Jim Costa
- Previous profession
- Chief executive officer, Costa Group, 2002 to 2003
- First public office
- 1978Member, California State Assembly, 1978 to 1994
- Years in public office
- 45of 51 years since 1975, the first year the biography gives for any work
Confirmed from the official recordSource: Congressional Directory for the 119th Congress (2025-2026), February 20, 2026. We saved our copy on October 8, 2026.
What these lines mean
These lines come from this official’s entry in the Congressional Directory, which Congress publishes. Each member’s office supplies or approves its entry. We save our own copy and sort each part of the entry by fixed rules. No AI is used.
Previous profession lists the work the entry names outside public office, in the Directory’s own words. Public office here means an elected or appointed position, staff work for an elected official or a legislature, and party or campaign work.
Lifelong politician means: Congress’s biography lists no occupation outside public office. It also means the entry lists no military service. A person on our side confirms these words before they appear.
Years in public office counts elected and appointed positions only. Staff work and party work are left out. Each year counts once.
Since the current Congress began on January 3, 2025, Costa has a recorded vote on 60 laws that passed, and 1 vote on a resolution that passed a law.
The tally counts votes on passage. 1 vote on a resolution that passed a law is listed apart.
This record covers laws that passed. Votes on bills that did not become law are not included yet.
The record in plain language
Of the 118 laws passed since January 3, 2025, 60 came to a recorded vote on passage in the House while Costa is a member. On 1 more, the recorded House vote is on a resolution. Costa votes No on H.Res. 590, the resolution that passed the Rescissions Act of 2025 in the House. The rest passed the House by voice vote or without objection, which records no individual votes.
Costa votes Yes on the Laken Riley Act on immigration detention, the HALT Fentanyl Act, the GENIUS Act on stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to the dollar), the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and the Russia and Iran sanctions law.
On funding the government, Costa votes Yes on the January 2026 funding law for science, energy, Interior and the EPA, and the September 2026 funding extension, and No on the March 2025 full-year funding law, the November 2025 law that ended the 43-day shutdown and the February 2026 funding law for a further group of agencies.
Costa votes No on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 2025 tax and spending law, and the Secure America Act, a 2026 budget law.
Congress cancelled 24 federal rules by recorded vote in the House in that time. Costa votes to cancel 5 and against cancelling 19. The rules Costa votes to cancel come from: Interior: Bureau of Land Management (2), Environmental Protection Agency (1), Treasury: Internal Revenue Service (1) and Interior: Ocean Energy Management (1).
Costa votes differently from most House Democrats on 8 of 56 Yes and No votes: Yes on the Russia and Iran sanctions law, Yes on the law that cancels a land agency decision that limited oil and gas leasing on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Yes on the law that cancels a land agency plan that limited oil and gas leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, Yes on the GENIUS Act on stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to the dollar), Yes on the law that cancels an EPA rule that tightened limits on toxic air emissions from tire manufacturing plants, Yes on the law that cancels an IRS rule that would have required decentralized finance platforms to report their customers' digital asset sales the way stockbrokers do, Yes on the law that cancels a rule that required offshore oil and gas leaseholders to submit archaeological surveys of the seabed before drilling and Yes on the Laken Riley Act on immigration detention.
Costa did not vote on the law that extends again the surveillance authority that lets intelligence agencies collect the communications of foreigners abroad from U.S. providers without individual warrants, the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act, the defense policy law for fiscal year 2026 and the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act.
Votes on laws that passed
Authorizes and expands sanctions and tariffs on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran.
Requires the federal prison system to act on sexual harassment and assault of its staff by incarcerated people.
Adds College Station, Texas, and El Centro, California, to the places where federal court can sit.
Keeps the federal government funded at about last year's levels through December 11, 2026.
Lets farmers and ranchers get emergency conservation money up front after a disaster, instead of paying first and waiting for reimbursement.
A package of housing measures intended to increase the supply of homes.
Allows phone emergency alerts to be sent when a shark attack happens nearby.
Protects Alaska Native artists' right to make and sell handicrafts from walrus ivory and other marine mammal materials.
Authorizes a major VA medical facility project in St. Louis, Missouri.
Gives certain licensed hydropower projects more time to start construction.
Sets deadlines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process mortgage paperwork for homes and businesses on tribal land.
Renews the federal programs that set aside research money for small businesses.
Full-year fiscal 2026 funding for the Commerce and Justice Departments, science agencies, energy and water programs, the Interior Department and the EPA.
When the IRS postpones a tax deadline after a disaster, the time allowed to claim a refund is now extended to match.
Requires federal agencies to publish digital maps of the rules for boating and fishing on federal waterways.
