Rep. Juan Vargas Funding Request to Combat Cross-Border Pollution Passes Appropriations Committee

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA-52) announced the inclusion of $45 million for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP) in the FY 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that passed the Appropriations Committee. Rep. Vargas led his colleagues in submitting a request for robust funding for the program. This funding can be used to help combat cross-border pollution, including pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. 

“Cross-border pollution has harmed the health of our communities, our local businesses, and our environment. While we’ve been able to bring home over half a billion dollars in federal funding to help combat it, there’s more work to do,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “I’ll keep advocating for our communities as the appropriations process continues and will keep pushing for a bill that can earn bipartisan support.”

“For years, we’ve worked to bring home funding to end the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis that is devastating our public health, national security, and local economy. The Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP) is an important piece in our ongoing efforts to fund infrastructure projects on both sides of the border that will ensure the long-term health and well-being of our region. I’ll keep working with Rep. Vargas and the entire San Diego delegation to secure the resources and investments that will address San Diego’s priorities in the FY26 appropriations bill,” said Rep. Scott Peters. 

Generally, the Appropriations Committee, through the annual appropriations process, decides how much funding authorized federal government agencies and programs receive. As part of this process, Members of Congress can submit requests for funding priorities. The twelve Appropriations Subcommittees – including the Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies – each draft and vote on spending bills that allocate resources for the agencies and programs under their jurisdiction. The bills are then voted on by the Appropriations Committee before coming to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

This request was also signed by U.S. Representatives Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, André Carson, Jonathan Jackson, Delia Ramirez, Luz Rivas, Raul Ruiz, and Gabe Vasquez.

Rep. Vargas has been fighting to address Tijuana River Valley pollution for years.

Rep. Vargas and the San Diego Congressional delegation have secured over $650 million in federal funding – more than half a billion dollars – to combat the pollution and make critical upgrades to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.

In response to a request from the San Diego Congressional delegation and California Senators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened a study into the contaminants in the water, soil, and air as a result of cross-border pollution and the potential connection to reported increases in illnesses and other symptoms. 

Rep. Vargas and his San Diego Congressional delegation colleagues called on the EPA to provide support to the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) as they work to monitor the air quality in communities impacted by Tijuana River Valley pollution.

Additionally, the San Diego Congressional delegation has called for a federal state of emergency due to the pollution. 

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