Mike Levin

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Oceanside resident and Executive Director of Leap to Success Dana Bristol-Smith, as my March Constituent of the Month. March is Women's History Month, a chance to celebrate and pay tribute to women and all the ways they have made profound impacts on our nation. While we use this opportunity to commemorate phenomenal women of the past and present, I am honored to include Dana in the celebrations, a woman who has dedicated her life to uplifting women every single day right here in my district. Dana started her Leap to Success Women's Leadership program in 2008 after learning of the correlation between domestic violence victims' lack of self-confidence and their ability to avoid returning to abusive partners. In response to this discovery, she developed a program to help these women own their power and start living for themselves again. Her program brought immense success and joy from the participating women, and from then on, she made it her mission to expand Leap to Success to as many women as she can. With helpful guidance and an environment full of encouragement and love, Dana's goal is for women who may be in abusive situations to discover the courage to find their voice, own their worth, and feel empowered to move forward in life. Dana's community of supporters help women realize that their past is nothing to be ashamed of, but rather, an opportunity to create a brighter and healthier future. While there is so much more we must do to prevent domestic violence, I am grateful for leaders like Dana whose passion and heart creates hope and inspiration for women. I am honored to recognize her as my Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, as the proud vice chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I particularly want to call out the critical relief that the American Rescue Plan provides for those who have served our country. The bill includes important funding for the Veterans Health Administration, prohibits copayments for medical care for veterans during the pandemic, strengthens VA's supply chain modernization, and helps State Veterans Homes upgrade and enhance their safety operations. It provides critical funding to increase VA's claims and appeals process to reduce the backlog caused by COVID-19, and it funds enhanced oversight through VA's Office of Inspector General. As chair of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I am particularly proud that it provides $386 million for a rapid retraining program to help unemployed veterans get back to work. Thanks to the leadership of Committee Chairman Mark Takano and our colleagues, this bill provides the relief that veterans need and deserve. To our Nation's veterans, help is on the way.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. This legislation has one simple goal: keep guns out of the hands of people who are dangerous. More than 90 percent of the American people support universal background checks on every firearm sale or transfer, and that is what this bill does. Our constituents expect us to find common ground to finally end the gun violence epidemic in this country. They expect us to pass this bipartisan bill. The era of offering only thoughts and prayers is over. It is over. The American people demand action. H.R. 8 is the action they are calling for. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with the American people and vote ``yes.'' Let's get this done.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Enhanced Background Checks Act. In order to truly prevent bad actors from purchasing guns, we need more transparency. My amendment to this legislation demands transparency from government at both the State and Federal level and ensures that we have complete information about prohibited individuals attempting to get their hands on guns. Right now, the background check system relies heavy on States uploading accurate records. And with this amendment we can better understand which States are doing a good job of uploading records to the system and which are not. Without good and reliable information and without transparency, background checks are much more likely to be delayed resulting in a higher risk of more tragedies like the one at Mother Emanuel Church. With this amendment we can ensure that prohibited individuals won't be sold a gun before their background check is fully completed. If we truly want to keep guns out of the hands of violent individuals, my amendment will get it done.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, our democracy is in grave danger. We are seeing unrelenting efforts across the country to suppress voters and limit access to the ballot box, particularly in communities of color. We are seeing record-breaking waves of dark money backing candidates and campaigns with no transparency or accountability, and we are seeing efforts to increase partisan gerrymandering that allows politicians to pick and choose who they represent. It is wrong and it is undemocratic. We need to make it easier to vote for those who are legally eligible otherwise to vote, not harder to do so. We need more transparency in our campaigns, not less. We need to strengthen ethics rules, not weaken them, and we need to pass the For the People Act. This bill will transform our democracy and return power to the people, where it belongs. It will ensure that every American who is eligible to vote can do so easily and securely. It will crack down on the culture of corruption that has defined Washington for far too long. It will finally end the era of dark money in our politics that has plagued this House for years. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defend our democracy and to support this legislation.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize North San Diego County NAACP President Satia Austin, as my Constituent of the Month for February. Every February, we celebrate Black History Month, and this year, I am honored to highlight Satia as an incredible member of my community. From an early age, Satia's parents stressed the importance of education, personal responsibility, and achievement. These values became her guiding principles as she pursued her passion through a career in youth advocacy and activism. As the current President of the North San Diego County NAACP, the State Advisor for the Youth and College Division for California and Hawaii, and the Adult Representative for Region I of the National NAACP Youth Works Committee, Satia uses her resources and platform to help guide young adults into the professional world. Instilling each of the same core values she was raised on, Satia's dedication to the betterment of local youth ensures African Americans and other people of color in the District aren't confined to their circumstances and can achieve success in their adult lives. This past year, we experienced a nationwide awakening to systemic racism in America. We have much more work to do to confront inequality in our country, but I'm thankful for residents like Satia who are passionate about helping underserved youth succeed. As we continue to come together to address racial injustice, leaders like Satia bring me hope and inspiration. I am honored to recognize her as my Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Encinitas local, Syndee Wood, as my January Constituent of the Month. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our hospitals, small businesses, and communities in the 49th District at a devastating rate. After a friend presented Ms. Wood with an opportunity to deliver pizzas to strained ICU workers and ten different departments at Scripps hospital in Encinitas, Syndee felt gratitude and inspiration from their reaction. Our hospitals and ICU's continue to hit devasting capacity numbers, leaving our medical staff with longer hours and hectic shifts with not much time to sit down for a refueling meal. Additionally, our small businesses have been particularly hard hit with less opportunities for patronship. In an effort to combine both of these prevalent issues, Syndee gathered funds from neighbors and friends, and so far, with the help of nearly 250 donations equaling more than $13,000, her volunteers have helped support 23 San Diego and North County locally-owned and franchised restaurants. The pandemic has shown us how valuable and vital community is for getting through this trying time in our country. I am incredibly thankful for residents like Syndee who have the heart and drive to rise to the occasion on the behalf of CA-49. As we continue working through this unprecedented time, it's critical that we find inspiration in our friends and neighbors all around us. I am deeply grateful for Syndee bringing that hope to our cherished entrepreneurs, small businesses and health care staff, and I am honored to recognize her as my Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, what each of us chooses to do today, whether we vote to hold this President to account or look the other way, we will be remembered by history, by our children and their children. The facts are clear, the evidence of Trump's insurrection overwhelming. History calls on us to do what is right rather than just politically expedient. Let us look back on this day with honor, not disgrace, knowing we were up to the oath we all took.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, for the first time since 1814, the United States Capitol Building was breached by an angry mob. More than 200 years ago, it was British troops. This time it was domestic terrorists, inspired and encouraged by President Donald Trump. I started the day prepared to uphold my oath of office--an oath I took this past Sunday at the launch of the 117th Congress to ``support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.'' I planned to uphold that oath by voting to certify the results of the Electoral College, and we are getting back to our work and certifying Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next President and Vice President. We will do that work thanks to the efforts and bravery of the Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies who have intervened. While there will be many questions about how this security breach occurred, I am incredibly grateful for the men and women who risked their lives to keep us safe today. As for the domestic terrorists who sought to overthrow our democracy, they must be prosecuted. Their leader must be removed from office as soon as possible and their enablers in Congress must be held responsible for their role in this catastrophe. Despite 81 million votes for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, multiple recounts, and more than 60 failed lawsuits challenging the election results, many of my Republican colleagues followed Trump's lead and pushed outlandish conspiracy theories and baseless claims of voter fraud without any evidence, entirely void of reality. Many Congressional Republicans are seeking to overturn the results of a free and fair election because they don't like the results. They didn't realize--or didn't care--that their actions could result in a violent coup attempt. That's exactly what happened today. The question now is a vital one: where does our country go from here? For many decades, we have had passionate but peaceful political disagreements--a shining beacon of democracy. We Americans do not support insurrection or mob rule. In short, we are so much better than this. We are now at a crossroads in our great nation's history, a moment where we see two divergent paths in front of us. We can continue down a path of hyper-partisanship, divisiveness, and democratic decay, or we can try to heal our country. We can come together to reject the violence we saw today and recommit to upholding the values that unite us as Americans: democracy, justice, and equality. It is paramount that we choose the right path. I hope my colleagues who insist on continuing this charade, understand that their actions will be remembered as among the most shameful in our nation's history. Generations of Americans to come will learn of their attempt to undermine the democratic institutions our country was founded upon. To those other colleagues--Republicans and Democrats alike--who will uphold their oath of office and help lead us down a better path, I thank them for defending our democracy. Our Constitution must never be taken for granted. We must continue to support and defend it every day, as our oath demands. I am proud to serve alongside them, and I look forward to addressing our nation's greatest challenges with them in the months and years ahead.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize local Carlsbad teen, Nolan Mejia, as my December Constituent of the Month. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread in our communities, 17-year-old Nolan saw an opportunity to ease the struggles of his neighbors and friends. After witnessing his own grandparents have nearby family members do their grocery shopping, he worried for those that did not have anyone to do the same for them. Feeling inspired by his own family's kindness, Mejia started the Grocery Grab service. Run by himself and a few of his classmates from Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, the free grocery shopping service is designed to accommodate those who are immunocompromised and advised to stay at home to prevent exposure to COVID-19. So far, the group has delivered over 7,000 items to various seniors in the community, with any tips received for their services donated to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund. While the pandemic continues to impact our communities in North County San Diego and South Orange County, it is absolutely vital that we embrace teamwork and togetherness. I am incredibly encouraged by the enthusiasm and charity of Nolan and his Grocery Grab staff for rising to the moment on the behalf of those CA-49 residents in need. In order to get through this unprecedented time, it's important that we support our most vulnerable neighbors. I am deeply grateful for Nolan's service to our District, and I am proud to recognize him as my Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot allow our veterans to fall into homelessness, end up jobless, or go without the basic services that they deserve. These challenges have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud to lead the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act so that we can do right by our veterans during this pandemic and beyond. This legislation includes several of my bipartisan bills. It includes the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act and the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act to lift veterans out of homelessness. It includes the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder Transition Improvement Act to ease the transition to civilian life and help veterans build meaningful careers. It includes the Protect the GI Bill Act and the Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act to help veterans make the most of their GI Bill benefits. It includes the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act to protect veterans' legal rights. This legislation will make a real difference for veterans across the country, and I am proud of the bipartisan progress we are making today.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of every American who has lost a loved one because of this pandemic. I rise for those who have lost their jobs or who are struggling to make ends meet in the wake of this virus. I rise for the doctors, the nurses, the caregivers, and the first responders who put themselves at risk every day as they try to save lives. These folks in my district and across the Nation know that the enemy is not our neighbors or our political opponents. The enemy is this virus. And they are counting on us to come together to provide relief. We must act urgently to provide State and local governments with the funding they need to maintain essential workers and provide critical services, including in public safety and education. We must act so that small businesses don't shutter their doors, laying off the good people who live and work in our communities. The American people cannot and should not have to wait any longer. I urge my colleagues to put their differences aside and treat this emergency like our lives depend on it--because they do.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Chaplain William E. Walker Senior, Post Chaplain of Oceanside Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Memorial Post I 0577 and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Tri-Cities Chapter 95, as my Constituent of the Month. A true American patriot, after returning from serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) from l976 to 1988 and receiving the Combat Action Ribbon for his service in Saigon, Vietnam, Comrade Walker worked at Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) for 15 years until his retirement. Following his retirement and feeling that his service for this country wasn't over, Chaplain Walker made himself a fierce ally and fighter for veterans throughout North County. Dedicated to his convictions and supporting his fellow veterans, Chaplain Walker is especially known for visiting, calling, or helping wherever he can for VFW and DAV comrades who are in nursing homes, hospitals, rehab clinics, homebound, or in need of assistance. His commitment to the ministry and duties of Chaplain are beyond reproach, always there to lend a hand, offer spiritual guidance, and prayer. Chaplain Walker's service for local veterans groups in California's 49th Congressional District is commendable. During an especially difficult time for our country as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the nation and our community, Chaplain Walker continued to go above and beyond in helping local veterans and their families during a desperate time of need. Volunteering with the North County Food Bank, Chaplain Walker loaded his car with food and supplies to distribute to homebound veterans and veteran's widows struggling from the financial effects of the pandemic. In order to properly celebrate Veterans Day, we must do more than offer our thanks and appreciation. We need to fight for the support and resources that veterans have earned and deserve, and that's exactly what Chaplain Walker does every single day. As long as I have the privilege to serve on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I will look to Chaplain Walker as an exemplary model of what it means to serve our veterans with reverence and resolve. I am deeply grateful for Chaplain Walker's continued service to our veterans, and I am proud to recognize him as my Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Oscarin Ortega, Founder and Executive Director of Lived Experiences, a local youth outreach program, for my October Constituent of the Month. Born and raised in Oceanside, Oscarin launched Lived Experiences in 2018 to provide critical support and resources for underserved kids and teenagers in my District. After studying the effects of early childhood trauma and understanding the hardships on a deeply personal level himself, Oscarin wanted to ensure others could be set on a life path of success by providing the proper resources and guidance to help them flourish. Through training and mentoring, Oscarin educated himself on various restorative and therapeutic practices that could help him and others overcome the damages of their past. With programs dedicated to healing and hope, Lived Experiences prides themselves on encouraging their amazing kids to embrace their brightest futures. Oscarin has also stepped up to support local youth during the COVID- 19 pandemic, which has exacerbated food insecurity, domestic abuse, and financial hardships. Seeing these strains particularly heightened among his youth and staff, Oscarin and Lived Experience set up food drives, school supply donations, fresh haircuts, community events, and much more to help alleviate the challenges of these unprecedented times. With the support of the community, the Lived Experiences team has so far distributed a total of 270,413 pounds of food to working families in Oceanside. I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to make our region and our country a stronger place for everyone to live and thrive. Today, I am proud to recognize Mr. Ortega as my Constituent of the Month, and I thank him and his team at Lived Experiences for being incredible role models and positive examples for the youth in our community. I am honored to represent such an outstanding leader in my district.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, as the designee of Chairman Pallone, pursuant to House Resolution 1129, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, all we have to do is look at the last few weeks in my great State of California and see record wildfires, 3.6 million acres and counting. And we have seen this all throughout the Western United States, truly unprecedented. And we also have seen smoke. All I had to do a few weeks ago is just open the window, even though I am miles away from the center of any of the wildfires, and we could see the thick, dark smoke, gray and orange. We saw the pictures in the city of San Francisco. It is truly unprecedented in our great State of California. The amendment that we are offering will hopefully uncover the true cost of this smoke. We must figure out exactly what type of health impacts wildfire smoke is having, not just in California, but everywhere where this has impacted our communities throughout the Western United States. So we are also going to need to develop better smoke forecasts. This amendment would do that. And it directs the EPA to collect data and coordinate research on the impacts of acute air pollution exposure from wildfires. It is $100 million that I think is well spent. An article published just a few days ago, September 19, in the Los Angeles Times, is titled, ``How Bad Is All That Wildfire Smoke to Our Long-Term Health? `Frankly, We Don't Really Know.' '' We don't really know, and that is why we need this research, this funding. A good friend of mine from Stanford University, my alma mater, an economist named Marshall Burke, has done great work on the cost of climate change and the cost of inaction. He has estimated that between 1,000 and 3,000 excess deaths--think of that number, 1,000 and 3,000 excess deaths--will be caused by the smoke from these wildfires. Five thousand extra visits to the emergency room in California will be caused by these wildfires. And we know from other research at Harvard University and elsewhere that short-term changes in particulate matter of 2.5, and other criteria air pollutants, dramatically increase mortality. It is very clear: Wildfire smoke is a dominant source of air pollution in the United States in some years. Health costs associated with wildfire exposure are greater than we thought, previously. The more we learn about this, the more we recognize just what a significant toll this is taking on our health, on our ability to deal with the economic impacts that this causes. And we have seen, in California, some of the studies on things like preterm birth, this has had an impact even on preterm birth. And, of course, as is so often the case, when we talk about environmental issues, environmental justice is key here. We know that the poor and communities of color have been impacted most by this as well. In my district, we have got the University of California at San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and I am very proud of all of the work they are doing. One of the researchers there recently made the link between air pollution and increased risk of COVID-19 and, specifically, the severity of symptoms that one would get if they were to have COVID-19 and if they were to be impacted by wildfire smoke. It could exacerbate the degree to which COVID-19 causes more serious conditions. As that researcher said: ``I really hope I am wrong, but what we may expect to see in the next few weeks is an increase in the fatality rate from COVID-19.'' So we know that wildfire smoke is here. This is not theoretical. Oftentimes, when we talk about climate change, we think of something in the future; we think of something theoretical. One of the things that I so appreciate about this legislation, and specifically about this amendment and the series of amendments from Mr. Schrader and my friends from California--Josh Harder, Ami Bera, Mike Thompson, and Jimmy Panetta--is that all of these amendments are things that impact us in the here and now. Wildfire smoke is not some far-off, theoretical thing that may or may not happen in the future. We know that it is happening, and happening right now. So, as I mentioned, in addition to our amendment, which establishes a program to improve wildfire smoke emissions modeling and to develop smoke forecasts and directs EPA to collect data and coordinate research on the impacts of acute air pollution exposure from wildfires, Mr. Schrader of Oregon has an amendment that would establish the home wildfire risk reduction rebate program to provide rebates to homeowners to defray the cost of retrofitting an existing home to be wildfire resistant. Of course, we are thinking of all of our friends throughout the Pacific Northwest. We have family in Oregon and Washington that have been so dramatically impacted by all of this. As I mentioned, my friends Josh Harder, Ami Bera, and Mike Thompson, all fantastic Representatives from northern California--and they have really borne the brunt of the wildfires throughout California--have offered amendments that, among other things, create a geospatial map that depicts wildfire risk around utilities to allow for better planning, for grid hardening, vegetation management, emergency access points, and more. Their amendments also establish an electricity reliability standard regarding extreme weather events and direct the Department of Energy to help States and local utilities on ways to improve the resiliency of their electrical grids. It is so important that we study these wildfires and we understand the impact on our electricity grid. My friend Representative Panetta offers several amendments, including one that expands weatherization assistance for low-income families and enhancement in innovation to cover the use of materials that are resistant to high heat and fire in dwellings occupied by low-income persons in areas at risk from drought and wildfires. I think it is important to just mention we are not talking about wildfires in a vacuum. We have seen record drought and record temperatures, and those conditions create the environment that we now have seen that creates these wildfire risks. Finally, my friend Representative Bera has an amendment that directs the Secretary of Energy to support R&D on tools and technologies for improving the electric grid and the energy sector for safety and resilience during concurrent or colocated severe weather events. I am extremely proud at the support that we have been able to achieve for these amendments, and for the package for H.R. 4447. It is a comprehensive bill that we really do need to move forward on. It has been a dozen years, a dozen years, since we have been able to update the structure and the authorizations of critical clean energy research and demonstration programs at the Department of Energy, and we have learned so much about our environment, about climate change. I graduated from law school in 2005, and I became an environmental attorney and a clean energy advocate working in a variety of clean energy organizations, businesses, and now as a legislator. And what I can tell you is that between the time I graduated from law school in 2005 and today, we know significantly more, and much different information about climate change than we did back then. Yet, we have not updated the research and development now for 12 years, it is simply unacceptable. So our amendment and the other amendments that I discussed will go a long way, and I hope we can achieve bipartisan consensus in this, and in the months and years ahead to actually tackle these problems as they face Californians. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Camp Pendleton's 78th anniversary. In 1942, the Marine Corps began construction on a new base north of Camp Elliott in San Diego. When it was ready, the 9th Marine Regiment marched north from Camp Elliott to the new base at the former Rancho Santa Margarita. On September 25, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt named the base Camp Pendleton in honor of World War I Major General Joseph H. Pendleton. As a key amphibious training base, Camp Pendleton is crucial to the Marine Corps in advancing and sustaining the readiness of operations forces. Since World War II, Camp Pendleton has served as a major training base used by Marine forces before deploying into combat, and I am proud of the role that they have played in defending our country. After the horrific attacks on September 11, Camp Pendleton provided crucial training to the Army, Army National Guard units, and allied forces, who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Camp Pendleton isn't just a military base; it is a vital part of our community throughout the 49th District. The military families and veterans who live on and around the base make our district a special place, and I am proud to serve them in Congress. Those families are also just one of the reasons why serving on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee is so important to me. I have made the well-being of our veterans and servicemembers one of my top priorities in Congress. They have sacrificed for our freedom, and it is our responsibility to honor that sacrifice by supporting them in civilian life. Once again, I am honored to represent Camp Pendleton and the families who call it home. Happy birthday, Camp Pendleton.