Protects 40 acres at the Wounded Knee massacre site as land owned by the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes.
Restores federal payments to rural counties with national forest land, which pay for schools and roads.
Cancels a land agency decision that limited oil and gas leasing on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Cancels a land agency plan that limited oil and gas leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Renews federal programs for preventing and treating opioid addiction and supporting recovery.
Raises the special pension paid to Medal of Honor recipients.
Requires the Justice Department to publish its unclassified records on Jeffrey Epstein in a searchable form within 30 days.
Lets the IRS push back tax deadlines for people in areas where a governor has declared a disaster, without waiting for a federal declaration.
Creates the first federal rules for payment stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to the dollar).
Permanently places fentanyl-related substances in the most restricted drug category, which carries the strictest criminal penalties, and eases registration for researchers who study them.
Renames the Salem Maritime site in Massachusetts a National Historical Park and orders a study of expanding its boundary.
Changes the rule that required Alaska Native village corporations to hand land to the State of Alaska to be kept for future cities.
Cancels an EPA rule that tightened limits on toxic air emissions from tire manufacturing plants.
Makes it a federal crime to publish intimate images of a person without consent, including AI-generated ones, and requires online platforms to remove them within 48 hours of a victim's request.
Cancels an IRS rule that would have required decentralized finance platforms to report their customers' digital asset sales the way stockbrokers do.
Cancels a rule that required offshore oil and gas leaseholders to submit archaeological surveys of the seabed before drilling.
Requires immigration authorities to detain non-citizens without legal status who are charged with, arrested for or convicted of theft-related crimes, assaulting a police officer, or crimes causing death or serious injury.
Votes on a resolution that passed a law
Cancels about $9 billion that Congress had already approved: roughly $8 billion in foreign aid and about $1 billion for public broadcasting.
What this member says about laws and orders
This section has two lists: statements in the official record, and excerpts from this member’s own press releases. Together they name 2 laws and 1 executive order.
From the official record
Statements from the official record: Not checked yet. A statement appears here after a person reviews our account of the law or order it is about.
From this member’s press releases
From a secondary sourceThese are excerpts from press releases on this member’s official website that name a law or an executive order. We save a copy of each one.
5 excerpts
- One Big Beautiful Bill ActMarch 11, 2026
“The roundtable focused on the impact of federal funding reductions under H.R.1, including changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and explored opportunities for federal support amid record-low ACA enrollment.”
- One Big Beautiful Bill ActMarch 5, 2026
2026 Farm Bill Advances with Costa Priorities Supporting Central Valley Farmers and Working Families
“The legislation avoids furthering the damage made to nutrition programs by H.R. 1. It strengthens local food purchasing programs connecting farmers to communities, supports rural seniors through home-delivery pilots, and includes Buy America provisions prioritizing domestic food in schools.”
- Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain AreasDecember 11, 2025
“By codifying the provisions of Executive Order 14181, our communities and farms can improve their access to the water resources they desperately need and along with the authorization of critical projects for improved water storage and management, the Central Valley would be poised to make meaningful progress in addressing our water needs and securing a sustainable future for our families”
- One Big Beautiful Bill ActJuly 3, 2025
Rep. Jim Costa Votes against the Largest Medicaid and SNAP Cuts in History
“WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement after voting against the partisan Republican budget, H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Big-Ugly Bill.”
- Rescissions Act of 2025June 13, 2025
Costa Slams Bill That Risks Farm Exports and Silences Valley PBS, KVPR
“WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) voted against H.R. 4 – Rescissions Act of 2025, which would revoke $9.8 billion in approved federal funding by Congress. The bill cuts global food aid programs that support U.S. farmers who export food, and it threatens public broadcasting relied on by millions of households.”
Member-requested spending
Congress printed 15 spending items this member requested, $19,884,000 in all, in the lists read for 4 laws.
Laws read: Public Law 119-37, Public Law 119-74, Public Law 119-75, Public Law 119-86.
