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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.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jim Costa blasted House Republican Leadership for their latest political stunt that further endangers the American economy and will likely lead to a government shutdown beginning late Monday night. The House approved partisan legislation that has no chance of clearing the Senate when they meet Monday afternoon to consider stopgap spending measure. Every day that the government is shutdown will cost taxpayers a projected $150 million.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jim Costa announced that an investment of $600,000 is headed to the Valley to expand business opportunities for low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs. The grant to Fresno Community Development Financial Institution was awarded through the U.S. Department of Treasury's CDFI fund for lending and operations.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jim Costa announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded California more than $18.2 million to improve competitiveness and strengthen the market for specialty crops. The funds were provided by the Specialty Crop Block Grant program, which Costa fought hard to expand in the 2008 Farm Bill and was a key advocate for the additional investment of $375 million provided in the 2013 House version of the Farm Bill that is pending a conference committee with the Senate.

WASHINGTON, DC. – Rep. Jim Costa announced that the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has released more than $820,000 for the hire of four additional law enforcement officers. The funds are sent directly to law enforcement agencies to help hire or rehire law enforcement officials to improve local safety efforts. In the 16^th Congressional District, Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine, and Madera all received funds to hire an additional officer.