Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WATSONVILLE, CA — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) visited the Watsonville Veterans Hall to deliver a check for $1,200,000 as one of her 13 community projects she submitted for the Fiscal Year 2026 congressional appropriations cycle. This funding will be used for significant renovations to the building, including new plumbing, an HVAC system, and replacement of the elevator.

“Our Veterans Hall is a much-needed community space for Watsonville, but it’s had decades of deferred maintenance needs, and it’s critical that we make the renovations necessary to make this building into the gathering place that this city deserves,” Rep. Zoe Lofgren said. “The second floor is not currently being used, and with this $1.2 million I’ve secured, it will help to replace the elevator and make the modifications necessary for community groups to properly enjoy this space.”

“With this support, the South County Veterans and community will have the opportunity to enjoy a higher scope of utilization of the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building,” said LoisRae Guin, a 98-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who helped to establish the food pantry program at the Veterans Hall. “This will enable the offering of additional programs and support for South County Veterans and the community.”

“We thank Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren for securing federal funding to improve ADA accessibility at the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Hall,” said Santa Cruz County District 4 Supervisor Felipe Hernandez. “This investment removes long-standing barriers and ensures our veterans — including those with disabilities — can fully access the programs and services they deserve. On behalf of our veterans, the American Legion, and the VFW, we are grateful for her leadership and for continuing to secure meaningful federal resources that strengthen our community.”

“The Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building is a vital community resource, providing space for essential services, gatherings, and programs that support both veterans and the broader community,” said Jeff Gaffney, Director of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services at Santa Cruz County. “This funding will improve accessibility and ensure the facility remains welcoming and inclusive—especially for those who have served our nation. It reflects the County’s continued commitment to honoring and supporting our veterans and equitable access for all.”

The Veterans Memorial Hall at 215 E Beach Street is owned by the County of Santa Cruz and managed by the City of Watsonville’s Parks and Community Services. The bottom floor, a 6,032 square foot space and a kitchen, is currently used by the city for community activities, event rentals, and as an emergency overnight cold shelter for the unhoused.

Local community groups are interested in using the 2^nd floor to provide services to residents of Watsonville. However, to make the space useable for these purposes and fully accessible, an elevator needs to be replaced, and the 2^nd floor needs to be remodeled. In addition to the elevator, other enhancements needed include internal construction, structural improvements, an HVAC (heating, venting, air conditioning) system, plumbing, technology hardware, and painting.  Project priority is for renovation of the elevator first and then other space and facility upgrades, as programming could at least occur in some of the spaces if access for all community members was available.

Rep. Lofgren will continue to deliver checks to community project funding recipients in the near future, which includes a total of $58,022,000 for Watsonville and Santa Cruz County.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01)and Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) are launching the Congressional Camp Caucus, a new bipartisan caucus to elevate the role camps play in supporting youth development, workforce preparation, and community vitality across the country.

Each year, more than 26 million children attend day and overnight camps nationwide, making camps one of the most far-reaching youth-serving institutions in the United States. Beyond their well-known developmental benefits, camps are also significant economic and workforce drivers, generating approximately $70 billion in annual economic impact, supporting nearly one million jobs, and contributing more than $13 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state, and local levels.

“Camps provide children essential experiences that build human connection, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving. Young people learn to collaborate face-to-face, develop resilience and leadership, and strengthen the people skills our communities and workforce will increasingly depend on,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “As New Hampshire is home to over 100 camps, I’m thrilled to join Congressman Edwards in launching the bipartisan Congressional Camp Caucus to support camps and all they do for our youth and our economy.”

“Summer camps give kids a safe place to stay active, build confidence, and develop lifelong skills, while giving working parents dependable childcare when they need it most,” said Congressman Edwards. “In Western North Carolina, camps are a cornerstone of our community and economy —home to one of the highest concentrations of summer camps in country, generating an estimated $1.7 billion in annual economic impact. That’s why I’m proud to launch the Congressional Camp Caucus alongside Congressman Pappas and advocate for these treasured institutions in Congress.”

