Media

FRESNO, CA - Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) is seeking local students interestedin attending our Nation's prestigious military academies. Applicationsare available from Representative Costa's District offices in Fresnoand Bakersfield to interested students who livein the 20^th Congressional District, which is comprised of parts of Fresno County,Kern Countyand all of Kings County. The deadline forsubmission is Monday, December 19, 2005.

FRESNO, CA - CongressmenJim Costa (D-Fresno) is among a bipartisan group of twenty-two CaliforniaMembers of the House of Representatives who have voiced their support foradequate funding of Veterans Homes. Thegroup includes Valley legislators, Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), George Radanovich(R-Mariposa) and Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield). Veterans' homes, Congressman Costa stated, "provide a critical safetynet for the well being of those who served our country."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-20) calledtoday (Tuesday, Nov.15) for greater Congressional oversight of decisions madeby Amtrak Board of Directors.

In testimony before the Railroads Subcommittee of the House TransportationCommittee, Costa said, "In reality the Administration wants to emasculate andthen kill Amtrak, putting another unfunded mandate on the back of any statethat decides to continue an inter-city rail system."

Today, Agriculture CommitteeRanking Democrat Congressman Collin C. Peterson (MN-7) and Agriculture CommitteeMember Congressman Jim Costa (CA-20) introduced a bill that would extend the2002 Farm Bill to provide certainty to farmers and to allow U.S.negotiators to focus on the ongoing Doha Development Round of World TradeOrganization negotiations.

Washington, DC - Calling it a step in the rightdirection to "Rid our great Valley of this devastating drug" Congressman JimCosta urged passage of HR 3889; The Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Actscheduled for a vote today (?).

FRESNO - Congressman JimCosta (D-Fresno) has appointed Bakersfieldresident, Yolanda Prado, as a delegate to the White House Conference onAging. Ms. Prado will represent the 20^thCongressional District at the conference in Washington, DCthat is set to begin on Saturday, December 10, 2005.

WASHINGTON,DC - Congressman Jim Costa(D-Fresno) voiced his strong support today, Tuesday, 12/13/05 on the floor ofthe House of Representatives for preventing families from being exposed to thehazardous remains of methamphetamine labs.

Speaking in support of HR 798, "Methamphetamine RemediationAct of 2005," Costa brought attention to the epidemic sweeping the San Joaquin Valley. "We in California's CentralValley have been fighting rampant meth abuse, production and cleanup for over 20 years."

FRESNO, CA -Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced today (Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005)that Fresno, Kern and Kings Countywill receive a grant totaling just under $2 million dollars from the United StatesDepartment of Justice office of the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

"These funds," Costa said, "help to compensate states andlocalities for the costs incurred for incarcerating undocumented criminalaliens."