In February, the House overwhelmingly passed my bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) with House Natural Resources Committee Chair, Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04). This landmark legislation will help reduce the intensity of catastrophic wildfires, restore forest health, and build fire-safety defenses for communities in high-risk areas. The wildfire crisis is not just a product of inaction, but decades of wrongheaded land management that has turned our forests, hills, and wild lands into tinder boxes. While we wait for lengthy environmental review processes and years of litigation, forests are burning down, habitats are lost, and air pollution worsens. FOFA will simplify and expedite the most critical forest management projects while maintaining strong environmental standards.  

Earlier this month, I re-introduced my Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act to give land managers the tools to save the iconic giant sequoia and reduce the severity of wildfires that contribute to climate change. California’s majestic sequoia trees have innumerable cultural, environmental, and recreational benefits. But one-fifth of their groves have been destroyed in wildfires since 2015. And in 2020 alone, the wildfires that threaten Sequoia trees also contributed more to climate change than California’s entire power sector. My bipartisan bill with Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20) will put us on a better path to combat the climate crisis and protect sequoia trees for Americans to enjoy for years to come. 

Our Congressional Delegation has now secured a total of $650 million, which is enough to fully repair and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP). Projects are currently underway on both sides of the border, but our work is not done. Last month, I introduced legislation to shore up funding sources and allow the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to accept funding from federal and non-federal entities for wastewater treatment, flood control projects, or other water conservation efforts. And this week we welcomed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to see the harm being done in San Diego at my invitation. I remain committed to ensuring we have enough resources to address the devastating effects of this environmental and public health crisis and restore the wellbeing of our region. 

In February, I re-introduced my Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II (OPRA II). This legislation would streamline the required permitting process to operate the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (PLWTP) and allow the City of San Diego to move forward with its innovative water-recycling project, Pure Water. As we face ongoing water supply concerns, the Pure Water project will give our region the certainty we need to shore up our water supply. My bill will help remove needless red tape to do just that and further reduce wastewater flowing into the ocean from the PLWTP.