In the News
A bill headed by U.S. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., would seek to ease a years-long shipping bottleneck at West Coast ports by applying federal antitrust laws to foreign ocean shippers that critics say use unfair trade practices that harm American businesses.
The legislation is a further response to ocean carriers’ recent practice of delivering imported goods from China and elsewhere and returning with empty containers, which has caused California tree nut and other growers to lose millions of dollars in overseas sales.
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A push by valley congressmen could see more resources going to protect some of the most iconic plant life in the state of California.
Congressman Jim Costa says they want to do some forest management now and help reduce some of the fuel that could feed fires later this year.
“It’s an effort, a bipartisan effort to really ensure we maintain and protect mother nature’s heritage that she’s given us,” said Costa.
TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Woodlake families impacted by severe flooding are doing their best to rebuild their homes and remain hopeful for financial support.
"At one point in time in the last month, 16 million California's have been living under this horrific flood and snow conditions," said Congressman Jim Costa.
Costa made rounds in Tulare County this week to take a closer look at the devastation caused by recent storms.
He was in Cutler on Wednesday and toured several impacted homes in Woodlake on Friday.
TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hundreds of families throughout Tulare County are still working hard to get back on their feet after floodwaters rushed into their homes.
Homes along Road 124 in Cutler were hit hard and residents are hoping support will be provided sometime soon.
Erica Torres is a mother of three and vividly remembers the water becoming a shallow river right in front of and through her home.
""We had to stay the night at the Veterans Hall. When I came here, I was just in tears to see my home," Torres explained.
CENTRAL VALLEY, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE) – As President Biden declared a Major Disaster Declaration for counties that have faced extreme floods, it began to get the ball rolling for the countless people who still need help to rebuild.
The declaration frees up federal funds for those who have faced the worst of it. It has destroyed homes, property, and countless acres of farmland all around.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A high-ranking representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set to make a trip to the Central Valley to see firsthand the impact of the storms residents have had to weather over the last few weeks.
WOODLAKE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Communities throughout the valley and state continue to deal with the effects of the latest atmospheric river.
The rain-on-snow event is forcing massive amounts of water downstream.
Meguel Lopez is just one of the dozens of Woodlake residents whose homes were flooded by overflowing water from Antelope creek.
One day following an atmospheric river that left large portions of the South Valley in six inches of flood waters, Congressman Jim Costa was in Tulare County to assess the damage.
Rep. Jim Costa announced Thursday that Fresno Yosemite International Airport will receive a $7.1 million federal grant to expand the terminal and $4.4 million to upgrade its primary runway.
“These federal investments will help fund the airport’s expansion, create good-paying jobs, and boost our economic growth, as part of an ongoing effort that I am engaged with the city of Fresno to improve air service for the public.” — Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is planning to stand up an agriculture task force focused on the farm bill as multiple Latino members join the House Agriculture Committee, according to a congressional staffer familiar with the issue.
Task force to be chaired by Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and include Democratic Reps. Tony Cárdenas (Calif.), Darren Soto (Fla.), Sylvia Garcia (Texas), Andrea Salinas (Ore.), Raul Ruiz (Calif.), Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (Wash.), Salud Carbajal (Calif.), Yadira Caraveo (Colo.), and Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.)
Nearly every member of the House Democratic Caucus signed onto a letter demanding an independent investigation into two fatal shootings carried out in the span of a week by officers at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We are calling for immediate independent investigations into both of these deaths, without interference,” the lawmakers wrote, referring to the killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and Joan Guerrero in Maine.