WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) secured key resources in the government funding package for 14 community projects in San Diego and celebrated authorizing language for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to transfer funds to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to tackle cross-boundary water pollution that fouls the Tijuana River Valley and South Bay coastlines.

“The omnibus funding bill passed today contains many critical investments for San Diego including funds that support our local defense sector and money for several critical local projects that will improve public safety, mental health services, and air and water quality,” said Rep. Peters. “These vital investments for our region will offer San Diegans a safer and cleaner community. It also includes legislation to free up funds needed to further tackle cross-border pollution that poses serious health hazards to the Tijuana River Valley and Coronado,” Peters continued. “The entire San Diego congressional delegation, led by border Representative Juan Vargas, has been dogged in its work to get this legislation over the finish line and I am extremely grateful to Speaker Pelosi and our Senators for helping us get it done. The work to confront this decades-old problem is a top priority for us and we will keep fighting to fix it.”

This year’s $1.7 trillion funding package includes significant investments and legislation essential to San Diego:

• Authorizing language to allow the EPA to transfer to the IBWC funds from the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) designated to reduce transboundary water pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
• $36,386,000 for Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP) that funds water projects on both sides of the border, with all projects benefiting communities on the U.S. side of the border.
• Rep. Peters’ Veteran Peer Specialist Act of 2022, which passed earlier this year in the STRONG Veterans Act. This measure expands the highly successful peer specialist program to all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers over the next five years.
• $314.3 million in defense spending that will directly support San Diego companies, UC San Diego, and next generation capabilities for the Naval Special Warfare community.

Notable measures related to climate in this funding package include:

• $15 billion in additional loan authority for the Department of Energy’s Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program, which jumpstarts innovative clean energy technologies.
• $140 million to support carbon removal research and development across federal agencies and a new directive to the Department of Energy to directly purchase carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere from innovative carbon removal companies, helping advance these technologies that are essential to comprehensively address climate change.
• $350 million, an increase of $73 million, for the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity to help strengthen the electric grid, support the development of more interstate electric transmission lines, and deploy more renewable energy.

Rep. Peters advocated for the following 14 community projects in this, which total $33,764,000 for CA-52:

• $1,500,000 for the Aerosolized Coastal Water Pollution Impacts Study that advances our understanding of the ocean and atmospheric conditions leading to the most efficient ocean to atmosphere transfer of bacteria, viruses, pollutants, and toxins.
• $3,000,000 for City of Coronado’s Parker Pump Station, which provides funding to fix aged, failing sanitary sewer, and storm water pump station as well as assist with the climate resiliency of the station.
• $4,480,000 for County of San Diego’s mobile behavioral health crisis response teams, which was a joint effort with Rep. Levin to fund teams that provide assessments, crisis intervention services, and connections to treatment and transportation services.
• $3,144,000 for Downtown Mobility Phase 3A, which builds out the city’s downtown mobility plan by implementing the cycle track network and improving bicycling conditions.
• $2,000,000 for Freedom Park at Navy Pier, which develops the largest public veteran’s park on the West Coast, and the only park honoring veterans in the City of San Diego.
• $1,880,000 for Imperial Avenue Zero-Emission Bus Charging Equipment, which purchases ZEB charging equipment to initially charge the first 30 zero emission buses and ultimately the entire fleet of up to 230 zero emission buses.
• $3,300,000 for the Installation of Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Charging Stations at San Diego International Airport (SAN) which purchases and installs electric charging stations at the New Terminal One (NT1) facility to allow for the use of electrical Ground Support Equipment (GSE).
• $2,000,000 for the Light Up San Diego Streetlight Improvement Program (Beach Communities) which improves the reliability of the City’s streetlights, enhances public and pedestrian safety, lowers the City’s maintenance effort, and saves money.
• $750,000 for the Mobile Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Chargers that utilizing off-grid solar EV charging units in areas where deployment of grid-tied EV infrastructure will take longer.
• $4,000,000 for the Ocean Beach Library Expansion, which provides funding for the demolition of the Annex, remodel of the existing library, and construction of a new 4,150 square foot extension to the library.
• $1,000,000 for the San Diego Community College District’s Gateway to College and Career program, which creates a compassionate educational community by providing intensive support services, pathways to college/career, and work experience.
• $3,750,000 for the San Diego County Twin-Engine Firefighting Helicopter Project, which was secured by the San Diego delegation and led by Rep. Peters, to purchase a twin-engine firefighting helicopter for firefighting both day and night and can carry and deploy more water.
• $800,000 for the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s TechHire Program that enrolls people in training programs related to information and communications technology careers and provides internships.
• $2,160,000 for the University of California San Diego’s pipelines into STEM careers that democratizes access to cutting-edge technologies and prepares a diverse and talented pipeline of working professionals for San Diego’s growing life sciences industry.