Rep. Peters Celebrates Funding to Fully Repair the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant

SAN DIEGO, CA - Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) delivered the following remarks at the Tijuana Valley Estuary to celebrate the funding secured last month to fix and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP):

"I want to acknowledge what's happening in Los Angeles. I think all of us have that top and mind. And just so you know, we will all really be working hard to make sure they get the relief that they need without any kind of conditions. To the extent that they're scared about that, I hope we can allay those fears.

"We have $650 million. We got $650 million by working together to explain the catastrophe that's here, 3,000 miles away from Washington, DC. We got $300 million from a deal between President Trump and Nancy Pelosi that we all worked on. We got another $100 million in appropriations, and just recently, we got another $250 million out of the supplemental funding that President Biden signed. It took a lot of work on all of our parts, and it took a lot of work on all your parts. You've all been wonderful advocates. We brought in scientists to show the proof and today, we have all the money we should need to get this project done - not just expand it, but with surge capacity as well.

"Now, to the folks who are working on it: we won't get more money. We need to get this thing done now. Now, I think our job is to watch the contracts. And I know it takes too long. I acknowledge that. There's been tremendous frustration in communities in Imperial Beach and others about how long this will take. I do want you to know that as we do the work, we will see incremental improvements. So as each phase is completed, it should get better. We will be working really hard to make sure we do get through that. And at the end, we'll provide for maintenance so that when this is up and running, we won't have the experience we had last time of people knowing there was maintenance that had to be done and not telling us about it. That's how we got from 25 million gallons per day to a dysfunctional 0 gallons per day. We'll work on that as well and the whole delegation is really committed to that. We hold the power of the purse, but we are very anxious now that this Administration will help us get that money into the ground.

"It was right here on this land that we signed the minute treaty with Mexico for them to do their part if we would do our part. They are close to getting their plant open. That's going to make a huge difference, particularly in the summertime and particularly for the community I represent, Coronado. We've done this in partnership.

"I hope the new Administration will be careful about how it talks about Mexico, because here in San Diego, we understand Mexico is our ally and our necessary partner, and we've made progress we don't want to lose. I know everyone here in San Diego is committed to keeping that going. I also thank all the folks who have personal relationships with people in the Mexican government who can help us continue to emphasize how important this is.

"I am grateful to all the folks who spoke up with us over the years. From state and local elected officials, community leaders, San Diegans, servicemembers - folks who are familiar with the training that Navy SEALS go through - and border patrol who've been affected by this. The advocacy has been relentless and helpful. I want to thank the State Department, who's terrific. We know there's going to be a change in personnel too. We'll do our best to make sure they're educated about this, that they understand it's a matter of implementing and not about funding right now.

"Thanks to Governor Newsom for all the attention he's given, and obviously thanks to President Biden. I will say, before President Biden was elected, the EPA under Donald Trump was pretty good to work with. We hope we continue to have a good relationship with the EPA under Martha Guzman and President Biden has been terrific. We'll work again to re-establish relationships and keep things going under the new Administration.

"Today is not the end of our work, but it is a huge step forward and something to celebrate. We're really happy to be here today and I'm looking forward to the next phase, which is making sure this gets built on time and it makes a difference for the people we all represent."

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