News Releases
Crapo, Risch Praise Senate Confirmation of Rita Baranwal to Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy
Washington, D.C. - The United States Senate today confirmed Dr. Rita Baranwal's nomination to serve as Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE). Baranwal, who most recently led the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) Initiative at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), will oversee long-term innovation in nuclear power in her new role with the Department of Energy. "I congratulate Dr. Rita Baranwal on her well-deserved confirmation as Assistant Sec… Continue Reading
June 17, 2019
Senator Crapo Issues Public Service Announcement to Raise Awareness of the #BeThere for Veterans Campaign
Washington, D.C. - The veteran suicide rate in Idaho remains dramatically higher than the national rate. PTSD Awareness Month takes place throughout the month of June. Studies show that suicide risk is higher in persons with PTSD. In partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued a Public Service Announcement (PSA) of the #BeThere for veterans campaign focused on suicide prevention. In May, Senator Crapo introduced legislati… Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Idaho Delegation Applauds President Trump’s Approval of Idaho Disaster Declaration
Washington, D.C. - President Donald Trump today approved a request by Idaho Governor Brad Little for a federal disaster declaration for the northern central region following major flooding after massive rainfall during the week of April 7-13, 2019. Idaho's U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and U.S. Representative Russ Fulcher applauded President Trump and the Administration for quick action on the declaration. "Areas throughout north central Idaho have suffered millions of dollars in dam… Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Crapo Introduces Legislation to Split Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Judicial Reorganization Act, S. 1797, to split the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in order to allow for more efficient caseload processing. Fellow Idaho U.S. Senator Jim Risch is an original co-sponsor. "Established in 1890, the Ninth Circuit covers a massive portion of the West, which has experienced explosive growth across several states, including Idaho," said Senator Crap… Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Crapo Convenes Hearing on Opaque Data Collection Practices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, delivered the following remarks at a hearing entitled "Data Brokers and the Impact on Financial Data Privacy, Credit, Insurance, Employment and Housing." The text of Chairman Crapo's remarks, as prepared, is below. "Providing testimony to the Committee today are experts who have researched and written extensively on big data: Dr. Alicia Cackley, Director of Financial Mar… Continue Reading
June 06, 2019
Crapo, Duckworth Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Maintain a Long-Term, Qualified Workforce at National Labs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) have introduced the bipartisan Department of Energy (DOE) National Labs Jobs ACCESS Act (Apprenticeships for Complete and Committed Employment for Specialized Skills), S. 1739, to address looming personnel shortages due to a rapid retirement-eligible workforce within the energy sector. The DOE National Labs Jobs ACCESS Act would prepare the next generation of American workers to work at the country's National… Continue Reading
May 31, 2019
ICYMI: Congressional Management Foundation Recognizes Crapo for Positive Workplace Environment
Washington, D.C. - After a rigorous selection process, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) this week announced U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) as a 2019 winner of the Democracy Award. Senator Crapo received the "Life in Congress" Workplace Environment award. The workplace environment category highlights offices that have established both formal policies and informal cultures that enhance the work-life fit and professional development of their staffs. "It is an honor to receive su… Continue Reading
May 30, 2019
Crapo Statement on the Death of Senator Thad Cochran
Boise, ID - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today made the following remarks following the death of former Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran: "Senator Thad Cochran was a kind and passionate conservative leader. As both a respected member of Congress and a veteran of the United States Navy, Cochran was a force to be reckoned with. I had the pleasure of working with Senator Cochran for years during his extensive career in the Senate, and enjoyed his friendship and wisdom. Senator Cochran's de… Continue Reading
May 29, 2019
Crapo, Risch, Fulcher Support Idaho Disaster Declaration
Washington, D.C. - Recent flooding in Idaho has caused significant damage to homes, public lands, property, and businesses throughout the northern central Idaho region. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and U.S. Representative Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) yesterday sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging swift approval of Idaho Governor Brad Little's request for a federal disaster declaration. "While state and local agencies have responded admirably, the severity of … Continue Reading
May 28, 2019
Senators to Lead Rally for Secure Rural Schools Legislation
Boise, ID - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Ron Wyden and James E. Risch will lead a news conference Thursday on the Idaho Statehouse Steps to announce the reintroduction of federal legislation creating a lasting endowment for forested counties through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The SRS program provides much-needed financial certainty for rural counties to ensure they have the long-term funding needed for schools, road maintenance, law enforcement and other essential services. The sen… Continue Reading
May 24, 2019
