Dear Neighbor:

Democrats in Congress are hard at work on legislation to help American families. The Build Back Better agenda is our opportunity to make sure everybody – not just those at the top – get to share the benefits of a growing economy. The Build Back Better Act has the potential to be transformative for our nation. It will create millions of jobs and invest in workforce development, childcare, and education. It also extends tax cuts for working families with children. To learn more, please click here to listen to my recent telephone townhall.

I was pleased that, following his visit to the West LA VA campus, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced a comprehensive plan to help veterans in the Los Angeles community experiencing homelessness. During his visit, I urged the Secretary to prioritize veteran homelessness at the VA, and specifically to focus on Southern California. Tackling veteran homelessness has been a priority of mine since I came to Congress. I commend the VA Secretary for committing to housing all veterans at the Brentwood homeless encampment by November 1. I look forward to continuing to work with the VA and local and state officials to make the necessary improvements to help our nation’s heroes.

COVID-19 Updates

This week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized COVID vaccine booster shots made by Johnson & Johnson and Moderna. The FDA also authorized the mixing and matching of different vaccines for booster shots. The ruling now heads to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its vaccine advisory committee, where official recommendation will be considered.

The CDC has officially recommended that certain populations receive a booster shot of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines at least six months after their initial two-dose Pfizer vaccine series. To learn if you are eligible to receive the Pfizer booster and to make an appointment, please visit VaccinateLACounty.com.  

Get Vaccinated!

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. If you have questions about the vaccine, please consult your doctor. Please get vaccinated if you haven’t already to protect yourself and those around you. Unvaccinated adults who become sick with COVID were 12 times more likely to be hospitalized compared to those who were fully vaccinated, according to data from the CDC.

Everyone age 12 and older who lives or works in LA County is eligible to receive the vaccine. Please check VaccinateLACounty.com for updated information on walk-in vaccinations or to book an appointment ahead of time. To find a vaccination site near you, please visit corona-virus.la/VaxSites. Minors must be accompanied by an adult and bring a signed consent form to receive the Pfizer vaccine. 

If you have or someone you know has a disability or does not have access to the internet and needs assistance making a vaccination appointment, you can contact the County’s Call Center –– open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. –– at (833) 540-0473. You can also call this number or fill out an online request form if you or a family member need to be vaccinated at home.  

For more information on COVID-19 in our community, please visit LA Public Health’s website. To keep up with my work in Congress on behalf of CA-33, please visit my website at lieu.house.gov and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. I look forward to updating you again soon.

Stay safe. 

Sincerely, 

Ted W. Lieu 
Member of Congress