Government Funding Package Off to President's Desk with Nearly $21M Investment for Coachella Valley Projects

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives sent its Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 government funding package to President Biden’s desk, which includes bold investments that will benefit local projects in California’s 36th District, legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-36) to honor the legacies of two local heroes, and provisions to address the crisis at the Salton Sea. The legislation will also increase funding for mental health programs for law enforcement officers.  

The funding package – also known as an omnibus – invests over $20 million in the 36th District that will improve clean water access in Hemet and the Eastern Coachella Valley, improve roads and bridges in Indio and Desert Hot Springs, expand clean transportation in the region, and strengthen access to child care for local families.  

“This is good news for our local economy and communities. With the $21 million in federal funding that I secured, local families from Hemet to Coachella to Blythe will see critical projects move forward that will drive economic development and strengthen our infrastructure,” said Dr. Ruiz. “I look forward to President Biden quickly signing this legislation into law to deliver these bold investments to our region.”  

The legislation also includes Dr. Ruiz’s bills to rename the La Quinta Post Office and a Palm Springs post office in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez and Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich, respectively. The omnibus will expand the Bureau of Reclamation’s ability to carry out projects at the Salton Sea and allow the agency to partner with local actors and enter into grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements. These provisions are based on Dr. Ruiz’s legislation, the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act. 

Additionally, Dr. Ruiz led efforts to increase funding for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Grant program under the Department of Justice. Working closely with local law enforcement, Dr. Ruiz successfully secured a $10 million investment for the program. After meeting with local law enforcement in the wake of Palm Springs Officers Zerebny and Vega’s deaths, Dr. Ruiz has worked to increase funding for the program by $8 million.  

“I am also thrilled to see the House send my bills that will honor the legacies of Cpl. Hunter Lopez and Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich to President Biden’s desk,” continued Dr. Ruiz. “Along with my provisions to bolster the federal response to the crisis at the Salton Sea and increase mental health funding for our local law enforcement, this year’s funding package will make a positive difference in the lives of my constituents.”   

Lastly, Dr. Ruiz’s bill, the Physician Wellness Program Act, was included in the funding package. The bill would expand access to hospital-based mental health care programs created to give providers the mental health and wellness resources they need. 

These provisions – as well as the nearly $21 million community investment – was met with praise from local leaders.  

“I applaud the passage of Dr. Ruiz’s Salton Sea legislation to empower Reclamation to work with local agencies including the Salton Sea Authority to address the public health and environmental crisis impacting our region,” said G. Patrick O’Dowd, Salton Sea Authority Executive Director. 

“The federal government owns some 40 percent of the land in and around the Salton Sea but has had its hands tied when it comes to participating in state-run remediation projects,” said Frank Ruiz, director of Audubon California’s Salton Sea Program. “This legislation will significantly expand the ability of the Bureau of Reclamation to partner with the region’s other major landowners – state, local, and Tribal governments – to address the expanding public health and environmental crisis at the Salton Sea. Audubon California is grateful for Rep. Ruiz’s persistence in bringing much-needed federal attention to our region.” 

“Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians today are experiencing higher levels of burnout — which may impact their ability to care for their patients,” said Martin Massiello, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eisenhower Health. “Eisenhower Health cares deeply about the physical and emotional wellbeing of all physicians, and has worked with Congressman Ruiz’s Office to devise solutions addressing burnout factors physicians face daily. The Physician Wellness Program Act of 2022 will remove a significant barrier that prevented health care organizations like Eisenhower Health from providing comprehensive wellness programs for their physicians. With the passage of this new law, hospitals can now provide counseling, mental health and suicide prevention services, substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs and related wellness services to our physicians without the fear of violating the Stark Law. Eisenhower Health looks forward to supporting its physicians in these very important ways. And we are grateful to Congressman Ruiz for sponsoring the new law and advocating for our physicians’ wellbeing.”  

“DAP Health is extremely grateful for this investment in our campus expansion project to increase our ability to close the gap in primary and mental healthcare, as well as provide comprehensive services to increasing numbers of our community in need.  This generous funding will enable DAP Health to expand service delivery in Indio and Palm Springs and increase capacity from 10,000 to 25,000 people,” said David Brinkman, CEO of DAP Health. 

“The Hemet Public Works Department has identified over $100 million of capital improvement projects through 2027. Thanks to Congressman Ruiz's leadership and advocacy, water delivery to over 30,000 Hemet customers will remain uninterrupted,” said City of Hemet Public Works Director Noah Rau. “Our ultimate goal has been met here, and that is regional partnership for the betterment of Riverside County communities. The City of Hemet is incredibly grateful for the representation Congressman Ruiz is providing for us at the Capitol, and we remain committed to working with his office to bring the concerns of Hemet constituents to Congress.” 

“We are incredibly grateful to have the City of Hemet's priorities brought to the forefront of the federal budget.  By advocating for this project, Congressman Ruiz is serving a critical win for our community. On behalf of the entire City Council, thank you for your partnership and continued representation of the 36th District,” said Hemet Mayor Malcolm Lilienthal. 

