Press Releases
Rep. Vargas Announces Nearly $20 Million Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant for San Diego
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) announced $19,999,317 in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding for climate-resilient projects to help improve air quality, mitigate extreme heat, and expand green space in San Diego’s historic central neighborhoods including Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mt. Hope, Sherman Heights, Southcrest, and Shelltown. “Today’s announcement is welcome news for families in San Diego and across the region. This … Continue Reading
July 05, 2024
Rep. Vargas Reintroduces Resolution to Honor Life of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) reintroduced a resolution to honor the life and legacy of Father Stan, an Indian Jesuit priest and prominent human rights activist who died while in police custody on July 5, 2021, and to encourage India to pursue an independent investigation into his arrest, incarceration, and death. “Father Stan dedicated his life to giving a voice to the voiceless. He was a tireless advocate for the rights of the indigenous Adivasi people, trained young … Continue Reading
July 03, 2024
Rep. Vargas Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Double Pell Grant, Make College More Affordable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) in introducing the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024, bicameral legislation that would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, index the maximum award for inflation, expand the program to include Dreamers, and make other changes to … Continue Reading
July 02, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on the General Land Office of the State of Texas v. Biden
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement on the decision in The General Land Office of the State of Texas v. Biden, which requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to resume the planning and construction process on portions of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. “I’m deeply disappointed in this misguided decision that gave DHS no choice but to resume efforts to construct a portion of the border wall in east San Diego County. Walls along our … Continue Reading
June 28, 2024
Reps. Vargas, Peters, Jacobs, Levin Applaud Biden’s Inclusion of Funding to Address Cross-Border Pollution in Updated Supplemental Funding Request
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Mike Levin (CA-49) applauded the inclusion of funding that can be used to repair and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in President Biden’s updated supplemental funding request. In October 2023, the President included $310 million in his emergency supplemental request for the South Bay treatment plant as part of an ongoing effort to tackle cross-border pollution … Continue Reading
June 28, 2024
Reps. Vargas, Peters, Levin y Jacobs aplauden la inclusión por parte de Biden de fondos para hacer frente a la contaminación transfronteriza en la solicitud actualizada de fondos suplementarios
WASHINGTON - Los Representantes de EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), Sara Jacobs (CA-51) y Mike Levin (CA-49) aplaudieron la inclusión de fondos que pueden ser utilizados para reparar y ampliar la Planta Internacional de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales de South Bay en la solicitud actualizada de fondos suplementarios del Presidente Biden. En octubre de 2023, el Presidente incluyó 310 millones de dólares en su solicitud suplementaria de emergencia para la planta de tratamiento … Continue Reading
June 27, 2024
Reps. Vargas, Salazar, Gonzalez, Jackson Lee, Swalwell, McGovern Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Deported Veterans Gain Citizenship
WASHINGTON - Despite enlisting in our military and serving our country under the promise of gaining citizenship, many veterans that were honorably discharged have faced deportation and even been prevented from attending their own naturalization hearings. To help address this, U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), and James P. McGovern (MA-02) reintroduced the Strengthening Citizenship … Continue Reading
June 27, 2024
Representantes Vargas, Salazar, González, Jackson Lee, Swalwell, McGovern reintroducen legislación bipartidista para ayudar a los veteranos deportados conseguir ciudadanía
WASHINGTON - A pesar de alistarse en nuestro ejército y servir a nuestro país bajo la promesa de obtener ciudadanía, muchos veteranos que fueron dados de baja honorablemente se han enfrentado a deportación e incluso se les ha impedido asistir a sus propias audiencias de naturalización. Para ayudar a solucionar este problema, los Representantes de EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52), María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Vicente González (TX-34), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), y James P. … Continue Reading
June 25, 2024
Reps. Vargas, Peters Announce $5,000,000 for Port of San Diego Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Redevelopment
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Scott Peters (CA-50) announced $5,000,000 in federal grant funding for the Port of San Diego. This grant will help the Port continue their project to redevelop the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. “The Port of San Diego and its tenants are vital to our regional economy,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “This federal grant will help fund the next phase of modernization plans, designs, and permits for the critical redevelopment work taking … Continue Reading
June 25, 2024
Reps. Vargas, Castro, Jacobs, Peters Introduce Amendment to Bar DHS from Funding Shadow Units
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced an amendment to prevent the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from funding unsupervised “Shadow Units” or “Critical Incident Teams” within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This provision would prevent any future Administration from reinstating the independently operated Critical Incident Teams. “From reports of abuse of power to interfering with … Continue Reading
June 21, 2024
