Editorials
Weekly Column: Legislating For Idaho
As the 117th Congress is now in full swing, legislation is being reintroduced and work is underway on needed policy changes. Following is a brief overview of important legislation I am working with fellow senators to reintroduce this Congress. Energy Work continues with a bipartisan group of senators to update and reintroduce the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (ANIA). This legislation further facilitates our nuclear competitiveness. ANIA ensures the research conducted at the Idaho N… Continue Reading
April 05, 2021
Weekly Column: Sound Immigration Reform
Throughout my time in Congress, I have consistently maintained there is a real need for a rational immigration policy built on several important principles. I have weighed past immigration reform legislation against these principles, and have voted against immigration reform efforts that do not meet them. I continue to use them as a guide for consideration of current immigration reform proposals: First, the United States must commit the resources necessary to have the strongest border enfo… Continue Reading
March 29, 2021
Weekly Column: Supporting Idaho Manufacturing Through A Competitive Federal Tax Code
A vibrant manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of strong economic activity and jobs here in Idaho and across America. Manufacturing accounts for more than 106,000 jobs in Idaho and 9.97 percent of Idaho's workforce with an output valued at $10.4 billion, according to 2018 and 2019 data compiled by the Idaho Department of Commerce. Nationwide, the manufacturing sector accounted for 15.7 percent of our country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 and 14.6 percent of Idaho's GDP. To help make… Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Weekly Column: Scrutinizing Federal Regulation
Major federal rules must be rare and well-reasoned, given their outsized impact. While Congress has enacted legislation attempting to curb federal overregulation, we cannot let up in working to ensure American productivity is not stymied by federal mandates. I joined a bipartisan group of fellow senators in reintroducing legislation that would help keep federal regulation in check. On January 27, I joined in reintroducing S. 68, the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) … Continue Reading
March 15, 2021
Weekly Column: As In The Past, COVID Relief Should Be Bipartisan, Targeted
Prior to the recent passage of the American Rescue Plan, Congress came together five times to pass bipartisan bills totaling roughly $4 trillion to help Americans weather the pandemic. Recent economic projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provide proof of their effectiveness, predicting a robust economic recovery. We should be encouraged by this, as well as vaccine distribution underway, and look to fill any gaps in the response instead of just piling more taxpayer dollars on … Continue Reading
March 08, 2021
Weekly Column: Working Hard For Idahoans As Finance Committee Ranking Member--Trade Policy Focus
Free and fair trade is vital for Idaho's $4 billion export industry. As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over reciprocal trade agreements, tariffs and import quotas, I have welcomed the opportunity to continue to work to ensure fair and open market opportunities for Idaho and U.S. goods. Over the past few weeks, I have released two guest columns outlining priorities in three key areas of the Committee's jurisdiction-tax, health care and trade. This third and f… Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Weekly Column: Working Hard For Idahoans As Finance Committee Ranking Member--Health Care Focus
As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, I continue to bring Idaho values of conservatism and commonsense to the work of the Committee. In a three-part guest column series, I am outlining priorities in three key areas of the Committee's jurisdiction-tax, health care and trade. This second of the three columns is focused on federal health care priorities. In the 117th Congress, I intend to work with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and all members of the Committ… Continue Reading
February 22, 2021
Weekly Column: Working Hard For Idahoans As Finance Committee Ranking Member--Tax Policy Focus
Serving on the Senate Finance Committee has given me the opportunity to help make a positive difference in shaping important policy affecting the lives of Idahoans and all Americans. The Committee's extensive jurisdiction includes federal tax policy; federal social safety net and health care programs; and implementation of reciprocal foreign trade agreements. I always look for opportunities to simplify our tax code, create jobs and help Idahoans save for retirement. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs… Continue Reading
February 15, 2021
Weekly Column: Faulty Budgeting
Over the last year, Congress has come together multiple times to pass massive, bipartisan bills totaling trillions of dollars in relief measures to back the medical response and help American families and businesses weather the pandemic. I have been encouraged by this bipartisan approach, and recent economic projections from the Congressional Budget Office, which estimates that already-enacted pandemic-related provisions, built upon the strong fiscal policy foundation we already have in place, … Continue Reading
February 08, 2021
Weekly Column: Third Federal Judge For Idaho
In 1953, then-U.S. Senator Herman Welker (R-Idaho), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made a convincing case for the addition of a second federal judgeship for Idaho at a Judiciary subcommittee hearing. The Senator cited the increase in cases, rising case backload and considerable distance between places of holding court for the only federal judge in Idaho at the time. He asked, "How long can this able jurist physically and mentally stand this tremendous workload?" In 1954, Congress… Continue Reading
February 01, 2021