“Over 26 million children attend a day or overnight camp each year. ACA is working to help every child have the opportunity to benefit from the growth and development that come from such experiences. We are thrilled to partner with our nation’s elected officials to work towards expanding access to camp and strengthening safe and quality camp experiences across the country. We especially appreciate the Camp Caucus leadership of Representatives Pappas and Edwards,” said Henry DeHart, CEO and President of the American Camp Association.

“The creation of the Camp Caucus will benefit every camp in New Hampshire and all over the United States. This is a powerful step forward for our industry and one that will advance our mutual goals ultimately allowing camps to focus on what we do best: developing and supporting our youth. I am deeply grateful to Representative Pappas for his continued support of our industry and for all of the work he has done in partnership with the American Camp Association,” said Tammy Fortune, Owner and Director of Camp Wa-Klo in New Hampshire.

Almost 150 years ago, one of the nation’s very first summer camps opened on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Today New Hampshire is home to over 100 camps. These camps have a long history of providing quality outdoor education to young people from New Hampshire, across the nation, and the world. 

The Congressional Camp Caucus will work to elevate the role camps play in strengthening children, families, and communities. The caucus will focus on:

• Promoting child safety and high-quality standards through strong oversight and best practices, while expanding access so more children can benefit from camp experiences.
• Supporting workforce development and rural economies, where camps often serve as major employers and community anchors; and
• Protecting and promoting the camp community by safeguarding critical programs and recognizing camps’ contributions to youth well-being, leadership, and character development.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) met with community leaders from Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, Southeast Asian Freedom Network, and Southeast Asian Action to commemorate the reintroduction of the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 (SEADRA) with Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). This historic legislation would end the deportation of Southeast Asian American (SEAA) refugees, provide critical protections for the more than 15,000 community members living under final orders of removal, and establish a pathway for the more than 2,000 refugees who have already been deported to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to return to the United States.

Between January and October 2025, the Trump administration deported more SEAAs in a single fiscal year than any prior administration — including 46 individuals to Cambodia, 175 to Laos, and 676 to Vietnam. Many of these individuals were shackled hand and foot for flights lasting more than 50 hours to countries they had never set foot in, including Sudan and Eswatini.  The administration also paused immigration applications for 75 countries including the Southeast Asian nations of Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Limit the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to detain or deport Southeast Asian refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who arrived in the United States by 2008;
• Permanently authorize employment eligibility for Southeast Asians with a final order of removal with a five-year renewal period;
• End in-person ICE check-ins and establish five-year intervals between virtual check-ins for Southeast Asians on orders of supervision; and
• Create a pathway for Southeast Asian refugees who have already been deported to return to the U.S. and fight their removal orders.

“Donald Trump has made the entire immigrant community his scapegoat to justify horrifying violence, undermine our rights, and tear families apart. That includes Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) who have called our country home for decades and who are now being targeted and forced to return to countries that are unsafe or completely unfamiliar to them,” said Rep. Chu. In 2025 alone, Trump deported more SEAAs than any president in a single year, and we know this cruelty will continue without action. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 to provide critical protections from detention and deportation for SEAAs who have contributed so immensely to our communities. In the face of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant regime, we will continue to stand with refugees and fight for justice.”

“As the Trump administration has worked criminalize all forms of immigration and terrorized immigrant communities, it is more important than ever that we pass the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. This is a long-overdue step to end the constant fear of deportation for families across this country,” said Rep. Jayapal. 

“I’m proud to represent San Jose, which has the largest Vietnamese population of any city outside Vietnam,” Rep. Lofgren said. “Many Southeast Asian refugees settled here following the Vietnam War and have become an integral part of our communities. Deporting refugees back to nations where they may face persecution or human rights abuses is completely antithetical to American values. The policy in this bill has been the anti-Communist policy of every administration, both Republican and Democratic, yet the Trump administration cozies up to Communist regimes that threaten human rights. Unlike Trump, I am an anti-Communist, and I recognize that we have to protect folks from removal and we need a pathway to return for those who have already been deported back to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.”

