Sworn into office in January 2005, Congressman Jim Costa welcomes the opportunity to continue serving the Valley as a member of the House of Representatives.

The Central Valley will have a voice over water issues, such as water resources planning, research and development and irrigation programs, as well as mining, oil, and gas through Costa’s seat on the Resources Committee.  Costa will continue his efforts on behalf of the Valley’s agriculture industry as a member of the powerful House Agriculture Committee.  Costa also serves on the House Committee on Science. In addition, he continues to work on the wide-ranging Valley agenda he pursued for 24 years as a member of the state legislature.

Congressman Costa has spent the majority of his life working to improve the lives of the people of the San Joaquin Valley on the local, state and national level.  An accomplished problem solver, Costa cares first and foremost about the Valley, above partisanship and politics.  His innovative approach to practical legislation has brought significant benefits to all Valley residents. 

To Congressman Costa, the Central Valley means home in the truest sense of the word.  Costa is a third generation family farmer, tracing his immediate roots back to his grandparents who emigrated from Portugal and settled in the Valley over 90 years ago.  A graduate of San Joaquin Memorial High School and Fresno State, Costa went on to earn a degree in Political Science at California State University, Fresno.  He feels immensely fortunate to have served the people of the Valley for 24 years in the California state legislator.

Congressman Costa’s long history of commitment to the Central Valley is evident in his past accomplishments as a California state legislator. Fighting for the Valley’s number one industry, Costa authored legislation that made significant improvements for agriculture.  A few accomplishments include the 1998 and 1999 agricultural land conservation laws greatly expanding incentives to protect farmland and creating a major weapon against urban sprawl and over-development.  In addition Costa was instrumental in the major reform of the Endangered Species Act to ensure liability relief for farmers and ranchers responsible for the accidental death of endangered species in the course of everyday agricultural activity.

Highlights from Costa’s record of working to improve the air we breathe and water we drink include his historic Safe, Clean Reliable Water Supply Act and the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Act. These laws, approved by voters in statewide ballots, are part of the framework to meet the state’s and the Valley’s long-term water needs and fund critical local and regional programs for groundwater storage, water treatment, management, conservation, development and environmental restoration.  To ensure clean air, Costa fought to reduce Bay Area smog blowing into the Valley and worked to switch Valley truck fleets to cleaner fuels, cut diesel consumption and remove tons of airborne pollutants.

In the field of health, Costa’s legacy includes the new state-of-the-art Fresno Medical Education and Research Center to help train new doctors and ease the Valley's shortage of physicians, and the Valley’s new trauma and burn center, which is only one of five trauma and burn centers in California.  Costa’s efforts have increased access to health services for the Valley’s low-income children.

The sincere and accomplished commitment to the Valley has earned Congressman Costa’s recognition in several areas including agriculture, health, labor and leadership.  His numerous awards include:  the Legislative Leadership Award from the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) in recognition of his work to advance California’s long term water needs, the Distinguished Senator Award from the Regional Council of Rural Counties for extraordinary support of rural California and the Ken Maddy Central Valley Leadership Award (June 2001). His efforts to prevent crime and violence against children rendered him the Outstanding Commitment Award from Central California Child Abuse and Abduction Resistance Education Services. Costa received the Labor Leader of the Year award from the Fresno/Madera/Kings/Tulare Labor Council for his efforts to improve the lives of working Californians and the Senator of the Year from the California Business Properties Association for his efforts to promote job creation.

Rep. Jim Costa's Official Website

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250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen work in developing countries – at least 120 million on a full time basis. (Human Rights Watch)