October 26, 2023 - SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement on Wednesday on President Biden’s proposed $310 million in emergency supplemental funding to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis:

“My administration has worked closely with President Biden and his team on this issue, and I want to thank him for including the requested $310 million in the emergency supplemental bill. This funding will help expedite sorely needed construction.

“We thank our elected leaders – the late Senator Feinstein, Senator Padilla, Representative Peters, the San Diego Congressional delegation, Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Senate President pro Tempore Atkins, our local and state leaders, and others – who have been working on this for years and helped make today’s announcement a reality. It’s critical that Congress act quickly to approve the President’s proposal and address this crisis.”
Source: Office of the Governor

California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Statement on Inclusion of $310 Million to Address Tijuana River Sewage Crisis in Biden Administration’s Emergency Supplemental Request

October 26, 2023 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the Biden Administration’s emergency supplemental request, which includes the full $310 million in funding he requested to repair infrastructure needed to treat toxic waste spilling across the border from Mexico.

“For far too long, toxic waste and raw sewage have flowed across the border, and Tropical Storm Hilary overwhelmed the system even further, pushing hundreds-of-millions of gallons of untreated stormwater and wastewater into Southern California. Contaminated water has impaired our military readiness and threatened the health of Navy SEALs, Customs and Border Protection agents, U.S. Coast Guardsmen, and millions of Southern Californians.

“I am glad to see the Administration heed my request and acknowledge the need for significant additional funding to tackle this crisis. This is a promising step forward, and I will keep fighting for resources to finally resolve the Tijuana River pollution crisis.”

Senator Padilla has prioritized addressing the Tijuana River pollution crisis since he first came to the Senate. In June, he traveled to the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission Wastewater Treatment Plant near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego. Following Tropical Storm Hilary, Senator Padilla and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein called on Senate leadership to include $310 million in the emergency supplemental bill to repair infrastructure needed to treat the wastewater flowing across the border with Mexico through the Tijuana River, which has closed local beaches for more than 600 days in a row. The Senators also successfully secured language in the FY 2023 appropriations package to eliminate red tape and allow the EPA to deliver $300 million previously secured in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the International Boundary and Water Commission for water infrastructure projects.
Source: Senator Alex Padilla