Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar issued a report to Inland Empire residents outlining how he fought for them over the course of 2023. Rep. Aguilar prioritized securing resources for the region, creating good-paying jobs, lowering costs and promoting economic opportunity for all.

“As we close the chapter on 2023, I am proud to reflect on our work to serve the Inland Empire. I continued to focus on the issues that matter most to hardworking families: fighting to lower costs, make health care accessible, and boost our local economy. I also continued to fight on behalf of the students, veterans and seniors of the Inland Empire,” said Rep. Aguilar. “It remains an incredible honor to serve the community that my family has called home for generations, and I am committed to keep fighting for our region in 2024.”

During 2023, Rep. Aguilar delivered for the Inland Empire by:

• Helping 615 residents resolve outstanding issues with federal agencies, such as accessing the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
• Returning nearly $5.5 million the federal government owed to residents by federal agencies, including IRS refunds, veterans’ benefits and Social Security payments.
• Announcing nearly $185 million in direct federal funding for the Inland Empire, including funding for local police and fire departments, infrastructure projects, and expanding access to affordable housing and health care services. This funding includes the following:
  • $86,750,000 for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority for the West Valley Connector project to create an entirely zero-emission Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in San Bernardino County.
  • $64,533,842 for San Bernardino County Head Start to support a cost-of-living adjustment for our dedicated contract staff and to facilitate quality improvements to our programs.
  • $4,619,117 for the SAC Health’s Teaching Health Center to train future medical professionals.
  • $3,572,000 for San Bernardino County Flood Control District to combat the increased risk of climate disasters in the community. 
  • $3,046,195 for SAC Health to expand their services and provide quality, affordable health care to a greater number of San Bernardino County residents.
  • $3,000,000 for San Bernardino Community College District Economic Development and Corporate Training program to construct a multi-purpose instructional facility to expand workforce training in high-demand occupations.
  • $2,843,353 for Inland Empire Utilities Agency to develop a new, advanced treated recycled water supply, valuable new infrastructure upgrades, and provide environmental and ecosystem benefits in both Northern and Southern California.
  • $2,500,000 for California State University, San Bernardino for a new scholarship benefiting students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
  • $1,738,101 for the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health to strengthen the region’s public health workforce and bolster health care infrastructure.
  • $1,718,880 for the County of San Bernardino for public health care services.
  • $1,688,651 for the County of San Bernardino to improve public health infrastructure.
  • $1,520,647 for the San Bernardino County HIV Emergency Relief Project to provide medical care and resources for residents of San Bernardino County living with HIV/AIDS.
  • $1,116,000 for the Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc. to provide culturally responsive parental education that prioritizes family well-being and parent-child interaction.
  • $1,026,852.17 for the San Bernardino Fire Protection District to provide training to promote Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to Paramedics and healthcare for firefighters.
  • $819,000 for the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation Trust for fuel management and fire assistance to mitigate the damages of wildfire in the region.
  • $753,434 for the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino to provide more affordable housing for Inland Empire veterans, specifically creating 62 additional housing choice vouchers for veterans experiencing homelessness.
  • $747,000 for the California State University, San Bernardino Center on Aging to improve the overall health of seniors in our region.
  • $568,378 in Justice Assistance Grants to support law enforcement in Colton, Fontana, Highland, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino.
  • $500,000 to Inland Behavioral and Health Services, Inc. for their Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program.
  • $399,995 for California State University, San Bernardino to build community partnerships related to food systems and conduct food systems research that engages students and benefits the community.
  • $274,996 for Fenix Space, Inc. to help expand and revolutionize orbital launch and hypersonic flight testing in the Inland Empire.
  • $274,320 for California State University, San Bernardino’s Practical Inference Algorithms to Detect Hybridization project to further understand infectious disease dynamics and improve agricultural practices.
  • $186,638 for California State University, San Bernardino’s Center on Aging for gerontology research.
  • $150,000 for Young Visionaries to ensure Inland Empire youth have access to the tools they need to have brighter futures.
  • $49,450 for the County of San Bernardino Public Health for expanded health care services.

Throughout the past year, Rep. Aguilar fought for legislation to help San Bernardino County families by:

• Passing the Wounded Warrior Access Act, which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow veterans to receive a copy of their claim file (“C-File”) electronically to expedite the claims process, while also protecting veterans from the risks posed by working with unaccredited and unqualified claim consultants. The Wounded Warrior Access Act was signed into law on November 11, 2023.
• Introducing the University Centers for Growth, Development, Prosperity (GDP) Act, which codifies the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) University Center Economic Development Program and bolsters funding to between $500,000 to $1 million per University Center to leverage the assets of higher-learning institutions to strengthen regional economic growth by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.
• Introducing the Protecting Students’ Civil Rights Act to address discrimination and ensure racial equity on all college, university and trade school campuses by requiring all Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to designate at least one employee to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Introducing the Supporting Our Shelters Act, which would create a brand-new grant program under the Department of Agriculture to assist with shelter operations across the country.
• Introducing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Expansion Act, which would increase the annual funding cap for the Federal Highway Administration’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Program from $10 million to $25 million.
• Introducing the REPORT Act of 2023 to prevent future incidents of domestic terrorism. The REPORT Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to collaborate with the FBI, Office of the U.S. Attorney General and National Counter Terrorism Center to submit a report to Congress in the wake of domestic terror incidents. This report will have recommended actions for Congress to implement to prevent future terror incidents.
• Introducing the American Dream Employment Act of 2023, which would lift the current ban on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients from working on Capitol Hill.
• Introducing a bill to rename a post office building in San Bernardino after Dr. Margaret B. Hill.