{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://vargas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vargas-strategically-preserves-environmental-resources-and-strengthens", "Vargas Strategically Preserves Environmental Resources and Strengthens National Security", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Juan Vargas", "V000130", "vargas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC (December 20, 2013) \u2013 Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) applauded Senate passage of H.R. 3304, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a key provision he authored. The NDAA is now heading to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\nVargas\u2019 provision is based on H.R. 1691, \u201cChocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range Transfer Act of 2013,\u2019\u2019 that he introduced in April. By strategically attaching his bill\u2019s provisions to the NDAA, Rep. Vargas was able to effectively preserve crucial environmental resources in his district and strengthen national security.\n\u201cI am extremely proud that my legislation was included in the NDAA, which passed the Senate and is now making its way to the President\u2019s desk,\u201d stated Rep. Vargas. \u201cThe Chocolate Mountain provision not only provides a much-needed management arrangement between the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of the Navy, but also preserves the environmental integrity of the land and supports our national security.\u201d\nVargas\u2019 provision transfers the administrative jurisdiction of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR) from the Bureau of Land Management to the Secretary of the Navy. CMAGR, located within desert mountain terrain in Imperial and Riverside counties, supports numerous types of military training.\n\u201cThe Department of the Navy appreciates that Congress is taking action to retain the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR),\u201d said a spokesperson from the Department of the Navy. \u201cThis range is essential to the Marine Corps' current aviation training and readiness requirements and is used extensively by Naval Special Warfare units. It is the Marine Corps' premier Aerial Gunnery Range on the West Coast and retention will greatly enhance the ability of naval aviators in maintaining their combat superiority.\u201d\n\u201cConsolidating the land management under a sole federal agency will provide regulatory relief and certainty to the Department of the Navy, and allow the range to operate more efficiently while maintaining the spirit of the land withdrawal program,\u201d said Rep. Vargas.\nVargas represents California\u2019s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California\u2019s entire US/Mexico border.\u00a0 Vargas is currently serving his first term in Congress.\u00a0 He represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 \u2013 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 \u2013 2000.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://vargas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/vargas-strategically-preserves-environmental-resources-and-strengthens"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8259420283138752, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}