Op-Eds
Orange County Register: Nuclear fuel removal has come a long way, but there’s still work to do
Residents of Southern California and drivers on the 5 are very familiar with the sight of the two domes that distinguish the now-decommissioning San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The plant has been a permanent fixture along the coast for several decades. While no longer active, the plant’s roughly 3.55 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel pose potential environmental and health threats, especially given SONGS’ location near an active fault and on the beach as sea levels rise. … Continue Reading
April 12, 2024
Picket Fence Media: Congress Can Still Accomplish Great Things When We Work Together!
At the beginning of the year, I shared my 2024 policy and district priorities for our communities. One of those priorities was to deliver the federal resources our district deserves for projects that would improve quality of life, strengthen public safety, and benefit all residents.Now, I’m excited to share an update on that goal.Last month, Congress passed its long-overdue government funding bills. In them, I secured $17.7 million for 15 projects throughout our district. These projects … Continue Reading
March 18, 2024
Orange County Register: Bipartisan compromise is key to solving border and immigration challenges
There is no denying that we have a broken immigration system and real problems at our southwest border that demand Republicans and Democrats come together to deliver pragmatic solutions. Unfortunately, far too many in Congress prefer to politicize this issue during an election year rather than find common ground. There is too much finger pointing and too little action. Recently, a bipartisan Senate border security bill was tanked by Speaker Mike Johnson, presumably to appease former President … Continue Reading
March 15, 2024
Picket Fence Media: The Levin Letter To Understand the Future of Nuclear Energy, Consider Past Mistakes
A short distance from our South Orange County cities, three and a half million pounds of spent nuclear fuel is stored at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). While SONGS is no longer operational, its spent fuel sits within 50 miles of 9 million people, on top of an active fault line, just feet from the Pacific Ocean. The spent fuel that remains at SONGS is a symptom of a far bigger problem. There are currently more than 80 sites in 36 states where spent nuclear fuel is being … Continue Reading
February 08, 2024
Picket Fence Media: Lowering Healthcare Costs for All Americans
Most every week, I hear from residents who are stressed about the cost of health care. For some, this means choosing between paying the rent or paying for a medical procedure. Just about everyone has seen their fair share of high health care costs. The path to lower health care costs has been a complicated one, and Congress has debated how to address these concerns for years. However, over the last few years we have made significant progress. I proudly helped pass legislation to lower … Continue Reading
January 22, 2024
Picket Fence Media: Levin’s Letter Looking Back at Our Achievements & Making Progress in 2024
The beginning of a new year gives us the opportunity to reflect on the previous one and set new goals that build on our successes and prepare for the future. For me, it gives renewed energy and allows me to look back at the work we’ve done to improve our district and set priorities for the year ahead. Last year was a challenging one for Congress. We faced complicated issues, both at home and abroad, that continue to demand action and will shape the course of 2024. I know that many of my … Continue Reading
December 08, 2023
Picket Fence Media: Want to See Congress at Work? Look No Further Than San Clemente
Over the past several decades, coastal erosion has been slowly wearing away at California’s beaches, and San Clemente is no exception. This erosion has threatened our beaches, impacted our coastal bluffs and endangered the LOSSAN Corridor—the second-busiest rail corridor in the country. The need to replenish our beaches with sand is undeniable. Despite the clear need to address the shrinking beaches, there was no recent movement from the federal government to address the issue. That’s why, … Continue Reading
November 03, 2023
Picket Fence Media: Bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform Is Long Overdue. We Have Begun a New Conversation
You wouldn’t know it from my last name, but I’m the grandson of Mexican immigrants on my mom’s side and a proud member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. A century ago, my mom’s parents came to the United States from Mexico as children. They didn’t have much money, a formal education or English fluency. What they did have was an incredible work ethic and the desire to make a better life in America for themselves and their children. While neither graduated from high school, they started a … Continue Reading
October 19, 2023
San Diego Union-Tribune: A bipartisan immigration bill is gaining steam in Congress. Here’s why I’m backing it.
