Local legislators are applauding a disaster relief package from the Biden administration that includes millions of dollars for the Tijuana River Valley.
The package offers $310 million to help upgrade the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The congressional delegation, comprising Democratic U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs, Scott Peters, Juan Vargas, and Mike Levin, has been pushing for President Joe Biden to release additional funds to repair and upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in any upcoming disaster relief funding package.
The funding would build on the $400 million in federal funding already secured by the delegation, and it would help support the ongoing construction project to double the wastewater treatment plant’s capacity and combat pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. .
“Our San Diego congressional delegation has worked tirelessly to draw national attention and bring home federal funds to address the Tijuana River Valley crisis — the biggest environmental and public health disaster in our community,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs in a statement.
“I’m so proud our hard work is paying off from breaking ground on the repair and expansion project at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant to securing $310 million in President Biden’s supplemental budget package.”
Jacobs promised that lawmakers would keep pushing until the crisis is resolved.
Stopping the flow of sewage and pollution through the Tijuana River Valley will take collaboration between local, federal, and Mexican officials. So I was glad to welcome @DepSecStateMR to the South Bay wastewater treatment plant to see and understand this crisis up close. pic.twitter.com/AG9tBRthcP
— Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (@RepSaraJacobs) September 6, 2024
Earlier this year, the group urged the Small Business Administration to help businesses that had been affected by the environmental crisis.
The delegation also called on the Environmental Protection Agency to provide support to the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District as they work to monitor the air quality in communities dealing with Tijuana River Valley pollution.
