News Releases
Idaho Panhandle Forest Bill Clears Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. â?? Legislation to consolidate lands on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest cleared Congress today and is expected to be signed by the President. The legislation aims to consolidate holdings and provide revenue for modernizing the ranger station in the Silver Valley. Senator Larry Craig praised its passage, â??This is a sensible solution to make the Forest Service more efficient. Disposing of these parcels enables the Forest Service to focus on priorities important to the public… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Appropriations Amendment Helps Rural, Volunteer Firefighters
WASHINGTON, D.C. â?? Volunteer and part-time firefighters are a step closer to qualifying for reimbursement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) when they attend approved terrorism response courses, thanks to an amendment in the Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security appropriations bill, Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo announced today. The bill was approved by the Senate Tuesday evening.Currently, only full-time firefighters are compensated for the additional overtime hours they … Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo: Dating Violence Victims To Receive Last Needed Federal Recognition
Washington, DC â?? Language to complete Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's efforts to include dating relationships in federal domestic violence cases has been included in a bill that passed committee this week. The language is in a bill to eliminate the substantial backlog of DNA and Rape Kit samples just reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. This completes a legislative process Idaho Senator Mike Crapo started four years ago to amend the Violence Against Women Act to include vic… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo: Grant Funds Help To Stop â??Cycle Of Abuseâ??
Washington, DC â?? Domestic violence prevention efforts in Idaho will get a boost with the announcement of a Department of Justice (DOJ) grant to Idaho Legal Aid Services, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced today. The grant, in the amount of $317,809, will be used to develop and implement a statewide domestic violence prevention and public awareness campaign, focusing primarily on rural areas of the state. â??Domestic violence is a terrible and destructive force in homes and communities,â?? Crap… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo To Attend Owyhee Initiative Vote
Boise â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will attend a meeting of the work group members of the Owyhee Initiative beginning at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, October 22nd at the Owyhee County Courthouse in Murphy. Members of the work group are expected to vote on draft proposals that could become legislation aimed at protecting culture and employment in Owyhee County as well as designating wilderness and offering direction for future land management decisions. The vote comes after three years of effort b… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Idaho's Bull Trout Efforts Recognized
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo and Congressmen Mike Simpson and C.L. "Butch" Otter today hailed a new federal management plan for protected bull trout in the Northwest as well-deserved recognition of effective local recovery efforts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan calls for imposing use restrictions on far less "critical habitat" area for bull trout, a subspecies of char designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, than was… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Idaho's Bull Trout Efforts Recognized
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo and Congressmen Mike Simpson and C.L. "Butch" Otter today hailed a new federal management plan for protected bull trout in the Northwest as well-deserved recognition of effective local recovery efforts.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan calls for imposing use restrictions on far less "critical habitat" area for bull trout, a subspecies of char designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, than was … Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo: Tax Cut Vote Prevents Tax Increases
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is applauding President George W. Bushâ??s quick action today to sign into law an extension of the income tax cuts that were due to expire next year. Crapo voted in favor of the extensions approved by Congress last month. Without the action by Congress and the President, taxes would have increased for 94 million Americans. The action means that tax credits amounting to $1000 per child and the elimination of the marriage penalty will be preserved until … Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo: Elder Haight Demonstrated Unwavering Devotion
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo expressed admiration for Elder David B. Haight as well as condolences to his family on news of Haightâ??s death. Haight, the oldest living apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away early Saturday morning of causes incident to age. Crapo said, â??Elder Haight came from humble beginnings in tiny Oakley, Idaho, and faced significant challenges throughout his life. Yet he persevered through those challenges and became a noted … Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo: Opening Of Native American Museum â??A Great Eventâ??
