Veterans
From the halls of the California State Legislature to the U.S. Capitol, Congressman Costa has been a steadfast advocate for those who’ve worn the uniform, driven by a deep respect for generations of veterans and their families. In Congress, he secured 65% ($92 million) of the construction funding through the VA to make the Fresno Veterans Home a reality. A decade later, Costa honored those who spent their final years there by delivering $150,000 in federal funding to build a memorial, a tribute etched in stone to their service and sacrifice.
But Costa’s fight for veterans goes far beyond that; he has secured millions in federal funding for Valley Veterans Healthcare, including:
$18 million to modernize and upgrade the Fresno VA Hospital.
$7 million to build a Mental Health Outreach & Rehabilitation Center in Fresno.
Supported federal funding to build VA clinics in Merced and Visalia.
Congressman Costa has a strong legislative record of delivering for veterans. In 2007, he cosponsored and worked across the aisle with Republicans and President George H.W. Bush to pass the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act, requiring the VA to provide comprehensive suicide prevention programs and 24/7 crisis support for veterans. Costa supported the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Actand the Veterans Access to Care Act, both signed into law by President Obama, to expand benefits for veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensure faster access to community providers when VA wait times were too long. In 2021, Costa championed the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act, and the Faster Payments to Veterans’ Survivors Act, all of which were signed into law by President Biden, to expand care, cut wait times, and ensure families receive benefits without delay. He was also an original cosponsor of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which, for the first time, provides health care to more than 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic burn pits and airborne hazards, ensuring those suffering from these hidden wounds finally get the care they deserve.
Congressman Costa led the charge to honor Hmong and Lao American veterans of the Vietnam War, passing the Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act and later expanding it through the SGU Veterans Service Recognition Expansion Act, both signed into law through the National Defense Reauthorization Act of 2018 and 2022. And right here at home, Costa ensured a local hero’s legacy would live on. His legislation to rename the Fowler Post Office in honor of former Postmaster Cecil E. Bolt, who served the community for 27 years and was a proud veteran, was signed into law, a permanent reminder of how much one life of service can mean to a town and our nation. Through every chapter of his public service, Congressman Jim Costa has shown that honoring veterans means more than ceremonies; it means delivering on the promises made to those who served.
More on Veterans
FRESNO, Calif. – On Medicaid Day of Action, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and healthcare leaders from United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley warned of the devastating impacts the so-called “
REEDLEY, Calif. - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) visited Adventist Health in Reedley to sound the alarm on the impacts of Medicaid cuts in President Trump’s ‘
WASHINGTON - In a heartfelt tribute, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) honored the life and legacy of John C. Harris on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, recognizing his decades of leadership in California and San Joaquin Valley agriculture. This formal recognition is one of the highest honors a Member of Congress can bestow.
VISALIA, Calif. – On the first anniversary of the Visalia VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), the Office of Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) recognized the transformational impact the Visalia VA Outpatient Clinic has had on the veterans of Tulare County.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement in honor of the passing of John Harris, a notable farmer, and philanthropist in the San Joaquin Valley.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement after House Republicans jammed through their partisan budget bill, which would add $4 trillion to the national deficit, while cutting vital relief for families in the San Joaquin Valley.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to pay tribute to the lives and service of two Central Valley heroes – Marine Lance Corporal Marcelino M. Gamino and U.S. Army veteran Guadalupe Castillo.
FRESNO, Calif. – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement after the death of a Marine from Fresno who was identified as one of the victims in a fatal
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget bill, also known as the Continuing Resolution (CR).