News Releases
Crapo Comments on Alito Vote
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says today's vote of 58-42 to confirm Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court is important for two reasons. Crapo says today's vote places a highly qualified justice on the Court to take the place of Sandra Day O'Connor. Plus, Crapo says the vote is also important because it ends a nomination process that became much too contentious given Alito's qualifications, including his favorable recommendation fr… Continue Reading
January 30, 2006
Almost Poetic: Plutonium to Pluto
On January 19, as NASA launched the "New Horizons" probe to Pluto, we felt very proud that Idahoans played such an important role in the mission. Nine years from now when we receive images and scientific information from the outermost planet in our solar system, the power that sends this information back to Earth will come from a plutonium-powered battery built by our own Idaho National Laboratory (INL). As was the case with the plutonium-powered Cassini mission to Saturn, in deep spac… Continue Reading
January 25, 2006
Crapo Congratulates Idahoans For Gulf Coast Hurricane Awards
Washington, DC - Idahoans who played a notable part in the recovery efforts in the hurricanes that swept the Gulf Coast region last year were recognized today by U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The four Idaho men honored were among a total of ten nationwide from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) division of the Bureau of Land Management. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo met them and congratulated them before the awards ceremony."Idahoans have always b… Continue Reading
January 25, 2006
Crapo Reacts To CEQ Chairman on Salmon
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo issued the following reaction to remarks on salmon recovery made today in Portland by James Connaughton, Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality."Jim Connaughton's speech presents ideas that are intriguing, and yet raise some items of concern. We all agree that wild anadromous fish recovery needs to be properly balanced among all the H's-habitat, hydropower, hatchery, and harvest."However, there are many uncoordinat… Continue Reading
January 25, 2006
Crapo: Idaho Progressing Under New Drug Plan
Washington, DC - In a Senate Finance Committee briefing this morning, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo noted that the state of Idaho is doing nation-leading work in managing the complexity and inevitable start-up problems associated with the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director/Administrator Mark McClellan addressed Crapo and other Finance Committee members regarding the program, which bega… Continue Reading
January 24, 2006
Crapo Supports Alito For Support Court
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Samuel Alito's experience and distinguished record of fairness will make him an excellent member of the Court today after Alito's nomination was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The confirmation now moves to the Senate floor."Judge Alito has proven with his decades of public service that he is extremely well qualified to serve on the Supreme Court to interpret and uphold the Constitut… Continue Reading
January 18, 2006
Crapo Seeks To Improve No Child Left Behind Act
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is seeking administrative improvements and potentially legislative changes to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to make it work better for students, teachers, and schools. Crapo wrote U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings seeking relief for state leaders who fear the federal guidelines are not flexible enough. "President Bush's sweeping education reforms included in the No Child Left Behind Act have had measurable positive effects on man… Continue Reading
January 11, 2006
Ground Squirrel Efforts Demonstrate Recovery Partnerships
Boise â?? The work of several Idaho citizens making an historic on-the-ground effort to save the Southern Idaho Ground Squirrel are being recognized by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo with his Spirit of Idaho Award. The squirrel, which has been designated as a candidate for future protection actions under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), will benefit by voluntary agreements signed by private landowners in Adams, Gem, Payette, and Washington Counties.The landowner groups were honored during a reception… Continue Reading
January 10, 2006
Crapo Commends Repeal of China Trade Tariff
Washington, DC â?? American paper producers can look forward to continued access to Chinaâ??s market after Chinaâ??s decision today to repeal an antidumping duty on U.S. exports of kraft linerboard, which is a product used to make corrugated boxes. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the Banking Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance and member of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. last year when China took steps to implement the tariff o… Continue Reading
January 06, 2006
Ground Squirrel Recovery Efforts Bring Spirit of Idaho Awards
Boise â?? The work of several Idaho citizens making an historic on-the-ground effort to save the Southern Idaho Ground Squirrel will be recognized next week by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo with his Spirit of Idaho Award. Several federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Fish and Game, and the Governorâ??s Office of Species Conservation, will join Crapo Wednesday, January 11th, to honor Idaho landowners who have formed conservation agreements aimed at boosting nu… Continue Reading
December 21, 2005
Senate Approves Budget-Saving Measure
