Rep. Mike Levin's 2023 Accomplishments and 2024 Priorities
Dear Neighbor,
I hope you had a restful holiday season and a good start to the new year.
As we begin 2024, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of my top accomplishments from 2023 and share my priorities for California’s 49th Congressional District for the upcoming year.
Before that, I want to share a reminder that you can still sign up for health care coverage through Covered California. Open Enrollment closes January 31. Enroll now to ensure you’re covered for the rest of 2024. Learn more here.
My Top Accomplishments of 2023
My 30th Bill Becomes Law
Rep. Levin Celebrates 30 Bills Signed into Law
Last month, I voted to pass the annual defense funding package, which included three of my bills to fight sexual assault in the military, support veterans transitioning to civilian life, and improve military vehicle safety. When President Biden signed that package, it also marked getting my 30th bill signed into law.
I’m incredibly proud to have reached this milestone in just my third term in office. Despite the chaos and gridlock in Washington, I have been working across the aisle with pragmatic colleagues to make a positive difference. I look forward to finding new ways to serve you in 2024.
Read the full list of my 30 bills that have become law here.
Progress on Nuclear Waste Removal
Rep. Levin with Energy Secretary Granholm at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
In June, I hosted U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) to announce the next steps in DOE’s consent-based siting process for the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel.
We announced that DOE is awarding $25.7 million in funding I helped secure to provide resources to Tribes, states, and communities interested in learning more about consent-based siting, management of spent nuclear fuel, and interim storage facility siting considerations. This announcement marked the next step in the consent-based siting process and will help find potential storage sites to move spent nuclear fuel out of our region.
Learn about the latest progress here.
No Government Shutdowns
Multiple times this year, Extreme MAGA Republicans have tried to force a government shutdown. A shutdown would disrupt essential services, federal benefits, and pay for our service members. However, thanks to House Democrats, Congress was able to pass short-term government funding bills to avoid a shutdown and prevent the disruption of important government activities.
I’m proud that House Democrats stepped up and delivered for the American people. Despite Republicans holding the majority of seats in the House — a role that traditionally requires them to lead the House — the only times Congress made real progress this year were when Democrats stepped up to the plate to deliver for our constituents.
We’re fast approaching the next round of funding deadlines in mid-January and early February. It’s essential that we reach a consensus to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year so Congress can turn to solving other pressing issues.
My Priorities for 2024
Improving Veterans Benefits
As Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and as the Representative for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, I’m committed to ensuring our servicemembers and their families have our full support, including when they finish their service. Not a single veteran should go hungry, homeless, or jobless. I’m committed to working on policies that improve VA services and help veterans find affordable housing.
Safely Decommissioning SONGS
Since I took office in 2019, one of my top priorities has been moving the spent nuclear fuel from SONGS as quickly and safely as possible. Our current storage solution is only temporary. It’s not the smartest or safest way to manage material that has the potential to cause significant health and environmental problems if it’s mishandled.
As co-chair of the Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus, I’m working to advance a consent-based path to long-term disposal, which will give us the best chance to find a successful solution to store spent fuel.
Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Future
To realize the full potential of the investments we’ve already made toward fighting climate change, we need to update our power grid.
With the increased demand for electrification, we need to ensure we can bring clean energy from where it’s produced to our homes. This will help lower energy costs and make it easier to bring additional renewable energy sources online.
Contact My Office
If you have questions about my work or need help with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. You can send me an email through my website, call my Oceanside office at (760) 599-5000, or call my Dana Point office at (949) 281-2449. For updates on my work on behalf of our communities, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Threads at @RepMikeLevin.
Sincerely,
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Mike Levin
Member of Congress