Rep. Scott Peters Secures Critical Wins for San Diego in Water Infrastructure Bill

The Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 heads to the Senate for a final vote

San Diego, CA - Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake major construction projects to strengthen the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure. The bill lays out which projects are eligible for this federal funding as well as the recommended funding levels for Congress to enact through separate legislation required to actually appropriate this money. Once secured, this funding could support state and local projects like those that address the fallout from Tijuana's cross-border sewage, San Diego's water-recycling initiatives, and improvements for the county's stormwater system, which was battered by Hurricane Hilary and this year's winter storms.

The 2024 WRDA includes multiple Peters-led priorities that will help San Diego address water infrastructure challenges in the region. These include:

• $200 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in San Diego County, subject to future appropriations.
• Funding for a study to determine flooding risks at San Diego Bay. This study would address the needs of the San Diego Unified Port District, San Diego's industrial Working Waterfront, the Navy, and urban Portside communities.
• $10 million for the Tijuana River Valley Watershed that can be used to tackle cross-border wastewater pollution. This funding is subject to future appropriations.
• Funding for a feasibility study of flood and coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration in San Diego and Orange counties.

"Whether it be cross-border pollution, flooding from inadequate storm drains, or prolonged drought, San Diego faces a slew of water infrastructure challenges it can't deal with on its own," said Rep. Peters. "This legislation lays the groundwork for massive investments from the federal government to tackle these problems and reflects my commitment to San Diego's public infrastructure and sustainable development. With potential local and state funding shortages on the horizon, this federal funding will be essential for San Diego. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join the House and pass this bill before the year's end."

Background:

Representative Peters has, for years, worked to address the cross-border pollution that fouls San Diego's coastal waters,?including pushing for additional funding?to fix and expand the dilapidated South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP). The following are some recent actions:

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2024

1. In January, Rep. Peters?took to the House floor?to demand that the President's requested $310 million to fix and expand the dilapidated SBIWTP be included in any upcoming spending deal.
2. In February,?Rep. Peters joined members of San Diego's Congressional delegation?to ask U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro about the effects of cross-border pollution on Navy operations.
3. In March, Rep. Peters celebrated the inclusion of $156 million,?at his request, for the International Boundary and Water Commission's (IBWC) construction budget in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bill. The IBWC is the federal agency tasked with operating and maintaining the SBIWTP.
4. In May,?Rep. Peters joined Rep. Veronica Escobar?(TX-16) in a bipartisan request for $278 million for the IBWC's construction budget in the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations bill.
5. In August,?Rep. Peters hosted Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma?on a tour of the broken wastewater treatment plant.
6. In September, Rep. Peters?joined members of San Diego's Congressional delegation?to reiterate their call for a federal state of emergency declaration amid high levels of toxic gases.

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2023

1. In June, Rep. Peters?led a letter?with other members of the San Diego Congressional delegation to the governor of Baja California urging accountability for the Mexican government's commitments to build wastewater treatment infrastructure.
2. In July, members of the San Diego congressional delegation?requested that the Environmental Protection Agency assist?with directing environmental justice funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to help stop the flow of pollutants and?urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to tour the broken plant.
3. Also in July, they?sent a letter to President Biden?and?submitted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act?for Fiscal Year 2024, calling on the administration to declare this crisis a federal emergency.
4. In August, he led two letters to the?Office of Management and Budget?and to?OMB and the State Department, calling for urgent additional funding to confront this crisis.?
5. In September, he proposed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill to boost U.S.- Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Grant Program funding. Additionally, he?proposed two amendments?to the Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill to boost annual construction funding to the USIBWC to $100 million.
6. In October, Rep. Peters?led a bipartisan letter?to the Department of State demanding a full account of how the SBIWTP fell into such a severe state of disrepair.
7. In December, he led a letter urging leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to include?President Biden's $310 million supplemental budget request?to repair the SBIWTP in any upcoming funding package.

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In previous years, Peters along with colleagues, has?secured funding,?introduced legislation,?called for investigations, and arranged?a visit by EPA Administrator Regan?in response to the wastewater contamination crisis.?

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