News Releases
Budget Committee Approves Deficit-Reduction Legislation
Washington, DC â??A budget bill that trims government spending, cuts the deficit, and creates efficiency within federal programs while addressing the needs of Katrina victims was approved today by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and fellow members on the Senate Budget Committee. The Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act is slated to save more than $39 billion over five years and will reduce federal spending to meet the goal of cutting the deficit by half, which is already down by more than $90 b… Continue Reading
October 26, 2005
Idaho Added To School Fruit, Vegetable Program
Washington, DC â??The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable School Program is one step closer to existing in Idaho schools Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced today as funding for the expansion of the program to Idaho was included in the Fiscal Year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill approved by Senate and House appropriations conferees. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program places domestically-grown fruits and vegetables in schools as healthy snacks and educa… Continue Reading
October 25, 2005
Senate Finance Enacts Savings, Efficiency Reforms
Washington, DC â??A plan to save more than $10 billion over five years while starting to address federal health program improvements was approved today by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and his colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee. The deal addresses inefficiencies within the Medicare and Medicaid programs and strives to maintain access to health care for beneficiaries.The Committee approved the savings in its budget reconciliation measure, mandated as part of the 2006 Senate Budget resolution. … Continue Reading
October 25, 2005
Crapo Gets $1 Million To Fight Domestic Violence
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has won approval to send $1 million in federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants to Ada County to aid in completion of a county Family Justice Center for victims of domestic violence and spousal and child abuse. The Center is expected to be a one-stop center to assist victims of domestic violence and abuse with medical, legal, and counseling assistance and for other needs. â??Estimates are that women, and often children, are battered every nin… Continue Reading
October 25, 2005
Crapo: Iraqi Constitution Is Beacon For Democracy In The Middle East
Washington, DC â??The strong turnout and endorsement of the Iraqi constitution by the Iraqi people brought praise from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, who spent time in late June in Baghdad and Fallujah, and noted great progress among Iraqi security forces along with the formation of democratic rule to the country. â??The people of Iraq are sacrificing for the spread of democracy within their country and are defending it with pride,â?? Crapo said. â??While I was in Iraq, I had a brief opportunity to m… Continue Reading
October 24, 2005
Crapo: Bernanke Good Choice For Greenspan Successor
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today praised the nomination of Ben Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve to replace current Chairman, Alan Greenspan.Crapo, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, said Bernanke, who currently serves as Chairman of the Presidentâ??s Council of Economic Advisers and also served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, would bring a wealth of experience to the chairmanship.â??Ben Bernanke has big shoes to fill with Alan Greenspanâ??… Continue Reading
October 21, 2005
Crapo To Examine Coordination And Long-Term Plan For Forestry Research
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization, will chair a hearing next week to discuss oversight of the Forest and Rangeland Research Program of the U.S. Forest Service. The hearing will take place on Thursday, October 27th at 10:00 a.m. in the Russell Senate Office Building, room 328A on Capitol Hill. The hearing will focus on aspects of the Forest and Rangeland Research Program administered … Continue Reading
October 21, 2005
Crapo Applauds Retention Of Crime Victims Fund
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo applauded the efforts of the Senate Judiciary Committee in retaining the Crime Victims Fund in the Spending Reduction Reconciliation bill.â??The Crime Victims Fund represents a critical component of funding for victims services across the nation, one that comes directly from the perpetrators themselves,â?? said Crapo. â??This is not taxpayer money and government has no right to move it into the general fund. In 1984, Congress decided that fines and for… Continue Reading
October 20, 2005
Crapo Co-Sponsors Bill To Aid Native Americans
Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, wants victims of child abuse on tribal lands to receive appropriate treatment. Crapo has co-sponsored the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, which is up for reauthorization. The Act, which was originally enacted in 1990 and last reauthorized in 1993, is designed to require that incidents of child sexual abuse perpetrated by school employees on tribal lands must be responded to. I… Continue Reading
October 19, 2005
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
