Costa Elected Ranking Member of Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee

Washington, D.C.– Rep. Jim Costa released the following statement after being elected to serve as the Ranking Member of the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee.

"It is an honor to be elected as Ranking Member of the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee. Having served on the Livestock Subcommittee during the last two Congresses and as a proud Representative of California, the nation's leading Agricultural state, I have intimate knowledge of the issues that fall under the Subcommittee's Jurisdiction which includes all policies and markets relating to livestock, poultry, dairy and seafood.

"In the 114th Congress, this Subcommittee will play a role in overseeing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014. The bill includes two important dairy provisions, the new Margin Protection Program and, critical to California, language that allows California's dairy producers to elect if they enter the Federal Milk Marketing Order.

"Finally, the Subcommittee will provide guidance as the Administration continues to negotiate critical trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. These trade deals will help increase exports for the entire country and California which has exports that total $168 billion, of which agriculture accounts for $18.8 billion, and supports 802,000 jobs across the state.

"As Ranking Member of the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, I am fully prepared to face any challenges presented and look forward to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to advance and protect our country's agricultural interests."

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