Senate Confirms Brent Bunn of Montpelier to Serve as U.S. Marshal
Washington, D.C. - After 41 years of service in law enforcement, Retired Bear Lake County Sheriff Brent Bunn has been unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of Idaho. "Mr. Bunn's decades of service in Idaho law enforcement gained him wide-reaching support from his peers and community," said U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). "I congratulate him on his confirmation as a U.S. Marshal for Idaho and know he will continue to protect and serve Idahoans we… Continue Reading
May 24, 2019
Crapo, Risch Sign on to Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Cleaner Transportation Fuel, Healthier Forests
Washington, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) to introduce bipartisan legislation to allow biomass collected from certain federal lands to be considered renewable, including biomass derived from residual materials from timber processing and from areas needing fire prevention or ecological restoration. In addition to Risch and Wyden, the legislation is co-sponsored by Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Angus King (I-Maine), and … Continue Reading
May 23, 2019
Crapo, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Services for Combat Veterans
Washington, D.C. - The veteran suicide rate in many western states, including Idaho, remains dramatically higher than the national rate. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) have introduced legislation to address the epidemic of veteran suicide by expanding access to mental health services for veterans. The SERVICE Act removes time limits on combat veterans' eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health services for conditions related to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Crapo to Serve on Bipartisan Working Group on Family Leave Policies
Washington, D.C. - Families and parents today are operating under a law that hasn't been updated in 25 years, and it is past time to review and improve federal leave policies under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Citing rising childcare costs as a burden on many families and parents who work outside the home, Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) announced today the formation of a bipartisan working group to discuss federal family le… Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Crapo, Risch Re-Introduce Legislation to Reduce Burdensome Regulations on Sales of Automatic Knives
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) re-introduced the Freedom of Commerce Act, S. 1588, which would allow consumers to purchase an automatic knife legal in their state, regardless of where it was manufactured in the U.S. "Access to tools vital to their trade is critically important for law-abiding citizens and sportsmen in states allowing possession of automatic knives," said Senator Crapo. "This measure would remove one of the many federal regulatory… Continue Reading
May 21, 2019
Crapo, Stabenow Legislation Would Improve Servicemember Transition to Civilian Life
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) today reintroduced the bipartisan Improving Preparation and Resources for Occupational, Vocational, and Educational (IMPROVE) Transition for Servicemembers Act (S. 1555). The IMPROVE Act would make reforms to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), a multiagency program responsible for providing pre-separation counseling, training and assistance to servicemembers returning to civilian live and their families… Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Crapo Supports Bill to Ensure Gold Star Families Receive Survivor Benefits
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today co-sponsored the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act to provide tax relief for families who have lost a parent serving in the military. "Gold Star families have made an extraordinary sacrifice in supporting their loved ones' service in the military and should not have to face additional hardships after their loss," said Senator Crapo. "This legislation ensures Gold Star families do not face unintended and unfair tax penalties on their s… Continue Reading
May 07, 2019
Crapo Leads Efforts on Data Privacy and Protection
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is leading efforts to address data privacy and protection for consumers. As Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Crapo recently joined Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to invite feedback from the public on the collection, use and protection of sensitive information by financial regulators and private companies in light of the immense growth and use of data for a multitude of purposes across the economy. Today, the Banking Committee … Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
DNA Backlog Program Legislation Clears Senate Judiciary Committee
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to report the Debbie Smith Act, S. 820, to the full Senate for its consideration. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a member of the committee, supports the bill as a co-sponsor, and voted today to advance its consideration. "Ensuring adequate resources are in place to support prompt and thorough forensic investigations to bring perpetrators of crime to justice remains a critical component of obtaining justice for crime victims and… Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
Crapo, Risch Statement on Advancement of Brent Bunn U.S. Marshal Nomination
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to advance a number of nominations to the full Senate for consideration, including the nomination for retired Bear Lake County Sheriff Brent Bunn to serve as United States Marshal for the District of Idaho. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a member of the Committee, voted in favor of Bunn's nomination. Senator Crapo and fellow U.S. Senator from Idaho, Jim Risch, issued the following statements: "Mr. Bunn has had a lengthy and ho… Continue Reading
