117th Congress Achievements
Table of Contents:
Leadership in the U.S. Congress
Bills Introduced that have Become Law
Notable Co-Sponsored Legislation Signed into Law
Boosting our Regional Economy
Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic
Securing Water for our Valley
Valley Local Projects
Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Expanding Access to Healthcare
Leadership in the U.S. Congress
Costa serves as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture which has jurisdiction over all policies and statutes relating to livestock, poultry, dairy, and seafood, including the promotion of such commodities and products, animal welfare, trade promotion, inspection, and marketing.
Costa is co-founder and chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, which works alongside allied organizations to identify, address, and elevate the needs of crime survivors through legislation, education, and public awareness.
Costa serves as the U.S. Chairman of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, whichsupports relationships between members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the European Parliament. The inter-parliamentary group meets twice per year, once in the United States and once in Europe. Created in 1999, the dialogue is committed to bipartisanship and focuses on issues of mutual concern between the United States and the European Union: including trade, economic policy, energy and climate policy, data protection, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity.
Costa serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Portuguese Caucus, which aims to strengthen the long-standing ties between the United States and Portugal.
Costa launched the Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, which is committed to increasing organ and tissue donation and raising awareness of the national organ shortage.
Costa serves as a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, which is charged with promoting, defending, and advocating for international human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.
Costa is Co-Chair of the Congressional Rodeo Caucus, which serves as an informal group dedicated to issues of the rodeo industry and helping to facilitate a constructive dialogue about animal welfare.
Bills Introduced that have Become Law
H.R.6023- Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act: Bipartisan legislation would require the United States Postal Service (USPS) to sell approximately 45 million Saving Vanishing Species Stamps left in stock to promote wildlife conservation.
H.R.3272 - Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel, and Alternative Fuels Extension Act: Legislation that would amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend and modify the tax credits for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and alternative fuels. This bill was signed into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
H.R.2969 - Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans Service Recognition Expansion Act: Bipartisan legislation that expands eligibility for interment in national cemeteries to all Hmong and Lao citizens who fought in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. This bill was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2022.
H.R.867 - High-Speed Rail Corridor Development Act: Legislation that would provide federal funding for federally designated high-speed rail corridors like California's High-Speed Rail project connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles via the San Joaquin Valley. Provisions from this bill were included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Notable Co-Sponsored Legislation Signed into Law
Ocean Shipping Reform Act ensures shipping carriers treat American exporters fairly by accepting U.S. cargo after bringing imports into the country.
Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, legislation that will treat toxic exposures as a cost of war and expand access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Access to Baby Formula Act grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to waive certain requirements so that vulnerable families can continue purchasing safe infant formula with their WIC benefits during extenuating circumstances, such as a public health emergency or supply chain disruption.
Emmett Till Antilynching Act makes lynching a federal hate crime offense.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), modifies and reauthorizes through FY2026 programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. This bill was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget.
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Actestablishes grants and requires other activities to improve mental and behavioral health among health care providers.
PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans.
Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans.
Boosting our Regional Economy
Advocated and secured a $65.1 million American Rescue Plan “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” grant for the Fresno-Merced Future of Food Innovation (F3) Coalition led by the Central Valley Community Foundation, to drive agriculture innovation and boost our regional economy.
Advocated and helped secure a $23 million American Rescue Plan "Good Jobs Challenge" grant for the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to develop and spur the Central Valley's economy and create new, good-paying jobs in industries of high demand. Combined, Costa secured a total of $88 million in federal funding to boost its regional workforce and economy.
Secured a $1.2 million federal grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to bolster Fresno City College's ability to train and prepare students for good-paying jobs in welding and automotive repair.
Helped secure a nearly $20 million grant through the American Rescue Plan for Fresno State for the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiative, which supports dairy businesses in California, Oregon, and Washington in the production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. Fresno State students will benefit from a new internship program and research positions that will prepare them for future employment opportunities in the dairy industry. Learn more about the initiative here.
Delivered an $854,900 federal grant through the American Rescue Plan to support newly created food pantries and neighborhood market programs to meet the increasing demand for food distribution services in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in sixteen nearby rural communities including Allensworth, Alpaugh, Biola, Cantua Creek, Coarsegold, Goshen, Ivanhoe, Oakhurst, Pixley, Poplar, Raisin City, Richgrove, San Joaquin, Strathmore, Tranquility, and Traver.