“We are grateful to Congressman Ruiz for his help securing resources for critical mental health services in the Coachella Valley.  Congressman Ruiz’s efforts in securing funds for the Coachella Recovery Village will help connect those in need with vital behavioral health, substance use services, and housing,” said Dr. Matthew Chang of Riverside University Health System.  

“IID is pleased to work with Congressman Ruiz on this important energy infrastructure improvement project that will benefit thousands of customers in the communities of Mecca and North Shore in the Coachella Valley. Improving the resiliency of our energy grid in those communities has been a priority for IID and with the Congressman’s support, we are now able to proceed with constructing the first phase of this project,” said Alex Cardenas, President, IID Board of Directors.  

“The passage of the federal Omnibus Bill and Congressman Ruiz’s community projects is key to advancing economic development and sustaining thriving communities throughout the County of Riverside,” said City of Indio Mayor Oscar Ortiz. “Here in Indio, the funding will support critical upgrades to the Interstate 10 and Monroe Street Interchange, enhancing safety and increasing accessibility to Indio’s neighborhoods, businesses and amenities with additional traffic lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes and upgraded traffic lights.” 

“We are thankful for Dr. Ruiz’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of the region’s transportation and clean energy goals, and for the selection of SunLine in this funding opportunity,” said Lauren Skiver, CEO/General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. “This funding will allow the Agency to expand our public fueling infrastructure, helping to connect the state’s investments in the hydrogen economy to private trucking and the motoring public.” 

BACKGROUND 

Today’s legislation includes funding for the following projects:  

Imperial Irrigation District – Mecca and North Shore Energy Infrastructure Resiliency Project 

$2.4 million to reduce energy service interruption resulting from outages often caused by extreme weather events such as high winds and rainstorms.  

City of Hemet – Water Main Replacement 

$1.2 million to replace an aging transmission line from Park Hill’s tank site to the City’s distribution system.  

Coachella Valley Water District – Valley View Mobile Home Park Water Consolidation Project 

$3.45 million to install new water mains along Airport Blvd, Fillmore Street, Avenue 55, and Desert Cactus Drive to consolidate nine small water systems into Coachella Valley Water District potable water system. 

City of Indio – Interstate 10 and Monroe Street Interchange 

$1.5 million for the Interstate 10 (I-10) and Monroe Street Interchange Project to reconstruct and widen the Monroe Street interchange on the I-10 freeway. 

City of Desert Hot Springs – Bridges Over Water Project 

$2.5 million to construct two new bridges over low water crossings. These two bridges will be along Indian Canyon Drive.  

Desert Aids Project (Palm Springs, CA) – Campus Expansion 

$2 million request to help fund four components of their campus expansion project.  

Morongo Band of Mission Indians – Fire Station 

$1 million for the construction of a new fire station on the Morongo Indian Reservation.  

Riverside County of Education (Several Cities in CA-36) –Workforce Expansion, Equity, and Engagement Project 

$1.4 million request to increase and expand the early education workforce pipeline to address the shortage of child care providers in Riverside County. The Riverside County Early Education Workforce Project will use this funding to increase its workforce by adding 115 licensed child care providers to the early education workforce. 

Riverside Health System – Coachella Recovery Village 

$1 million to increase infrastructure capacity, including crisis, residential, outpatient services for mental health / primary care / Substance Use Disorder in homelike settings and housing the homeless population.   

SAC Health (Blythe, CA) – Bus Station 

$150,000 to build an all-weather bus bench/shelter and pave the parking lot in front of their new SAC Health Blythe location. This funding would allow individuals to safely access SAC Health through both public and private transportation.  

San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital (Banning, CA) – Equipment Purchase   

$452,000 request to purchase two pieces of equipment. The hospital provides the only Emergency Department in the Pass Area with the next closest facility being 35 minutes to an hour away depending on traffic 

Torres- Martinez Desert Tribe (Thermal, CA) – Workforce Development, Job-Training Program, and Apprenticeship Program 

The Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe to assist in the completion of the Torres-Martinez Manufacturing and Fabrication Career Development and Job-Training Facility for the implementation of the Torres-Martinez Native American Workforce Development, Job-Training and Apprenticeship Program.  

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians – Dillon Road Corridor 

$2.7 million to reconstruct and widen a principal arterial roadway through Tribal lands in Riverside County.  

SunLine Transit (Thousand Palms) – Public Fueling Station 

$2.5 million to upgrade its 350-bar hydrogen public station to include a 700-bar fueling capability for light (personal vehicles) and heavy-duty (truck) vehicles effectively helping to transition the station to dispense hydrogen.  

The portions of Dr. Ruiz’s legislation, the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act, that are included in the omnibus are as follows:  

• The Bureau of Reclamation may enter into grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to carry out projects at the Salton Sea to improve air quality from lakebed dust, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and water quality. 
   
• The Bureau of Reclamation may partner with the State of California, Tribal and local governments, water districts, the Salton Sea Authority, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education to implement these projects. 

More information on Dr. Ruiz’s legislation to rename the La Quinta and Palm Springs Post Offices can be found here. More information on Dr. Ruiz’s Physician Wellness Program Act can be found here.  

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