Housing Survey Reminder

This is a reminder that my Idaho Housing Survey is open until next Saturday, May 31. I encourage all Idahoans to participate. Feedback will help inform affordable housing legislation. The survey is available here. You can also read my guest column on the importance of this pressing issue affecting many Idahoans on my website here.

Safeguarding Firefighters and Local Communities from Wildfires

Uncontrolled wildfires have devastating effects on communities and landscapes throughout the West, including Idaho. I joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) to introduce the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025. This bill would ensure timely access to fire retardant by preventing litigation driven efforts to add additional regulatory burdens on this firefighting resource. Read more on my website here.

Housing America’s Veteran Heroes

Veterans disabled in combat have laid their lives on the line in defense of this nation. In an effort to continue ensuring disabled veterans housing benefits, I have joined two pieces of legislation to protect their access to housing.

• I, along with Senator Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), introduced the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act. This bill would exempt payments to veterans for service-connected disability from being included as income when applying for Community Development Block Grant housing, enabling disabled veterans to participate in federal housing programs they would otherwise not qualify without this exemption. Read more on my website here.
• With Senators Alex Padilla (D-California), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) and Katie Britt (R-Alabama), we introduced the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act. This measure would permanently exclude disability payments received by veterans from annual income for housing assistance eligibility purposes under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. Read more on my website here.

Did You Know?

Did you know 48 desks were produced by Thomas Constantine after the Senate Chamber was rebuilt in August 24, 1814, that are still in use today? While serving in the U.S. Senate, I have worked from four Senate Chamber Desks, all four of which were Constantine desks. For a majority of my time in the U.S. Senate, I have worked from Desk 74. According to Senate historians it is highly likely I have been the longest occupant of that desk. Read more in my recent weekly column here.

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