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Applauds actionby VA to step up care for soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
FRESNO, CA – Congressman Jim Costa hailedyesterday's announcement by Veterans Administration Secretary Shinseki that theVA is adopting new regulations to make it easier for our nation's veteranssuffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to receive critical healthand disability benefits.
"Postponing this critical bond measure is frustrating to most of us who support the water package. However, the possibility of delay is better than outright defeat in November.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa today announced $2,999,913 in funding to strengthen health care and create new job opportunities in the Valley. The funding, made available through the Department of Labor's Community-Based Job Training program, will help meet the Valley's growing health care workforce needs by providing job training and placement to over 300 Valley residents.
WASHINGTON,D.C. –Congressman Jim Costa today announced $10 million in funding for Valley farmersand ranchers to upgrade their tractors and agricultural equipment. The funding,made available through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),offers agricultural producers incentives for retiring old inefficient engines tohelp improve air quality.
Washington,D.C. –Following Judge Oliver Wanger's May decision that federal regulationsrestricting Valley water are flawed, Valley water users and environmentalgroups reached an agreement regarding the Delta smelt that will keep the pumpsmoving water south of the Delta turned on through June. All pumpingrestrictions required under the smelt biological opinion will cease as of July1st, allowing water to flow freely to the Valley through the end ofthe year.
WASHINGTON,D.C. –Congressman Jim Costa today introduced a resolution expressing opposition toIran's nuclear weapons program and ongoing human rights abuses. The resolutionalso reaffirms Congress' support for Iranian citizens struggling for freedomand calls for fair, democratic elections in Iran.
Increase brings allocation to four times the amount of water the Valley received last year
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa today announced that the Interior Department will be increasing water allocations from the federal Central Valley Project to 45 percent for agricultural service contractors south of the Delta. Interior's latest announcement is another increase from the Department's initial announcement of 5 percent on February 26.
Sheriff applauds Costa for securing funds to help make raid possible
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa today applauded Valley law enforcement following this week's raid on the violent Nuestra Familia gang. The raid, which resulted in over 30 arrests, was one of the largest in the Valley's history. Law enforcement took down the gang's organizational structure, seizing drugs and firearms in the process.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa announced that today Medicare will begin mailing out $250 ‘donut hole' checks to tens and thousands of qualifying seniors. Under the recently enacted health reform law, seniors who fall in the donut hole coverage gap in 2010 will receive this one-time, tax-free $250 rebate check. These checks will continue to be mailed monthly over the next several months as seniors enter the coverage gap.