Media

EL CENTRO, CA (May 12, 2014) – Today Rep.  Juan Vargas (CA-51) hosted retired Colonel and renowned NASA Astronaut Edward Michael "Mike" Fincke at Southwest High School in El Centro.  Col. Fincke spoke with more than 1,000 middle school students and 800 high school students from the Imperial Valley about his spaceflight experiences as an astronaut and the importance of studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). 

WASHINGTON, DC (May 9, 2014) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) is a proud original cosponsor of The Military Opportunities for Mothers (MOM) Act, introduced by Rep. Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) and Rep. Kristi Noem (SD-at-Large), which would help millions of military mothers by extending maternity leave for active duty women from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.  The legislation will align access to maternity leave for female Service Members with the minimum requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

WASHINGTON, DC (May 9, 2014) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging Secretary Jeh Johnson to approve California's proposed design for licenses issued to state residents who cannot show proof of citizenship or authorized presence.  The letter authored by Rep. Vargas, and signed by 18 other Members of the California delegation, is in direct response to DHS' unfounded rejection of the design submitted. 

WASHINGTON, DC (May 6, 2014) – In his continued effort to fight for the release of former U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi from La Mesa Penitentiary in Tijuana, Mexico, Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA-51) sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday urging the Department of State to take a more active role in the case.  Last week, Rep. Vargas contacted the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana, Mexico, who responded to his inquiry earlier today.  In addition, Rep. Vargas will send a letter, led by Rep.

WASHINGTON, DC (May 1, 2014) – Earlier this year, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) led the charge in securing funding for three main veterans projects, all of which were included in yesterday's House passed Fiscal Year 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations bill.  Rep. Vargas released the following statement after the bill passed on the House Floor. 

WASHINGTON, DC (April 30, 2014) –Earlier this year, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development and Credit requesting a hearing to examine the impact of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on cattle producers in the Western States, especially California.  Today, Rep. Vargas released the following statement after the Subcommittee held the hearing.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 23, 2014) – Today, the Department of Transportation announced that the Imperial County Airport is on a list of airports potentially losing federal support under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.  In 2012, President Obama signed the "Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act," which requires subsidized communities to maintain an average of ten passenger enplanements per service day in order to remain in the EAS program. For the first time in five years, the Imperial County Airport has fallen below the ten enplanement

Washington, DC (April 23, 2014) – Yesterday, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) met with more than 30 Calexico and Imperial County leaders and stakeholders to develop a plan that would most effectively position the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE) to receive funding from the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government for its reconfiguration and expansion project.  Earlier this year, President Obama's budget included $98 million in funding that would allow for the construction and completion of Phase 1 of the project.