August 20, 2021

Recapping a productive week in our community

Dear Neighbor,

This week I had the opportunity to spend some time in our beautiful district speaking with local leaders, advocating for our community, and hearing from residents about ways to better serve you. Below are a few updates from my week in our community and current happenings in Washington DC.

Hosted White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy

On Tuesday, I had the honor of hosting White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy during her visit to North County San Diego. Alongside my House colleague, Rep. Scott Peters, and several local leaders, I spoke with Ms. McCarthy about the critical work that must be done to address climate change in our region. We also discussed how President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and Build Back Better Agenda will strengthen resilience towards the impacts of the climate crisis.

We also held a press conference at Seagrove Park overlooking the Del Mar bluffs to discuss the threats of coastal erosion on public safety, property, and critical infrastructure, including the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor.

Later that day, we toured clean energy and transportation projects at UC San Diego and visited San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDGE) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Weather Center, where we discussed technologies we can employ to adapt to the climate crisis and safeguard our community.

Situation in Afghanistan

The situation in Afghanistan demands further action. It is clear that in this moment, we need to ensure swift evacuations for all Americans and Afghans who supported our mission.

This week I joined my friend Rep. Sara Jacobs on a bipartisan letter to the White House requesting urgent information on the evacuation efforts.

I’ve detailed my thoughts on this situation in a statement, which you can read in full here.

Restaurant Revitalization

Last week, I had a chance to visit Tamarindo in San Clemente--one of the many excellent restaurants in our district--to see firsthand how the Restaurant Revitalization Fund that we passed through the American Rescue Plan is helping our local businesses.

I know that with many businesses still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, more assistance is needed. That's why I'm supporting the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act, which would provide an additional $60 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, to support restaurants and other food and beverage purveyors in response to COVID-19.

Relief for Local Venues

I’m proud to report that we secured nearly $19 million for our local entertainment venues, theaters, and museums through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program. A total of 28 venues in North County San Diego and South Orange County received $18,982,835 to help cover payroll, rent and mortgages, worker protection costs, and other qualified expenses.

I fought for this funding as part of COVID relief legislation in December 2020, and later as part of the American Rescue Plan. I look forward to returning safely to events at our locals venues, which do so much to enrich the social fabric of our community.

Booster Shots

I know there have been questions about COVID-19 booster shots, so I'm providing some information on two recent announcements to ensure you and your family are up to date:

On August 12, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modified the Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines to permit a third dose of vaccine for those previously vaccinated individuals who may be at risk for diminished protection against coronavirus infection. Click here to read the full announcement.

On August 18, 2021, President Biden announced that the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would complete additional data review and authorization to permit a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccines to be administered to individuals who completed a previous two-dose vaccine series more than 8 months ago. This program is estimated to begin on September 20, 2021. More information is available here.

I strongly urge all members of our community to continue to follow the guidance from the FDA, CDC, and local health officials so we can finally beat this pandemic.

Remember to follow my Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages for the latest updates from my office.

Best,

Rep. Mike Levin

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