League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Fresno, Merced, Madera Counties, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Jim Costa Answers Questions Candidate for United States Representative; District 16

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

2. What, if any, changes should be made to federal health care policies or programs?

The Affordable Care Act is not perfect, and we ought to work in a bipartisan manner to improve the law. However, I do not support the full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, because repealing the law means allowing insurance companies to charge women more for health insurance and deny coverage to Valley residents due to preexisting conditions. As a result of this law, more than 9,000 young adults in our district are now covered under their parent's health insurance policy, and 80,000 seniors in our district are now eligible for Medicare preventive services without paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductible. Up to 54,000 children with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage by health insurers, and hundreds of small businesses can take advantage of tax credits to help maintain or expand coverage for their employees. Repealing the Affordable Care Act means repealing these benefits that Valley residents are already enjoying.

Further improvements to the law and our health care system can and should be made. Since passage of the health care law, I have voted several times to repeal and rework certain provisions that don't address the unique challenges of the Valley's small businesses, farmers, and agriculture workers. We must do more to ensure every Valley resident has access to quality and affordable health care. I will continue to support commonsense reforms to the law that reflect the Valley's needs.

4. What, if any, changes should be made with respect to our nation’s security, including our national defense or anti-terrorism measures?

One of my top duties in Congress is to keep our country safe. This means strengthening our national security, supporting our troops at home and abroad, and completing our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno is vital for our national security and our Valley's economic security. The location of the 144th Fighter Wing on the West Coast helps our nation maintain air superiority in the Southwest region of the United States and around the world, and with more than 1000 guardsmen and women stationed at the wing, the 144th is a central part of our local economy.

That's why I fought so hard to stop proposals by other states to end the 144th fighter wing and halt the transfer of new F-15s to the wing. On a bipartisan basis, I rallied more than half the California Congressional delegation in support of the wing, and we were successful. The new F-15s are at the 144th, and the base is safe from any proposed elimination.

5. What is your position on the issue of immigration reform? What, if any, changes to legislation or policy would you support?

Immigration reform has long been a priority of mine, and we must work in a bipartisan fashion to achieve true Comprehensive Immigration Reform that includes a pathway to citizenship. That is why I am a proud co-sponsor of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (H.R. 15). This bill will modernize our broken immigration system for the 21st Century by securing our borders, uniting families, and providing an earned pathway to citizenship. The legislation will also decrease the nation's deficit by nearly $1 trillion. Continuing the status quo is not acceptable for the sake of our economy, the future of the San Joaquin Valley, and the 11 million people living in the shadows. We need reform now.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: July 16, 2014 10:39
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