Media

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that bundled 14 different land management bills into a single package. Despite qualms with a number of the provisions in the package and the process for consideration on the House floor, Costa supported the legislation citing that it contained legislation that would bring additional water to the Valley by allowing the modification of the Exchequer Dam spillway. Costa was an original cosponsor of the stand alone legislation to modify Exchequer.

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jim Costa announced today that California Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc., in Bakersfield will receive $121,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). These funds were awarded on a competitive basis to state and local agencies and other organizations that provide assistance to reintegrate veterans into to the workforce.

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jim Costa released the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement that he had nominated David "Mas" Masumoto to the National Council on the Arts.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Agriculture announced that Kern and Kings Counties have been designated as agriculture disaster areas due to damage from freezing temperatures, hail, and high winds that occurred between March 1 and April 30th. Producers in Kern and Kings Counties now are eligible for consideration for federal assistance through the Farm Services Agency (FSA).

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Costa welcomed the 20^th District Art Competition winner, Sarah Fanucchi of Bakersfield's South High School, and her family to Washington. Sarah's painting is of her mother's official portrait when she enrolled in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 18. Her artwork "18 on 18" will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year.

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jim Costa announced today that Kern County and the cities of Bakersfield and Delano will receive $11.4 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for community development and assistance to the homeless. The funds were made available through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) program and the HOME program. In March, Costa joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to urge that the U.S. House Appropriations Committee maintain funding for CDBG in 2013.

Fresno, CA– Rep. Jim Costa announced today that Fresno, Kern, and Kings Counties will receive $4.8 million under the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program as compensation for lost property tax revenue from non-taxable federal lands. Though the guaranteed funds for the PILT program expired last year, Costa has urged the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Conference Committee to extend the program. Fresno, Kern, and Kings Counties rely on these funds to help keep teachers, police, firefighters, and nurses on the job.

Fresno, CA– Rep. Jim Costa announced today that Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission will receive $19.7 million for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Fresno.