Media

Washington, DC. (November 15^th, 2013)-Jim Costa (D-CA), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT), and Steve Womack (R-AR), authors of the Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act (H.R. 1462), reacted this afternoon to the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to reduce the amount of ethanol blended into fuel in 2014.

Washington, DC—Rep. Jim Costa supported legislation that will put the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) backon track in delivering former service members the benefits they have earned. The last 6 months have shown great progress with the backlog at VA being reduced by 30 percent, but there still are more than 400,000 overdue cases awaiting review at the Department and Costa's office works with many of these veterans daily. The House overwhelmingly approved bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to address the backlog at VA with a vote of 404-1.

Washington, DC—Rep. Jim Costa joined with Hmong veterans to announce that he will introduce legislation this week that would recognize the service and sacrifices of Hmong veterans in the Valley and nationwide. Costa is joined by Vietnam veteran Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA) in introducing the Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act, which would extend burial benefits in national cemeteries to Hmong and Lao Americans who served beside U.S.

For too long your government has been unnecessarily shutdown due to Congress's inability to face simple facts and act like grownups. When we should be working to reopen your government and protect the full faith and credit of this nation, a lot of my colleagues have let "I's" dominate the dialogue in Washington: inaction, irresponsible choices, and irrational logic.

You expect and deserve better.

Washington, DC—Rep. Jim Costa announced his support for the bipartisan Senate agreement that would reopen the government and prevent a financial crisis.

"For too long our government has been closed for business while partisan bickering and inaction ruled the day," said Costa. "Tonight, I will be voting to get government back to work and preserve the full faith and credit of the United States."

Washington, DC—Rep. Jim Costa was named to the conference committee that will meet with the U.S. Senate to negotiate final legislation that will reauthorize the nation's agricultural and nutrition policies. The current Farm Bill extension expired on October 1^st, and now the conference must move quickly to work out the differences between the two versions of the legislation.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jim Costa called on House Republicans to end the misguided government shutdown that is hurting Valley residents, the 144^th Fighter Wing, visitors to our national parks, and our economy as a whole. Knowing that his constituents depend on and deserve assistance with federal agencies, Costa's staff has been and will continue working without pay until the government gets back to work. When the government closed on October 1^st, Costa immediately asked that his own pay also be withheld for the duration of the shutdown.

Dear Friends,

The United States Government is currently closed for business due to Congress's inability to come together to pass a stopgap spending measure before the end of the fiscal year. However, I want to make you aware that my Fresno, Merced, and Washington Offices will remain open for the duration of the shutdown.