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano for yielding. As chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs' Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and as a Representative for tens of thousands of veterans around Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, I strongly believe that we have got to do more to support those who have served our country. We can't allow men and women who have served to fall into homelessness, end up without a job, or go without the basic services that they deserve. Today, we are taking a significant step in making sure veterans are no longer left behind. I am so proud to lead the DELIVER Act, a robust, action-forward package to help get our veterans back on their feet. The legislation includes six of my bipartisan bills to help get veterans the housing and employment opportunities they deserve. It includes the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, a bill I introduced with my friend, Representative Gus Bilirakis--I don't see Gus here, but I am grateful to him--to expand and strengthen VA services to homeless veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes the Veteran HOUSE Act, a bill I co-led with my friend Representative Scott Peters, also from San Diego, to expand the HUD- VASH program to homeless veterans discharged under conditions other than honorable. It includes the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act, a bill I introduced with Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to ensure that homeless veterans and their families receive the resources and services they deserve by filling gaps in the HUD-VASH case management system. It includes the Housing for Women Veterans Act, a bill I introduced with Representative Fitzpatrick to require the VA to complete an analysis of its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet their needs. It includes the Veterans Economic Recovery Act, a bill I introduced with Ranking Member Roe. And we are all going to miss Dr. Roe. We are grateful for all that he does. That bill will, as Dr. Roe just said, create a rapid retraining program for unemployed veterans and reservists. And it includes the Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder Transition Improvement Act, a bill I introduced with my friend Representative Arrington to make the transition process easier for servicemembers returning to civilian life. I have said it before, and I will say it again: Even one homeless veteran is one too many. We have a moral obligation to make robust Federal investments in programs to help get veterans off the street, and we have got to do a better job of ensuring that our Nation's heroes have the housing assistance and services they need. Each of the bills that we have talked about today will make a real difference for the veterans I serve and countless others across the country. You hear a lot about how things in Washington are broken and how we can't get a lot done around here, but I am very proud of the bipartisan progress we have made today for our veterans. I am hopeful the Senate will take the bill up quickly and get it on the President's desk. I am just so grateful to everybody that has been involved, both the Members and their staff. It was really a wonderful, bipartisan, bicameral effort. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Michelle Harvey, founder of the San Diego Face Mask Sewing Group, a Facebook community page dedicated to sewing face masks for donation. Now more than ever, as we continue addressing this unprecedented health crisis, it is on all of us to do our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19. With this in mind, Michelle Harvey found herself getting to work behind the family sewing machine. Ms. Harvey discovered her newly found sewing abilities when her friend, an ICU nurse at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, informed her the hospital would begin taking mask donations. In hopes of providing face masks for as many essential workers as possible, Michelle reached out to others who would be interested in helping her cause and found an overwhelming amount of volunteers. From there, the now 1,800 member San Diego Face Mask Sewing Group took off. Providing members of our community with a face mask is one of the easiest and most effective ways to slow the spread. So far, with the unwavering support of her mask-making group, Michelle coordinated the donation of around 50,000 masks to hospitals, charities, and community members across San Diego County. In an effort to ensure all followers are covered, The San Diego Face Mask Sewing Group also offers tutorials for people to create their own mask from scratch without ever having to leave their homes. I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to make our region and our country a stronger place for everyone to live and thrive. Today, I am proud to recognize Ms. Harvey as my Constituent of the Month, and I thank her for being a leader and role model in helping our community collectively work together to both protect our frontline workers and helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Maria Desiderio McEneany, a constituent of the 49th Congressional District who recently passed away. Maria spent her life in service to her family and community. With a ready smile and a helping hand, Maria was always ready to use her talent, knowledge, and experience to assist others. Often with her husband Paul at her side, Maria organized events including weddings at St. James Church and fundraisers for her favorite causes. Maria's heart was large enough to embrace causes from Jubilee USA to fight for international debt relief to the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls where she elevated her voice to fight the scourge of human trafficking and promote opportunity and equity. Maria will long be remembered as a long-serving executive board member of the Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club where her welcoming spirit, collaborative style, and hard work contributed to the growth and success of the club. She also served as a member of the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee and North Area Caucus at a pivotal time when the changing political landscape led to the election of many of the candidates who she worked tirelessly to elect. Maria will long be remembered and loved by all those whose life she touched.