Reps. Vargas, Jacobs Meet with IBWC Commissioners, State and Local Officials to Receive Update on San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) met with U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) Commissioner María Elena Giner, Mexico IBWC Commissioner Adriana Reséndez Maldonado, Consul General of the U.S. in Tijuana Tom Reott, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego Alicia Kerber, Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, and Baja California cabinet members to discuss the need for continued coordination between the United States and Mexico … Continue Reading
June 21, 2024
Representantes Vargas y Jacobs se reunieron con comisionados de la IBWC y funcionarios estatales y locales para recibir información actualizada sobre la construcción de la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales de San Antonio de los Buenos
WASHINGTON - Ayer, los Representantes de EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52) y Sara Jacobs (CA-51) se reunieron con la Comisionada de la Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas (IBWC) de EE.UU. María Elena Giner, la Comisionada de la IBWC de México Adriana Reséndez Maldonado, el Cónsul General de EE.UU. en Tijuana Tom Reott, la Cónsul General de México en San Diego Alicia Kerber y miembros del gabinete de Baja California para discutir la necesidad de continuar la coordinación entre Estados Unidos y … Continue Reading
June 18, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on Biden Executive Action to Keep Families Together
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement on President Biden’s new actions to provide protections for non-citizen spouses of U.S. citizens and their non-citizen children who have lived in the United States for a decade and allow qualified college-educated Dreamers to obtain work visas. “As the proud son of Mexican immigrants who came to this country seeking better opportunities, I know that immigrants are integral to the fabric of our nation. They … Continue Reading
June 18, 2024
Declaración del Representante Vargas sobre la Acción Ejecutiva de Biden para Mantener a las Familias Unidas
WASHINGTON - El Representante de EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52) emitió la siguiente declaración sobre las nuevas acciones del presidente Biden para proporcionar protección a los esposos de ciudadanos estadounidenses que no tienen la ciudadanía y a sus hijos que no tienen la ciudadanía y que han vivido en Estados Unidos durante una década, y permitirá a los Dreamers calificados con educación universitaria obtener visas de trabajo. “Como orgulloso hijo de inmigrantes mexicanos que vinieron a este … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Declaración del Rep. Vargas en el Duodécimo Aniversario de DACA
WASHINGTON - El Representante de los EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52) emitió la siguiente declaración en el Duodécimo aniversario del anuncio del programa de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA) el sábado 15 de junio de 2024. “Desde 2012, DACA ha permitido a los Dreamers, que fueron traídos a los Estados Unidos cuando eran niños, poder trabajar, seguir una educación y contribuir con sus habilidades y talentos a nuestras comunidades. Para muchos Dreamers, Estados Unidos es el … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on 12th Anniversary of DACA
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement on the 12th anniversary of the announcement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on Saturday, June 15th, 2024. “Since 2012, DACA has allowed Dreamers, who were brought to the United States as children, to work, pursue an education, and contribute their skills and talents to our communities. For many Dreamers, America is the only country they’ve ever called home. But without … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Declaración del Representante Vargas sobre su voto en contra de la Ley de Autorización de Defensa Nacional
WASHINGTON - Hoy, el Representante de EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52) votó en contra de la aprobación de la Ley de Autorización de Defensa Nacional (NDAA) para el año fiscal 2025. "Los republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes han elegido una vez más llenar la históricamente bipartidista NDAA con enmiendas demoledoras. En lugar de centrarse en ayudar a nuestras tropas y familias militares, este proyecto de ley prohíbe que los fondos se utilicen para combatir el cambio climático y ataca la salud … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on Voting Against the National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) voted against passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. “House Republicans have chosen yet again to fill the historically bipartisan NDAA with poison pills. Instead of focusing on helping our troops and military families, this bill prohibits funding from being used to combat climate change and attacks reproductive health care, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and LGBTQI+ rights. I can't support … Continue Reading
June 12, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on Philippine Independence Day
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement celebrating Philippine Independence Day on June 12, 2024. “I want to send my best wishes to everyone celebrating the 126th Philippine Independence Day here in the United States, in the Philippines, and around the world. Our two nations share significant and enduring ties. More than four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans call the United States home, and their contributions, histories, and culture are … Continue Reading
June 10, 2024
Rep. Vargas, Colleagues Support Department of Education’s Efforts to Increase FAFSA Access and Urge Further Action to Address Delays
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined 65 of his colleagues in a letter expressing support for the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to improve the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The lawmakers also urged the Department of Education to expeditiously resolve remaining barriers to completing the FAFSA form and encouraged the Department of Education to implement reforms to prevent similar challenges from occurring in future … Continue Reading