Washington D.C. – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) took to the House floor to demand that the President’s requested $310 million to fix and expand the dilapidated South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) be included in any upcoming spending deal.

During his remarks, Rep. Peters emphasized the health effects of the crisis, stating, “Air quality monitors that were recently installed in the region have confirmed what residents have felt for years — unhealthy levels of pollution are present not only in the ocean, but sewage that washes up on land, dries up and sends dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide into the air around people’s homes.”

He continued by remarking on the national security implications of this crisis, “Coronado, in my district, is home to the Naval Special Warfare Command where Navy SEALs train in waters polluted with human feces. I am proud to represent these brave warfighters, but ashamed we have not done more to protect their health. Everyone expects this type of training to be tough and uncomfortable, but it should not pose potential long-term health problems.”

He concluded by emphasizing the United States’ and Mexico’s binational responsibility to stop the flows, “We know that Mexico must also do its part. Much of their infrastructure has also fallen into disrepair. The good news is that Mexico is bound by a treaty we signed in San Diego in 2022 to spend nearly $150 million to fix their pipes and treatment plant. That’s on top of the two million plus that Mexico pays the U.S. annually to treat these contaminated waters. Mexico, to its credit, has made great strides in the last year on its side of the border. They have repaired and replaced key infrastructure like sewage pipes that redirect the contaminated water. And just today they are breaking ground on replacing the wastewater treatment plant on their side of the border. We should be embarrassed – EMBARRASSED – that Mexico is acting with more urgency than we are.”

Rep. Peters’ full remarks are here and transcribed below.

Mr. Speaker,

I rise to address an issue that might not be on the top of the agenda for most politicians in Washington, but could very well be the greatest ongoing environmental disaster in the United States today. I am referring to the billions of gallons of raw wastewater sewage, industrial waste, and other pollutants that flow from Mexico down the Tijuana River, into San Diego, and onto our beaches. These flows sicken our communities, shutter our local businesses, harm our tourism industry, and threaten our servicemembers and border patrol agents stationed in San Diego.

The solution is simple. The United States owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant on our side of the border that in the past decades has not been maintained and is in desperate need of repair and expansion to handle the flows. President Biden included $310 million in his supplemental funding request that would make those repairs and upgrades possible. It is not a small price, but is there any more worthy investment than that in the health of our constituents?

Air quality monitors that were recently installed in the region have confirmed what residents have felt for years — unhealthy levels of pollution are present not only in the ocean, but sewage that washes up on land, dries up, and sends dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide into the air around people’s homes.

Many of the communities hit hardest by this are low-income and communities of color. I can’t help but think if this was happening somewhere that wasn’t 3,000 miles from here, like the Chesapeake Bay or even the Great Lakes, it would have already been taken care of.

The public health disaster alone should be enough to force action. The harm it causes our local small business alone should be enough to force action. But in addition to all of that, this cross-border pollution poses a grave national security threat.

Coronado, in my district, is home to the Naval Special Warfare Command where Navy SEALs train in waters polluted with human feces. I am proud to represent these brave warfighters, but ashamed we have not done more to protect their health. Everyone expects this type of training to be tough and uncomfortable, but it should not pose potential long-term health problems.

Some former SEALs who now serve in Congress, all Republicans by the way, have told me about the disgusting waters they had to train in, and I am thankful to have their support to get this funding.

We know that Mexico must also do its part. Much of their infrastructure has also fallen into disrepair. The good news is that Mexico is bound by a treaty we signed in San Diego in 2022 to spend nearly 150 million dollars to fix their pipes and treatment plant. That’s on top of the two million plus that Mexico pays the US annually to treat these contaminated waters.

And Mexico, to its credit, has made great strides in the last year on their side of the border. They have repaired and replaced key infrastructure like sewage pipes that redirect the contaminated water. And just today they are breaking ground on replacing the wastewater treatment plant on their side of the border. We should be embarrassed – EMBARRASSED – that Mexico is acting with more urgency than we are.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this is an urgent public health, business, and national security disaster. The more we delay in addressing cross-border pollution, the more costly and difficult it will be to fix in the future. I urge all my colleagues to support this funding, and ask that congressional leadership and appropriators include this funding in any upcoming spending package. I yield back. 

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