[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1028-S1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
  S. 572. A bill to provide for the water quality restoration of the 
Tijuana River and the New River, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to re-introduce the 
``Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act.''
  For over two decades, cleaning up the Tijuana River Valley has been 
one of my top priorities for Southern California. The wastewater, trash 
and sediment that continues to flow into San Diego and Imperial 
Counties is an alarming danger to public health and our economy. 
Although we have made recent strides in cleaning up this pollution, 
there is much work remaining.
  That's why I am proud to introduce this important legislation, once 
again, to help address this decades-long issue. I am very pleased 
Senator Padilla has joined me as an original cosponsor and I look 
forward to working with him on this important issue.
  Polluted water from the Tijuana and New Rivers flows north across the 
border into the United States causing unsanitary water conditions, 
pollution and beach closures across Southern California. It also 
jeopardizes military training exercises for Navy Seals in Camp 
Pendleton.
  Three-quarters of the 1,700-square-mile Tijuana River watershed lies 
in Mexico. However, the watershed, along with all its pollutants, 
drains into San Diego County and the Tijuana River Valley.
  In addition to jeopardizing human health and safety, two of the most 
drastic effects from this cross-border water pollution are harm to 
wildlife and damage to the tourism industry, integral to Southern 
Californian communities. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to 
threaten our nation's health and economy, it is critical we work to 
address the pollution in the region so California can welcome visitors 
back to their beaches when it is safe to do so.
  The beaches in the region are central to San Diego's tourism economy. 
In recent years, beaches in the communities of Coronado and Imperial 
Beach were closed for more than 200 days in a single year due to 
pollution.
  Health and safety of residents and workers are also at risk. In 
recent years, local Border Patrol union officials reported that 80 
officers suffered from contamination, rashes, infections, chemical 
burns and lung irritation due to toxic cross-border flows.
  In addition, pollution from Mexico harms sensitive areas that provide 
critical habitat for more than 300 species of birds as well as marine 
animals like leopard sharks and bottlenose dolphins. The region is home 
to multiple parks and public lands, including the Tijuana River's 
National Estuarine Research Reserve, the River Mouth State Marine 
Conservation Area and River Valley Regional Park Preserve.
  The harmful effects of pollution in the Tijuana River Valley on our 
residents, businesses, economy and environment are simply unacceptable.
  In February 2020, the Government Accountability Office issued a 
comprehensive report, ``International Boundary Water Commission: 
Opportunities Exist to Address Water Quality Problems.'' My office 
worked closely with the GAO to utilize their findings to craft 
meaningful change through this legislation.

[[Page S1029]]

  Simultaneously, we were able to secure $300 million in the U.S.-
Mexico-Canada trade agreement to address pollution in the Tijuana River 
Valley Watershed.
  With significant funding and detailed findings by the GAO 
investigation, we developed this legislation in concert with federal, 
state and local agency input. As beaches in both the United States and 
Mexico continue to close due to high levels of pollution, it is as 
imperative as ever to advance a solution that engages all stakeholders.
  The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act includes key 
reforms to advance concrete solutions.
  One of the problems is that no one agency is in charge of this 
problem. A whole range of agencies--EPA, International Boundary and 
Water Commission, State Department, Department of Homeland Security, 
Customs and Border Protection, Defense Department--all have 
jurisdiction or interest in this international issue.
  What we need is one agency in charge, taking input from the others so 
decisions can be made. This approach is similar to other large, 
regional environmental challenges like the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, 
Everglades and Chesapeake Bay. Here in California, we have also seen 
great success with this model of interagency coordination at Lake 
Tahoe.
  Here's how the bill would work:
  The EPA would be officially named the agency with overall control of 
this effort.
  The EPA, along with its federal, state and local partners, would be 
directed to identify a list of priority projects. It also would be 
authorized to accept and distribute funds to build, operate and 
maintain those projects.
  The bill would permanently authorize the Border Water Infrastructure 
Program to manage storm water runoff and water reuse projects.
  State and local authorities would also be authorized to contribute 
funding to federal projects, which is currently not allowed.
  The International Boundary and Water Commission would be authorized 
to mitigate storm water from Mexico and the pollution that comes with 
it and is required to construct, operate and maintain projects on the 
priority list developed by the agencies within the U.S. that improve 
water quality.
  We need a new and comprehensive approach to this issue that has 
plagued border communities for too long. This bill creates a formal 
process to consider effective, long-term solutions and additional 
wastewater infrastructure to mitigate cross-border pollution and I hope 
the Senate can move on this bill quickly.
  I want to thank California Environmental Protection Agency, 
California Natural Resources Agency, San Diego and Imperial counties, 
cities of Imperial Beach and Coronado, Mayor of Chula Vista, Mary 
Casillas Salas, the City of San Diego and the Port of San Diego for 
supporting this legislation. These communities, and others, have been 
negatively impacted by this issue for far too long.
  It's past time that we finally solve this problem to safeguard local 
health and economic growth.
  Once again, I thank Senator Padilla for his cosponsorship. Thank you, 
Mr. President. I yield the floor.
                                 ______