Southeast Asians from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam comprise the largest refugee population ever resettled in the United States. In the aftermath of U.S. military interventions in the region, more than 1.2 million refugees were welcomed to the United States because they fought alongside the U.S. or were forced to flee genocide, persecution, and violence. Most resettled into heavily disinvested communities with limited access to resources or support systems while grappling with the lingering trauma of war and displacement. As a result, many Southeast Asian youth made mistakes or were swept into cycles of violence—leading to criminal convictions and incarceration decades ago. Although many have since rebuilt their lives and given back to their communities, many SEAAs continue to face double punishment through deportation for decades-old convictions for which they have already served their time. These individuals often have U.S. citizen family members, serve as primary caregivers in their families, have no recollection of or meaningful ties to their country of origin, and have deep roots in their local communities in America.

“SEADRA is more than policy; it’s a promise of healing, hope, and a future where Southeast Asian families are no longer torn apart. We thank Reps. Judy Chu, Pramila Jayapal, Zoe Lofgren, and Ayanna Pressley for reintroducing this critical legislation and for supporting our Southeast Asian American refugee communities, who have endured decades of trauma and separation. SEADRA recognizes the full lives that people have built here and refuses to erase them,” said Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

“The SEADRA bill would end deportation for Southeast Asians as we know it. In this moment when we’re told to turn against one another, we must choose a different path: we belong here and no one is disposable. Our communities have organized, resisted and created new worlds when the old ones failed us. This bill is part of that legacy – a call to love and protect one another, especially now.” said Chhaya Chhoum, Co-Executive Director of Southeast Asian Freedom Network

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 is cosponsored by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Gwen Moore (WI-04), James McGovern (MA-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Adam Smith (WA-09), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Robert Garcia (CA-42).

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 is endorsed by over 100 nationwide and statewide organizations including: A Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing (LELO), API Chaya, API RISE, ARISE, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY.org), Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific Americans for Higher Education (APAHE), Asian Prisoner Support Committee, Asian Resources, Inc., Asian Solidarity Collective, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Board of Directors of The International Examiner, Borderlands Resource Initiative, Buen Vecino, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Cambodian American Community Council of WA, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP), Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell, Inc., CAPI, Center for Empowering Refugees & Immigrants, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), Church World Service, City of Seattle, Climate Refugees, Collective Freedom, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, CSU Fullerton, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), End Child Poverty California powered GRACE, F.I.G.H.T, FIRM – Fresno Immigrant and Refugee Ministries, Formerly Incarcerated Group Healing Together (F.I.G.H.T.), Freedom Action Now, Freedom, Inc., Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Hmong American Partnership, Hmong American Women’s Association, Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County, Hmong Innovating Politics, Hmong National Development, Inc., Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), Immigrant Defense Project, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Immigration Equality Action Fund, InterIm Community Development Association, Jacqueline Tran, Consulting, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter, Jewish Activists for Immigration Justice of Western MA, Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW, Khmer Alumni Association, Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG), Khmer Community of Seattle-King County, Khmer Girls in Action, Khmer Student Association UW, Lao Assistance Center of MN, Laos In The House, Laotian American National Alliance (LANA), LEAD Filipino, Mekong NYC, Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation, MN8 (Minnesota 8), National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Cambodian American Organization, National CAPACD – National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Education Association, National Immigration Project, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, New Breath Foundation, New Light Wellness, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress, Nikkei Progressives, Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform (NCCJIR), Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, Ohana Ho`opakele, OneAmerica, ORALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition Liberation & Empowerment), Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT), Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), Public Defender Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Rising Voices, ROOTS Laos, RSN, Refugee Support Network, San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, Stop AAPI Hate, The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast, The Cambodian Family, The Sikh Coalition, United Cambodian Community, United Hmong with Disabilities Inc., VAO | Vietnamese American Organization, Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), VietLead, Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR), and Wing Luke Museum.

Click here for full bill text.

Click here for a section-by-section.

Click here for a one-pager.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after the Commerce Department reported a record-high $1.2 trillion trade deficit under President Trump:

“Even the Trump administration’s own numbers expose the failure of President Trump’s trade agenda. Instead of leveling the playing field and bringing jobs home, his policies have expanded the trade deficit and cost us 108,000 manufacturing jobs.

“American families, workers, small businesses, and farmers are the ones paying the price for his trade policies. Rather than standing up for them, the president is treating them like pawns – sacrificing them to advance his reckless foreign policy goals.

