fully protect our community.
And, I will continue to support the community’s efforts for a full cleanup.
My Opponent Jake Levine
One of my opponents, Jake Levine, owns between $100,000 and $250,000 worth of Boeing stock. In fact, although he filed a personal financial disclosure statement, he made use of a loophole to fail to disclose about $4 million of investments held in investment partnerships with his father, so he may own far more than $250,000 worth of Boeing stock.
I frankly had not heard of Jake Levine until he began running for Office in 2025. I then became aware that he had had a very high-level position in the White House dealing with environmental issues. During his time in the White House, he never contacted Julia Brownley, me, George Whitesides, Adam Schiff, or Alex Padilla to discuss how he could use his position in the White House to coordinate with us to push for a full cleanup of the Santa Susana field lab.
I don’t want to be overly critical. I believe that Jake had never heard of the Santa who had a field lap until he decided to run for Congress in 2025, and he may not have heard of it until Proposition 50 added Simi Valley to the district.
Please see Jake Levine's Personal Financial Disclosure on page 4, under Schedule A: Assets and “Unearned” Income. It shows his ownership of $250,000 worth of Boeing Company.
Please also see pages 1 and 2, under Schedule A: Assets and “Unearned” Income, the 6 secret investments where he is filing a letter with the ethics committee saying he refuses to disclose the investment partnership he has with his father, because his father won’t let him.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: Top priority
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Somewhat familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Protecting drinking water and watersheds, Preventing toxic exposure/fugitive dust during cleanup work
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: This has been horrible and must be rectified.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: Make this a public priority and do everything possible to right the wrong.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: Top priority
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Very familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Protecting drinking water and watersheds, Preventing toxic exposure/fugitive dust during cleanup work
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: I support a complete background cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory because nearby communities deserve the highest level of protection. The site’s history of nuclear and chemical contamination poses long-term risks to public health, water, and the environment. A full cleanup ensures we remove the danger at its source, not leave it behind for future generations.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: If elected, I will fight to enforce a full background cleanup at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory by supporting legal action against polluters like Boeing and pushing federal oversight to hold them accountable. The goal is simple: protect working-class communities by eliminating toxic exposure at its source and ensuring clean air, water, and land for future generations.
Q: Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share with voters about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) and the cleanup?
A: The story of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory is about environmental injustice—working families have lived for decades with the consequences of contamination they didn’t create. I believe the polluters, including Boeing, must be held fully accountable for a complete cleanup, not a partial fix that leaves toxins behind.
This is about trust—people deserve transparency, real enforcement, and a guarantee that their air, water, and land are safe. Anything less is unacceptable.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: Top priority
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Very familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Protecting drinking water and watersheds, Preventing toxic exposure/fugitive dust during cleanup work
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: This is an environmental justice issue with an untold human cost, and there is no acceptable answer to this crisis other than complete remediation on Boeing's dime. As a climate scientist with an urban planning background, I worked with estimating uncertainties in climate change and evaluating the impact of social welfare programs, and I know how easily missing data can distort and understate the magnitude of a signal. In the previous question, I chose as my top three priorities protecting the public health of nearby residents, protecting drinking water and watersheds, and preventing toxic exposure/fugitive dust during cleanup work because the task of cleanup and environmental justice should be guided by the goals, not by the tools. I see transparency and public access to data, DTSC/regulatory oversight and enforcement as tools that will be used to achieve those goals, but they should not be seen for their limitations but for how they can be expanded and held to account. I believe the protection of wildlife and habitat and of cultural and tribal resources are both coincident and secondary to the primary goal of protecting people's lives and health.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: I will lead advocacy for and publicity of the SSFL cleanup on the House floor and publicly shame Boeing for having delayed this cleanup. I believe advocacy requires being directly adversarial, and I have seen this in my experience as a key organizer in founding the first graduate labor union (HGSU-UAW Local 5118) at Harvard University, against a multi-million dollar union-busting campaign by billionaire Harvard. We were successful because we shamed the University for inadequately supporting its workers, and we organized public opinion against Harvard Corporation through op-eds, protests, and support from elected officials, such that Harvard had no choice but to come to the bargaining table. I believe I can build public shame and pressure by building coalitions in Congress with other elected officials and with groups affected by Boeing's overall mismanagement, whether that's its aviation safety record or the SSFL clean-up site. I hope to achieve a rapid, safe, and complete clean-up of the remaining contamination paid for by Boeing. I hope that this outcome can become a template for preventing such disasters through a demonstrated prohibitive and enforceable cost on companies and through remediating analogous ones, such as shutting down the Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Facility and the two chemical landfill fires that are close enough to affect CA-32. Pollution and corporate malfeasance do not abide by district boundaries.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: Top priority
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Very familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Preventing toxic exposure/fugitive dust during cleanup work, DTSC/Regulatory oversight and enforcement
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: I support a complete “background” cleanup at SSFL because anything less leaves behind unacceptable risks to human and environmental health. Fully removing man-made contamination ensures we protect surrounding communities, restore ecological integrity, and prevent long-term exposure to hazardous substances.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: A: I would immediately convene PASSFL alongside the U.S. Secretary of Energy, LA County Supervisor, the Mayors of the cities of Los Angeles and Simi Valley, the head of CA DTSC, and the CEOs of Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne, to lay out immediate and long-term resolutions to adequately and completely clean up SSFL. Among those resolutions, I would join PASSFL to demand and set in motion:
(1) immediate air quality monitoring during the current remediation period– to be paid for by Boeing;
(2) legal action by the City and the County of LA vs. DTSC (which I would join in my official capacity as a Member of Congress) seeking an annulment of the current settlement, and a revised, adequate plan for remediation and complete, timely background cleanup;
(3) the necessary environmental review component absent from the 2022 settlement;
(4) transparency, engagement, and partnership with public interest representatives throughout the review, appeal, and negotiation processes; and
(5) compensation, restitution, and punitive damages for victims– to be paid for by Boeing.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: High priority
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Very familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Protecting drinking water and watersheds, Transparency and public access to data
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: Technically this site can be fully cleaned up and should be. There are no excuses. Savannah River, Oakridge Tennessee, Los Alamos and Idaho have all been cleaned up. It would take up to 4 years if done correctly. Boeing needs to commit to a full site clean up, not just what they may or may not deem contaminated.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: I would immediately create federal legislation that holds corporations accountable to the same standard that nuclear programs in the federal government hold themselves.Nuclear clean ups must require federal oversight as corporations cannot be trusted and lack expertise. I would lead a task force ensuring that this gets done immediately and continues to allow local groups to continue to voice their concerns and take legal actions if necessary until it is complete.
