Media

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to modernize America's food safety network. The Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards and Targeting Act, "Safe FEAST Act," would establish new food safety requirements for domestically produced and imported food to identify and prevent potential sources of food-borne illness. For the first time, the measure grants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statutory power to recall contaminated food in the case of adulteration.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) along with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) introduced legislation to ensure that "sole survivors" who leave military service receive full separation benefits.

The lawmakers announced their legislation at a Senate news conference attended by Jason Hubbard, of Clovis, California, an Army veteran and sole survivor who lost his two brothers in Iraq.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Bakersfield) announced an award of 17 classic books on the theme of "Created Equal" to numerous school libraries in Bakersfield and Sanger. This award was made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities' (NEH) We The People Bookshelf program. The Bookshelf includes Spanish translations to accompany four of the selected titles.

"Reading is the most fundamental skill students need for success," said Costa.

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that a grant of $500,000 has been awarded to the City of Parlier for business assistance and micro-enterprise loans. This grant is being awarded through the Economic Development Enterprise Fund Allocation of the State Community Development Block Grant Program. Funds will be used to provide micro-enterprises low-interest loans and technical assistance to businesses located within the city limits.

"This is great news for Parlier," said Costa.

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that a grant of $994,863 has been awarded to the Kern County Superintendent of Schools-Kern County Museum in Bakersfield, CA for their History of a Nation project. These funds are being awarded through the United States Department of Education under their Teaching American History grant program, and funds will be used to raise student achievement in American history throughout Kern County.

"This is great news for Kern County," said Costa.

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that two new employees have joined his staff. Bob Farmer, a legislative fellow, will serve as Costa's foreign affairs, defense, and intelligence staffer, while Kristin Brainerd will take on Costa's resources, water, energy, and environment portfolio. Costa serves on the House Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, and Agriculture committees.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality passed H.R. 3754, legislation to allow the retrofitting of diesel engines with new, lower emissions technology. HR 3754 is authored by Congressman Jim Costa and co-sponsored by fellow California colleagues: Dennis Cardoza, Jerry McNerney, Doris Matsui and Devin Nunes. Costa introduced this legislation in partnership with Senator Tom Carper, who introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate. Carper's bill was recently approved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that approximately $6.997 million has been approved for the Fresno VA hospital by the Department of Veterans Affairs. These funds will be dedicated to a minor construction project for the Mental Health Outreach and Rehabilitation building.

"This is good news for the Fresno VA and all our local veterans," said Costa. "Minor construction projects done today save from doing major construction projects ten or fifteen years from now."