“It’s time to restore some sanity to U.S. trade policy. Congress must rein in this chaos, take back its constitutional authority over trade and put an end to the president’s illegal tariffs.”

Background

Ranking Member Sánchez introduced the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, a bill that would turn off most of President Trump’s tariffs and require congressional approval for any new tariffs imposed by the president. The bill has the support of all Ways and Means Democrats.

She also introduced with Congressman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) the bipartisan Respect NATO Allies Act, a bill to require congressional approval for any new tariffs imposed on North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

STOCKTON – Today, at a regional infrastructure roundtable at the Port of Stockton, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced his economic growth priorities to bring home more infrastructure investments, complete projects faster, and grow the Valley’s economy. Joined by the Stockton and U.S. Chambers of Commerce, Harder led a roundtable discussion on Valley transportation and infrastructure investment, as well as local business and community needs as Congress considers upcoming surface transportation legislation.

“Stockton is a city that thrives on infrastructure, wedged between two major highways with 100,000 residents that commute to the Bay every single day, as well as the Port that is the economic heart of our community,” said Rep. Harder. “We’re one of the fastest growing counties in the state, but right now it’s way too difficult to build new infrastructure because the permitting process takes years and even decades to complete. Securing reliable, long-term funding and a predictable, transparent regulatory process will keep goods moving, support good-paying jobs, and strengthen local communities. I’m grateful for the U.S. Chamber and our local business leaders’ efforts to bring our community together around these priorities, and I look forward to passing these common sense solutions in Washington.”

Harder’s economic growth priorities:

1. More Federal Investment – As a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Harder is pushing to bring back more federal dollars for local economic development projects, building on successes like the Port of Stockton’s new zero-emissions infrastructure project.
2. Less Red Tape – Harder is leading more than 40 members of the bipartisan Build America Caucus to reduce unnecessary red tape and bureaucratic bloat that ties up projects for years and drives up costs for businesses and consumers.
3. Pass Pro-Growth Transportation Package – Harder is demanding that congressional leaders include smart, targeted reforms in upcoming, must-pass surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

Harder is also leading landmark legislation to cut red tape and yearslong delays in energy permitting, which causes utility prices to skyrocket and creates bottlenecks for new energy projects.

“Permitting delays remain one of the biggest barriers to delivering the infrastructure projects communities desperately need, and a growing bipartisan coalition in Congress is rightly focused on fixing a system that is outdated, inefficient, and costly,” said Christopher Guith, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute. “Congressman Harder’s leadership on the FREEDOM Act is an important step forward, helping streamline reviews, provide greater certainty for project delivery, and remove unnecessary obstacles that delay investment. As Congress considers reauthorizing federal surface transportation programs this year, long-term funding certainty paired with a predictable permitting process will be essential to delivering a robust highway bill that strengthens local economies, supports workers, and keeps America competitive.”

Other roundtable participants included representatives from the City of Stockton and the Port of Stockton, the California Chamber of Commerce, the San Joaquin Building Trades Council, San Joaquin Partnership, the Stockton East Water District, and local businesses.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Palm Beach County Deserves a Voice Before Any Airport Renaming

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

SPRING HILL, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids, a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, visited the Ottawa Cooperative Association (Co-Op) to hear directly from local producers and discuss her efforts to strengthen the regional agricultural supply chain and lower grocery prices for Kansas families. The visit came ahead of next week’s long-awaited Farm Bill markup, which has been delayed for several years.

“When we invest in our local food systems, we’re not just supporting farmers and producers — we’re lowering costs at the checkout line, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure families in Kansas have access to fresh, healthy food,” said Davids. “I’ve heard from folks across the community who want more affordable options and more control over where their food comes from. Strengthening the local agricultural supply chain helps us do both, and that’s what I’m focused on for next week’s Farm Bill markup.”

Why strengthening the local agricultural supply chain matters:

• Lowers grocery costs: Local food cuts out middlemen, reducing fuel, labor, and distribution expenses.
• Delivers fresher food: Produce grown and sold locally lasts longer, reducing waste and giving consumers more value for their money.
• Boosts local economies: Money spent on local food stays in the community, supporting small businesses and creating more jobs — 13 jobs per $1M in local sales compared to 3 in non-local.
• Builds resilience: A strong local supply chain is less vulnerable to global disruptions and price shocks.

