Letters
Since the beginning of the 117th Congress, I have led and signed numerous letters to address various issues affecting my constituents, district, and the nation. Scroll on this page to learn more about previous and current initiatives I am leading for the Valley! To view letters from 2021, please click here.
August 2022
Letter to State Department and USAID urging U.S. support for Sri Lanka
August 18, 2022 - Rep. Costa signed a letter to Secretary of State Blinken and USAID Administrator Power urging them to take swift action to provide meaningful support to the Sri Lankan people in the face of widespread food, fuel, and medicine shortages. A copy of the full letter is available here.
July 2022
Letter to the Biden Administration to Protect Hospitals from Economic Impacts of COVID-19
July 26, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure urging the agency to make payment updates to the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule for fiscal year (FY) 2023 to better account for the economic impacts hospitals are facing due to COVID-19 and inflation. Click here to read the full letter.
Letter Calling On Biden Administration To Prevent Damaging Prescription Drug Price Hikes
July 15, 2022 - Rep. Costa, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) joined a letter to Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell urging the Senate to convene a vote on H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
Letter Calling On Biden Administration To Prevent Damaging Prescription Drug Price Hikes
July 15, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter calling on the Biden Administration to prevent reckless prescription drug cost hikes and defend the 340B Drug Pricing Program in the face of illegal actions from several pharmaceutical companies. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling on President Biden to bolster U.S.-Israel Relationship
July 6, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter urging President Biden to take concrete steps to bolster the U.S.-Israel relationship, combat threats from Iran, and request a briefing on the progress accomplished during the trip. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Bipartisan Letter to President Biden Opposing Proposed Sale of F-16 Fighter Jets to Turkey
July 8, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter calling on President Biden to express opposition to the potential sale of next-generation F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey. The letter is available here.
Letter Requesting the Federal Trade Commission to Ensure Protections for Sensitive Data Following Roe v. Wade Reversal
July 6, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter requesting Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan “immediately use the full power” of the agency to protect the data of people seeking abortion from predatory companies. full text of the letter here.
June 2022
Letter urging US DOE to Invest in Microgrid Development
June 30, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Secretary of Energy to consider and allocate funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for microgrid expansion and local power resilience. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling on Air Force to locate STARCOM headquarters in California
June 30, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III calling for the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) permanent headquarters to be located at either the Los Angeles Air Force Base or the Vandenberg Space Force Base, both of which are in California. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter urging Pacific Maritime Association, ILWU to engage in good faith negotiations
June 30, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), asking them to engage in good faith negotiations and to remain at the bargaining table as they work on a new contract. The full text of the letter is available here.
Letter urging USDA to address U.S. wood exports
June 23, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to address the barriers of entry to global markets for U.S. lumber exporters. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter urging House leadership to bring Law Enforcement Bills to the Floor for a Vote
June 23, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter urging House Leadership to bring bipartisan, commonsense law enforcement bills to the House floor for standalone votes to invest in local police departments. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter Calling On Biden Administration To Address Security Implications Of Global Food Crisis Caused By Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine
June 21, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter today urging Congressional leadership to support their efforts to secure additional funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), a crucial program created under the American Rescue Plan that has provided more than 12.5 million students access to the Internet over the past year. A copy of the letter can be found here.
Letter Demanding Accountability from Small Business Administration on Disaster Loans
June 16, 2022 - Rep. Costa signed onto a bipartisan letter demanding accountability from the Small Business Administration on how they have been processing Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications. The full letter text can be found below andhere.
Letter Calling On Biden Administration To Address Security Implications Of Global Food Crisis Caused By Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine
June 3, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter urging the Administration to ask the Palestinian Authority to provide access to the forensic evidence in the death of Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, for an independent investigation. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter Calling On Biden Administration To Address Security Implications Of Global Food Crisis Caused By Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine
June 2, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding their concerns about the impacts of Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine on the growing global food crisis and their consequences for American national security. A copy of the letter is availablehere.
