Reps. Vargas, Peters, Jacobs, Levin Introduce Amendment to Establish a New Federal Program to Combat Tijuana River Valley Pollution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help combat toxic sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. This amendment would establish a new federal program - the Tijuana River Public Health and Water Quality Restoration Program - to plan, coordinate, and provide grants for public health and water quality restoration projects in the Tijuana River Valley.
“Toxic pollution in the Tijuana River Valley has harmed the health and wellbeing of our communities for too long. We need all hands on deck to address this issue,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “By establishing a new federal program aimed at combating pollution, our legislation will bring experts to the table to fully focus on this issue and drive more resources to impacted communities. I’m grateful to my San Diego Congressional delegation colleagues for joining this important comprehensive push.”
“As we work to stop the unmitigated flows of hazardous water, we must contend with the decades of pollution already caused by this crisis,” said Rep. Scott Peters. “Our proposal puts restoration efforts in San Diego on par with places like the Great Lakes, San Francisco Bay, and Long Island Sound. This will mean more resources, better coordination, and a real federal plan to clean up our waterways and help the communities that have borne the brunt of this environmental disaster.”
Rep. Sara Jacobs said, “The regular flow of sewage and pollution from Mexico has damaged our public health, lowered our water quality, and made the Tijuana River one of the most endangered rivers in the country. While we’ve made significant progress lately to bring home hundreds of millions of federal dollars to address this crisis and we welcome Mexico’s increased cooperation, more work remains. That’s why I’m proud to support this amendment to restore and protect our water quality and increase collaboration among our federal, state, local, and regional entities and conservation partners to ensure our response is as efficient and effective as possible.”
“It’s critical that the Federal government does everything it can to stem the flow of toxic pollution into our waters,” said Rep. Mike Levin. “By creating a program that will help clean up the Tijuana River Valley, we can help protect the health of our communities, economies, and the local ecosystem. I’m grateful to my colleagues for helping advance this important amendment and strongly urge House leadership to ensure that it is included in the final NDAA.”
Rep. Vargas introduced legislation containing a similar provision to address toxic pollution in the Tijuana River Valley in 2020.
In March, the San Diego Congressional delegation announced over $156 million for the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission in the bipartisan government funding bill. The funding can be used for critical repairs to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant to help combat cross-border pollution.
In 2019, the San Diego Congressional delegation secured $300 million to expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant from 25 million gallons per day to 50 million gallons per day. In 2022, the San Diego Congressional delegation successfully passed legislation to clear the path for the International Boundary and Water Commission to use the funds to address harmful pollutants in the Tijuana River Valley.
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