Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – "Today's decision by Judge Wanger to grant a temporary restraining order on the salmon restrictions will allow the state and federal pumps to return to maximum capacity during a critical time period where useable flows can be captured, not wasted. This is indeed great news for our Valley's farms and economy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following yesterday's press conference held by Kings County officials regarding health concerns in Kettleman City, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) made the following statement. "We all have a responsibility to the residents of Kettleman City regarding recent health concerns that need to be addressed. My staff attended yesterday's press conference and shared with me that Kings County is going to take the lead to ensure the safety of those living in the area.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) said today that months of work to ‘turn on the pumps' will soon hit center stage with a potential Senate amendment to significantly increase water supplies to Valley farmers for the next two years. Costa has been working with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and local agriculture and water groups on an amendment to increase the amount of water allocated to Valley farms for the next two years. If successful, it will save tens of thousands of jobs in the San Joaquin Valley.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kern Community College District was awarded a $2,768,572 grant to train unemployed, dislocated and incumbent workers for technician and construction employment in the renewable energy industry. The grant was awarded by the United States Department of Labor through the Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries grant program. These funds were authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Fresno State will be receiving a $349,560 federal grant for their animal growth and nutrient utilization program. This grant was announced by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and funds will be used to study animal health and nutrition. California's total livestock and livestock product cash receipts reach nearly $11 billion each year.

"Our Valley's livestock and poultry producers account for a large portion of the Valley's economy," Costa said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Subcommittee on Water and Power held a legislative hearing on H.R. 4225, a bill authored by Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) which would provide immediate funding for water projects in California to help bring water to the Valley. Today's hearing sets the stage for the bill to move through committee and onto the House floor for a vote.

"Fighting for water for our Valley and for our economy are the most important issues for me," Costa said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statement. "I will do everything I can to help President Obama meet the challenges facing our nation in a bipartisan fashion. However, the President made no mention of the two most serious issues affecting our Valley's economy: water and housing. "Unbalanced federal regulations and reliance on faulty science have led to extreme water cuts which, in turn, have hurt our local economy and made our housing crisis worse.