“Thank you, Rep Davids, for taking the time to visit The Ottawa Cooperative Association,” said Clark Wenger, President, Ottawa Co-Op. “We are grateful for your visit and the opportunity to discuss the challenges impacting agriculture. Your engagement with our cooperative means a great deal to our members.”

Davids recently helped introduce the Farm and Family Relief Act with her Democratic colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee. This is the first bill this year aimed at giving real relief to family farmers and working families struggling with rising costs caused by President Trump’s tariffs and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Today, Davids also reintroduced her Resilient Food Supply Chain and Affordability Act. This bill would make permanent the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program, which strengthens the food supply chain, supports local farmers, creates jobs, and helps lower grocery costs for consumers.

Davids has made lowering the cost of groceries for families and small businesses a priority in Congress, including by: 

• Completing a one-day tour to highlight how strengthening supply chains helps lower grocery prices for Kansas families.
• Supporting the bipartisan Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification (HPAI) Act, which ensures fair compensation for all farms affected by avian flu, including those in both infected and buffer zones.
• Urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to begin enforcing the Robinson-Patman Act to prevent corporate price discrimination that drives up grocery costs for consumers.
• Voting to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act to shore up the food and agriculture supply chain, assure fair competition in the meat and poultry sectors, and lower food and gasoline costs for consumers.
• Supporting the Price Gouging Prevention Act, legislation ensuring large corporations can’t take advantage of consumers at the grocery store.
• Holding multiple roundtables with Kansas businesses, manufacturing, and technology leaders on how recent legislation to improve supply chains will help boost their businesses’ financial security.
• Working a “Sharice’s Shift” at a local Price Chopper, where she helped store employees unload deliveries from shipping trucks, stock grocery shelves, and bag groceries. 

To support Kansas producers, Davids has also embarked on a Farm Bill listening tour, where she visited a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a goat farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, and an educational community farm in Wyandotte County. Davids also toured a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, served a school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe, spoke with industry leaders on financial support programs for farmers, toured a dairy farm in Garnett, and more.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WATSONVILLE, CA — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) visited Watsonville Civic Plaza to deliver a check for $1,092,000 as one of her 13 community projects she submitted for the Fiscal Year 2026 congressional appropriations cycle. This funding will be used for the City of Watsonville’s new Headworks and Influent Pump Station Facilities Project.

“It’s always a pleasure to visit Watsonville, but today was especially exciting, as I got to present over $1 million to the City for their new wastewater treatment facilities,” Rep. Lofgren said. “The existing infrastructure is not meant to function much longer, and I wanted to prioritize this funding so that Watsonville can construct these new facilities that will meet federal and state water quality standards. This is also an investment in energy efficiency, one that will reduce overall operation and maintenance costs and save taxpayers’ money.”

“We’re grateful for the funding that will support critical infrastructure upgrades of the Headworks and Influent Pump Station at our Wastewater Treatment Plant,” said Watsonville Assistant Public Works Director Danielle Green. “These pumps move wastewater into the plant so it can be safely treated, keeping our water clean and our community healthy. The improvements will benefit Watsonville and the nearby communities of Freedom, Salsipuedes, and Pajaro, while protecting the Pajaro Valley and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for generations to come.”

The City’s current wastewater treatment facility was constructed in 1961. A large capital project was completed in 1986, which upgraded the treatment processes to meet new standards passed in the Clean Water Act. Nearly 40 years later, much of the infrastructure installed to comply with the Clean Water Act is reaching the end of useful life.

The new Headworks and Influent Pump Station Facilities Project will include a complete replacement of the existing headworks screening and influent pump station facilities, a new frit handling area, new influent sewer interceptors, and a new headworks electrical building. It will be of similar size and capacity to the current facility but modernized to improve process and energy efficiency.

Rep. Lofgren will continue to deliver checks to community project funding recipients in the near future, which includes a total of $58,022,000 for Watsonville and Santa Cruz County.

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