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted today to approve a budget reconciliation package to reduce federal spending by more than $39 billion between 2006 and 2010. S. 1932, the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, is the first deficit-reduction bill to pass since 1997. The bill passed as expected on a vote of 51-50 with Vice President Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote. Crapo is member of both the Senate Budget and Finance Committees, which crafted many of the cost sa… Continue Reading
December 21, 2005
Crapo Demands Health Care Choices Remain For Surgery Options
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has won assurances from the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand choices for outpatient surgical procedures (with some exceptions) for both Medicare beneficiaries and providers. Crapo fought to maintain the access through provisions in the Deficit Reduction Budget Reconciliation Conference Report, which narrowly passed the U.S. Senate Wednesday morning. HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt has agreed to support greater access to ambulatory s… Continue Reading
December 20, 2005
Crapo Details Idaho Farm Bill Meetings
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and his staff will host 21 meetings statewide next month to hear comments from Idahoans about the 2007 Farm Bill. This is the second consecutive time that Crapo, who chairs a Senate Agriculture subcommittee on rural issues, has held statewide meetings on federal programs in advance of Congress adopting a Farm Bill. The Idaho Farm Bureau is co-sponsoring the Farm Bill meetings, and representatives of federal and state farm agencies are also expected to … Continue Reading
December 19, 2005
Crapo Announces Farm Bill Meetings
Washington, DC â?? The makeup of the 2007 Farm Bill will be up for discussion as Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, who chairs a Senate Agriculture subcommittee on rural issues, opens a series of Farm Bill listening sessions around Idaho next month. Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation and Rural Revitalization, will host a number of the Idaho listening sessions. The meetings will cover all of the proposed titles in the Farm Bill including Conservation, Energy, … Continue Reading
December 16, 2005
Crapo Supports Patriot Act Reauthorization
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted today to invoke cloture on debate of the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005, which would allow the Senate to vote on extending expiring provisions in the law. The Act contains provisions that will expire Dec. 31 unless the Senate approves an extension. Cloture is a Senate procedure requiring 60 votes that allows the Senate to end debate on an issue and move to a vote on the actual bill. Because the cloture vote failed… Continue Reading
December 16, 2005
Craig, Crapo Applaud Smith Nomination
WASHINGTON, D.C. â?? Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo reacted positively to todayâ??s announcement by the President that he nominated Randy Smith, an Idaho State District Judge, to serve on the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Craig and Crapo made the following statement, â??Randy is an accomplished lawyer and judge. His service on the bench in Idaho has earned him a reputation of being fair, honest, and one who seeks resolution. He also understands that judges interpret law, they d… Continue Reading
December 16, 2005
Idaho, Montana Join Forces On Downwinder Legislation
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined with Montana Senator Conrad Burns today to introduce legislation to include both Idaho and Montana under a federal government program to compensate those showing medical evidence they were harmed by nuclear testing fallout in the 1950s and 1960s. Idaho Senator Larry Craig is an original co-sponsor of the bill that would amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include both states. At present, so-called â??downwindersâ?? are now co… Continue Reading
December 16, 2005
Senate Bill To Protect Backcountry Airstrips
Washington, DC â??Providing backcountry access, supporting rural economies and recreational activities, and aiding forest management requires a nationwide policy to protect federal backcountry aviation issues, according to a bill introduced today by Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig. The bill directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to adopt such a policy. The bill was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.â??With such a vast portion of Idaho designated… Continue Reading
December 15, 2005
Crapo, Lincoln Introduce Collaborative ESA Bill
Washington, DC â?? Enlisting more people in conservation efforts by offering incentives to private landowners is a key component of an ESA improvement bill introduced today by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln. Crapo (R-Idaho) and Lincoln (D-Arkansas) have co-chaired a bipartisan working group on ESA issues which produced the legislation introduced today. S. 2110, the Collaboration for the Recovery of the Endangered Species Act (CRESA), focuses on additional participa… Continue Reading
December 14, 2005
Crapo Teen Violence Resolution Passes Senate
Washington, DC â??Awareness efforts to address teen dating violence will see more attention in schools and communities after the Senate passed a resolution by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. S. Res. 275 designated February 6-10, 2006 as â??National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Weekâ?? (TDVAP), which the Senate approved by unanimous consent. The resolution is in conjunction with the activities of the Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiative, to curb the growing problem … Continue Reading
