Press Releases
Reps. Vargas, Meeks, Beatty, and Horsford Lead Letter to Financial Agencies Calling for Small Business Credit Accessibility and Mortgage Affordability
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 17th, 2024) - Today, Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-52), Reps. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), and Steven Horsford (NV-04) were joined by more than 50 members of Congress in sending a letter to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency commenting on implementation of the … Continue Reading
January 10, 2024
Rep. Vargas Leads Bipartisan Coalition to Expand Affordable Lending Options
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 10th, 2024) - Today, Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-52), Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), and Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-39) co-introduced the Expanding Access to Lending Options Act. This bill would expand credit options for Americans by giving credit unions the flexibility to offer longer loan terms and lower monthly payments, thus creating greater competition for lending products including small business, student, and … Continue Reading
December 22, 2023
Rep. Vargas Leads Letter Urging Secretary Mayorkas to Reverse the Closure of PedWest at the San Ysidro Port of Entry
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov SAN DIEGO, CA (December 22, 2023) - Recently, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50), and Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging Secretary Mayorkas to immediately reverse the decision to transfer 40 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel from the San Diego Region while considering the negative impacts on our communities … Continue Reading
December 21, 2023
Rep. Vargas Co-Leads Letter Urging U.S. Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security to Allocate Resources to Assist with Asylum Seekers Awaiting Processing in San Diego’s Rural Border Region
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov SAN DIEGO, CA (December 21, 2023) - Recently, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), co-led a letter with Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), along with Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), and Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) urging Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas to allocate resources that will help assist with processing asylum seekers in Jacumba. As we approach … Continue Reading
December 08, 2023
Rep. Vargas Statement on Secretary Mayorkas and CBP’s Plans to Pull Agents from the Busiest Land Port of Entry
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov SAN DIEGO, CA (December 8, 2023) — Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), issued the following statement in response to CBP’s plans to close PedWest: “I urgently call upon Secretary Mayorkas to rescind CBP’s plans to pull agents from the busiest land port of entry in the Western Hemisphere. The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the most utilized gateway into the United States, and Mayorkas should prioritize it as such. … Continue Reading
November 29, 2023
Rep. Vargas Cosponsors the Bipartisan Filipino Veterans Fairness Act
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 29, 2023) — Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), serving on the House Financial Services committee, issued the following statement in support of the Bipartisan Filipino Veterans Fairness Act: "Last month, I was a proud cosponsor on the bipartisan Filipino Veterans Fairness Act. This critical piece of legislation will restore benefits to Filipino veterans who fought under U.S. command in World War … Continue Reading
November 16, 2023
Rep. Vargas Stands with the Biden Administration in the Creation of Humanitarian Corridors in Gaza
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 16, 2023) — Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), serving on the House Financial Services committee, issued the following statement in support of the Biden Administration's creation of Humanitarian Corridors in Gaza: "I support Israel's right to defend itself and its citizens. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis continue to plan calculated and ruthless attacks on Israel, and they should be exposed for … Continue Reading
November 08, 2023
Sustainable Investment Caucus Statement on FSGG Appropriations Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 8, 2023) - Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus co-chairs Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Sean Casten (IL-06) have released the following statement urging Members to vote against the FY 2024 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill: “From stripping funding that allows the US to develop climate reporting rules to anti-ESG restrictions on the retirement savings of federal employees, House Republicans are once again attempting to legislate away key … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Reps. Vargas and Sherman’s Statement on FHFA’s Federal Home Loan Bank Review
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 7, 2023) - Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32) released the following statement upon the release of the Federal Housing Finance Administration’s (FHFA) report on the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) system, FHLBanks at 100: Focusing on the Future: “As Members of the House Financial Services Committee from the most populous state in the nation, we appreciate the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2023
Rep. Vargas Leads Bipartisan Bill to Hold Iranian Leaders Accountable
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 25, 2023) - Today, Rep. Vargas and Rep. Hill introduced bipartisan legislation, the Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act, which would expose the finances of Iran’s authoritarian, theocratic leaders and crack down on financial institutions that maintain accounts in connection with those funds. "Iran has spent decades funding terrorism against the United States and our allies. According … Continue Reading
