Rep. Vargas Applauds Inclusion of Funding for Phase II of the Calexico Port of Entry Project in the President’s FY17 Budget
Washington, DC (February 9, 2016) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) announced the inclusion of $248 million for the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE) reconfiguration and expansion project in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget released today. If approved, the funding would be sufficient to complete the project. In the first three years of serving the 51st Congressional District, Congressman Vargas has brought in nearly $1 billion in border infrastructure funds.
“I’m ecstatic President Obama fulfilled my requests to improve border infrastructure in our country,” said Rep. Vargas. “The Calexico LPOE is a critical economic engine for the Imperial County - Mexicali region. I am proud to have led Imperial County in multi-year efforts to secure funding for our land ports of entry,” continued Rep. Vargas. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure we obtain the vital funds to complete this project.”
The Calexico LPOE is California’s third busiest land port of entry with an estimated 4 million north bound vehicles and 4.8 million pedestrians crossing every year. The Appropriations Committee approved $98 million in 2014 for Phase I of the project. Work on Phase I initiated in November 2015 and is expected to reach completion by 2018.
“I am thrilled that President Obama’s budget includes funding for Phase II of Calexico West,” said Imperial County Supervisor John Renison. “My appreciation to Congressman Vargas, as well as Senators Feinstein and Boxer, for making the Calexico project a continued top funding priority and for helping to ensure that the Administration’s budget includes these dollars. This will ensure security at our border, help reduce air pollution by lowering vehicle wait times, and enable both the U.S. and Mexico to reap economic benefits by way of cross border travelers.”
Phase 1 of the project consisted of ten northbound POV inspection lanes, a head house, and site work necessary to accommodate those facilities. Phase 2 will include the balance of the project including additional site work, a pedestrian processing facility, administrative offices, five southbound POV inspection lanes, and six additional northbound POV inspection lanes.
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 was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his second 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.