March 23, 2021

My work to serve the veteran community

Dear Neighbor,

I am honored to continue serving North County San Diego and South Orange County in Congress. As the representative for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and thousands of veterans in the region, one of my top priorities is helping veterans and their families get through this pandemic and access the benefits they have earned. 

Each quarter, I plan to send you a newsletter reporting on what I’m doing in Congress to serve the veteran community and other updates that affect you. I am proud to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and I look forward to building on the bipartisan progress we have made for our veterans. 

I also want to hear from you about your priorities and the challenges you face. I encourage you to contact my office to share your thoughts and concerns. You can find contact information by visiting levin.house.gov.

Best,

Rep. Mike Levin

Legislative Accomplishments

Isakson/Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020

Legislation introduced by Rep.  Levin to strengthen and expand services for veterans was signed into law on January 5, 2021. The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (H.R. 7105) includes many provisions Rep. Levin led to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide more services for homeless veterans, improve and expand eligibility for the HUD-VA Supportive Housing program, improve the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for servicemembers returning to civilian life, and much more. A summary of the bill is available here. 

American Rescue Plan

On March 10, 2021, Rep. Levin voted to pass the American Rescue Plan Act, and President Biden signed it the next day. The American Rescue Plan makes key investments in our veterans impacted by the coronavirus pandemic:

• Ensures veterans will not have any copays or cost-sharing for preventative treatment or services related to COVID-19 going back to April 2020 and authorizes VA to reimburse veterans who already submitted payments for their care during this period.
• Includes more than $14.5 billion for VA to provide health care services and other related supports to eligible veterans and allows up to $4 billion in spending for the Veterans Community Care Program.
• Provides nearly $400 million for up to 12 months of retraining assistance for veterans who are unemployed as a result of the pandemic and do not have access to other veteran education benefits. This funding covers the cost of the rapid retraining program as well as a housing allowance for enrolled veterans.
• Includes $272 million for the VA to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the benefits claims and appeals backlog.
• Provides emergency paid sick leave for VA’s frontline and essential health workers.

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Upcoming Events

Vietnam Veterans Day – March 29, 2021

In recognition of the upcoming Vietnam Veteran’s Day, Congressman Levin’s office would like to extend any support you may require honoring Vietnam Veterans and survivors. The office is available to provide Vietnam Veteran lapel pins for veterans and surviving spouses, certificates, and, in cases of larger events held by a VSO, a Record of Congress and/or a proclamation. 

Due to the pandemic, many organizations will honor this day either virtually or from a distance. Here are a few ways to recognize Vietnam Veterans Day: 

• Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will host an online commemoration March 29 with a live webcast and messages of thanks on Facebook. Record a short video and upload it by Friday, March 27, and then watch the event online on March 29 at 1:00 pm ET. Veterans can also leave a written message.
• Vietnam Veterans of America, or VVA, wants to see photos, poems, artwork and music on their Facebook page March 27. The comment with the most “Likes” will win a prize from the national office. Vietnam Veterans can also share their service photos on the VVA Facebook page on March 29 as the nation remembers heroes for their service and sacrifice.
• Team Red White & Blue (RWB) Vietnam War Veterans Day Challenge: In recognition of all who served in the Vietnam War, Team RWB is offering a virtual Vietnam War Veterans Day Workout of the Day (WOD). The challenge includes exercises like squats, pushups, and a run or walk. Veterans can complete the challenge at home on their own schedule, at their own pace, alone or with a partner. Access the challenge through the Team RWB App or online at: https://www.teamrwb.org/

Celebrating and Supporting Women Veterans Virtual Forum

Congressman Levin will be hosting a Women Veterans Virtual Forum on March 25, 2021 at 12 – 1 p.m. PDT in honor of Women’s History Month. The forum will be highlighting strides women have taken in the military and post service, as well as issues the movement the VA is taking to make the administration more inclusive place, but also highlight issues that are specific to women veterans. Click here to RSVP.

Speakers: 

• Elizabeth Estabrooks: VA Center for Women Veterans Deputy Director 
• Akilah Templeton: President and CEO Veterans Village of San Diego 
• Jodie Grenier: CEO of the Foundation for Women Warriors
• Billiekai Boughton: Founding Chair of San Diego Women Veterans Network
• Janessa Goldbeck: Policy advocate for women veterans and LGBTQ+ veterans, Co-founder of San Diego Chapter of the Truman National Security Project, Board Member of Mana De San Diego.

