[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 98 (Monday, June 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2555-H2556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION AUTHORITY

  Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1948) to authorize the International Boundary and Water 
Commission to accept funds for activities relating to wastewater 
treatment and flood control works, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1948

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION 
                   AUTHORITY.

       (a) Authorization.--The Commission is authorized to accept 
     funds from a Federal or non-Federal entity, including through 
     a grant or funding agreement, to study, design, construct, 
     operate, or maintain wastewater treatment works, water 
     conservation projects, or flood control works, and related 
     structures, consistent with the functions of the Commission.
       (b) Deposit.--Any funds accepted by the Commission under 
     this section shall be deposited into the account in the 
     Treasury of the United States entitled ``International 
     Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico'' and 
     shall be available until expended to carry out the activities 
     described in subsection (a).
       (c) Limitations.--
       (1) Limit on reimbursement.--The Commission may not provide 
     credit towards the non-Federal share of the cost of a 
     project, or reimbursement, to non-Federal entities for funds 
     accepted under this section in an amount that exceeds a total 
     of $5,000,000 in any fiscal year.
       (2) Source of funds.--The Commission may not accept funds 
     under this section from any non-Federal entity--
       (A) that is domiciled in, headquartered in, or organized 
     under the laws of, or the principal place of business of 
     which is located in, a foreign country of concern; or
       (B) that has in place any agreement with a foreign country 
     of concern.
       (d) Report.--Not later than the last day of each fiscal 
     year, the Commission shall submit to the Committees on 
     Foreign Relations and Appropriations of the Senate and the 
     Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on 
     the funds accepted under this section that includes a 
     description of--
       (1) the activities carried out with such funds; and
       (2) costs associated with such activities.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the United 
     States Section of the International Boundary and Water 
     Commission, United States and Mexico.
       (2) Foreign country of concern.--The term ``foreign country 
     of concern'' has the meaning given that term in section 10638 
     of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 19237).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.


                             General Leave

  Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1948, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1948 would allow the United States section of the 
International Boundary and Water Commission, or IBWC, to receive 
additional funding from other Federal and non-Federal partners to 
support water and wastewater infrastructure.
  The IBWC is already authorized to receive funds from the 
Environmental Protection Agency, but this bill will allow the IBWC to 
partner with other agencies and entities, such as the Department of 
Homeland Security, to address the maintenance backlog for critical 
water infrastructure.

[[Page H2556]]

  This legislation will allow the IBWC to access more funding sources 
so it can maintain these assets and, in turn, help provide cleaner 
water for our warfighters to train in and strengthen our security 
posture along our southern border.
  Enacting the bill would help advance the Trump administration's 
priorities as outlined in the President's fiscal year 2026 budget 
request.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1948, as amended, bipartisan 
legislation to assist the U.S. section of the International Boundary 
and Water Commission, or IBWC, in carrying out its critical water-
related missions.
  This bill allows IBWC to accept contributed funds from other Federal 
and State agencies, giving the Commission the authority other Federal 
infrastructure agencies already have.
  This authority will allow the IBWC to partner with other Federal 
agencies and non-Federal interests to carry out critical water-related 
projects, including projects for wastewater treatment, water 
conservation, and flood control. I support H.R. 1948, as amended, and 
urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Peters).
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 1948, allows the International Boundary 
and Water Commission, or IBWC, to accept up to $5 million per year from 
other Federal agencies or outside entities like cities, States, and 
nonprofit organizations for wastewater treatment and flood control 
projects like those that would fight the cross-border sewage crisis in 
and around San Diego and Coronado.
  The IBWC has jurisdiction over the South Bay International Wastewater 
Treatment Plant in San Diego, where longstanding operational and 
maintenance failures have allowed raw sewage to flow from the Tijuana 
River onto San Diego's beaches. This has created a public health crisis 
that strains local resources, poses significant environmental risks, 
and forces servicemembers to train in polluted sewage water.
  Under current law, Federal agencies, State governments, and local 
entities cannot transfer funds to projects under IBWC's jurisdiction. 
This leaves IBWC solely reliant on annual appropriations or emergency 
funding to build and maintain its facilities.
  My office, along with the rest of the San Diego delegation and our 
California senators, have worked hard to secure $360 million in 
emergency funding to help address chronic issues at the South Bay 
International Wastewater Treatment Plant. This bill would provide 
another tool to ensure that San Diego and Coronado do not need to move 
from emergency to emergency to secure adequate funding for this plant.
  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have helped move 
the ball forward on this issue, including the San Diego delegation, our 
California senators, and my colleagues who are former Navy SEALs, who 
understand the harm of training in these polluted waters.
  I also thank the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Imperial Beach, the 
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Coastkeeper, 
WILDCOAST, and other San Diegans who have made stopping this 
catastrophe a top priority.
  Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, the IBWC plays a crucial role 
in addressing water needs across the U.S.-Mexico border. I support H.R. 
1948, as amended, to ensure the IBWC has the authority necessary to 
carry out its critical work and urge my colleagues to support this 
bill, as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1948 is a strong, bipartisan bill that advances the 
Trump administration's priorities that helps the IBWC effectively 
manage critical water infrastructure along the southern border.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1948, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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