Congressman Ruiz, Congressman Grijalva, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo Discuss the Economic Opportunity the Salton Sea Will Bring to the Region
North Shore, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo, released the following statement after their visit to Imperial Valley and the Salton Sea
“It is important to continue building partnerships with federal agencies and congressional leaders to address the Salton Sea and Lithium Valley opportunities. Having the head of the Economic Development Agency, Assistant Secretary Alejandra Castillo, and Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Congressman Raul Grijalva, listen to the hopes and aspirations of our residents and witness firsthand the real resource needs of our communities will empower our strategy to implement comprehensive solutions and bring federal resources to create jobs, build infrastructure, and improve lives,” said Dr. Ruiz. “I’m proud of the strong collaborative community support and will continue to put the people I serve front and center.”
“The climate crisis demands that we take action now to move towards a cleaner, safer energy economy,” said House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva. “Although new mining for minerals like lithium will be a necessary component of that clean energy transition, it must be done in a far more responsible and equitable way than has happened in the past. Given the ecological and economical importance of the Salton Sea to southern California, that responsibility could not be more clear here. I want to thank Congressman Ruiz for welcoming me to his district and for his continued leadership and advocacy for the communities of southern California on this important issue.”
“The Economic Development Administration works hand-in-hand with communities to support their bottom-up, middle-out economic development strategies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “EDA’s ever-growing roster of programs help communities invest in America’s economic and technological future.”
Background:
Congressman Ruiz has worked with state and local partners to identify and secure millions of dollars in federal funding for Salton Sea mitigation efforts such as the Red Hill Bay project, which covers 420 acres of exposed shoreline with water and creates geothermal energy access corridors and well pads for future renewable energy development. In January 2021, the State of California broke ground on the Species Conservation Habitat project, which will create over 3,000 acres of renewed habitat.
Congressman Ruiz also continues to push federal agencies to do their part to protect the health of our communities and address the Sea's decline. Upon his urging, the House Natural Resources Committee held a landmark hearing – the first since 1997 – to address the impending public health and environmental health crisis at the Salton Sea. In a major step forward, on November 28, 2022, the Biden Administration announced that it will allocate up to $250 million from Inflation Reduction Act funding for Salton Sea projects.
Congressman Ruiz has also recently introduced legislation to bring major federal investment to the Sea. On August 5, 2022, he introduced the Salton Sea Public Health and Environmental Protection Act of 2022, to bring significant federal funding to the Salton Sea while streamlining projects; increasing coordination between local, state, and federal officials; and holding federal agencies accountable to their commitments at the Salton Sea. He also introduced the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act, which would significantly expand the ability of the Bureau of Reclamation at the Department of the Interior to partner with state, local, and Tribal governments, as well as other entities to address the public health and environmental crisis at the Salton Sea.