Delivered $72,300 through the American Rescue Plan to purchase food and equipment for food distribution and increase food storage capacity in the communities of Caruthers, Lemon Cove, and Springville.
Costa and Congressional Democrats have fought for and won $407,666,109 in energy assistance for California households since last May.
American Rescue Plan: $203,610,805
2021 Continuing Resolution: $179,228,041
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: $4,177,848
Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic
Costa voted for the American Rescue Plan to provide us with the tools to crush the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure a strong economic recovery. From supporting our small businesses, and vaccinating our communities to reopening our schools, Costa has continuously advocated ensuring the Valley received the resources needed to overcome this dreadful pandemic.
Delivered over $1 million to California's Central Valley to help local governments continue providing vital services to residents like emergency and public health services, retaining employees, and strengthening our efforts to distribute vaccines and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 across the Valley.
Delivered $1,009,228,375 for Community Health Centers to help vaccinate communities in California.
Secured $299 million in child tax credits for over 92,000 families in my district.
Delivered $15,068,884,546 to help K-12 schools in California reopen safely, stay open safely, and get students back on track. secured $72,961,905 to help K-12 schools in my district.
Secured $14 million in broadband funding for schools and libraries in my district, and $660 million for California so students can connect to distance learning.
Secured $35,489,874 in restaurant grants for CA-16 small businesses.
Secured $23,982,849 in Shuttered Venue Grants (SVOGs) for music and entertainment businesses in my district, and $2,030,989,118 for small businesses across California.
Successfully advocated for a 15% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for families struggling with food insecurity nationwide.
Secured more than $55 million in funding from the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for California to help defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services in tax-exempt federal lands in their jurisdiction:
Fresno County, $3.3 million
Madera County, $1.2 million
Merced County, $100 thousand
Delivered $1,009,228,375 for Community Health Centers to help vaccinate communities in California.
Securing Water for our Valley
Costa delivered $3.5 million for the City of Madera to rehabilitate a 50-year-old corroded pipeline responsible for carrying the City's wastewater to its treatment plant.
Costa delivered $500,000 to study the viability of a project to expand the single-purpose Los Banos Creek into a multi-purpose reservoir, which would provide long-term solutions to flooding, drought, overdraft, and subsidence in Fresno, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties.
Costa delivered $279,000 for the City of Dos Palos to replace a water clarifier at the city's aging water plant to ensure uninterrupted service for residents.
Costa voted to deliver funding for critical water projects with more than $200 million to build, expand and repair water storage projects in California that will improve the state's ability to withstand the devastating impacts of sustained drought.
$60 million for the B.F. Sisk Dam expansion project near Los Banos to develop more than 130,000-acre-feet of additional water storage;
$80 million for construction of the Sites Reservoir, a 1.81-million-acre-foot off-stream surface storage reservoir in the Sacramento Valley;
$50 million for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir expansion project in the Bay Area to develop an additional 115,000-acre-foot of water storage and new conveyance infrastructure;
$15 million for the construction of the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir near Patterson, an 82,000-acre-foot off-stream storage reservoir.
Costa voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which includes significant funding to repair our water infrastructure, including the largest investment in clean drinking water infrastructure in American history.
$1.15 billion to improve water storage in California and the San Joaquin Valley, which could benefit B.F. Sisk Dam, Sites Reservoir, Los Vaqueros Reservoir, and Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir expansions.
$25 million to the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Authority, to pursue the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. The project is associated with the B.F. Sisk Safety of Dams Modification Project. Once complete, the project will develop approximately 130,000 acre-feet of additional storage.
$30 million for North of Delta Off-Stream Storage (Sites Reservoir Project) to pursue off-stream storage capable for up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water in the Sacramento River system located in the Coast Range mountains west of Maxwell, California. The reservoir would utilize new and existing facilities to move water into and out of the reservoir, with ultimate release to the Sacramento River system via existing canals, a new pipeline near Dunnigan, and the Colusa Basin Drain.
$82 million for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Phase II to efficiently integrate approximately 115,000 acre-feet of additional storage through new conveyance facilities with existing facilities to allow Delta water supplies to be safely diverted, stored, and delivered to beneficiaries.
$3.2 billion to repair aging water infrastructure projects in California
$3.5 billion to improve drinking water infrastructure in California
$1 billion for rural water projects
$500 million to repair aging dams and ensure safety, for projects like B.F. Sisk Dam/San Luis Reservoir
$400 million for WaterSMART program grants for California water districts and farmers
Funding to address drought, which includes:
$1 billion to revitalize water recycling projects, which can expand water supplies
$980 million to environmental programs in the West
$250 million to bolster desalination water projects
Costa proudly voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which will provide $4 billion in drought resiliency funding to mitigate the impact of drought in the West, which would prioritize drought-prone areas such as the San Joaquin Valley. Costa was the only member from the central San Joaquin Valley to vote for this legislation.
