Legislation that raises quality of life, creates good paying jobs, supports small businesses and lifts up working families

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar voted to pass H.R. 8294, a package of six government funding bills which includes over $22 million in Community Project Funding for the Inland Empire. These investments will raise the quality of life for working families, create good-paying jobs and support small businesses.

“Families in my community and across the country are struggling right now,” said Rep. Aguilar. “The investments I secured for the Inland Empire will help strengthen the middle class, address homelessness and support small businesses. I was proud to vote on these bills that bring over $22 million, foster economic development and make real differences in people’s lives. I will continue to fight for funding that will make our community safer and even more resilient.”

Rep. Aguilar championed funding for 11 projects that will directly benefit Inland Empire residents, including:

• $2,000,000 for the Lake Rialto Habitat Management and Community Open Space project, which will promote a healthier and more sustainable community in the city of Rialto and increase access to nature for residents.
• $2,500,000 for the Santa Ana River Enhanced Stormwater Recharge Project Phase 1B, which will increase the amount of storm water from the Santa Ana River that can be captured from the Seven Oaks Dam and help the roughly 400,000 people throughout the region who rely on the groundwater source.
• $4,166,000 for the Reche Canyon Rd. Realignment to Hunts Lane, which will provide much-needed relief to the congestion at the intersection of Hunts Lane and Washington Street and Reche Canyon Road and Washington Street in the City of Colton.
• $3,000,000 for the Arrowhead Grove Community Resource Center, which will create a resource center at the Arrowhead Grove housing community and provide easy access to services by establishing a multi-faceted health campus open to any San Bernardino resident.
• $1,000,000 for the Cucamonga Canyon Trailhead at Morgan Ranch, Rancho Cucamonga, which will create a trailhead to protect natural resources of Cucamonga Canyon, enhance public access to the area and protect the safety of visitors and residents.
• $1,400,000 for the Restoration of San Bernardino’s Historic Roosevelt Bowl, which will renovate and re-open the New Deal-era outdoor performance venue, an important economic catalyst for the city of San Bernardino.
• $3,000,000 for the 3rd Street Corridor Project, which will support a much-needed infrastructure project that will enhance safety, mobility and access to the growing San Bernardino International Airport.
• $1,000,000 for the Sustainable Communities Catalyst Project, which will allow a local non-profit to purchase and preserve affordable housing, while investing in neighborhoods and sustaining local businesses.
• $2,500,000 for the Little 3rd Street Project, which will support an infrastructure project developing the Little 3rd Street area in San Bernardino and expand access to transit, shopping centers and office space while improving safety for pedestrians and motorists.
• $750,000 for the Fontana Homelessness Prevention Resource and Care Center (Phase 1), which will provide housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness in San Bernardino County.
• $750,000 for the University Village Development Project, which will support a mixed-use infrastructure project for the University of Redlands, including the construction of a transit plaza. The “University Village” will include affordable housing, creative live/workspaces, green space and public transit access that will spur economic activity within the community.

In May 2022, Rep. Aguilar announced 15 Inland Empire Community Project Funding requests to tackle homelessness, job training, infrastructure and water conservation. 11 of these projects passed out of the full House of Representatives and 4 projects have passed out of the House Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Aguilar also championed specific language including:

• Encouraging the Army Corps to apply Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations to the Seven Oaks Dam and evaluate potential water control manual changes that may achieve water conservation benefits,
• Encouraging HUD to improve access to FHA loans by using the highest possible median house price to calculate FHA loan limits for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), like the Inland Empire, that experienced a drop in FHA loan limits of 20 percent or more when the Housing Economic Recovery Act went into effect,
• And directing the Government Accountability Office to review the current state of affordable housing properties that provide supportive services and provide recommendations on how these services can be improved.

Rep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and is a Member of the House Appropriations Committee.

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