Rep. Vargas Releases Statement on USMCA Passage Including Funding to Combat Cross-border Pollution
San Diego, CA. (December 19, 2019) –Rep. Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after the House passage of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) today, which includes funding for the Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP). $300 million in funding will be distributed to the BWIP over 4 years directing the United States Environmental Protection Agency to prioritize wastewater infrastructure projects. This could translate into our region receiving funds to address Tijuana River Valley and New River pollution.
In addition, language from H.R. 132, the North American Development (NAD) Bank Improvement and Pollution Solution Act of 2019, which passed out of the Financial Services Committee earlier this year, was included in the USMCA. The bill will require NAD Bank to develop and implement efficiency improvements to streamline and accelerate project certification and financing processes along the border.
The bill will also provide authorization to double the bank’s capitalization, allowing the NAD Bank to support more projects along the border. The total investment in capital will be $3 billion with equal commitments from the United States and Mexico.
“I am proud that my colleagues and I have secured funding to address the ongoing cross-border pollution in my district,” said Rep. Vargas. “The funding planned for the Environmental Protection Agency’s BWIP is an important step to get us closer to long-term solutions to the decades-old problem of cross border sewage.
“I hope this leads to the Trump administration prioritizing finances necessary for infrastructure improvement projects along our border, as funding border water infrastructure is an important part in mitigating the overall cross-border pollution problem.
“I am proud to say that we have all cooperated to get to this point and we are one step closer. My colleagues from the San Diego Congressional Delegation and I will continue to take meaningful action in Congress towards addressing transboundary sewage flows from flowing into the United States.”
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.
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