May 2022
Letter urging to drop provisions that would hamstring future research funding at the National Science Foundation (NSF)
May 24, 2022 - Rep. Costa signed a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging conferees to reconcile the differences between the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521) and the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) (S. 1260) to drop provisions that would hamstring future research funding at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE). A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling on the State Department to take action to address J-1 Visa processing delays
May 24, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan call demanding the Department of State take action to address J-1 Visa processing delays ahead of the summer. Read the full text of the letter here.
Letter urging the Biden Administration to address the formula shortage
May 17, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a group of colleagues in a letter urging the Biden Administration to continue diligently addressing the formula shortage and treat these products as a priority in supply chain resilience efforts. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize clean truck standards
May 12, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a group of colleagues in a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize ambitious clean truck standards that reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and greenhouse gas emissions and include requirements for the sale of zero-emission trucks. A copy of the letter is available here.
April 2022
Letter Requesting Update on Administration Review of US-Saudi Relationship
April 13, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a group of colleagues in a letter to Secretary Blinken requesting information on the status of the administration’s review and assessment of the U.S.-Saudi relationship and how current U.S. policy on Saudi Arabia is advancing core U.S. interests. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling on President Biden to exempt vaccinated travelers from the 24-hour testing requirement
April 12, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a group of colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden calling for fully vaccinated travelers to be exempt from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) current 24-hour negative COVID-19 testing requirement. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter to the Census urging action following the 2020 Census results
April 6, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to the Commerce Department and the U.S. Census Bureau expressing concern about the undercount of Latino, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native populations in the 2020 Census. A copy of the letter is available here.
March 2022
Letter Urging Biden Admin to Prioritize Agriculture in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Discussions
March 30, 2022 - Rep. Costa co-led a bipartisan letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging them to prioritize agriculture in the upcoming Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (Framework). A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling for Small Business support in the COVID supplemental relief bill
March 17, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to Congressional leadership calling for the inclusion of much-needed relief for the country’s hardest-hit small businesses in the upcoming COVID supplemental bill. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission to combat fertilizer import prices
March 17, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bicameral letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) requesting it address the strain on the fertilizer supply by eliminating duties on phosphate fertilizer products imported from Morocco and suspending the process to impose new duties on urea ammonium fertilizer from Trinidad and Tobago. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling on the government of India to condemn Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine
March 16, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to the U.S. Ambassador to India urging the Indian government to condemn Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. A copy of the letter is available here.
Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter calling for the U.S. potato export agreement to be honored and expedited
March 14, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan, bicameral letter calling on the USDA to press its counter-agency in Mexico to honor and expedite the U.S.-Mexico trade deal restoring U.S. fresh potato exports to Mexico. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling on the Treasury Department & IRS to defend pandemic unemployment benefits
March 14, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig calling for the protection of unemployment benefits after delays at the California Employment Development Department (EDD). A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter urging U.S. State Department to continue to support U.S. mission Ukraine staff
March 11, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing concern for the ongoing safety of Ukrainian employees of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development and urging the department to continue to assist them and their families in relocating out of the country as needed. A copy of the letter is available here.
Bipartisan, bicameral letter calling for providing QR codes on Grave Markers for all Fallen Heroes & Veterans
March 11, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough calling for providing families of veterans with the option of utilizing Quick Response Codes (QR Codes) on grave markers or headstones to better tell the stories of our fallen service members. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter urging Congress to support an expansion of COVID-19 relief
March 8, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to help ensure a just and equitable pandemic recovery by including robust, dedicated funding to support people battling Long COVID in a future coronavirus relief package. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter to the Biden Administration urging increased engagement in the Balkans
March 7, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to Secretary of State Blinken urging the Biden administration to increase its diplomatic engagement in the Western Balkans. A copy of the letter is available here.
Bipartisan letter calling attention to the worsening refugee crisis in Ukraine
March 3, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter calling attention to the worsening refugee crisis in Ukraine. A copy of the letter is available here.
