Rep. Juan Vargas’ Statement on Cross-Border TRV Water Management Agreement
Washington, D.C. (October 2, 2019) – Rep. Juan Vargas released the following statement after a cross-border collaboration agreement between Francisco Vega de Lamadrid, State Governor of Baja California, and Roberto Salmon Castelo, Commissioner for the Mexican International Boundary and Water Commission (CILA).
“I am pleased to learn that CILA signed a collaboration agreement with the Tijuana State Public Services Commission. This agreement is a positive step toward allocating Mexico’s federal funds to projects that will help alleviate cross-border sewage spills affecting California.
“I hope the agreement urges the Trump administration to finance necessary infrastructure improvement projects along our border and finally put an end to the spills. The trans-border sewage flows have affected the Tijuana River Valley and surrounding communities for decades, with nearly 130 million gallons of contaminated water entering California just last month. Federal resources, from both sides of the border, are essential to tackling the ongoing cross-border pollution crisis.
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fourth term in Congress. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.
###