Jim Costa

Costa, Valadao Call for Passage of Public Health Lab Safety Legislation Following Reedley Biolab Verdict

Position: Representatives Costa and Valadao call for passage of the bipartisan Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act to close regulatory gaps in federal lab oversight and prevent unauthorized biolab operations that pose public health and national security risks.

REEDLEY, Calif. - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statements after a court found Jia Bei Zhu, also known as David He, guilty on all 12 counts related to the illegal biolab discovered in Reedley, California. "The court's guilty verdict on all twelve counts marks a critical step toward addressing the serious public health and safety challenges our communities have faced,"said Congressman Costa. "The City of Reedley, its mayor, city council, and city manager deserve significant credit for bringing forth the issue of illegal labs in America and the potential serious health impacts to its citizens to light. While I am encouraged to see justice served, our work is far from over. It's important for American citizens to realize that there are foreign nationals and bad actors engaged in activities in our country that could create harm. That's why Congress must pass my bipartisan “Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act” to close the gaps in regulation of labs and prevent bad actors from exploiting our public health system. We must remain vigilant in protecting our communities and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Americans." “The Reedley Lab incident exposed serious national security and public health failures, and this guilty verdict is an important step toward accountability,” said Congressman Valadao.“While I’m encouraged to see justice served, Congress still needs to act to address the gaps in federal oversight that allowed this illegal facility to operate under the radar for so long. It’s past time to advance the bipartisan Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act so we can prevent bad actors from exploiting these failures in the future.” BACKGROUND This week, a court has found Jia Bei Zhu, also known as David He, found guilty on all 12 counts connected to the illegal biolab uncovered in Reedley, California. In December 2022, a local code enforcement discovered an unlicensed laboratory operating in Reedley, California, that contained hazardous pathogens, including samples of COVID-19, and unsafe storage of infectious materials. Investigations revealed the operations had ties to Chinese ownership and funding, raising alarms about foreign adversaries exploiting weaknesses in U.S. biosafety oversight. Current federal law regulations contain only a minted list of “select agents,” leaving many dangerous pathogens outside of federal tracking requirements. To address these vulnerabilities, U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), David Valadao (CA-22,) and Kevin Kiley (CA-03), introduced the Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that strengthens oversight of highly pathogenic agents and high-containment laboratories to protect Americans from public health and national security threats. Following the discovery of a similar unauthorized biolab in a Las Vegas neighborhood in January 2026, which was raided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI after several people fell severely ill, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced a bipartisan Senate companion to Rep. Costa’s legislation. The Las Vegas lab suspect, Jia Bei Zhu, is the same individual connected to the Reedley biolab, identified as a People's Republic of China national and a fugitive wanted in Canada. The legislation would help ensure federal agencies have the authority and tools necessary to identify unlawful laboratory activity, improve coordination between local and federal officials, and prevent future incidents like the Reedley and Las Vegas biolabs from occurring again. Issues:Public SafetyForeign Affairs & National Security

Costa Statement on House Passage of the Farm Bill 2026

Position: Rep. Costa supports the House-passed Farm Bill 2026 as an important step toward food security, while advocating for Senate improvements to protect nutrition programs and maintain support for farmers and producers.

