News Releases
CRAPO ANNOUNCES AIRPORT GRANTS
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today announced federal grant dollars that will bring infrastructure improvements for runways, lighting, and fencing for airports in the Magic Valley and Coeur dâ??Alene. Crapoâ??s office assisted in releasing the funding.The federal Department of Transportation grants announced today include: $2,600,000 to the Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls to extend taxiways; improve runway lighting and access roads, conduct studies and for other uses. $… Continue Reading
July 21, 2005
CRAPO INTRODUCES BILL FOR PULMONARY AND CARDIAC MEDICARE PATIENTS
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo introduced legislation today to include pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation as a covered Medicare benefit. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) joined Senator Crapo as an original co-sponsor. If passed, this legislation would end the decade-long debate between providers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the various fiscal intermediaries responsible for reimbursing for these services. Currently, there is no specific reference to … Continue Reading
July 20, 2005
CRAPO TO REVIEW CONSERVATIONRESERVE PROGRAM
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, and Rural Revitalization, will chair a hearing next week to discuss oversight of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The hearing will take place on Wednesday, July 27th, at 10:00 a.m. in 328A Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. â??For the past 20 years, CRP has been a tool for farmers and ranchers to voluntarily achieve their conservation goals,â?? said Crap… Continue Reading
July 20, 2005
CRAPO TO CHAIR HEARING ON FARM PROGRAMS,SPECIES CONSERVATION
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization, will hold a hearing next week to discuss how Farm Bill programs can better support species conservation. The hearing will be held Tuesday, July 26th, in 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building beginning at 10:00 a.m.â??There are many programs in the Farm Bill and many people participating in those programs that can do much to recover species and imp… Continue Reading
July 19, 2005
CRAPO: JOHN ROBERTS EXCELLENT NOMINEE FOR HIGH COURT
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo commended the Presidentâ??s choice of D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge John Roberts for the Supreme Court today and anticipates an evenhanded and speedy process in confirming him to administer justice under the Constitution. â??John Roberts is a great choice for a Supreme Court nomination, as he brings a breadth of experience both in private practice and public service and has demonstrated a strong ability to correctly interpret the Constitution,â?? … Continue Reading
July 15, 2005
CRAPO IMPROVES TRAVEL FOR PULMONARY PATIENTS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Co-Chair of a Senate Caucus dealing with chronic breathing issues, today won federal rule changes making it easier for pulmonary patients to travel on airplanes. Crapo had worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the past year to improve language regarding the use of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) which assist passengers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the fourth-leading killer in the U.S., and other breathing … Continue Reading
July 13, 2005
IDAHO TO RECEIVE SAGE GROUSE MANAGEMENT FUNDS
Washington, DC - Members of Idaho's Congressional Delegation are applauding today's U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of $27,021 to fund Idaho sage grouse habitat protection efforts. The funds are part of $5 million the USDA will make available in Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming for special projects to help protect sage grouse habitat. State and local partnerships will provide technical and additional fin… Continue Reading
July 13, 2005
FIRE PREVENTION SEASON
FIRE PREVENTION SEASONGuest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoYou might be surprised to learn that 348 wildland fires have already been contained nationwide in the 2005 fire season. Over half a million acres are burning. For the Northwest, additional vegetation from our wet spring is becoming potential fire fuel through persistent drought conditions. The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise predicts a higher than normal fire risk into late July and August. This is the perfect opp… Continue Reading
July 11, 2005
IDAHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE SENATE COMPUTERS
Washington, DC - Five Idaho schools will have twenty-five U.S. Senate computers for the coming school year, courtesy of Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and the Senate "Computers for Schools" program. The program helps public schools take advantage of current technology by channeling excess federal computer equipment to public schools. "Technology training and computer skills are a vital part of our education system," Crapo said. "In a rapidly changing job sector, these skills a… Continue Reading
July 07, 2005
CRAPO TO DISCUSS SUPREME COURT, GUANTANAMO
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will discuss current issues facing Congress including the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation process and his recent visit to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on the July Capitol Watch live town hall meeting. "We have had a busy year in Congress, and with the recent retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the schedule promises to be just as exciting and productive," said Crapo. "I look forward to answering questions from fellow Idahoans about… Continue Reading
July 01, 2005
