Press Releases
Washington, DC- Just before 1 am Thursday morning, the House Agriculture Committee voted on a wide bipartisan basis to advance the 2012 Farm Bill. Rep. Jim Costa joined 35 of his colleagues on the committee in supporting the measure that will set the nation's agriculture and nutrition policies for the next 5 years.
Protects Small Truckers and Students
Washington, DC- Rep. Jim Costa released the following statement following the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act.
"Health reform was not a perfect bill, but the status quo was unacceptable. Costs were rising and continue to rise, coverage was becoming harder to obtain, and over 40 million Americans were without health insurance, yet we are still paying for their care.
I support Americans having access to the care they need when they need it. That includes those with insurance and those struggling to obtain it.
Department to Hire 1 New Officer
Fresno, CA- Rep. Jim Costa announced today that $125,000 has been awarded to the Mendota Police Department from the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The funds from the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) will allow the police department to hire 1 additional officer.
Fresno, CA- Rep. Jim Costa announced today that Avenal Community Health Center has been awarded $920,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant is from the Health Cluster Grant program, which provides funds to improve facilities and boost capacity in rural areas.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that bundled 14 different land management bills into a single package. Despite qualms with a number of the provisions in the package and the process for consideration on the House floor, Costa supported the legislation citing that it contained legislation that would bring additional water to the Valley by allowing the modification of the Exchequer Dam spillway. Costa was an original cosponsor of the stand alone legislation to modify Exchequer.
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jim Costa announced today that California Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc., in Bakersfield will receive $121,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). These funds were awarded on a competitive basis to state and local agencies and other organizations that provide assistance to reintegrate veterans into to the workforce.
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jim Costa released the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement that he had nominated David "Mas" Masumoto to the National Council on the Arts.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Agriculture announced that Kern and Kings Counties have been designated as agriculture disaster areas due to damage from freezing temperatures, hail, and high winds that occurred between March 1 and April 30th. Producers in Kern and Kings Counties now are eligible for consideration for federal assistance through the Farm Services Agency (FSA).
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Costa welcomed the 20th District Art Competition winner, Sarah Fanucchi of Bakersfield's South High School, and her family to Washington. Sarah's painting is of her mother's official portrait when she enrolled in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 18. Her artwork "18 on 18" will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year.