WASHINGTON - Following House passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R.7567), commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement: “Food security is national security, and the Farm Bill is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation Congress works on because it determines how we put food on America’s dinner tables,” said Rep. Costa.“After three years of delays, I’m glad the House has finally made substantive progress but there is still more work to do. We must ensure the provisions that support American families, farmers, and producers remain while continuing to improve this bill in the Senate. I will keep working across the aisle to reverse harmful cuts to nutrition programs because in the richest country in the world, children, veterans, seniors, and working families should never be left wondering how they will put food on the table.” Rep. Costa secured several priorities in the Farm Bill, including bills he introduced and provisions he supported, such as: Secured major investments for specialty crops, with the bill including at least $30 million for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (H.R. 4173)and $20 million for mechanization and automation research for specialty crops. Backed stronger trade programs, including Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops, to help California farmers recover from tariffs, overcome trade barriers, and compete globally and doubling funding for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program (H.R. 1086). Secured inclusion of the COWS Act (H.R. 5875), which will help dairies make practical conservation upgrades on their operations and support manure management practices modeled after California’s successful program. It helps farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and makes it easier to adopt precision agriculture technology by covering up to 90 percent of the startup cost. Secured inclusion of the Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program (H.R. 2496), which will help SNAP recipients afford and purchase more nutritious dairy products and strengthen support for dairy and livestock producers by keeping key safety net programs in place, extending dairy promotion and indemnity programs through 2031, and improving how dairy costs are reported. Secured inclusion of the Headwaters Protection Act (H.R. 605), which will strengthen watershed partnerships between agricultural producers, local communities, and the U.S. Forest Service to protect critical water sources. Rep. Costa continues to seek changes to protect SNAP and Prop 12. The bill now moves to the Senate. Issues:WaterAgriculture

Costa, Simon, Lofgren Urge Democratic Leadership to Reject Efforts to Undermine Proposition 12

Position: The members oppose federal Farm Bill provisions that would preempt or weaken California's Proposition 12 animal welfare law, arguing that such provisions would override voter intent, disrupt an adapted market, and penalize compliant producers.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) are leading members of the California delegation in urging House Democratic leadership to oppose any Farm Bill provisions that would overturn or weaken California’s Proposition 12, a voter-approved animal welfare law. The members are calling on leadership to reject any language that would preempt state standards like Proposition 12, arguing that such provisions would override the will of millions of Californians, disrupt a market that has already adapted, and penalize farmers and producers who have invested to comply. “More than 7.5 million Californians voted in favor of Proposition 12, and Congress should not use the Farm Bill to override that clear will of the voters,” said the Members. “The law has been upheld by the Supreme Court and the market has already adapted. A federal override now would punish farmers and producers who followed the rules and create even more uncertainty. We urge Democratic leadership to reject any effort to undermine this law.” Proposition 12, approved by California voters in 2018, established minimum space requirements and humane housing standards for certain livestock products sold in the state. The law has since been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, affirming states’ authority to set such standards. The members emphasized that previous efforts to overturn state animal welfare laws have been blocked and urged leadership to continue that approach. Read the full letter HERE. Issues:Agriculture

Rep. Costa Affirms Commitment to Accountability and Support for Survivors Following Reports of Sexual Abuse by Cesar Chavez

Washington, DC — In response to reports detailing sexual abuse by Cesar Chavez, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, issued the following statement: “The recent reports regarding Cesar Chavez are deeply disturbing. While he played an important role in advancing farmworker rights, the actions described by survivors are unacceptable and cannot be ignored. I want to express my support for those who have come forward. Speaking out about these experiences after decades of silence takes immense courage, and I commend these women for sharing their stories. The trauma they endured is something they will continue to carry for the rest of their lives, and they deserve to have their voices heard and supported. Accountability must apply to anyone who causes harm, no matter their accomplishments or office they hold. I am especially moved by the courage of Dolores Huerta in sharing her experience after so many years. The abuse she describes, and the lifelong pain she endured, came at the cost of keeping silent to protect the farmworker movement she had devoted her life to. Her decision to speak out now reflects extraordinary strength and underscores the sacrifices many women made while advocating for justice and workers’ rights. The farmworker movement was built through the dedication of countless men, women, and children whose work has shaped our communities and put food on America’s dinner table. As we confront these revelations, it is essential to continue honoring the contributions of farmworkers themselves while addressing this misconduct openly. This movement is bigger than any one person, and its progress endures because of the collective effort and courage of the community. I support efforts to reevaluate and rename public spaces that honor Cesar Chavez so that they instead reflect the values and people who truly represent this movement and I remain committed to advancing the rights, dignity, and well-being of farmworkers and their families.” Issues:Victims' Rights