[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Ms. Butler):
  S. 5075. 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.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Border Water 
Quality Restoration and Protection Act. This bill aims to reduce 
pollution along the U.S.-Mexico border and improve water quality of the 
Tijuana River and New River.
  The bill would designate the Environmental Protection Agency as the 
lead Agency to coordinate all Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
agencies to build and maintain needed infrastructure projects to 
decrease pollution along the border.
  The Tijuana River watershed is in the midst of an environmental 
crisis, as stormwater flows from the upper watershed, originating in 
Tijuana, Mexico, and carries pollutants such as bacteria, trash, and 
sediment that severely affect water quality.
  In just the last 5 years, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic 
sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater has flowed across the United 
States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring 
communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and creating 
significant negative impacts on water quality, public health, and the 
environment.
  This transboundary pollution crisis has disproportionately harmed 
underserved communities along San Diego's southern border for decades. 
U.S. military personnel, Border Patrol agents, and the local 
environment and economy have also suffered harmful impacts from 
waterborne and airborne transboundary sewage flows.
  This bill will build upon the past several years of work I have 
undertaken alongside the late Senator Feinstein to bolster the 
resources of the Environmental Protection Agency and the International 
Boundary and Water Commission to repair, rehabilitate, and expand the 
South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, including securing 
$300 million in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and more than $100 
million through fiscal year 2024 appropriations legislation.
  Establishing a program for the Tijuana and New Rivers is critical for 
the EPA to integrate and coordinate water quality restoration and 
protection activities by stakeholders across the region and will 
facilitate better coordination by Federal, State, Tribal, local, 
public, nonprofit, and other relevant stakeholders.
  California communities have suffered the impacts of transboundary 
sewage for too long, and this legislation will facilitate long-awaited 
solutions to manage stormwater flows to reduce negative impacts to 
nearby communities and the regional economy and restore water quality 
and ecosystems throughout these watersheds.
  I want to thank my colleagues, especially Congressman Juan Vargas, 
for introducing this bill with me. I hope my colleagues will join me to 
pass the Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act to address 
this public health and environmental crisis.

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