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WASHINGTON, DC (January 28, 2014) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas eagerly awaits the arrival of Rosa Lopez, his guest for the 2014 State of the Union Address. Rosa, who currently works seven days a week as a janitor, is an active leader in her union, SEIU United Service Workers West. Through her advocacy, she is able to help her co-workers, and janitors all over California, stand up for better jobs.
Cross-border advocates got a major wish fulfilled last week when the San Ysidro Port of Entry renovation and expansion project officially received $226 million in federal funding.
The three-phase, multi-year project aims to reduce congestion at the world's busiest land border by modernizing the port with more inspection booths, better road connections and new administration facilities, U.S. border officials said.
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle, came together on Dec. 23, 2013 to ask for one thing for Christmas: full funding for the next phase of the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry Renovation and Expansion Project in the fiscal year 2014 budget.
Earlier this week, a project to improve the San Ysidro Port of Entry got a $200 million-plus boost, thanks to a new spending bill passed by Congress.
This project will create jobs, grow our economy and reduce inefficiency — which is why it has been at the top of our personal priority lists, and was rated by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and SANDAG as the most important project for our region.
We need more like it happening around the country.
Washington, DC (January 16, 2014) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), Rep. Susan Davis (CA- 53), Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), and Jerry Sanders, CEO and President of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, celebrated a triumph for the greater San Diego region. The San Ysidro Land Port of Entry Modernization and Expansion Project received $226 million in funding in the omnibus appropriations bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday. This money would fully fund Phase III of the project.
WASHINGTON, DC (January 16, 2014) –Representative Juan Vargas (CA-51) voted in favor of the bipartisan $1.1 trillion government spending bill which was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday. Vargas was pleased with the House's ability to work together to fund essential programs in his district including numerous items of direct significance to Imperial County residents.
Three San Diego congressional representatives announced Tuesday remaining funds for the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry infrastructure project have been secured.
Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53), Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52), and Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51) advocated in December for approval of the federal omnibus spending bill, which provides $226 million to complete the project at the world's busiest international border land crossing.
WASHINGTON, DC (January 15, 2014) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted on and passed the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act:
"Today's omnibus appropriations bill was a much-needed step towards funding our government in a responsible and bipartisan manner. This bill includes essential investments that put our nation back on the path of job creation, innovation, education, and social justice.
WASHINGTON, DC (January 15, 2014) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) is a proud cosponsor of H.R. 3804, introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), which would repeal the provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act (H.J.Res. 59) that reduces the Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) for military retirees under the age of 62.
WASHINGTON, DC (January 15, 2014) – Last week, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), along with 33 other Members of Congress, coauthored a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging the release of sequestered Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fees in the FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The bill, which was unveiled on Monday, includes language releasing the $85 million in sequestered FY2013 FDA user fees and increasing funding for the FDA.