Press Releases
Reps. Vargas, Castro, Jacobs, Peters Call on Border Patrol for Answers on New “Shadow Units” Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Scott Peters (CA-50) called for answers on “Shadow Units” or “Critical Incident Teams” within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO report confirms that these units were widespread - used in seven of nine U.S. Border Patrol sectors, including San Diego, on the southwest border - and operated for years … Continue Reading
May 20, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on the Warrant Applications by the ICC
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement on the International Criminal Court application for arrest warrants for top Israeli officials. “The International Criminal Court’s efforts to seek arrest warrants for democratically elected Israeli leaders is outrageous and shameful. I join President Joe Biden in condemning in the strongest possible terms any equivalence between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist organization that is dedicated to the … Continue Reading
May 13, 2024
Vargas, Casten, Schatz, Smith Lead 17 Colleagues in Urging the SEC to Finalize Strong ESG Funds Disclosure Rulemaking
WASHINGTON — Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-52), Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) led 17 colleagues in a letter urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to finalize its ESG Funds Disclosure Rulemaking. “We recommend the final ESG Disclosures Rule include several key elements the SEC proposed: 1) only allowing funds for which ESG factors are a significant or main consideration to use ESG language in their names; 2) requiring … Continue Reading
May 08, 2024
Rep. Vargas, Colleagues Call for Executive Action to Protect American Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined 82 of his colleagues in calling on President Biden to protect long-term undocumented immigrants in the United States by streamlining pathways to lawful status for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, family caregivers, and other long-term residents. “We urge your Administration to take all available actions to streamline pathways to lawful status for undocumented immigrants, providing certainty to the American businesses, … Continue Reading
May 08, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on Arms Delay
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement on the delay in arms shipments from the United States to Israel. “Hamas unleashed pure terror on the people of Israel on October 7th. In the aftermath of that horrific attack, the United States sent a strong message to Israel: you are not alone. The Biden Administration should work quickly to resolve any differences with our friend and ally Israel regarding arms shipments so we can ensure we do not … Continue Reading
May 03, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on Biden Administration Expanding Health Care for DACA Recipients
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement after the Biden Administration answered calls to expand affordable, quality health care coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients for the first time. Under the rule, around 100,000 Dreamers without health insurance will now be eligible to enroll in a qualified health plan through the federal insurance marketplace or become eligible for coverage through a basic health … Continue Reading
May 03, 2024
Declaración del Rep. Vargas sobre la Administración Biden ampliando la atención médica para los recipientes de DACA
WASHINGTON - Representante de los EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52) publicó la siguiente declaración después de que la Administración Biden respondió a las llamadas para ampliar la cobertura de atención médica asequible y de calidad a los beneficiarios de la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA) por primera vez. Bajo la regla, alrededor de 100.000 Dreamers sin seguro ahora serán elegibles para inscribirse en un plan de salud calificado a través del mercado federal de seguros o serán … Continue Reading
April 29, 2024
San Diego Congressional Delegation Thanks Biden Administration for Attention to Cross-Border Pollution, Calls for Additional Action
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Scott Peters (CA-50) wrote a letter thanking President Joe Biden for including significant funding for ongoing improvements to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in both his Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget requests. The lawmakers also called for additional action to respond to the sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. “Thanks to your strong partnership … Continue Reading
April 23, 2024
Rep. Vargas, Colleagues Call on House Leadership to Join Democrats in Preventing 23 Million Households Nationwide From Losing Internet Access
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined 96 of his colleagues in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson calling on House Republican Leadership to take immediate bipartisan action to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program. Enacted as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) currently empowers over 80,000 households in California’s 52nd Congressional District and 23 million households nationwide to access affordable broadband. … Continue Reading
April 20, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on Vote to Support Our Democratic Friends and Allies and Deliver Humanitarian Aid
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement on his vote to pass the national security supplemental funding bills that reflect the Senate-passed, bipartisan National Security Act, 2024. “For months, House Democrats have repeatedly called on House leadership to bring forward legislation that supports our democratic friends and allies in Ukraine, Israel, and in the Indo-Pacific, and delivers much-needed humanitarian aid to civilians around the … Continue Reading
