WASHINGTON, D.C.– On February 15, U.S. Congressmembers Juan Vargas (CA-51), Scott Peters (CA-52), and Susan Davis (CA-53) released the following statement after $15 million was allocated to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) U.S. – Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program:
“Through continued advocacy and prioritization, we have worked with our colleagues in both the House and Senate to address the ongoing sewage spills into the Tijuana River. The $15 million in funding signed into law today will go to priority projects identified by the EPA to rein in the sewage crisis. As the EPA and the North American Development Bank (NADB) determine how best to use the funding, we will provide input and communicate with San Diegans and other stakeholders to determine what the most pressing needs are.
“We are grateful for Senator Dianne Feinstein for leading this effort in the Senate, the Appropriators who helped secure the funding, and our local partners who provided valuable input to this conversation. Our partnership is essential to fully addressing the sewage crisis.”
In March 2018, Vargas, Peters and Davis, along with Members of Congress representing the border regions of New Mexico and Texas, sent a letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting funding to address trans-border environmental issues across the 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico.
Congressman Vargas represents the 51st District of California, which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fourth term in Congress. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congressman Peters serves the 52nd District of California, which covers much of central San Diego County including Poway, Coronado, and large portions of the City of San Diego. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Congressman is a former environmental attorney, City Council President, and Port Commission Chairman.
Congresswoman Davis represents the 53rd Congressional District, which includes central San Diego, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and parts of El Cajon and Chula Vista. Davis serves on the House Committee on Education and Labor, where she is Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee. She is also a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.