District Veteran Service Officer (VSO) Meeting

This meeting on April 9, 2021 at 1 – 2 p.m. PDT will be an opportunity for all district VSOs to express their legislative and local priorities as well as any potential concerns. Please RSVP by emailing Rep. Levin’s District Representative Gabriela Ochoa at gabriela.ochoa@mail.house.gov.

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Recent Events

VA Facility Dedication Advisory Panel Meeting

In November, Representative Levin announced the formation of a panel of servicemembers, veterans, and other community leaders who will work together on recommendations to name a local VA facility after a woman veteran. The VA Facility Dedication Advisory Panel is currently compiling a report on notable women veterans with ties to the region who are worthy of this honor and held its most recent meeting on March 3. More information on the panel is available here.

Meeting with Paralyzed Veterans of America Cal-Diego Chapter

Rep. Levin met with the Paralyzed Veterans of America Cal-Diego Chapter on March 3 to discuss civil rights for people with disabilities, improving the spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) system of care, and strengthening VA’s adaptive housing and automobile programs.

Mock Hearing with National VFW and SVA

Rep. Levin held a mock legislative hearing with fellows from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Student Veterans of America on March 4. He offered some insights into the legislative process and the student veterans recommended policies related to childcare, patient advocates, VA Work Study, veterans’ treatment courts, and rental history for transitioning servicemembers.

Meeting with San Diego VA Healthcare System Director Dr. Robert Smith

Rep. Levin is conducting these meetings quarterly to address constituent questions and hospital metrics. January’s discussion included COVID-19 vaccinations, community care, and HUD-VASH.

National Salute to Veteran Patients

Normally for Valentine's Day, Rep. Levin’s office coordinates valentines for veterans in the District to show support for their service. While this had to be adjusted because of the pandemic, Rep. Levin did get the chance to sit down with his kids and make a few cards together! Click here for a brief message about Rep. Levin’s “Valentines for Veterans” program and highlight the start of National Salute to Veteran Patients week. 

The Honorable Denis Richard McDonough was nominated by President Biden to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. McDonough’s nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 8th, 2021, and he was sworn in the following day as the 11th Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

On January 27, 2021, during his confirmation hearing, Secretary McDonough testified to Congress, “I will work tirelessly to build and restore VA's trust as the premier agency for ensuring the well-being of America’s Veterans. After all, there is no more sacred obligation nor noble undertaking than to uphold our promises to our Veterans, whether they came home decades ago or days ago.”

Currently, VA is offering COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans already receiving care from the VA, based on CDC and VA risk criteria. If you're eligible to get a vaccine, your VA health care team will contact you. However, you can contact the VA San Diego Healthcare System at 858-642-3810 if needed. Veterans who are not enrolled can visit VA's Eligibility web page to learn more.

• As of Tuesday, March 16, VA San Diego had administered 36,487 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and is proceeding following CDC recommended priority groups.
• Vaccinating Now: All patients 40 years old and older with high-risk conditions as defined by the CDC.
• Vaccinating Next: All patients under 35 years old years old and older.
• Vaccinating Soon: Other subgroups based on risk and vaccine supply.

VA has extended debt relief through September 30, 2021 and will continue suspension of collection on all Veteran benefit overpayments and medical copayment debts incurred after April 1, 2020. More information can be found here.

Suspension of in-person Compensation and Pension (C&P) examinations due to the pandemic caused an excess inventory of approximately 250,000 exams. According to the San Diego VA Regional Office, vendors stopped this growth by October 2020 and are expanding exam capacity with a goal of returning to a normal exam inventory by the end of September 2021. 

Local Listening Sessions on the Future of VA Health Care
VA is hosting public virtual listening sessions to hear from Veterans on how to design a health care system of the future and grow services for Veterans in a way that reinforces VA’s role as a leader in the U.S. health care system. Topics will include:

• How Veterans want care to be delivered in the future
• Perception of the quality of health care at VA and VA’s community network
• Experience with the ability to get care at VA and within VA’s community network
• Satisfaction with the condition and location of VA’s facilities
• VA’s role in research, education, and emergency preparedness

These listening sessions represent an exciting opportunity for Veterans to help VA reimagine how VA delivers care in an equitable, high quality, Veteran-centered manner and develop a plan for investing in VA’s aging infrastructure. The feedback will be used to develop the recommendations VA submits to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission in January 2022.

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