We're pushing for more resources and a state of emergency. We won't let up.
Push for a federal state of emergency over Tijuana River Valley pollution.
Occurrences
In 2023, I led my Congressional delegation colleagues in calling on the President to declare a federal state of emergency over this pollution in order to unlock more federal funding and assistance for our communities.
Evidence
unverified · Source version 17268 · locator unknown
Representative Juan Vargas announced that he is leading a funding request for $100 million for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP) in the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process. This funding can be used to help combat cross-border pollution, including pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
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Vargas said he is leading a FY2027 BWIP funding request to combat Tijuana River Valley pollution and stated, "We're pushing for more resources and a state of emergency." The release also says the San Diego congressional delegation has called for a federal state of emergency.
unverified · Source version 51953 · locator unknown
Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Scott Peters (CA-50) reiterated calls for an immediate federal state of emergency declaration amid recent findings showing high levels of noxious gases in south San Diego from Tijuana River Valley pollution.
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Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), calling on the administration to declare the Tijuana River Valley wastewater contamination a federal emergency.
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“Our communities need relief. We're pushing for more resources and a state of emergency. We won't let up.”
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As the delegation representing the San Diego region, we once again urge you to take action to address the ongoing crisis by proclaiming a State of Emergency. Sincerely, Juan Vargas Member of Congress
Assessments
The verified commitment is an advocacy commitment to push for resources and a state of emergency, not a promise that a federal emergency declaration would be enacted. Verified passage 53445 directly states Vargas was pushing for more resources and a state of emergency, satisfying the specific advocacy commitment during his same federal term. Evidence 46961 confirms a federal-emergency amendment existed but its verified passage attributes introduction to Scott Peters and does not itself prove Vargas materially advanced it, so it is not needed for delivery attribution.
Vargas publicly and officially pushed for a federal state of emergency over Tijuana River Valley pollution while in office, including a House release stating he was leading the effort and that the San Diego delegation had called for one. Because the claim is about advocacy rather than securing the declaration itself, his documented federal push is sufficient credit even though no emergency declaration is shown.
The promise was to push for a federal state of emergency, not necessarily to secure the declaration. Vargas publicly led San Diego congressional delegation efforts in 2023 asking the President to declare a federal state of emergency over Tijuana River Valley pollution, and later continued related federal advocacy and funding efforts. There is no evidence that a federal emergency declaration was actually issued, but the promised action was advocacy/push, so the commitment is fulfilled in the same federal term.