CRAPOPRAISES O'CONNOR'S SERVICE
Washington, DC - Following Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's resignation from the Court, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo commended Justice O'Connor for her many years dedicated to public service as the first female justice to the Supreme Court and affirmed his support for a fair and prompt process in confirming her replacement. "Justice O'Connor has served the court well for more than twenty years and the nation owes her a debt of gratitude for her service," said Cra… Continue Reading
July 01, 2005
CRAPOADDS NEW ENERGY ADVISER
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has named Craig Ferguson as Legislative Assistant, charged with advising Crapo on energy, natural resources, environment, public lands, and water issues. "I look forward to a strong working relationship with Craig and he brings qualified experience to my staff," Crapo said. "Craig has an excellent background and will be a great asset in aiding with issues that are so critical to Idahoans."Ferguson, originally from Colorado Springs, Co… Continue Reading
June 30, 2005
CRAPO: COLLABORATION, INCENTIVES KEY TO ESA IMPROVEMENTS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will visit Bonners Ferry and Orofino next week to mark collaborative agreements that he says are a critical component of federal legislation he is working to introduce this year to improve how the Endangered Species Act operates. Crapo is writing a bill and coordinating ideas on ESA improvements with Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-Rhode Island) and Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), as well as Representative Richard Pombo (R-California) and other members. Chafee, Inho… Continue Reading
June 30, 2005
CRAPO CO-SPONSORS PROPERTY RIGHTS BILL
Washington, DC - Citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could cause private property owners to forfeit their land or buildings for economic reasons to government entities, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo quickly signed on to a bill seeking to stop such actions. The "Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005" was introduced yesterday by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas). "This ruling takes the takings clause and stretches it too far. It is clearly not wha… Continue Reading
June 30, 2005
CRAPO VOTES NO ON CAFTA
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo tonight voted against legislation to implement the U.S. Central America - Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Crapo said that while very appreciative of the commitments obtained from the Bush Administration to hold the U.S. sugar industry harmless throughout the duration of the 2002 Farm Bill, he had to vote with Idaho growers who remained opposed to CAFTA. The measure was approved on a vote of 54-to-45.Crapo was involved in several meetings… Continue Reading
June 29, 2005
SENATE APPROVES INTERIOR FUNDING
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted in favor of the Senate Interior Appropriations bill approved today, that will provide support to improve on Idahoâ??s lands and natural resources, including $1 million for a strategic plan to manage Idahoâ??s noxious weeds. The bill also includes funding for wildlife recovery and lands conservation projects throughout the state at places like Mica Creek and the Upper/South Fork Snake River. â??I am pleased the Senate was able to pass this bill so … Continue Reading
June 28, 2005
SENATE APPROVES LONG-AWAITED ENERGY BILL
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted in favor of comprehensive energy legislation today that will boost renewable energy initiatives in Idaho and lessen the nationâ??s foreign energy dependence. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over the financing for the national energy policy, he played an instrumental role in securing tax credits to expand nuclear power production to benefit the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). A member of the Senate Renewables and… Continue Reading
June 27, 2005
CRAPO: NO PRISONER ABUSE AT GUANTANAMO, WORK KEEPING AMERICANS SAFER FROM TERRORISM
Washington, DC â?? The world is a safer place for Americans and many of their neighbors around the globe thanks to the interrogation work being done at the Guantanamo Bay detention site in Cuba, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo was part of a five-senator delegation in Cuba on Sunday to personally investigate how prisoners are being treated by U.S. military personnel.â??These are the worst of the worst,â?? Crapo said of the detainees. â??There is a reason they are there. They must be … Continue Reading
June 24, 2005
9TH CIRCUIT SPLIT PLAN MOVES FORWARD
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig said the effort to split the size of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gained momentum today with the introduction of two bills in the Senate seeking to change the 9th Circuit. Both senators have signed on to co-sponsor both bills.â??With bills moving in both the House and Senate, it is obvious our colleagues from around the country have agreed the 9th Circuit is just too large to properly serve the residents of Idaho and other sta… Continue Reading
June 23, 2005
IDAHO FOOD PRODUCERS STIMULATE ECONOMY
Washington, DC â??Idahoâ??s agricultural industry will benefit through funding advocated by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill, which was approved in the Senate Appropriations Committee today. The agriculture spending measure dedicates substantial resources to agriculture, rural development, and conservation research important to Idaho communities. â??Agriculture research is vital to the success of Idaho agriculture, and this legislation includes funding for m… Continue Reading
