Reps. Vargas, Peters, Levin, Jacobs, and Sens. Padilla, Schiff Urge Trump Administration to Use Trade Deal for Long-term Solutions to Transboundary Pollution

WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer regarding the Trump Administration’s upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The USMCA allocated $300 million to treat wastewater flows in the Tijuana River Valley, and the U.S. and Mexico signed an international treaty known as Minute 328 which also commits Mexico to wastewater infrastructure investments. In recent years, Congress has also provided more than $300 million to address ongoing funding shortfalls since March 2024. Still, more effort is needed.  

“As the Administration begins its review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), we strongly urge you to use this opportunity to pursue further investments and cross-border cooperation to curb the transboundary sewage crisis in the Tijuana River Valley,” the members wrote.  

The members continued, sharing infrastructure initiatives and additional projects needed to ensure long-term solutions to this public health emergency in the San Diego-Tijuana region: “The EPA and North American Development Bank (NADBank) have outlined further wastewater treatment, conservation, and remediation projects that further reduce transboundary flows and associated pollution.” 

These recommendations include: 

• Multi-year funding commitment from the Mexican government on infrastructure projects.
• Enable the use and allocation of funds for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Grant Program (BWIP) to Mexico.
• Increase agility in how NADBank can lend money to infrastructure projects.
• Permanent funding mechanism for Tijuana River Valley infrastructure.
• Formalize the role of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) and Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas (CILA) in the USMCA. 

The members concluded, “These recommendations align with the Administration’s broader goals of enhancing regional competitiveness and fostering national prosperity. The USTR served as a critical advocate for this transboundary wastewater crisis in the last USMCA negotiations, and we hope that commitment remains.” 

Read the full letter HERE. 

Rep. Vargas has been fighting to address Tijuana River Valley pollution for years.

In July, Reps. Vargas, Peters, Jacobs, and Levin and Senators Padilla and Schiff reintroduced the Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act, bicameral legislation to help combat cross-border pollution in the Tijuana River.

The San Diego Congressional delegation and California Senators have secured over $650 million in federal funding – more than half a billion dollars – to combat the pollution and make critical upgrades to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.

In response to a request from the San Diego Congressional delegation and California Senators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened a study into the contaminants in the water, soil, and air as a result of cross-border pollution and the potential connection to reported increases in illnesses and other symptoms. 

The San Diego Congressional delegation called on the EPA to provide support to the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) as they work to monitor the air quality in communities impacted by Tijuana River Valley pollution.

Additionally, the San Diego Congressional delegation has called for a federal state of emergency due to the pollution.

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