October 23, 2023
Rep. Vargas Supports Bipartisan Bill to Increase Health Care Language Access and Reduce Costs
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 23, 2023) - Today, Rep. Vargas supported Rep. Steel’s bill known as the Supporting Patient Education and Knowledge (SPEAK) Act of 2023. This will require the Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, to create a task force with stakeholders dedicated to improving language access in health care for Americans with limited English proficiency. The task force would develop … Continue Reading
October 12, 2023
Reps. Vargas, Schiff, Colleagues Urge SEC to Include Stricter Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures for the Biggest Corporations
Media Contact: Anzueth Barela | (202) 225-8045 | Anzueth.Barela@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler, urging the Commission to require the largest corporations to fully disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. Schiff and Vargas were joined by 24 members of the California delegation. California recently passed legislation that takes on the … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Sustainable Investment Caucus Statement on Education and Workforce Committee Markup of Anti-ESG Bills
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressmen Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Sean Casten (IL-06), co-chairs of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, released the following statement regarding the Education and Workforce Committee markup on anti-ESG legislation: “We are once again disappointed, but not surprised, by House Republicans' ongoing attacks on investor freedom and the free market. Today’s Education and Workforce Committee markup makes it clear that House Republicans believe that … Continue Reading
August 07, 2023
Casten, Vargas, Castor Lead 77 House Democrats to Urge SEC to Finalize Strong and Durable Climate Rule
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14) lead 77 of their colleagues in a letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler urging the SEC to quickly finalize a strong and durable climate disclosure rule. “Enhanced climate-related disclosure is the direction of travel for capital markets around the world,” the lawmakers wrote in part. “You have drafted a well-reasoned proposal that is … Continue Reading
July 19, 2023
REP. VARGAS INTRODUCES ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE GROWTH ACT
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) introduced the Environmentally Sustainable Growth Act. This bill requires public companies to disclose environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics in annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). ESG is a way of considering and measuring how companies make decisions that impact the environment, how well they treat their workers and staff, and how they govern and make business … Continue Reading
June 27, 2023
Sustainable Investment Caucus Hosts Roundtable Discussion with IL State Treasurer, Maryland Comptroller, US SIF
Washington, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Congressmen Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Sean Casten (IL-06) co-chairs of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, hosted a roundtable discussion for Members of Congress featuring Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and US SIF Managing Director Bryan McGannon. During the discussion, Members heard from Treasurer Frerichs, Comptroller Lierman, and Mr. McGannon about how they view Environmental, Social, and Governance … Continue Reading
May 24, 2023
Rep. Vargas Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging U.S. Development Finance Corporation to Fund Critical Energy Infrastructure Reconstruction across Ukraine
Media Contact: Brian Garcia | (202) 360-8950 | Brian.Garcia3@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), joined by Rep. Lance Gooden (TX-05), led a letter urging the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to prioritize funding for critical energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Due to the cruel war Vladimir Putin has waged on Ukraine, multiple heating and electrical facilities have been bombed – causing fractures across the nation’s energy … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
Sustainable Investment Caucus Statement on Oversight ESG Hearing
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressmen Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Sean Casten (IL-06), co-chairs of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, released the following statement regarding the Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing entitled “ESG Part I: An Examination of Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices with Attorneys General”: “We are disappointed, but not surprised by Republicans' latest attack against free-market principles. … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Financial Services Committee Unanimously Passes Bill Championed by Rep. Vargas that Increases Number of Accredited Investors in America
Media Contact: Brian Garcia | (202) 360-8950 | Brian.Garcia3@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) successfully championed H.R. 835, the Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act, through the Financial Services Committee (FSC) with a unanimous bipartisan vote. This bill expands the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) definition of “accredited investor” to include people who have relevant qualifications or … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Reps. Vargas, Aguilar, and Garcia Introduce the Homeownership for Dreamers Act
Media Contact: Brian Garcia | (202) 360-8950 | Brian.Garcia3@mail.house.gov WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), along with Reps. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), introduced the Homeownership for Dreamers Act. This bill ensures that recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, commonly known as Dreamers, are eligible for Federal Housing Administration home loans, home loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and … Continue Reading