Weekly Column: Reflecting On Banking Committee Chairmanship
In the 116th Congress, I had the great honor of serving my second term as the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over the financial system, from housing to sanctions to transit. Much of the term was focused on the implementation and oversight of laws passed in the previous congressional session and on several important reauthorizations. However, as the pandemic spread rapidly across the world, Congress was tasked with confronting an unexpected challenge unli… Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Weekly Column: The Taxpayer First Act
We have all likely heard some variation of the famous saying that nothing is certain but death and taxes. Given the preeminent inevitability of taxes, we must make certain that the federal agency tasked with administering this responsibility operates with just and up-to-date guidelines. Since Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed the Taxpayer First Act (TFA) into law last year, work has been underway to implement its provisions to modernize the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to exp… Continue Reading
January 04, 2021
Weekly Column: Increasing Retirement Savings Opportunities
Saving for retirement is important but often difficult, especially when faced with the increased uncertainty of the pandemic. When paychecks have to cover mortgages, rent, car payments, food, utilities, gas, college and other important obligations, steady retirement savings is often challenging, if not nearly impossible. Unexpected medical expenses or car repairs can upset even the best retirement plans. Recognizing the challenges, Congress has taken steps to increase retirement savings oppor… Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Weekly Column: Nez Perce-Clearwater Forests Example Of Collaboration Bringing Results
I recently had the opportunity to speak on the Senate floor about important progress underway on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests to improve the health of the Forests that is a great example of the benefits of collaborative efforts. The following contains parts of the speech and a video of the full speech can be accessed through my website at: www.crapo.senate.gov. I have been a longtime champion of collaboration to address public lands management disputes, as collaborative processes… Continue Reading
December 14, 2020
Weekly Column: Impact Aid: 70 Years Of Delivering Resources To Federally Impacted School Districts
Impact Aid is a crucial program that provides needed funding to school districts in Idaho. The Senate unanimously passed S.Res. 775, a bipartisan resolution I led with fellow Senate Impact Aid Coalition Co-Chair, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), that recognizes the program's 70 years of delivering resources to federally impacted school districts to provide high-quality education and access to opportunities children need to reach their full potential. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) p… Continue Reading
December 07, 2020
Weekly Column: Reinforcing America's Nuclear Infrastructure
Over the last couple of years, Congress has ushered in a new chapter in U.S. nuclear energy by enacting legislation promoting nuclear innovation. The advancement of clean, reliable nuclear energy is paramount to maintaining the United States' eminence in nuclear power, research and innovation. My colleagues and I recently introduced S. 4897, the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (ANIA) of 2020, which would further facilitate our country's nuclear competitiveness through enhanced collaboratio… Continue Reading
November 30, 2020
Weekly Column: From The Mailbag--Public Lands
As participants in the decisions made in Congress, Idahoans contact me with valuable input about the issues our country faces. Realizing that many may not have the chance to contact me, I post information about various issues of importance on my website, http://crapo.senate.gov. One of the issues Idahoans have contacted me about is the management and ownership of our public lands. The following is my response: Put simply, public lands should remain public. Their values should be preserved a… Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Weekly Column: Thanksgiving 2020
This Thanksgiving has me thinking back over all this year has brought-both the enormous challenges and the progress. Like so many Americans do during Thanksgiving, I am counting my blessings, and I look to this ending year and the year ahead with an expectation fueled by American resilience seen in all corners of our great country. I am thankful for living in this free country, for our Constitution, which gives us so many rich blessings. Not the least of these blessings are our personal freed… Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Weekly Column: 2020 Spirit Of Freedom Awardees
In Idaho, we do not have to look far for good works. So many Idahoans work hard to lift burdens and brighten the days of others. This year's Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veterans Service Award recipients are a reminder of the great Idahoans who make our state such a wonderful place to live. The Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veterans Service Award is presented in two categories: veterans and volunteers who assist veterans. Their examples of selfless service are beyond worthy of recognition and are a t… Continue Reading
November 09, 2020
Weekly Column: Veterans Day: Working Together For Idaho Veterans
It is a great benefit to our state that more than 115,000 veterans choose to make Idaho their home. Idaho veterans offer a helping hand to their fellow veterans, military families and broader communities time after time. I look to Idaho veterans, the veterans organizations they lead and the veterans program staff they work with for their helpful insight in ensuring federal programs truly support their service while deployed and when they return home. I am proud to lead a collaborative effor… Continue Reading
