CELEBRATING 2025 WINS FOR CALIFORNIA-21

On 2026-01-13, Representative Jim Costa (D-CA-21) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING 2025 WINS FOR CALIFORNIA-21" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered healthcare, the economy.

CELEBRATING 2025 WINS FOR CALIFORNIA-21

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 9 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)] [House] [Page H668] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING 2025 WINS FOR CALIFORNIA-21 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. Costa, for 5 minutes. =========================== NOTE =========================== On January 13, 2026, page H668, in the first column, the following appeared: (Mr. COSTA of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. Costa, for 5 minutes. ========================= END NOTE ========================= Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize the dedicated work of my team, our efforts, and the results of the work we have done for the people of the 21st Congressional District of California, encompassing Fresno and Tulare Counties. We call it the breadbasket of not only California but our Nation. The incredible cornucopia of over 400 commodities we grow is put on America's dinner table every night. Though last year brought significant challenges to our country and to our valley, which I represent, my commitment and the commitment of my office never wavered to serve the people of Fresno and Tulare Counties with focus, urgency, and results. Throughout 2025, I listened closely to the priorities of my constituents. Valley families told me the relief they needed from rising costs and affordability. Farmers and farmworkers called for a stronger agricultural economy and better labor conditions, dealing with comprehensive immigration reform. Communities demanded access to healthcare, safe infrastructure, reliable water, and the resources necessary to thrive. In 2025, our office secured $831 million in Federal funding for communities across the San Joaquin Valley. {time} 1045 Throughout our constituent casework, which I think is the meat and potatoes of any congressional office, we returned $74 million directly to residents of the 21st Congressional District. We helped more than 1,200 constituent cases and responded to over 11,000 calls, letters, and requests for assistance from the people whom we serve. That is our job, to serve the people and to get things done. We invested in our children and working families. That is critical. My team helped secure $35 million for Head Start programs in Fresno and Tulare Counties. We strengthened critical infrastructure, which is necessary not only in our valley but throughout the country. We secured $31 million for Fresno Yosemite International Airport to improve infrastructure upgrades, and also deal with the growing demands for the valley and regional economic growth, and expanding the international terminal. We secured $3.5 million for the Kaweah River Siphon Project to improve water reliability while supporting valley agriculture and local jobs. As we know, where water flows, food grows. That is critical to our valley's economy. In addition to that, we provided $1 million to the city of Kingsburg to establish a new city hall; another $1 million to relocate the Orange Cove Police Department to make a more functional facility; and another $1 million dollars for the Parlier Police Department. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, we secured $254 million in Federal investments to strengthen our water supply for the long term. That includes $125 million to advance the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. We provided another 130,000 acre-feet of new water storage to the people of our valley, and $129 million to support the construction of Sites Reservoir, which will provide 1.5 million acre-feet of additional water for the people of California, which is critically important to our long-term water supply. Mr. Speaker, the San Joaquin Valley is the breadbasket of our Nation, supporting farmers, farmworkers, ranchers, dairymen and -women. It remains, obviously, as their Representative, my highest priority to advocate on their behalf. When the avian influenza swept the valley and the country, it threatened the livelihoods of those who put food on America's dinner tables. I introduced the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act to ensure growers are fairly compensated and our food supply remains strong and safe. That is what Americans want. We also honored, separately, those who have served our country and their families. We recognized 20 men and women from the Fresno Veterans Home who served our Nation during World War II and the Korean war to ensure their contributions are never forgotten, they are remembered, and they are celebrated. We should never forget those men and women currently in harm's way serving our country or those and their families who have served. Beyond our district, we have worked to support the United States' leadership abroad by advocating for humanitarian assistance, accountability, and diplomacy in global conflicts, while upholding America's values on the world stage, that beacon of life that President Reagan used to speak of and that other countries look for. In closing, I will continue to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to deliver results and strengthen our communities for a better future. More work needs to be done. ____________________