Secured Funding for Cleanup in TJ Sewage Spill

In 2018, Scott led efforts to secure $10 million in funding for the Border Wastewater Infrastructure Program (BWIP) in the FY 2018 Omnibus. In 2019, Scott helped secure $15 million in funding for BWIP through the North American Development Bank for water infrastructure projects along border regions. He led a bipartisan letter with the San Diego delegation and other members representing border regions to the House and Senate leadership requesting an increase in funding for the NADB for 2019-20. Scott co-sponsored the North American Development Bank Pollution Solution Act with Rep. Juan Vargas to increase funding to the NADB to fund cross-border sewage spill cleanup efforts. The bill passed the Financial Services Committee in September 2019 to secure $3 billion in investment funding.

In 2019, Scott also helped secure construction grants for key water and wastewater projects. Specifically, he helped secure $3 million in EPA funding that the water utility in Tijuana leveraged to complete a $7 million wastewater infrastructure improvement project. It included the repair of 6 miles of large wastewater collection pipes, the rehabilitation of 35 manholes, and first-time wastewater collection service for over 400 households. His leadership also led to a $1.17 million EPA grant agreed between the NADB and the local Mexican water utility to address one of the wastewater collectors that failed and caused major sewage spills that continue to flow into San Diego waterways and beaches.

Scott and the San Diego Congressional Delegation secured $300 million, in equal installments of $75 million over four years, to fund Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants under the BWIP to address sewage pollution on the U.S.-Mexico border. This announcement is a huge victory for the San Diego region and is the result of consistent and coordinated advocacy by our congressional delegation and local elected and community leaders to combat Tijuana sewage spills

The BWIP makes critical investments to improve sewage infrastructure along the border and prevent dangerous sewage spills that threaten public health and damage San Diegans’ quality of life in the future.

Port/Navy Land Swap

In 2017, Scott wrote a portion of the National Defense Authorization Act that allowed the San Diego Unified Port District and the Navy to exchange land parcels in the Broadway complex. The Port of San Diego was trying to obtain a sliver of land adjacent to a park downtown to allow park goers convenient parking. The Navy sought explicit authorization from Congress to carry out the exchange.

Mt. Soledad:

In 2014, Scott worked across the aisle with Rep. Duncan Hunter to transfer Mt. Soledad from the Department of Defense to a local non-profit organization in the National Defense Authorization Act. Several court cases had threatened the iconic and historic Mt. Soledad cross and Scott’s effort ensures that the cross will be maintained.

U.S. Courthouse Naming

In 2013, Scott introduced and passed legislation to recognize Judge James M. Carter and Judge Judith N. Keep by naming the Federal Courthouse in Downtown San Diego in their honor. Due to the shift in delegation make up, Scott was able to overcome the objections of some and get the bill passed.

Courthouse Modernization

In 2015 and 2016, Scott sent letters asking for federal funding of security modernization and childcare construction projects at the Federal Courthouse in San Diego. He also convened a meeting between representatives from the Courthouse and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to help convince the Committee to approve the funding. As a result, the funding has been approved and construction will commence on the Courthouse.

National arts grants supporting San Diego

In 2018, as a result of Scott’s continued support for arts funding, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, arts programs in San Diego received over $180,000 in grants. San Diego is home to museums and public art that define the cultural fabric of our city and add character to our shared spaces.

Casework Successes

Since being elected to Congress, Scott and his staff have made it a priority to provide the highest level of assistance to San Diegans who are struggling to navigate federal bureaucracy. As a result of their efforts, nearly $29,000,000 in owed benefits has been restored to San Diegans since 2013.