Agriculture
California’s 21st District is at the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, producing over $24 billion annually in dairy, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. A third-generation farmer, Congressman Jim Costa has been one of the nation’s most effective champions for agriculture in Congress.
As a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, he helped write the 2008, 2014, and 2018 Farm Bills. In 2008, he played a pivotal role in passing the Farm Bill over a presidential veto and secured the first-ever Horticulture title, giving California’s specialty crops long-overdue recognition in national farm policy. At the height of California’s drought crisis, Costa led efforts to secure $183 million in federal drought relief after bringing President Obama to the Valley to witness the crisis firsthand. He modernized food safety through the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 and reformed dairy programs in the 2014 Farm Bill, creating the Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC).
In 2018, Costa actively worked with U.S. Trade Representatives, congressional leadership, and industry stakeholders to shape amendments that made the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Serving on the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee, he fought to enhance funding for conservation programs like the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which help our farmers preserve their farmland. To build on these efforts, Costa has worked to increase outreach by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to help farmers access the tools and support they need to thrive.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he championed the American Rescue Plan, delivering direct aid to farmers and farmworkers. He also expanded SNAP benefits to support families and college students struggling with food insecurity. Recognizing the importance of trade to California’s economy, Costa founded the bipartisan Agricultural Trade Caucus and worked with President Biden to successfully remove retaliatory tariffs on major crops like almonds, walnuts, and apples, reopening critical export markets for farmers in the San Joaquin Valley.
FOOD & NUTRITION
California’s 21st District produces $24 billion in crops annually, yet nearly 30% of its residents rely on SNAP, the highest rate in California. This underscores the stark divide between agricultural abundance and persistent hunger in the heart of America’s food supply.
A champion for nutrition, Costa has consistently worked to protect and expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He fought against deep cuts during the 2018 Farm Bill, stood firm against stricter work requirements, and secured increased funding for food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Recognizing the unique challenges faced by different groups, Costa has advocated for legislation to expand SNAP for disabled veterans, assist food-insecure college students, and ensure that no veteran or their families go hungry. At the height of the pandemic, Costa helped deliver a 15% boost in SNAP benefits and pushed for Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) to support children missing school meals.
Costa's commitment extends beyond legislation. He has actively engaged with local organizations and food banks to support food distribution efforts and understand the community's needs. Whether in the Farm Bill or emergency relief, Costa has never wavered—fighting to make sure that in a region that feeds the world, every family has food on their table.
More on Agriculture
Legislation introduced in the House and Senate would set up a new voluntary program to help livestock and dairy operations of all sizes reduce their environmental footprint.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers, has endorsed legislation that addresses several key priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill.
Recent bills align with the group’s 2023 Farm Bill priorities:
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are introducing legislation to expand access to agriculture conservation programs. They say the Growing Access to Environmental Sustainability Act, or GATES Act, would reduce barriers producers face.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) joined Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and a bipartisan coalition in introducing the Growing Access to Environmental Sustainability (GATES) Act to reduce barriers that producers face in accessing agricultural conservation programs.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa joined Representatives Mike Gallagher and Mike Thompson and a bipartisan coalition of members in introducing the Protecting U.S.
Undocumented farmworkers in the Central Valley may soon have an easier time obtaining legal resident status now that Congress members from both sides of the aisle have pitched in to resurrect a 2021 piece of legislation. If passed, the law could speed up the time it takes for undocumented farmworkers and their families to earn temporary or permanent resident status.
A bipartisan group in the U.S. House of Representatives has reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act for the third time, seeking a workforce solution to the labor-stressed specialty crop industry and other farm sectors.