You wouldn’t know it from my last name, but I’m the grandson of Mexican immigrants on my mom’s side and a proud member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. My mom’s parents, Rosendo Bringas and Amalia Castaños, both came to the United States from Mexico at a young age in the 1910s. They didn’t have much money, a formal education or English fluency. What they did have was an incredible work ethic and the desire to make a better life in America for themselves and their children. While neither … Continue Reading
October 06, 2023
Picket Fence Media: Congress Must Keep Its Promise to Fully Fund the Government; Our Servicemembers Count on It
Last weekend, Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together to pass a bipartisan funding bill to keep our government open until Nov. 17, after facing significant hurdles that threatened a shutdown. We’re not out of the woods yet. We have a little over a month to reach a bipartisan agreement to fully fund the government for Fiscal Year 2024 and avert another shutdown threat. Our servicemembers are counting on us to get this done. Too many of our men and women in uniform are living … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023
San Diego Union-Tribune: My congressional district includes San Onofre. Here’s my plan for moving nuclear waste.
Since I took office in 2019, one of my top priorities has been moving the spent nuclear fuel from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station as quickly and safely as possible. Keeping spent fuel at the San Onofre station long term is unacceptable, with its location about 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean, near active fault lines, surrounded by highly populated areas and within the Camp Pendleton military base. The situation at the San Onofre nuclear plant is the symptom of a far larger problem. … Continue Reading
April 21, 2023
Times of San Diego: Earth Day Is a Yearly Reminder that Congress Must Prioritize Action on Climate Change
As we enter into spring’s warmer weather and celebrate Earth Day, it’s important to recognize all those who work to protect and preserve our environment for future generations and what’s at risk if we don’t take immediate action on climate change. Our region is home to many natural wonders, from beaches and estuaries to canyons and wildlife, and each year on Earth Day we celebrate and promote environmental awareness and encourage actions to protect our planet. It is a … Continue Reading
November 11, 2022
Times of San Diego: Rep. Mike Levin: Veterans Day a Reminder That Congress Must Continue to Help Our Vets
As we move past a tumultuous election season full of negative attacks and partisanship, I think it's important to remember what public service is really about. And for me, there is no better time to do that than Veterans Day. Each year on Veterans Day, our nation gives thanks for the heroism of the millions of veterans who have served and fought to defend our democracy. The brave men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Times of San Diego: Rep. Mike Levin: Our High Gas Prices Are Caused by Pandemic, Putin, and Price Gouging
There's no question we're all feeling pain from high gas prices. The average price of regular gas in California is now around $6.00 per gallon. While Americans are hurting, politicians and pundits are pointing fingers and oversimplifying the problem to serve their narrative of choice. It's counterproductive, and it's doing an incredible disservice to everyone who simply wants solutions. The reality is that high gas prices are a far more complex problem than the pundits would lead you to … 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
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
September 09, 2021
San Clemente Times: The Levin Letter: Federal Relief Arrives for Cherished Local Businesses
South Orange County residents know the value of the small businesses that anchor our community. Locals and tourists alike come together to build memories in the many restaurants, recreational venues, and other locally owned establishments that line our streets. Amidst a pandemic that threatened many of these small businesses, federal relief has enabled many to keep their lights on. By now, you've probably heard of the American Rescue Plan, a comprehensive federal effort to address the … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
San Clemente Times: The Levin Letter: New Federal Funding will Increase Community Access, Fight Coastal Erosion
Roads, rails, and sidewalks connect our neighborhoods and enable freedom of movement throughout South Orange County. Unfortunately for our coastal community, erosion presents a growing threat to the safety of our people and the structural integrity of our crucial transportation infrastructure. Over the past several decades, our beaches and bluffs have been placed under enormous stress due to sea-level rise and other environmental factors. The results of these forces are entirely predictable: … Continue Reading
July 08, 2021
San Clemente Times: The Levin Letter: We Can't Let New Offshore Drilling Devastate the South OC Economy
As most people in South Orange County know, our coastal waters are the lifeblood of our local economy. From boating to surfing to hospitality, ocean-based economic activity employs tens of thousands of Orange County residents. However, offshore drilling threatens our waters, along with the communities that rely on the ocean to make ends meet. We must eliminate the possibility of new drilling along our shores. As an environmental attorney and an advocate for coastal preservation, I've long … Continue Reading