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Oceanside Police Chief Frank McCoy on his retirement after 36 years in law enforcement. Chief McCoy has served as Chief of Police for the City of Oceanside since January 2006, making him the longest serving Police Chief in the history of the department. Under his leadership, Oceanside has seen a 28 percent reduction in violent crime and a 33 percent reduction in overall crime. Chief McCoy established a culture of community policing and banned the use of the Carotid Restraint, commonly referred to as a chokehold, after the murder of George Floyd. Before serving in Oceanside, Chief McCoy started his career with the City of Manhattan Beach. He then spent 20 years working for the City of Long Beach, where he worked his way through the ranks to become a Commander. I am grateful for Chief McCoy's contributions to our community and wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Darnell ``DeeJay'' Johnson, a community leader, racial justice activist and local high school football coach, as the Constituent of the Month for August. At a time when our country is reeling from racial injustice and seeking to address police brutality, Mr. Johnson and his team marched side by side to speak out against racial injustice. This past June, DeeJay organized a Black Lives Matter protest for marchers to walk in support of the movement in North County San Diego. During the protest, marchers raised concerns to DeeJay of a young white male in military-style gear carrying a knife and acting uneasy while walking with the group. DeeJay carefully approached the young man, and after a few minutes of defusing the situation, the 16-year-old handed over the knife from his pocket. We are seeing millions of Americans all over the nation demanding accountability and comprehensive reform to a system that has allowed police brutality and injustice against people of color for generations. Amidst the united uprising across the country, peaceful protesters voices are being drowned out by those seeking to dismantle the movement with unrest and violence. DeeJay's mission is to not only inspire young people to get involved in change, but to emphasize using their voices and actions peacefully. With these goals in mind, the scenario that occurred with the young man was a lesson for many involved. The defused scene created a learning opportunity to display how we can all work cohesively together, and most importantly, to work towards a better and more just future for all Americans. I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to make our region and our country a stronger place for everyone to live and thrive. As our nation and community works toward long overdue racial change and healing, voices like DeeJay's must be lifted and heard. I am honored to recognize Mr. Johnson as my Constituent of the Month, and I thank him for being a prominent role model in amplifying racial justice in our community during a critical time of change for America.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely fortunate to represent a coastal district with many beloved beaches, lagoons, and State parks. In California's 49th Congressional District, our public lands bring outdoor recreation and joy to our residents, and also to many tourists and visitors looking to catch some of our famous waves or hike our scenic trails. This defining aspect of California culture continues to make communities in my district not only economically stronger, but also active, healthier, and happier, with locals and tourists alike enjoying all the benefits and spaces that the great outdoors offer. The LWCF is famously known as America's most successful conservation program. This historic bill is an all-around win for our communities, benefiting local economies, and protecting our planet for future generations. Thus far, California has received approximately $2.5 billion in LWCF funding over the last 50 years, which has helped to protect iconic places, like San Onofre State Beach, Carlsbad State Beach, San Clemente State Beach, Torrey Pines Beach and Nature Reserve, and several flourishing lagoons, all in my district. We are not just protecting those iconic places with this bill; we are also investing in our fight against the climate crisis. By conserving natural resources across the country, we are safekeeping critical landscapes, fragile ecosystems, and important wildlife habitat which are all part of the ecosystem we depend on. As we continue to invest in coastal conservation of wetlands, estuaries, dunes, and reefs, we are contributing to climate change adaptation planning and protecting our coastal communities from extreme weather events, sea level rise, and bluff erosion. These efforts to combat the climate crisis are incredibly important for the 50-plus miles of coastline in my district. I am proud to support the Great American Outdoors Act, and I hope this historic conservation legislation will soon become law, as it is certainly among the biggest bipartisan environmental accomplishments we have had in many years.