Large, male nutria trapped in a private wetland in Merced County, June 2017. CDFA photo.

November 2, 2020 - (Fresno, CA) -  Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) issued the following statement after President Trump signed into law H.R. 3399, the Nutria Eradication and Control Act, a bill he co-authored that authorizes up to $60 million dollars to help eradicate and control the population of this destructive invasive species: 

“This bill is the perfect example of working across the aisle for the betterment of our communities,” Costa said. “Nutria plague our waterways and cause damage to farms and water infrastructure – an urgent situation that needs attention. This bill secures funding to help rid our waterways of this pest. Through bipartisan teamwork, we now have the means to solve this problem.”

Nutria present significant issues for California’s farming communities by destroying critical wetlands and waterways and pose a public safety risk by destroying levees and canals. They also wreak havoc on precious habitat by killing native plants and animals.

In his role as Chairman of the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, Rep. Costa has routinely fought to find a solution to rid nutria from California, including  chairing a hearing on the subject early this year, writing a letter to the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources to take up the issue, and giving a speech on the on the House Floor urging colleagues to support the bill. 

Rep. Costa is a co-author of H.R. 3399, which was introduced by Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) and co-authored by Representatives T.J. Cox (CA-21) and John Garamendi (CA-3). Additional cosponsors of the bill are Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Garret Graves (LA-6) and Ami Bera (CA-7). A companion bill was championed in the Senate by Senators Dianne Feinstein and John Kennedy.

Rep. Costa extends thanks to his San Joaquin Valley colleagues Congressmen Josh Harder and TJ Cox, as well as Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves, for their partnership on this legislation, and to President Trump for his quick action in signing this bill into law.
Source: Congressman Jim Costa

Related: President Donald J. Trump Signs into Law the Nutria Eradication and Control Act by Congressman Josh Harder to Stop Giant Rodent Invasion in California’s Central Valley