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March 1, 2015

Bettina Boxall and David Pierson reported on the front page of Saturday's Los Angeles Times that, "In another blow to California's parched heartland, federal officials said Friday that for the second year in a row most Central Valley farmers are unlikely to receive water from the region's major irrigation project this summer.

"The announcement, while expected, means growers will probably have to idle more land — and produce fewer crops — because there is simply not enough water for all of their fields.

March 1, 2015

Bettina Boxall and David Pierson reported on the front page of Saturday's Los Angeles Times that, "In another blow to California's parched heartland, federal officials said Friday that for the second year in a row most Central Valley farmers are unlikely to receive water from the region's major irrigation project this summer.

"The announcement, while expected, means growers will probably have to idle more land — and produce fewer crops — because there is simply not enough water for all of their fields.

February 27, 2015

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Jim Costa issued the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that agricultural service contractors in the San Joaquin Valley served through the Central Valley Project (CVP), such as San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority and Friant Water Authority, will receive zero percent of their contracted federal water for the second consecutive year.

Issues:Water
February 27, 2015

California water legislation is starting to trickle across Capitol Hill.

One newly introduced bill would speed approval of Sites Reservoir in the Sacramento Valley. Another would help restore San Francisco Bay habitat. More targeted bills are coming.

So are some frustrations.

"I feel like that pop song, ‘Call Me Maybe,'" said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.

February 23, 2015

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Congressman Jim Costa released the following statement after the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports.

February 21, 2015

In this region that calls itself "The Cantaloupe Center of the World," vast fields that once annually yielded millions of melons lie fallow. And, for some farmers, planting tomatoes and other traditional row crops may now constitute acts of courage.

America's largest agriculture economy is changing because of a lack of water. Amid a prolonged drought and an anticipated third straight year of cutbacks in federal water supplies, the one assured constant is stress.

February 18, 2015

California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger speaks at a state Capitol news conference, during which he and other speakers urged action to end a labor dispute at West Coast ports.

Emphasizing the hardship that the slowdown at West Coast ports is having on California agriculture, several members of the state Legislature called on President Obama to intervene in the ongoing labor dispute between dockworkers and shippers that has crippled the movement of goods.

February 18, 2015

Fresno Democrat Jim Costa last November had his second close race in his past three congressional reelection bids, barely beating underfunded and unheralded Republican Johnny Tacherra.

Still, it appears national Republicans don't think Costa is vulnerable in 2016.

On Wednesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee released a list of 19 Democrats it will target in next year's elections. There are six Californians on the list, but Costa isn't among them.

How did Costa — who beat Tacherra by just 1.4-percentage points — escape the NRCC's 2016 crosshairs?

February 17, 2015

United States Trade Representative Michael Froman announced today that the United States has pursued dispute settlement consultations with the Government of China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning China's "Demonstration Bases-Common Service Platform" export subsidy program.

February 16, 2015

By several accounts, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is considering a U.S. Senate run, taking his time and weighing whether he wants to jump into an election battle that already includes state Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Villaraigosa's deliberations have not gone unnoticed in the central San Joaquin Valley, where Latinos — who are both allies and detractors — are eagerly awaiting a decision in the race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer.