News Releases
Crapo Seeks To Amend Ag Budget For Idaho Producers
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will offer an amendment today during the Committeeâ??s markup of agriculture reconciliation legislation to reallocate nearly $1 billion from reauthorizing the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. The amendment would restore proposed reductions in funding for conservation, commodity and research programs. The MILC program, which expired at the end of September, was originally included in the 2002 Farm B… Continue Reading
October 18, 2005
Senators Applaud Idahoan's Nomination Council
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig praised Idaho Commission on the Arts Chairman Mark Hofflundâ??s approval by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, to serve on the National Council of the Arts. Hofflund was nominated by the President to fulfill the remainder of a six-year term that expires in September 2008. Hofflund will bring to the Council a range of experience that includes managing director of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, co-chair of the Bo… Continue Reading
October 18, 2005
Crapo Raises Awareness Of Dating Violence
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo introduced a Senate resolution today calling for a national Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, February 6 â?? 10, 2006. â??As we know all too sadly in Idaho, the crime of teen dating violence, including physical, emotional and sexual assault, is a reality for many American teenagers,â?? said Crapo. â??Like drug abuse, itâ??s a reality of which many parents are unaware. It makes sense to have the people most affected by this insidious d… Continue Reading
October 14, 2005
Crapo Pushes For Salmon Funding
Washington, DC â??Funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) is imperative to protecting and restoring salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest said Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, along with seven other senators. The members wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee to push for the inclusion of the funding in the Fiscal Year 2006 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. Through the PCSRF, more than 1,800 habitat restoration projects and 1,100 planning … Continue Reading
October 07, 2005
INL Receives $10 Million to Develop Secure Communications
Washington, DC â?? Idahoâ??s important role in securing our nation was recognized today by the approval of defense projects requested by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, including $10 million for the Idaho National Laboratory Critical Infrastructure Test Range project. The Senate approved the Fiscal Year 2006 Defense Appropriations bill today. Crapo said, â??Iâ??m pleased that the Senate has supported the important resources for defense research and development in Idaho. These projects will not only be… Continue Reading
October 07, 2005
Crapo Touts Health Care Savings For Medicaid
Washington, DC â?? Idahoans who rely on Medicaid for health care will have another option under legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. The Medicaid Health Opportunity Account Act takes the concept of health savings accounts and provides it to Medicaid recipients on a voluntary basis. Crapo introduced the bill in the U.S. Senate this week; it is a companion to H.R. 3757, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month.The measure sets up a 5-year, 10-state demons… Continue Reading
October 07, 2005
Crapo: College Savings Tax Advantage Should Stay
Washington, DC â?? Students and parents saving for college will get some assistance under legislation co-sponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today. The measure, the College 529 InvEST Act of 2005 (S. 1112), would make the tax benefits of section 529 college savings plans permanent. A 529 College Savings plan is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged savings plan for higher education. Under changes made to tax law in 2001, education-related withdrawals from these accounts are tax-free. Prior to 2001… Continue Reading
October 07, 2005
Crapo Co-Sponsors Ag Equipment Bill
Washington, DC â?? By modernizing an outdated provision in the tax code, the cost of doing business could be lowered for farmers under a bill co-sponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of both the Senate Agriculture and Senate Finance Committees. The measure, introduced by Senator Jim Talent (R-Missouri), provides farmers and manufacturers with an equitable depreciation schedule for farm equipment.â??Agricultural production is vital to Idahoâ??s economy,â?? Crapo said. â??Farming require… Continue Reading
October 06, 2005
Crapo Speaks On ESA Reform
Washington, DC â??Endangered Species Act (ESA) legislation and recent developments regarding the Act were the topic of a webcast talk show today featuring Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, who is leading a bipartisan Senate Wildlife Recovery workgroup that is working to update the ESA. The webcast talk show, â??OnPointâ??, can be viewed at www.eandetv.com. â??OnPointâ?? is a daily webcast focusing on environmental and energy issues, featuring top government, industry, policy, and academic experts. Crapo… Continue Reading
October 06, 2005
Crapo's "Capitol Watch" Halloween Special
Washington, DC â??â??Tis the season of tall tales, outlandish claims and downright spooky stories. The U.S. Capitol, which has been the scene of what some may call frightening political behavior, has also been the scene of ghostly events that canâ??t be explained by political pundits. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will be sharing some ghost stories about the United States Capitol on his October â??Capitol Watchâ?? program, which will air on Tuesday, October 11, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. Mountain/6:00 p.m. P… Continue Reading
October 05, 2005
