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Dear friend,
I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and well during these difficult times. San Diego expects another heat wave, so please take care and stay cool this Labor Day weekend. Let's keep each other safe by wearing masks and practicing social distance to avoid a spike in new COVID-19 cases.
Below is some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you and everyone in the 52nd Congressional district.
Tijuana River Pollution Cleanup Projects
Local, state and national leaders have fought for funding and support for projects that address the problem with sewage spills from Tijuana for decades. This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two new projects to increase treatment of Tijuana river flows by 10 million gallons per day.
- EPA will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to divert additional water for treatment at the IBWC International Treatment Plant.
- EPA is partnering with the City of San Diego to develop and deploy a permanent solution to better control sediment and trash in the area known as "Smuggler’s Gulch," just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to capturing sediment and trash that would otherwise flow into the Pacific Ocean, this project will help reduce the risk of flooding in nearby communities.
Both initiatives are deeply rooted in advocacy and are part of an ongoing effort to combat this environmental and public health issue. In December, the San Diego congressional delegation secured $300 million through the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, but our work is far from over. I will continue to advocate for our coastal communities until the issue is fully resolved.
Read my full statement on these developments, HERE.
Visit to SANDAG Vision Lab
On Monday, I visited SANDAG and observed new models of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) redevelopment, which is a critical construction project to bolster our national security and reinforce San Diego's role in our country's national defense space.
We also discussed next steps for the project, as well as other issues related to our region's transportation.
Day of Action: Education and the HEROES Act
 I joined Reps. Susan Davis (CA-53), Juan Vargas (CA-51), and several local education leaders on Thursday to urge a Senate vote on the Heroes Act. Many San Diego schools began the 2020-2021 academic year this week, and we must do everything we can to ensure our students, teachers and families have what they need so that our children can continue to learn and schools can reopen safely.
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Meeting with AIPAC
On Thursday, I spoke with members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) about the state of US-Israel relations. We discussed the close cooperation between San Diego and Israeli scientists to create a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the uplifting news regarding the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
100 Birthday Cards for WWII Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient
Our office received a special request to help celebrate Alice Johnson's upcoming 100th birthday. Not only is Alice an engaged member of her Rancho Bernardo community, but she's also a World War II veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, and a dedicated nurse. Her family is collecting 100 birthday cards to celebrate her birthday on September 12th.
If you would like to join this special celebration, send your birthday card for Alice to my district office at 4350 Executive Drive, Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92121 by September 10th, and we'll make sure Alice receives her birthday wishes.
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