Media

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), co-chair of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition, released the following statement about the U.S. Senate's early morning vote to defeat the passage of the Health Care Freedom Act, legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA):

Washington, DC – Today the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing regarding protecting and promoting the agriculture sector during the anticipated renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. NAFTA is an economic and trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the value of U.S. agricultural trade has increased dramatically since the agreement took effect in 1994.

Washington, DC – Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. R. 3218, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017. The legislation is the largest update to the GI Bill since the passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008, making extensive changes to the education benefits provisions. The bill is referred to as the "Forever GI Bill" due to its elimination of the 15 year deadline by which veterans must use their education benefits.

Washington, DC – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. R. 23, the Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017, by a vote of 230 to 190. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. David Valadao (CA-21), aims at increasing the amount, quality, and reliability of water available to communities in the Central Valley of California. A large portion of the bill focuses on modifying policies regarding the operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project and the implementation of the San Joaquin River Settlement.

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act on Thursday afternoon. The bill focuses on career and technical education (CTE) programs, funding grants for these programs through fiscal year 2023.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) urged the United States House of Representatives to pass the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act on Wednesday. Shortly thereafter, the House approved the legislation by a vote of 300 to 118. The bill aims at reducing wildfires by streamlining the process for managing trees and vegetation growing near power lines and electric distribution lines.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) attended the 2017 Portuguese Economic Forum on Tuesday. The forum, which took place in New York City, explored ways to secure and strengthen Portugal's economy as a key player in both regional and global economic systems. Rep. Costa discussed transatlantic alliances with the European Union's Ambassador to the United Nations, João Vale de Almeida, before participating in a larger panel roundtable that focused more closely on the Portuguese-US economic relationship.