Valley Local Projects
Costa secured $11,004,664 from the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding package for 10 local projects that will respond directly to some of the most pressing needs in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties. These include:
$475,000 for Fresno City College to develop the Nurse Pipeline Extension Project, a collaborative program with Fresno State, to increase the number of Nurse Practitioners in the San Joaquin Valley;
$1.9 million for the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation to construct a 60,000-square-foot training center in West Fresno to assist women, minorities, veterans, ex-offenders, at-risk and disconnected young adults, and other underrepresented individuals with job training and counseling;
$500,000 to study the viability of a project to expand the single-purpose Los Banos Creek into a multi-purpose reservoir, which would provide long-term solutions to flooding, drought, overdraft, and subsidence in Fresno, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties.
$2 million for the Merced County Courthouse Museum to rehabilitate Merced County's most historic building, community gathering place, and educational resource;
$279,000 for the City of Dos Palos to replace a water clarifier at the city's aging water plant to ensure uninterrupted service for residents.
$3.5 million for the City of Madera to rehabilitate a 50-year-old corroded pipeline responsible for carrying the City's wastewater to its treatment plant;
$950,000 for the City of Gustine to finish the water loop line from North Avenue to East Avenue, which will create a more stable and safe water distribution system;
$625,000 for Madera Unified School District to ensure the district's approximately 5,500 English Language Learners address unfinished learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic;
$475,000 for UCSF Fresno to construct an Alzheimer's Center and Center on Aging, which will provide clinical services for age-related care and serve as a center for geriatric and neurological education for students and residents;
$300,000 for Advance Peace Fresno to intervene and help prevent gun violence by investing in communities and individuals disproportionately impacted by violent crime.
Secured Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Announced $555,295,299 in funding under the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the state of California, which would provide Californians with more transportation options, ease congestion in local communities, and reduce carbon pollution across the state.
Secured $19.3 million to help San Joaquin Valley communities make transit safer and more efficient, funding new buses and rail cars, track and station repairs, and other safety initiatives.
Fresno- $4,338,876
Bakersfield- $3,189,817
Delano-$907,126
Hanford-$1,463,004
Lodi- $790,726
Madera- $966,660
Merced- $1,342,021
Porterville- $1,215,734
Turlock- $863,791
Modesto-$2,052,676
Visalia-$2,158,603
Secured additional funding to support transit for seniors and persons with disabilities, funding key resources such as wheelchair lifts, mobility management programs, and accessible transit vehicles.
Fresno- $323,706
Bakersfield- $214,312
Modesto- $172,905
Visalia- $96,559
Secured $9,558,501 to make much-needed improvements to San Joaquin Valley airports.
Fresno-Yosemite International Airport: $4,674,140
Fresno Chandler Executive: $295,000
Madera Municipal: $295,000
Firebaugh: $110,000
Los Banos Municipal: $159,000
Gustine: $110,000
Castle Airport: $159,000
Merced Regional: $295,000
Chowchilla: $159,000
Visalia Municipal: $295,000
Tulare Mefford Field: $159,000
Woodlake: $110,000
Reedley Municipal: $159,000
Meadows Field Bakersfield: $1,538,361
Bakersfield Municipal: $159,000
New Coalinga Municipal: $110,000
Hanford Municipal: $159,000
Mariposa-Yosemite: $159,000
Modesto City County-Harry Sham Field: $295,000
Porterville Municipal: $159,000
Expanding Access to Healthcare
The American Rescue Plan helped Americans on Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans to save $67 a month on health insurance premiums – a total of more than $800 per person each year. Costa helped 590,000 people in California, and 6,000 people in his district newly enroll in health insurance.
Passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which makes health coverage more affordable for 13 million Americans by extending key Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits through 2025, benefiting nearly 25,000 people in my district.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate the prices of high-cost prescription drugs starting in 2023.
Creates a new $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs (Medicare Part D) for Seniors on Medicare.
Caps insulin costs at $35 per month for seniors and individuals with disabilities on Medicare.
Requires drug manufacturers to pay a rebate to Medicare if they increase their prices faster than the rate of inflation.