April 17, 2024
Rep. Vargas Remarks in Support of SEC Climate Disclosure Rule at House Financial Services Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - At a House Financial Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52), co-chair of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, voiced support for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recently finalized climate disclosure rule. “The SEC’s climate rule is about standardizing the climate related disclosures publicly traded companies must make so that regular people invested in the market can have access to the same information that … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on the Tijuana River’s Inclusion on the “Most Endangered Rivers” List
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement today after American Rivers released its 2024 America’s Most Endangered Rivers report with the Tijuana River listed #9. “For too long, sewage in the Tijuana River Valley has harmed public health, our local economies, and our ecosystems. This designation reaffirms what our communities already know too well - toxic pollution is flowing into the Tijuana River every day and we need the South Bay International … Continue Reading
April 13, 2024
Rep. Vargas Statement on Attacks Against Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) released the following statement on attacks against Israel. “After decades of attacking Israel through its proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, today Iran has launched a direct and reckless attack on Israel. This is an alarming escalation. Now more than ever, it is critical for us to stand by our friend and ally. As President Biden has made clear: "Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the … Continue Reading
April 12, 2024
Rep. Vargas, San Diego Delegation Secure Over $39 Million in Shelter and Services Program Funding for San Diego
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) announced over $39 million in Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding for San Diego communities and organizations that provide critical assistance to migrants awaiting the outcome of their immigration proceedings. “The San Diego area has a long tradition of welcoming individuals seeking asylum and refuge with open arms. I’m proud to have worked alongside my San Diego delegation colleagues to secure this critical funding for … Continue Reading
April 12, 2024
Representante Vargas y Delegación de San Diego Aseguran $39 Millones en Fondos del Programa de Refugio y Servicios para San Diego
WASHINGTON - Hoy, Representante de los EE.UU. Juan Vargas (CA-52) anunció más de $39 millones en Refugio y Servicios del Programa (SSP) de financiación para apoyar a las organizaciones locales del Condado de San Diego y socios que prestan asistencia crítica a los migrantes. "La zona de San Diego ha tenido una larga tradición de recibir a las personas que buscan asilo y refugio con los brazos abiertos. Estoy orgulloso de haber trabajado junto con mis colegas de la delegación de San Diego para … Continue Reading
April 10, 2024
Rep. Vargas Remarks at House Financial Services Committee Hearing on SEC Climate Disclosure Rule
WASHINGTON - At a House Financial Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52), co-chair of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, voiced strong support for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recently finalized climate disclosure rule. “Climate change is happening no matter what people think. I'm from San Diego, and you don't think of floods… and we just had a gigantic flood in San Diego, a 1,000-year event. And it flooded a good portion … Continue Reading
April 08, 2024
Rep. Vargas, Colleagues Call for Automatic DACA Extensions Amidst Backlog
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined over 100 of his colleagues in a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur M. Jaddou to raise concern over delays in processing renewal applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and call for the agency to begin providing automatic extensions for lawful recipients in the interim. “Many of our offices have heard from constituents that the increased [USCIS] backlog has … Continue Reading
April 05, 2024
Sustainable Investment Caucus Statement on SEC Climate Disclosure Rule Pause
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Sean Casten (IL-06), co-chairs of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, released the following statement on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) announcement that it will pause the implementation of its new climate disclosure rule pending the results of a legal challenge: “It’s no secret that corporations believe climate change poses a risk to their businesses - that’s why they spend on average $500,000 a … Continue Reading
April 03, 2024
Rep. Vargas Helps Introduce Legislation to Protect Federal Pensions from Economic Impact of Climate Change
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) in introducing the Restructuring Environmentally Sound Pensions in Order to Negate Disaster (RESPOND) Act. The legislation would require the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to conduct a thorough assessment to determine the extent to which federal workers’ pensions are exposed to climate-related financial risks. The lack of a climate-related … Continue Reading
April 03, 2024
Rep. Vargas, Colleagues Call on USCIS to Prevent Work Permit Lapse for Immigrants
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined his colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) urging the agency to lengthen the current automatic extension period for immigrants’ work permits (employment authorization documents or “EADs”). DHS’s issuance of such a rule is urgently needed to allow USCIS more time to process EAD renewal applications and to prevent immigrants’ work … Continue Reading