San Diego Congressional Delegation Amendment Directs Epa to Prioritize Border Environmental Crisis

Statement

Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) along with the San Diego Congressional Delegation, Reps. Susan Davis (CA-53), Scott Peters (CA-52) and Mike Levin (CA-49) released the following statement applauding the inclusion of their amendment in the House-Passed Appropriations Package:

"We are pleased that the House Appropriations Committee has included $30 million in Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP) funds -- twice as much as last year. Our amendment will direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use the funding to prioritize projects that address the environmental crisis along the entire U.S.-Mexico border.

"The on-going cross-border flooding is causing long-term harm to our coastal communities. The EPA must take meaningful action to mitigate the sewage spills in the Tijuana River Valley.

"It is our understanding that the EPA, in conjunction with the North American Development (NAD) Bank, will soon release a study highlighting potential projects that could drastically reduce wastewater and pollution flowing into our region.

"We look forward to the EPA prioritizing funding for the identified projects in their upcoming budget requests to Congress. We are committed to working with the agency to see that their requests are funded."

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