In the News
KUSI: San Diego’s House of Ukraine meets with Congressman Mike Levin
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) - Representatives from the House of Ukraine have been raising money since the Russians first invaded the country, and recently were able to meet with Congressman Mike Levin about their efforts, and what else can be done in the future. [Watch video of the report here.] President of the House of Ukraine, Mira Rubin, joined KUSI's Paul Rudy on Good Morning San Diego to discuss the meeting and future plans. For more information visit: … Continue Reading
March 18, 2022
ABC 10 News: San Diego VA Medical Center renamed after fallen US Army nurse
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Jennifer Moreno was just 25-years-old when she died. The Army captain and nurse was killed during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2013 while trying to help a fallen fellow soldier. "She was always somebody to put others before her," said Moreno's sister, Yaritza Cordova."It's been eight years but its also really fresh at the same time." Growing up, Cordova says they were close and remembers Moreno taking care of her like a second mother. When Moreno enlisted, Cordova says … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
San Diego Union-Tribune: NCTD gets federal funds for 8 zero-emission buses
North County Transit District announced it has been awarded a $4.8 million grant to help buy eight hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. The money from the Federal Transit Administration's 2021 Bus and Bus Facilities Program brings the transit district closer to its goal of deploying 25 of the hydrogen-powered buses by March 2025. "NCTD remains committed to being on the forefront of zero-emissions technology, providing clean transportation choices for our customers, and improving the air … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
OC Register: Two massive OC sand projects funded to add a beach buffer to battle erosion
President Joe Biden signed a budget bill Tuesday, March 15, that includes millions of dollars to replenish sand along two large sections of Orange County's coastline. Replacing the lost sand isn't just about preserving space for sunbathing and recreation, officials say, it secures an important buffer to keep the ocean from battering and flooding streets, homes and other infrastructure. Local communities have been awaiting this funding for several years, watching in the meantime as the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Coast News: Congressman secures $5M for Carlsbad Barrio lights, traffic circles
CARLSBAD - The City of Carlsbad will receive a federal cash infusion for street lighting and traffic circles in the Barrio neighborhood. Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA) secured $5 million for the Carlsbad project after congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a funding bill for a variety of priorities, according to Eric Mee, Levin's communications director. According to Levin, the legislation will distribute more than $21 million to North County and South Orange … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
San Diego Union-Tribune: Local lawmakers claim hundreds of millions for military, local projects
San Diego - San Diego's Congressional delegation and other lawmakers secured $107 million for local community projects and $127 million for local military and veteran projects as part of the massive federal spending bill federal lawmakers passed last week, officials announced. The $1.5 trillion appropriations bill, which authorizes federal spending through October, averts a shutdown and directs $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine and $15.6 billion to the national pandemic response. The bill … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
San Diego Union-Tribune: Biden signs bill renaming VA Medical Center for fallen San Diego Army nurse Capt. Jennifer Moreno
President Joe Biden signed legislation Monday renaming the Veterans Affairs medical center in San Diego in honor of Capt. Jennifer Moreno, an Army nurse killed in 2013 during a Special Operations raid in Afghanistan. The bill, written by Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, changes the name of the medical center to "Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center." The White House thanked each San Diego representative by name - Democrats Levin, Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs and … Continue Reading
February 14, 2022
KPBS: Bipartisan effort to remove nuclear waste from San Onofre plant revived
In a rare bipartisan move on Capitol Hill, Rep. Mike Levin, D-Oceanside and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Alpine have re-introduced a bill that would remove spent nuclear waste from San Onofre. Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego and three other California representatives have also joined the effort. The Spent Fuel Prioritization Act would prioritize removal of nuclear waste from facilities near large populations or high seismic hazard, both of which are true for the shuttered nuclear plant near … Continue Reading
February 04, 2022
Times of San Diego: House Passes Rep. Levin’s Bill to Promote Renewable Energy Projects on Public Land
The House of Representatives on Friday passed bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Mike Levin to promote development of renewable energy on public land. Levin’s Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act promotes the development of wind, solar, and geothermal energy on public lands while minimizing its impact on wildlife and cultural sites. The bill is part of the America COMPETES Act, which invests in American manufacturing of semiconductors and other critical technologies to … Continue Reading
January 31, 2022
Washington Post: Moderate House Democrats urge Biden to pass climate provisions in Build Back Better.
