Press Releases
Rep. Vargas, Sen. Padilla Introduce Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act
SAN DIEGO - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), and U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) announced bicameral efforts to help combat Tijuana River transboundary sewage pollution The lawmakers were joined by officials from the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to announce the Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2024. U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) is an original cosponsor of the bill in the Senate, and … Continue Reading
August 28, 2024
Rep. Vargas, California Senators, San Diego Congressional Delegation Call for Answers Amid Increased Sewage Odors, Sewage Flows from Mexico
CHULA VISTA - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) along with U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and U.S. Representatives Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Scott Peters (CA-50), and Mike Levin (CA-49) called on the U.S. Department of State to press Mexican officials for answers on the unprecedented dry weather sewage and sediment flows from Mexico amid intense sewage odors. The International Boundary and Water Commission has reported an increase in sewage flows in the … Continue Reading
August 28, 2024
Rep. Vargas, San Diego Congressional Delegation Secure Additional $43 Million in Shelter and Services Program Funding for San Diego Region
CHULA VISTA - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) announced an additional $43,675,626 in Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partners in San Diego County providing critical support like food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and transportation to migrants awaiting their immigration court proceedings. The Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego received $21,598,261 and Jewish Family Service of San Diego received $22,077,365 in … Continue Reading
August 27, 2024
Rep. Vargas Announces $10 Million for Chula Vista for New and Innovative Building Codes Grant to Save Consumers Money, Reduce Impacts of Climate Change
SAN DIEGO - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) announced $10 million in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding for Chula Vista to help develop support frameworks to increase energy savings and improve compliance with the City’s building performance standard. This funding is made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Rep. Vargas voted to pass in 2022. Chula Vista was one of 19 state and local governments selected to receive grant funding to adopt and implement the … Continue Reading
July 25, 2024
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 22, 2024
Rep. Vargas Votes to Pass Water Resources Development Act, Funding for San Diego Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. WRDA 2024 is biennial legislation that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to continue key projects and studies that address water and wastewater infrastructure in communities across the country, including San Diego. “The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 makes sure we can continue to carry out essential projects and improvements in our communities. … 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