Costa Claims Ranking Member Spot on Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Researc

Costa Will AlsoServe on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy & Forestry;Resources Subcommittees on Water & Power and Energy & Mineral Resources

Fresno,CA –After being selected as Ranking Member on the Rural Development, Research,Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, Congressman Costa made thefollowing statement:

"Our smaller cities and rural areas are a critical part of our Valley's economy,"said Costa. "By serving as Ranking Member of the Rural Development, Research,Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, I intend to bring muchneeded attention to the priorities of our rural towns. From Selma to Parlier,Kettlemen City to Weedpatch, the Valley has a great deal of need."

"AsRanking Member, I am also committed to protecting research programs at ourValley's great agricultural colleges like my alma mater, Fresno State anddefending successful export initiatives like the Market Access Program thathave helped to expand markets and promote U.S. agriculture products abroad."

Costawill continue as a member of the Resources Subcommittee on Water andPower."Water and jobs continue to be among my highest priorities as I representthe needs of farmers, farm workers, and farm communities in our Valley. Even as rain and snow are falling throughout the state, we know that ourValley's water issues are far from over. I look forward to working in abipartisan fashion with my colleagues on the Water and Power Subcommittee andthis Administration as we look for real solutions to our state's waterchallenges."

CongressmanCosta will serve on the following subcommittees:

Committeeon Agriculture:

· Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research,Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture

Jurisdiction: Ruraldevelopment; farm security and family farming matters; agricultural research,education, and extension services; biotechnology, foreign agricultureassistance and trade promotion programs, generally.

· Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy & Forestry

Jurisdiction: Soil, water, and resource conservation, small watershed program, energy andbiobased energy production, rural electrification, forestry in general andforest reserves other than those created from the public domain.

Committeeon Resources

· Subcommittees on Water and Power

Jurisdiction: Generationand marketing of electric power from Federal water projects by Federallychartered or Federal regional power marketing authorities, water resourcesplanning conducted pursuant to the Water Resources Planning Act, water resourceresearch and development programs and saline water research and development,interstate waters, water rights and major interbasin water or power movementprograms, irrigation and reclamation projects, water resources development andrecycling programs, Indian water rights and settlements, international waterprograms

· Energy & Mineral Resources

Jurisdiction: U.S. Geological Survey, except for the activities and programs of the WaterResources Division or its successor, geothermal resources, conservation U.S.uranium supply, Mining interests, conservation and development of oil and gasresources of the Outer Continental Shelf, petroleum conservation on thepublic lands and conservation of the radium supply, transportation of naturalgas from or within Alaska and disposition of oil transported by thetrans-Alaska oil pipeline, rights of way over public lands for undergroundenergy-related transportation.