A group of House Democrats running for reelection in competitive districts will today send a letter to President Biden urging him to move forward with the $555 billion in climate investments that have already passed the House as part of the Build Back Better Act, the mammoth bill that is Biden's top legislative priority but has all but flamed out. The demand for climate action from moderate House Democrats in swing districts who are increasingly anxious about their electoral prospects … Continue Reading
January 24, 2022
San Diego Union-Tribune: Infrastructure money could unclog ‘nightmare interchange’ in North County
Oceanside — A notoriously congested interchange between state Route 78 and Interstate 5 in North County could be upgraded with federal infrastructure money, Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Capistrano, said Monday. At a presentation in Oceanside with County Supervisor Jim Desmond and Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear, Levin said the planned improvements would increase traffic flow, reduce vehicle emissions and improve public safety. “This interchange is often a traffic nightmare,” … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
San Diego Union-Tribune: Federal funding announced for two North County sand projects
A long-sidelined Oceanside shoreline study and a 50-year Encinitas-Solana Beach sand replenishment project together will get more than $32 million in federal funding, Rep. Mike Levin said Wednesday. “I am thrilled to announce the bipartisan infrastructure law is delivering funding for two critical projects that will help protect local beaches from dangerous erosion,” said Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, in a news release. “Funding for the Encinitas-Solana Beach project will … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Military Times: GI Bill eligibility for Guard, reserve would expand under House-passed measure
National Guard and reserve troops would see all federal missions and some training days count towards their eligibility for GI Bill benefits under legislation advanced by the House on Wednesday. The move will still need to be approved by the Senate before it can become law. But the 287-133 vote represents a significant step forward for advocates who have lamented the complex and confusing rules surrounding missions for Guardsmen and reservists, especially in light of their increased … Continue Reading
January 07, 2022
Dana Point Times: The Levin Letter: A Year of Progress for South OC
As we begin 2022, I want to take a brief moment to recognize the challenges and progress our community and our country experienced last year. We began 2021 in one of the most challenging phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of COVID hospitalizations was at its highest point ever, and more than 10 million Americans were unemployed. Since then, more than 200 million Americans have been fully vaccinated, we added nearly six million jobs, and the number of Americans filing for … Continue Reading
December 24, 2021
OC Register: Report card: What did Congress members from Orange County accomplish in 2021?
Of the seven U.S. House members who represent portions of Orange County, Rep. Mike Levin had the best attendance record in 2021, as the only local lawmaker not to miss a single vote this year. Reps. Katie Porter and Lou Correa weren’t far behind, missing just one vote each. Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, also helped recover the most money for constituents from federal agencies, while Rep. Young Kim, R-La Habra, grabbed headlines for breaking with her party in votes on a few high-profile … Continue Reading
December 17, 2021
San Diego Union-Tribune: Rep. Mike Levin takes federal infrastructure bill to the street
Encinitas — Standing amid a construction zone along Coast Highway in Leucadia on Friday, Rep. Mike Levin and other local politicians described projects that could be funded under the $1.2 trillion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.“I can tell you it was not easy getting the bipartisan infrastructure bill across the finish line, but it was worth it because of the jobs this is going to make,” said Levin, D-Oceanside. The law, passed last month, sets aside about … Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
ABC San Diego: Student aid program for veterans extended to next summer
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego veterans engaged in virtual learning are breathing a sigh of relief after finding out that certain GI Bill benefits will be extended because of the pandemic. ABC 10News spoke to Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA-49) who pushed for change after the federal aid was scheduled to stop next week. “There's no question that we have an absolute commitment that our local veterans are able to further their education and find new ways to serve with great new careers and … Continue Reading
November 16, 2021
San Diego Union-Tribune: Federal bill would rename San Diego VA Medical Center after fallen soldier Jennifer Moreno
SAN DIEGO — A bill to rename the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center in honor of a local soldier killed in Afghanistan passed the House of Representatives Monday with unanimous support, Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, said in a statement. The new law would rename the hospital after Capt. Jennifer Moreno, an Army nurse killed in Afghanistan in 2013 while serving with Special Operations forces in the Kandahar province. She was 25 years old. A 1st Lieutenant when she was … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Ban on new offshore drilling must stay in the Build Back Better Act
The oil spill off the coast of Southern California is an ecological and economic disaster. Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of gallons of oil have spilled from an offshore pipeline, and it has spread across the coasts of three counties. Dead birds and fish washed ashore, local beaches were closed, boaters were being asked to stay away, and all fishing was curtailed for the area. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time this has happened, and it won’t be the last as long as … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
The Levin Letter: Californians Have Made It Clear—No More Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Along Our Coast
Our coastal communities are experiencing another grave ecological disaster. The oil spill that began on Saturday, Oct. 2, off the coast of Orange County is devastating, and it’s devastating to see the wildlife and marine animals that are being harmed or killed by this spill. I’m also thinking of all of the Californians who deeply cherish our coast and ocean, as well as the small business owners who rely on our coastal activity for their livelihoods. This kind of disaster is … Continue Reading