| Recipient | Law | Purpose | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulare Irrigation District | Public Law 119-37 | Kaweah River Siphon Resiliency ProjectNatural Resources Conservation Service · Conservation Operations | CA | $3,500,000 |
| City of Orange Cove | Public Law 119-37 | Police Department Facility ConstructionRural Housing Service · Rural Community Facilities Program | CA | $1,000,000 |
| City of Kingsburg | Public Law 119-37 | Emergency Operations Center ConstructionRural Housing Service · Rural Community Facilities Program | CA | $1,000,000 |
| City of Parlier | Public Law 119-37 | Police Department Facility ImprovementsRural Housing Service · Rural Community Facilities Program | CA | $1,000,000 |
| on STAG--Clean Water Stat Revolving Fund | Public Law 119-74 | e CA City of Woodla Drain EnhanceEnvironmentAgency · al Protecti | None printed | $1,092,000 |
| on STAG--Drinking Water S Revolving Fund | Public Law 119-74 | tate CA City of Dinuba Tower ReplaceEnvironmentAgency · al Protecti | None printed | $1,092,000 |
| City of Fresno | Public Law 119-75 | Fresno Airport ImprovementsDepartment of Transportation · Grants-in-Aid for Airports | CA | $3,150,000 |
| Central California Food Bank | Public Law 119-75 | Central California Food Bank Volunteer Center ExpansionDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $1,000,000 |
| City of Fresno | Public Law 119-75 | San Joaquin River Parkway ProjectDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $2,000,000 |
| Reedley College | Public Law 119-75 | Reedley College Ag Innovation CenterDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $2,000,000 |
Show all 15
| Recipient | Law | Purpose | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County of Tulare | Public Law 119-75 | Neighborhood Village Salt and Light Phase II ProjectDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $1,200,000 |
| City of Fresno | Public Law 119-75 | Clean Air Mobility NetworkDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $850,000 |
| City of Exeter | Public Law 119-75 | Exeter Street Improvement ProjectDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $500,000 |
| City of Fresno | Public Law 119-75 | Fresno Area Business Development IncubatorDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $250,000 |
| City of Visalia | Public Law 119-75 | Riggin Avenue Widening and StreetscapingDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · Community Development Fund | CA | $250,000 |
Read from the lists Congress printed for 4 laws. An item requested by several members appears under each of them, so sums across members count such an item more than once. A list the Congressional Record printed on two days is counted once, from the later printing. A requester is tied to a member only when exactly one member serving in that chamber on that day has the printed name.
Campaign promises
Promises kept: Not checked yet
Not checked yetA person has not reviewed this member’s campaign promises yet. This is what we hold so far.
- Campaign website: www.jimcosta.com. The Federal Election Commission’s record of JIM COSTA FOR CONGRESS gives this address.Confirmed from the official record
- 2 pages of www.jimcosta.com saved on October 8, 2026. 1 states positions on issues.From a secondary source
- 2 Internet Archive copies of www.jimcosta.com, the earliest captured November 5, 2024. We ask the Archive for the copy closest to election day, November 5, 2024.From a secondary source
Online ads
No advertiser in the ad libraries we read is tied to this member by an FEC number or an exact name.
Read from Google Ads Transparency Center, its data file of October 7, 2026. Meta Ad Library: Not started. An ad counts when the library last shows it on or after January 3, 2025.
Campaign money
For the 2026 election cycle, Costa's campaign reports receiving $1,338,630.34 and reports spending $608,733.94, as of June 30, 2026.
Confirmed from the official record| What the filing reports | 2026 cycleFEC number H4CA20082as of June 30, 2026 | 2024 cycleFEC number H4CA20082as of December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Money raised (total receipts) | $1,338,630.34 | $1,705,407.96 |
| Money spent (total disbursements) | $608,733.94 | $1,885,604.27 |
| Cash on hand (at the end of the period) | $938,778.50 | $208,882.10 |
| Debts (owed by the committee) | $0.00 | $27,665.12 |
Where it comes from
| Reported as received from | 2026 cycleFEC number H4CA20082as of June 30, 2026 | 2024 cycleFEC number H4CA20082as of December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals, itemized | $516,635.75 | $686,722.58 |
| Individuals, unitemized | $11,086.03 | $4,980.42 |
| Other political committees | $796,717.37 | $1,010,513.42 |
| Party committees | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| The candidate, contributions | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| The candidate, loans | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Committees
- JIM COSTA FOR CONGRESS Principal campaign committee · 2024 and 2026 · FEC committee C00391029
- VALLEY FIRST LEADERSHIP PAC Leadership PAC · 2024 and 2026 · FEC committee C00614917
Every figure is copied from the Federal Election Commission. The campaign's committee reports each one.
See contributions by size and by state, and the saved FEC files
Who funds this member
Not checked yetWho funds this member: Not checked yet.
Not started. This official's FEC lists are not saved yet.
Reported stock trades
Confirmed from the official recordThe Clerk's index for 2025 and 2026 lists no Periodic Transaction Report under this member's name and district.
Source: Periodic Transaction Reports filed with the Clerk of the House. The Clerk's index for 2025 and 2026 was saved October 8, 2026.
Where this comes from
We saved our own copy of each official House vote file listed here before writing this page. A code beside a file is its fingerprint, a short code that changes if the file's contents change.