Washington, DC â?? More than 11,000 members of over 415 Native American tribes, including representatives of Idaho tribes, gathered on the National Mall this morning to celebrate the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, a happening Idaho Senator Mike Crapo called â??a great event.â?? Crapo and the rest of Idahoâ??s Congressional delegation will host a Capitol Hill reception Wednesday night for the Idaho tribes in Washington attending the event. The museumâ??s opening festivitie… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo: Financial Relief Coming To Rural Hospitals
Washington, DC â?? Patients and medical providers in Idahoâ??s rural areas stand to benefit from a new rule finalized this week by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today praised a rule change that will increase Medicare payments to Idahoâ??s rural hospitals by more than six percent. The new rule, which takes effect October 1, 2004, implements payment and policy changes as required by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act … Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Idaho To Receive Sage Grouse Management Funds
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig applauded todayâ??s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of $500,000 to fund Idaho sage grouse habitat protection efforts. The funds are part of $2 million the USDA will make available in Idaho, Utah, Washington and Colorado for special projects to help protect sage grouse habitat. State and local partnerships will provide technical and additional financial assistance for the projects. "Private landowners, state wild… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo To Honor Troop Support Efforts With â??Spirit Of Idahoâ?? Award
Twin Falls â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will honor three Magic Valley-based efforts to support our troops with his â??Spirit of Idahoâ?? Award tomorrow in Twin Falls. One award involves students from Kimberly High School who are assisting children and family members of Idaho Army National Guard and active duty military members serving in Iraq. Kimberly High School student Trevor Barrott helped organize the Dare to Care program, which includes fundraising efforts to assist the families of soldier… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo Named â??Hero Of The Taxpayerâ??
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today received the â??Hero of the Taxpayerâ?? Award from Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) during an afternoon ceremony in Washington, DC. Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee and supporter of several tax-cutting and economic stimulus measures, voted in the interests of taxpayers on 90 percent of the issues tracked by ATR. â??Good fiscal policy is a key element of our nationâ??s economic strength,â?? Crapo said. â??Our nation, its families and c… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Delegation Hopeful Federal Salmon Program Getting In Gear
Washington, DC â?? Members of Idahoâ??s Congressional Delegation are welcoming todayâ??s news that a new federal draft Biological Opinion will be released in the near future. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationâ??s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) discussed itsâ?? progress in producing the new draft document and some information about it. A Biological Opinion is a document required by federal law in which federal agencies evaluate actions that may affect threate… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Idaho Delegation Reacts To Animal Identification Grant
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo and Idaho Representatives Mike Simpson and C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter expressed excitement today on news that Idaho will receive $1,164,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in implementing the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), an identification program for livestock and poultry. The grant, announced today by USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, will be used primarily to conduct field-tests of the NAIS. "Today&… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo Releases Financial Services Reform Recommendations
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, who is heading up a financial services regulatory reform effort for the Senate Banking Committee, today released a matrix detailing a lengthy list of proposals and the support or opposition from a number of regulatory agencies. The matrix lists more than 130 proposals that were part of a June 2004 Senate Banking Committee hearing. It should be noted that not every proposal lists support or opposition from the federal and state regulators involved with… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Delegation Pushes For Additional Opportunities For Idahoans To Testify In Fallout Study
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, and Representatives Mike Simpson and C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter sent a letter today to the National Academy of Sciencesâ?? National Board on Radiation, thanking the board for its responsiveness to delegation requests regarding the study of people affected by iodine-131 fallout from the 1950s and 1960s and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program. The delegation also requested that the Board send a representative to Idaho to take oral t… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Crapo To View Fire Damage In North Idaho
Coeur dâ??Alene â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapoâ??s schedule this week will take him from a fire site in North Idaho to a conference in central Idaho. On Monday, he will tour the site of the Myrtle Creek fire with private company officials and Forest Service personnel. He will also have lunch with USFS staff and discuss forest rehabilitation efforts and collaborative efforts under the recently-enacted Healthy Forest Restoration Act. On Tuesday, Crapo will address the Western Regional Mortgage Lende… Continue Reading
February 04, 2005
Delegation Announces Release Of Cleanup Funds
Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig and Representatives C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter, and Mike Simpson today announced $15 million in funding for mining waste cleanup work in the Coeur dâ??Alene Basin. The funding will assist with ongoing Basin cleanup efforts. â??I appreciate the EPAâ??s continued commitment to cleaning up the Basin through the dedication of this much needed funding,â?? said Crapo who sought to secure ongoing federal funding for Basin cleanup through legislat… Continue Reading
