Overcoming COVID-19 in Our Community

May 7, 2021

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Dear Neighbor,

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted so many aspects of our lives here in California. We’ve missed birthdays, graduations, and quinceañeras. Thousands of our neighbors, family and friends have lost their lives.

Over a year later, the light at the end of the tunnel is here. If we all get vaccinated, we CAN get back to living our lives again with minimal interruption. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and tested. If you have any questions -- or are struggling to find an appointment that works for you or a family member -- please reach out to my office. We are here to serve you.

This newsletter has updates on COVID-19 safety guidelines, vaccination clinics, financial relief programs from the American Rescue Plan, job opportunities, updates from Washington, D.C., and more.

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates & Information

The State of California is following the CDC guidelines which say fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask in public unless they are in large crowds. However, it is important to remember that you should keep wearing a mask in those instances until you have been fully vaccinated. That means getting all doses of the vaccine and to keep wearing a mask for two weeks after the final dose.

California has now administered nearly 30 million vaccines and has the lowest positivity rate in the nation. LA County has administered over 7.8 million doses and 79.2% of all seniors are fully vaccinated, while 59.3% of all residents 16+ are fully vaccinated. As more people are vaccinated, coronavirus deaths are steadily declining.

COVID-19 vaccinations are free and available to everyone regardless of immigration status -- you will not be asked.

We are getting closer to defeating this virus every day. We can’t quit now!

Vaccination events in our community

There are upcoming vaccination events in Wilmington, North Long Beach, and Huntington Park listed here.

Many other sites, including local pharmacies and community centers, are hosting COVID-19 vaccines events. Check MyTurn.ca.gov or text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) to get a list of sites near you. You can also check my website’s regularly updated list of vaccination sites in our district.

COVID-19 Vaccinations for Homebound Residents

People who are homebound still should get vaccinated against COVID-19. LA County residents can call (833) 540-0473 for help with at-home vaccinations or transportation to vaccination sites. If you or someone you know in the City of Carson would like to get a vaccine but cannot leave their home, please call (310) 952-1750 to get on their interest list.

Virtual Vaccine Town Halls

Vaccine hesitancy is still an issue in many of our communities. Although nearly eight million vaccine doses have been administered in LA County, only 44 percent of eligible residents in our district have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

If you have questions about whether the vaccine works and is safe, join the Children’s Institute for discussions with medical experts. If you’re not able to join either of these town halls, please contact your primary care provider or get in touch with a local community health center to have all of your questions answered.

Community Resources & Information

Thanks to everyone who joined my Telephone Town Hall on Wednesday. It is always great to hear from constituents. Missed it? Recordings and transcripts of the event will be posted here soon.

COVID-19 Relief and Support

Shuttered Venues Operators Grant

This week, the SBA relaunched its Shuttered Venues Operators Grant (SVOG). Click here for the application. Applications are now open for small businesses that have had to shut their doors due to COVID-19 shutdowns.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund

The American Rescue Plan Act provided a lifeline to restaurants through the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The Small Business Administration is now accepting applications from restaurants to access the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Priority in the first 21 days will be given to restaurants owned by women, veterans, and socially or economically disadvantaged groups. For more information visit SBA.gov/restaurants.

FCC Announces Emergency Broadband Benefit Start Date

The FCC announced that on May 12, 2021, eligible households will be able to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Households can apply in three ways:

Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.
Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.
Call (833) 511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it with proof of eligibility, to: Emergency Broadband Support Center, P.O. Box 7081, London, KY 40742

2021 Dodgers RBI Program

Registration for the 2021 Dodgers RBI program is open and FREE for kids 5-18 years old. To find your nearest location and to register, visit Dodgers.com/dodgersrbi.

Youth At Work Program

The LA County Youth at Work program helps employers boost their workforce capacity by providing young people 14-24 years old with work experience. The County will provide temporary interns and pay their wages, at no cost to you.

How to Support Migrant Children in Long Beach

The City of Long Beach has launched an online portal with detailed information on how the community can help support the migrant children who will be temporarily sheltered at the Long Beach Convention Center as part of the federal government’s humanitarian effort to support unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the southern borders. I had a chance to tour the facility on Thursday and am happy to see the migrant kids have access to legal support, medical assistance, and are being placed in a kid-friendly space while they are being connected with their families.

The Administration continues to work around the clock to get these kids out of Border Patrol custody, into a safe environment with wrap-around services, and placed as quickly as possible with a family member here in the U.S. Any situation where a child is not living with their family members is not ideal. We must continue to work hard to reunite these kids with family as quickly as possible.

Extension for Real ID

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday postponed the Real ID deadline to May 3, 2023. Americans will have more time to get the Real ID cards which will be required for boarding flights and entering federal facilities. More information here.

Community Events

AAPI Self-Defense Event in Carson, May 8th

The City of Carson is partnering with the Filipino Consul General and Assemblymember Mike Gipson to hold a self-defense workshop for seniors, led by the granddaughter of Bruce Lee, Diana Lee Inosanto. Come by Carson Park (21411 Orrick Ave) from 10:00 -11:30 AM on Saturday to attend this training.

Watts Tree Planting

The community of Watts is looking for volunteers to help plant more than one thousand trees around our community.

Join Tree People and community members on May 8 and May 22 in planting large shade trees in city parkways so that the many benefits of trees are more available in our community. You can sign up here.

Updates from D.C.

We recognized 100 days of the Biden Administration recently, and so many improvements have happened over these first 100 days. All adults are now eligible for free COVID-19 vaccinations, we passed extra assistance for families, children, renters and small businesses, and proposals have been released to build America Back better than before. In short: help is here.

I introduced the Prompt Approval of Safe Generic Drugs Act (H.R. 2831) which would make it easier for the Food and Drug Administration to authorize generic drugs to bring them to market.

Last week, I led the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee in a hearing focused on unaccompanied minors at the border. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia joined us as a panelist and discussed the City of Long Beach’s humanitarian approach to welcoming and caring for migrant children crossing the border. As Congress works toward the next steps in reforming immigration policy, I remain committed to working to find solutions to support asylum seekers as they arrive, and to address the root causes of migration.

The Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee held a hearing on reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector. I discussed creative ideas to improve electric vehicle access in low-income communities with Joe Britton of the Zero Emissions Transportation Association. You can watch the recording here.

In Community,