Q: Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share with voters about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) and the cleanup?
A: Yes - it is also with 2-3 miles of where I currently live and more high density housing throughout the region. It affects everyone. Fires and high winds kick up the toxic dust and we must elevate all aspects of this process immediately.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: Top priority
district ca-26
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Somewhat familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Preventing toxic exposure/fugitive dust during cleanup work, Transparency and public access to data
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: As a physician, my priority is protecting the long-term health and safety of nearby communities. Cleanup efforts should aim to remove contamination to levels that do not pose ongoing health risks, especially for vulnerable populations such as children. At the same time, the process must be guided by sound science, transparency, and careful oversight to ensure it is done safely and effectively without creating additional exposure during remediation.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: I would advocate for a cleanup process guided by independent science, strong oversight, and full transparency. My goal is to ensure contamination is addressed effectively while preventing additional exposure to nearby communities.
Q: Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share with voters about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) and the cleanup?
A: As a physician, I have seen how environmental exposures can contribute to serious long-term health risks, including cancer. Protecting communities means reducing preventable risks now and ensuring a safer, healthier environment for future generations. This is fundamentally a public health issue.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: High priority
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Very familiar
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Protecting drinking water and watersheds, Preventing toxic exposure/fugitive dust during cleanup work
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: Without full remediation and cleanup, residents will continue to be at risk of exposure and contamination. While the pathways for complete background cleanup may be limited, it remains nonetheless the most just and appropriate approach.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: I would insist on accountability and pursue rigorous oversight of federal agencies and corporate entities, like Boeing on behalf of impacted residents. I would also advocate for federal resources through appropriations for comprehensive community consultation and engagement, monitoring, and cleanup.
Q: Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share with voters about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) and the cleanup?
A: The legacy of community harm, the continued lack of accountability and remediation, and the persistent blame-shifting and obfuscating by those responsible for the contamination of the Santa Susana Field Lab and the surrounding community represents a profound injustice and a continued failing. If elected to Congress I will be a staunch champion and an unrelenting voice in advocacy of cleanup, remediation and redress of the SSFL site.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: Top priority
district ca-30
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Q: How familiar are you with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)?
A: Aware of it, but not familiar with details
Q: Which of the following are your top priorities regarding SSFL? (Select up to three)
A: Protecting public health of nearby residents, Transparency and public access to data, DTSC/Regulatory oversight and enforcement
Q: Which statement best describes your position for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup?
A: A complete “Background” cleanup to remove all man-made contamination or equivalent
Q: Please explain your choice in a few sentences.
A: I support a cleanup that fully protects public health and restores community trust. Any remediation should be based on sound science, ensure transparency, and hold all responsible parties accountable, while being carried out in a way that is effective, properly overseen, and delivers real safety outcomes for nearby residents.
Q: Have you received campaign financial support from the Boeing Company this election cycle?
A: No.
Q: If elected, what specific actions would you take regarding the SSFL cleanup, and what outcomes do you hope those actions will achieve?
A: I would push for full transparency, strong regulatory oversight, and accountability from all responsible parties to ensure a cleanup that protects public health. The goal is a clear, effective remediation process that gives nearby communities confidence in their safety.
Q: Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share with voters about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) and the cleanup?
A: Residents deserve clear answers, transparency, and a process they can trust. I will support efforts that prioritize health, accountability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
Q: Given that Boeing’s portion of the SSFL cleanup is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, how high a priority will the SSFL be during your term in office?
A: Moderate priority
Candidates who did have not completed the survey: Dory Benami, Josh Sautter, Douglas Smith, Liam Hernandez, Jacqui Irwin, Samuel Gallucci, Michael Koslow, William Scott, Jonathan Wagoner