Jim Costa

It is also very important, as we have this oversight hearing today, that we examine, for the purpose of the Agriculture Committee's oversight, to evaluate the implications from what I believe the traditional direct food assistance aid has…

USAID, as we refer to it, and the Department of Agriculture's foreign service, USDA's FAS, must be commended for a history of long work that they do.

I think this is an important matter that the Subcommittee provide its attention and oversight to for a host of reasons.

The bottom line is, we don't want to see any retaliatory efforts made by Canada and Mexico, and I don't think they want to impose them. This bill is our only option right now to satisfy the WTO compliance. In addition, as has been noted…

As I was saying, Mr. Chairman, the fact is that the State has changed a great deal to present day. The current water system is unable to meet the demands under the current restrictions that are required under the Endangered Species Act to…

I would like to thank the gentlemen from California and from Pennsylvania for allowing me this time, and the gentleman from California for offering this important amendment. Let me give a little perspective here. Clearly, everyone is aware…

The description of the amendment, as we understand it, prohibits the use of these funds that contravene section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. The facts are that the States and localities…

I claim the time in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the service of Hmong and Lao Americans who fought for the United States during the Vietnam war. The Central Intelligence Agency in the 1960s covertly trained Hmong men and women in Laos, and the…

Last night, America witnessed a tragic accident that occurred when the Amtrak train going from Washington, D.C., to New York derailed outside of Philadelphia. We mourn the loss of lives and those that were injured, and our thoughts and…

Mind-numbing, that is when you numb the mind after you hear, and hear, and continue to re-hear talking points that both sides are very good at giving.

The Majority continues to attack NEPA. I am not so sure it is helpful.

What Congress ought to be doing is working together on a bipartisan fashion.

I find the discussion somewhat mind-numbing.

I think it is our important role, as the Committee of oversight, to provide the due diligence.

I just want to thank you, and Members of the Subcommittee, for holding this hearing.

I was listening to the gentleman from Iowa, and was reminded of how much our industries have changed.

The price reporting for livestock and meat was made mandatory some 15 years ago, and the goal of providing buyers and sellers with accurate and objective information is always the goal to ensure for a competitive market.

These are some of the hardest working people you will ever meet. They are tenacious, and they deal with the ups and downs in what sometimes is a volatile market.

I think it is important that the Subcommittee do its due diligence in this matter that is very important to America's livestock industry.

We should be moving away from offshore drilling and toward cleaner, safer, carbon-free technologies like solar, geothermal and offshore wind.

We need to raise the liability limit for oil spills and enact tough penalties for offshore safety and environmental violations.

We should not be playing Russian roulette with our environment and coastal tourism economies.

I think it is really incumbent, notwithstanding different political points of view, that we try to find a bipartisan agreement on where we go in the next 10 years.

It is deja vu all over again.