Bipartisan San Diego Delegation Celebrates House Appropriations Committee Approval of San Ysidro Port of Entry Funding
Washington, DC (June 25, 2014) –The entire San Diego Congressional Delegation praised the House Appropriations Committee for approving $216 million for the San Ysidro Port of Entry Modernization and Expansion Project in the Financial Services and General Government Fiscal Year 2015 spending bill.
“The committee’s nod of approval brings us one step closer to fully funding the San Ysidro Port of Entry, a truly vital component of California’s regional economy,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51). “This is the result of the San Diego delegation truly working together in a bipartisan manner to make this much-needed border infrastructure project a top priority. Funding for the San Ysidro Port of Entry Project will result in more jobs, greater border safety and efficiency, and increased economic growth.”
Rep. Juan Vargas, together with Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49), Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-50), Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) and Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53), joined forces to urge members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the Appropriations Bill at the President’s FY 15 budget request level.
“The San Ysidro Port of Entry is one of the critical international land crossings between the U.S. and Mexico border,” said Rep. Issa. “By providing adequate funds and resources from Congress, San Ysidro will continue to promote and foster development in San Diego County through the creation of jobs and private sector growth.”
“This is a good step to fully funding the last phase at the San Ysidro Port of Entry – a project necessary to our region’s economic future. I will keep pushing to get this funding across the finish line,” stated Rep. Peters. “As we saw last year, this will require a strong bipartisan effort.”
“I appreciate Chairman Rogers’ and Chairman Crenshaw’s support for the San Ysidro Port of Entry,” stated Rep. Hunter. “I have no doubt these improvements will reduce wait times, increase commerce and provide a much needed economic boost to the San Diego community. I join my fellow members of the San Diego delegation in urging continued support for these provisions as the legislation heads to the House Floor”.
"This federal funding will pay dividends well into the future in economic opportunity and job growth for the San Diego region,” said Rep. Davis. “Promoting and sustaining economic growth should be the top priority of Congress. We can’t get there unless we make the critical investments in our nation’s ports of entry."
Numerous business and trade organizations have demonstrated an outpouring of support for the project and continue to be active in efforts to obtain funding for the project’s completion. These organizations include the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, CONNECT, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Tourism Authority, Solar Turbines, and Cox Communications, to name a few.
“The Chamber appreciates the Committee’s efforts to ensure funding for the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry,” said Jerry Sanders, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. “This project is essential to San Diego’s economic development and we applaud our delegation’s hard work to ensure this important funding for the future of our region.”
If approved by Congress, GSA will receive funding for Phase 2, the final phase, of the San Ysidro Port of Entry Modernization and Expansion project, and allow for project completion. To date, the other two phases – Phase 1 and 3 – are fully funded. Once all three phases are complete, the new port will boast 62 northbound vehicle primary inspection booths, one dedicated bus lane and inspection booth spread over 34 lanes, as well as improved processing facilities for bus and Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) travelers.
Additional Congressional Members from across California supported the efforts before the Appropriations Committee as did more than 50 local and statewide leaders and business organizations. Statewide leaders urging Appropriators for project funding included California Governor Jerry Brown, Senate Pro Tem Darryl Steinberg, then Assembly Speaker John Perez, Speaker Toni Atkins, Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway, and Assembly Republican Caucus Chairman Brian Jones. Local leaders from across San Diego County demonstrated their support by submitting individual letters, as well as sending a letter on behalf of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), signed by the 19 members, including 18 cities in the County of San Diego and the county, itself.
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire US/Mexico border. Vargas is currently serving his first term in Congress. He represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 – 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 – 2000.