Jim Costa

Having worked with various elements of both the pork and the beef and the poultry, and other industries that have been impacted, the challenges facing Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling it was destined not to work for a number of factors.

The fact is is that the debate has been going on for decades as to whether Country-of-Origin Labeling is an experiment that can or cannot work.

Well, I have made that trip several times, and we can never say thank you enough to the American men and women who serve in our Nation's military. I would just ask you, every week, I know you go back to your district and the good people in…

During your visit, on a bipartisan basis, in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Jordan, you were visiting some of the most challenging hotspots in the world today, and I suspect you got an opportunity to visit and see American men and women serving…

The next Blue Dog Coalition member who will speak is one of our newest members. He hails from the great State of Nebraska, and we are honored to have him as one of our newest members of the Blue Dog Coalition. He is Brad Ashford from…

I want to thank the gentleman from Oregon for his leadership as the chair of the Blue Dog Coalition. Your efforts to reach out to the Tuesday Group and to the No Labels Caucus and your efforts to take difficult positions and cast hard…

We have talked a lot about this among our fellow Blue Dogs, but I think the point that you raise there is worth repeating because, frankly, I think there are a lot of Members on both sides of the aisle who, if they had the opportunity…

Congressman Bishop, my friend, I could not have said it better: for the people and by the people. Mr. Speaker, for those who are watching on C-SPAN this afternoon, we welcome your input, and we welcome your comments. For those of you who…

I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois, my classmate, for his good words. Clearly, I think he speaks on behalf of not only the Blue Dogs, but the majority of Americans who believe that we need to be working together to solve problems…

I thank the Congressman from California. Congressman Mike Thompson, I think, expressly indicated why he is a Blue Dog and, over the years, his efforts to bridge the gap, to reach across the aisle, to get something done; because he…

I appreciate your explaining your experience in the California Legislature because we not only worked together in a bipartisan fashion, but we also worked together with the lower house and the State senate, because you could never get…

I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona. Mr. Speaker, our next Blue Dog colleague who will speak is a gentleman whom I have served with both in the California State Legislature as well as here in Congress. He and I are good friends. We both…

My name is Congressman Jim Costa from Fresno, California. Since I was first elected over 10 years ago, I have been a member of the Blue Dog caucus. This afternoon, members of the Blue Dog caucus that stretch the width and the breadth of…

We have less than 2 days--2 days--to fund the Department of Homeland Security before they run out of money. It is a dangerous world we live in. We know that. The tragic events recently in Paris and Copenhagen and, most recently, the…

``The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted.''

I thank the gentleman. The fault lines on water in California everybody on this floor knows. They are deep and they are historic and they have existed for decades. It is because we have this broken water system. We have a water system…

I thank the ranking member for the opportunity to speak on H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act. Mr. Speaker, we have been here before, and we will be here again until Congress acts to provide authority for increased…

It is with sadness that I rise today to honor the life of former Congressman John Krebs. John was a close friend and a mentor. As a young immigrant to the United States from Tel Aviv, John was able to live the American Dream and much more…

As this Congress comes to a close and as the 114th begins, I am hopeful that we can come together at some time to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Unfortunately, time and time again, House leadership has consistently denied a vote on…

Domestic violence should never, ever be tolerated. The NFL's inept response to the recent reports of domestic violence has thrust a tragic spotlight onto this issue that we all are well aware of. The truth of the matter is domestic…

I think it is very important... that the fact is that we have a broken water system in California.

Congressman Jim Costa has introduced H.R. 1927, the More Water and Security for Californians Act.

Thank you for allowing the City of Fresno the opportunity to submit testimony regarding H.R. 1927, the 'More Water and Security for Californians Act.'

The major legislation introduced today by Congressman Jim Costa creates a sensible way of balancing the protection of fisheries while providing reasonable water supplies for families, farms and disadvantaged rural communities throughout…

If we are serious about recovering the species, then we need to develop a program that would begin to look comprehensively...