Jim Costa

As a third-generation farmer from California's San Joaquin Valley, I wish everyone a happy National Agriculture Day, something that we do throughout our country. I am proud, obviously, to represent the heart of California's San Joaquin…

We look forward to continuing to work with you, and my time has expired, but this is a critical issue, obviously for American agriculture, as you know.

I think that strategy is a mistake.

This is an important hearing for our House Agriculture Committee to get a report early in the year.

I mean, there are multiple factors in this. We have more population, we have rivers down the coast far below San Francisco that no longer provide the fishery resource that they used to because of a whole combination of factors and…

Finally, on an upbeat note, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of California at Merced in my district being named one of the country's universities of the year by Education Dive, which honors education's top innovators…

Last month we commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is important that we always take note because, sadly, genocide and anti-Semitism continues to exist in the 21st century. As the philosopher George Santayana once explained: Those who…

We have to be--and if we are repairing--guess what? More hurricanes are going to come, more tornadoes are going to come, more floods are going to come, and wildfires.

The impacts of climate change are one of the most significant challenges we face in the 21st century.

To our national parks. Mr. Speaker, let me close by underlining one comment that Mr. Garamendi made earlier. I know, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman is one of our leaders as it relates to our Nation's security…

I think until the end of February, which would allow us to debate appropriate border security in a committee process in the House and in the Senate, working together with this administration and the President. There would be give and take…

I was in Puerto Rico last weekend, and the recovery funding is a serious matter, as it is in Paradise. It is simply wrong. It is wrong and immoral for us to do this.

I heard it not once, not twice, but more times than I care to remember. Clearly, Mexico is not going to pay for the wall. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Garamendi and I know that there is bipartisan willingness to improve border security. The gentleman…

Congressman Garamendi has demonstrated leadership both here in our Nation's capital and when we worked together in Sacramento, and I commend his efforts and thank him for yielding to me. The government shutdown is simply irresponsible. The…

Farmers cannot sign up for new crop insurance as well to help them manage risks as we approach the planting season, and farming is a risky business. What is more, food safety is put at risk while food inspectors are forced to work without…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, this legislation, along with the other bills that we have been voting on, is about doing our job. It is about reopening government. It is about reestablishing Congress as a coequal branch…

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to be in attendance for Roll Call Vote No. 500. Had I been present I would have voted YES.

I thank my good friend, Mr. Peterson, for yielding the time, and I thank him for his work, along with Chairman Conaway. And I thank the committee staffs on both sides who have worked so hard and diligently over the last year. Mr. Speaker…

I think the way it operates today, it is a blunt tool.

I think it is really time the Committee take a serious look at modifications of the Endangered Species Act.

I think, unfortunately, we have a situation with the ESA, where it is the initial blunt instrument that stops us.

I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) for giving me this opportunity to pay my tribute to Senator John McCain. John McCain was clearly an American hero. His love and patriotism for our country knew no bounds. I first met Senator…

I will vote for this resolution, but it is not about abolish or support ICE. I respect the need for interior and immigration enforcement, and I have concerns about how this administration is doing it. Enough of political games, catering to…

I rise this morning to speak about our national parks and our parks and recreational opportunities. I grew up in California's San Joaquin Valley, where we are blessed with some of the Nation's most beautiful lands. Like many, I spent my…

I draw attention to the human right to have water to sustain ourselves. Benjamin Franklin once said about this precious resource, water, that ``When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.'' In the San Joaquin Valley, I can tell you we…