Escaping Dollars
In our frequent visits with Idahoans, itâ??s no surprise that energy prices are on everyoneâ??s mind. Natural gas and gasoline prices were at or near record highs before Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast, a region where much of the United Statesâ?? oil production and refining facilities are located. Energy supplies were already tight, and the forced shutdown of many offshore platforms and refineries only made the problem worse. In the wake of these two storms, Congress has already requested an… Continue Reading
October 05, 2005
Crapo Hails Reauthorization of VAWA
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined the full Senate in passing the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by unanimous consent. â??This landmark legislation, now eleven years in existence, funds critical programs to help all victims of violent crime as well as agencies and organizations who provide acute and legal aid to these victimsâ?? said Crapo. â??VAWA provides life-saving services to many Idahoans and trains those who are on the front lines to best care for… Continue Reading
September 30, 2005
Delegation Reacts To Upper Snake Lawsuit Announcement
Washington, DC â?? Idahoâ??s Congressional Delegation issued the following statement today regarding the announcement of further court action regarding the operation of dams along the Upper Salmon River in eastern Idaho: â??Historically, Idahoâ??s dams hold back water for irrigators, and Idaho has already agreed to send 427,000 acre feet of water down the river for salmon and steelhead recovery in years where the water is available. Weâ??d prefer the model of collaboration and consensus seen in … Continue Reading
September 29, 2005
Crapo Votes With Senate To Approve John Roberts As Chief Justice
Washington, DC â??Judge John Roberts was approved by the Senate today. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted in favor of his confirmation as the 17th Chief Justice in a vote of 78-22. â??John Roberts was a superb nomination for Chief Justice of the United States and I am pleased the Senate was able to act in a timely and fair way to confirm him today,â?? Crapo said. â??I personally met with Judge Roberts prior to his Senate hearings and he has proven that he will rule based on law and not legislate fro… Continue Reading
September 28, 2005
Crapo: Water Research Programs Critical
Washington, DC â?? Legislation that will assist in funding an important University of Idaho natural resource research facility has cleared the U.S. Senate without objection, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo is one of the original co-sponsors of S. 1017, the Water Resources Research Act. The measure authorizes the funds for dozens of water research programs like the Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) at the University of Idaho in Boise, which conducts research and provides educ… Continue Reading
September 23, 2005
Idaho Congressional Delegation Pleased With Scenic Byways Designation
Washington, DC â??Four scenic byways in Idaho may see increased travel and tourism following the U.S. Department of Transportationâ??s announcing them as approved national byways, said Idahoâ??s Congressional delegation Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig and Representatives Mike Simpson and C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter. The delegation sent a letter in support of the designation of two roads as National Scenic Byways and two roads as All-American Roads. The letter supported a successful effort by Idah… Continue Reading
September 23, 2005
Crapo Co-Sponsors Pledge Protection Act
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is co-sponsoring the Pledge Protection Act (S. 1046) to protect the Pledge of Allegiance from being removed from schools, after a U.S. District Court Judge in California ruled the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional last week. The measure would bar federal courts, appellate courts, and the Supreme Court from hearing or deciding on any rulings regarding the interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance under the Constitut… Continue Reading
September 21, 2005
Crapo & Johnson Introduce Capital Gains Tax Deferral Bill
Washington, DC â?? Mutual fund shareholders can look forward to more profitable, long-term investing and a more secure retirement thanks to a bipartisan bill introduced today by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) and Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky). The bill would allow shareholders who automatically reinvest distributions to keep more of their own money working for them longer by deferring capital gains taxes until they actually sell the investment. The bill remedies an unfair… Continue Reading
September 20, 2005
Crapo Pays Tribute to Sheri Garmon
Washington, DC â?? Idaho native Sheri Garmon will do more to advance her cause for compensation for victims of radiation exposure than she will ever know, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Garmon, an Emmett native who pushed to have Idahoans included a national radiation compensation fund, died last week of complications related to cancer. At the request of Representative Kathy Skippen, Crapo is sending a statement to be read at Garmonâ??s funeral on Thursday. In the statement, Crapo recall… Continue Reading
September 15, 2005
Finance Committee, Senate Provide Tax Relief For Katrina Victims
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined a unanimous Senate today, providing immediate tax relief for Katrina evacuees and those living in designated disaster zones, those caring for the evacuees and those contributing to relief efforts. The tax package (S. 1696) was sent from the Senate Finance Committee on which Crapo sits. The package passed today includes the following that will benefit Idahoans involved in relief efforts: Provide tax incentives for charitable donations, including p… Continue Reading