Bipartisan letter calling for sporting and cultural sanctions against Russia
March 3, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter urging President Biden to work with allies and partners around the world to bar Russia from international sports and cultural events and organizations. A copy of the letter is available here.
Bipartisan letter urging DHS for improvements to USCIS Contact Center
March 1, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Jaddou to make improvements to the USCIS Contact Center, specifically the scheduling process for local field office appointments. A copy of the letter is available here.
February 2022
Bipartisan, bicameral letter urging the State Department against Increasing Fees on Temporary Agricultural Worker Visas
February 28, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urging the State Department against increasing fees on H-2A temporary agricultural worker visas. The proposed increase would raise the fees from $190 to $310, presenting a significant financial challenge for America’s farmers. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to be granted to Ukrainians
February 28, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter calling for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to be granted to Ukrainians amidst the ongoing Russian invasion. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter urging the Biden Administration to pledge for replenishment in the global fund
February 23, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter urging the Biden administration to commit to a robust and increased three-year U.S. pledge for replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter urging TRICARE to cover COVID-19 tests for active-duty personnel and military families
February 22, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to Secretary Austin urging the Department of Defense to update TRICARE’s policy to cover at-home COVID-19 tests for active-duty service members and military families. A copy of the letter is available here.
Bipartisan letter to President Biden underscoring Congress's authority relating to U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict
February 22, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter calling on the Biden administration to urge the president to receive authorization from Congress before involving U.S. armed forces in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling for immediate implementation of infrastructure investments
February 15, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter calling on House and Senate leadership to release funding for much-needed infrastructure improvements nationwide. A copy of the letter is available here.
Letter calling for an extension of COVID-19 sick leave for workers
February 14, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a letter calling on House leadership to move forward with an extension of the COVID-19 sick leave mandate, which expired in December of 2020. A copy of the letter is available here.
Bipartisan Letter Calling on the Biden Administration urging rejection of F-16 fighter jet scale to Turkey
February 4, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined over 50 leaders from the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and the Congressional Hellenic Caucus. In a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the lawmakers strongly urge them to reject a request from the Republic of Turkey to purchase next-generation F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits from the United States. A copy of the letter is available here.
January 2022
Costa, Thompson, Neguse Lead Letter to President Biden Urging Increased Efforts to Mitigate Wildfires
January 28, 2022 - Reps. Jim Costa (CA-16), Mike Thompson (CA-05), and Joe Neguse (CO-02) led a letter alongside 11 House colleagues from impacted districts to President Joe Biden calling for a more robust strategy for identifying and responding to wildfires. The full text of the letter can be found here
Bipartisan Letter to President Biden to protect U.S. Olympic Athletes
January 27, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan group of 23 House members in a letter urging President Biden in response to Chinese officials threatening punishment for athletes who engage in a prohibited speech during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The full letter can be found here.
Letter to US Treasury Department to reduce IRS backlog and bring relief to taxpayers
January 26, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined over 191 colleagues in a letter urging the Treasury Department to address the unprecedented challenges facing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and bring relief to American taxpayers as tax filing season begins. The full text of the letter is available HERE.
Letter to USTR Tai Calling for Expanded Tariff Exclusion Process
January 20, 2022 - Rep. Costa and 137 of their colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai expressing their strong support for establishing a comprehensive and fair exclusion process that would allow U.S. producers, manufacturers, and importers to request relief from Section 301 tariffs on imports from China. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter to Social media companies urging action to combat Spanish-language disinformation
January 18, 2022 - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) called on the Chief Executive Officers of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok to meet with the Caucus to discuss concerns with Spanish-language misinformation on the platforms and the steps the companies are taking to address it. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter to the Biden Administration to expand access to COVID-19 rapid testing
January 12, 2022 - Rep. Costa joined more than 40 members of the House and Senate in a recent letter to President Joe Biden, calling on the administration to expand access equitably and quickly to rapid tests for COVID-19. The full text of the letter can be found here.
To view letters from 2021, please click here.