Washington, DC - Congressman Juan Vargas is leading the effort to request full funding for Phase 2 of the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE) reconfiguration and expansion project. This funding will ensure the completion of the final phase of the project while promoting trade, commerce, and security along the U.S.-Mexico border. If this $276 million funding request is approved, Rep. Vargas will have secured more than $800 million in funding for border infrastructure in his district since taking office in 2013.

“We have seen great progress in the construction of the Calexico West Land Port of Entry,” said Congressman Juan Vargas. "The completion of the project will stimulate our regional and national economy, increase efficiency in border crossings, and strengthen our national security. I urge the House and the Senate to approve funding for Phase 2.”

In a letter to the House Committee on Appropriations, Congressman Juan Vargas, joined by Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) and Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52), states that, “The inclusion of the Calexico port of entry is part of a proposed $10.7 billion budget request made by the General Services Administration whose request centered on investments for the country’s infrastructure and modernizing information technology to make government operations more efficient. Mexico is California’s top trading partner and improving the Calexico West LPOE is an essential part of enhancing California’s economy. Cross-border trade between California and Mexico, both imports and exports, was valued at more than $190 billion in 2011. According to a 2007 study by the Imperial Valley Association of Governments, California businesses lost an estimated $436 million and 5,639 jobs directly attributable to long border crossing wait times.”

The full text of the letter is below:

March 16, 2018

The Honorable Rodney P. Frelinghuysen                   The Honorable Nita Lowey

Chairman                                                                     Ranking Member

House Appropriations Committee                              House Appropriations Committee

H-305, The Capitol                                                     1016 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Tom Graves                                        The Honorable Mike Quigley

Chairman                                                                     Ranking Member

House Appropriations Committee                              House Appropriations Committee

Subcommittee on Financial Services                          Subcommittee on Financial Services

and General Government                                            and General Government

H-305, The Capitol                                                     1016 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member Lowey, Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Quigley:

We write to respectfully request that you include funding for Phase 2 of the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE) reconfiguration and expansion project at the President’s FY2019 Budget request level in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. This funding will ensure the completion of the project while also promoting trade, commerce and security along the US-Mexico border.

The inclusion of the Calexico port of entry is part of a proposed $10.7 billion budget request made by the General Services Administration whose request centered on investments for the country’s infrastructure and modernizing information technology to make government operations more efficient. Mexico is California’s top trading partner and improving the Calexico West LPOE is an essential part of enhancing California’s economy. Cross-border trade between California and Mexico, both imports and exports, was valued at more than $190 billion in 2011. According to a 2007 study by the Imperial Valley Association of Governments, California businesses lost an estimated $436 million and 5,639 jobs directly attributable to long border crossing wait times. In FY 2015, your commitment was instrumental in initiating Phase 1 of a project that will completely modernize an aging LPOE.

The Calexico West LPOE project, which has already began construction, includes new pedestrian processing and privately owned vehicles (POV) inspection facilities that will consist of 16 northbound lanes and five southbound lanes, new administration office space, a new headhouse, 32 secondary inspection stations serving northbound and southbound traffic, and a total of 340 parking spaces.  The project will be constructed in two phases.  Phase 1 will consist of ten northbound POV inspection lanes, a headhouse, and sitework necessary to accommodate those facilities on the sloping site.  Phase 2 will consist of the balance of the project including additional site work, a pedestrian processing facility, administrative offices, five southbound POV inspection lanes, and six additional northbound POV inspection lanes.

As you begin your work on the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, we urge you to include the President’s requested funding for the completion of Phase 2 of the Calexico West Land Port of Entry reconfiguration and expansion project. Completing this project will improve domestic supply chains, strengthen our national security, and facilitate economic growth, not only for the greater region, but also for the entire nation.  Thank you for your consideration of this funding request.

Sincerely,

Congressman Juan Vargas

Congresswoman Susan Davis

Congressman Scott Peters