News Releases
Watco, Crapo Eye Major Rail Expansion Project
Burley - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined executives from Watco Companies, LLC; Burley Mayor Merlin Smedley, and other local officials today in Burley to announce a major expansion of short line railroad service that will bring jobs and expanded economic activity to south-central and eastern Idaho. The rail shipment and storage facilities being established by Watco Companies LLC, a Kansas-based firm, could quadruple the amount of commodities and other products shipped out of Idaho via short line… Continue Reading
October 03, 2016
Crapo Introduces Veterans Health Care Reform Bill
Boise - Federal legislation to cut the red tape for veterans seeking local health care has been introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, as part of his continuing commitment to Idaho's vets. The "Improving Veterans Care in the Community Act," S. 3401, would make it easier for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to send veterans to local communities for health care. The bill would consolidate existing, competing programs and work to address concerns raised by Idaho's veterans and privat… Continue Reading
September 30, 2016
Crapo Meets With Veterans to Announce Health Reform Legislation; Joins Students to Celebrate Idaho's Role In Healthy School Lunches
Boise - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will meet Monday at the Idaho Statehouse with Idaho veterans and veteran leadership to announce major reform legislation affecting health care and other veterans' services offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Crapo is introducing the "Improving Veterans Care in the Community Act," S. 3401, which would make it easier for the federal agency to send veterans into their local communities for health care. The bill consolidates existing, competing… Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Crapo, Risch Urge Leadership to Fully Fund PILT Payments Critical for County Budgets
Washington, DC - Citing the critical role that the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program plays on many rural county budgets, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch Thursday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urging them to work together to ensure that the PILT program is fully funded in any year-end legislation likely to be signed into law. The letter to McConnell and Reid was led by Crapo and Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado). Th… Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Crapo, Risch, Wyden Call for Immediate Action on County Payment Funding
WASHINGTON - Citing the drain on many rural county budgets, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, along with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) have sent a bipartisan letter to Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) calling for the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (SRS) in any year-end legislation likely to be signed into law. The letter to McConnell and Reid was led by Crapo and Montana Sena… Continue Reading
September 19, 2016
Crapo Welcomes Idaho High School Student to Serve as U.S. Senate Page
Washington, D.C. - Emmett, Idaho, student Emily Fleming has been sponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo to serve as a United States Senate Page for the fall semester. As a Senate Page, Fleming will work with Senate floor staff in executing the everyday functions of the Senate chamber floor. Her appointment will run through the end of January 2017. Emily is a junior at Emmett High School where she maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is active in the Emmett community. She recently helped org… Continue Reading
September 09, 2016
Idaho Youth Sought to Light U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington
WASHINGTON - Through a statewide contest, one Idaho youth will be selected by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo to assist in turning on the power to light the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in December. Tradition holds that one youth from the state providing the tree serve as the Tree Lighting Helper during a ceremony to formally illuminate it along with the Speaker of the House and other officials. Idaho's Payette National Forest will provide this year's tree which will be placed on the West Lawn of the … Continue Reading
August 29, 2016
Crapo To Finish 200 Town Meeting Schedule
Boise - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will finish holding a town meeting in every incorporated city in Idaho when he visits Wardner City Hall, this coming Thursday in the Silver Valley of north Idaho. The Wardner town meeting, number 200, will be preceded by meetings in State Line, Onaway and Smelterville. Crapo announced his intention to hold a town meeting in every incorporated city in Idaho about 22 months ago. Over the last two years, he has started every town meeting with a presentation abou… Continue Reading
August 24, 2016
Idaho Leaders Taking Steps to Keep Campuses Safe
Boise - Political and educational leaders and professionals observing national statistics about assaults on college and university campuses will gather Friday at Boise State University's Student Union Building to discuss ways to keep Idaho students safe. Idaho officials say the start of a new school year is an appropriate time to remind potential victims that help and prevention efforts are available and ongoing. National criminal statistics show one in five women are sexually assaulted while … Continue Reading
August 16, 2016
Crapo Plans Sun Valley Town Meeting
Senator Mike Crapo will hold a town meeting today in Sun Valley. He will meet with Idahoans at 2:00 PM at the Sun Valley City Hall, 81 Elkhorn Road.… Continue Reading
August 15, 2016
Crapo Announces Town Meetings for August 22
BOISE - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is continuing his town meeting schedule during the August state work period with meetings scheduled in Hamer, Spencer, Dubois and Mud Lake on Monday, August 22. Crapo has opened many of his town meetings with a discussion about the federal government's debt, which has surpassed $19 trillion, and he will field questions from Idahoans in attendance. He will also discuss initiatives to help Idaho veterans with health care and other service issues. Cra… Continue Reading
August 08, 2016
Crapo to Speak at Energy Summit, Present Spirit of Idaho Award
Idaho Falls - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will participate in the Intermountain Energy Summit Tuesday in Idaho Falls, where he will discuss nuclear energy research and innovation proposals he has introduced in the Senate during a morning panel discussion. During visits in Twin Falls, Crapo will present his Spirit of Idaho Award to Madison Miller, a student of Xavier High School. For her senior project, Madison organized the first-ever Homeless Stand-down in Twin Falls which took place on March… Continue Reading
August 05, 2016
Crapo Recognizes Summer Interns
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo recognized the service of his summer interns in his Boise, Twin Falls and Washington, D.C., offices. The interns have had the opportunity to work on legislative issues before the federal government, while also assisting with constituent services and the Senator's communications team. "As an intern in the U.S. Senate, each individual has gained hands-on experience working in the legislative branch, with the unique opportunity to see how the needs and … Continue Reading
August 01, 2016
Crapo Announces Additional Town Meetings
Washington - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is continuing his town meeting schedule during the August state work period. Crapo has opened many of his town meetings with a discussion about the federal government's debt, which has surpassed $19 trillion, and he will field questions from Idahoans in attendance. He will also discuss initiatives to help Idaho veterans with health care and other service issues. Crapo's schedule includes the following town meetings: … Continue Reading
August 01, 2016
Crapo Plans Veterans Events, Town Meeting, Fire Discussion in North Idaho
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will continue his outreach to veterans with visits to service groups in Post Falls and Lewiston this week. Crapo will also continue his town meeting schedule with a stop in Ferdinand, and discuss fire planning in Orofino. On Tuesday, Crapo will posthumously honor the service of Marilyn Jean Campbell, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II. Campbell entered the Navy in October of 1943 and served at Pearl Harbor before being honorably discharg… Continue Reading
July 26, 2016
Crapo Announces New Town Meetings
Idaho Falls - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is continuing his town meeting schedule during the July and August state work period. Starting this week, Crapo will kick off his series of meetings in Eastern and Northern Idaho. Crapo has opened many of his town meetings with a discussion about the federal government's debt, which has surpassed $19 trillion, and he will field questions from Idahoans in attendance. He will also discuss initiatives to help Idaho veterans with health care and other service… Continue Reading
July 14, 2016
Crapo, Risch Praise Senate Judiciary Committee's Unanimous Vote for Judge Nye
Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch this morning applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee for voting unanimously to advance the nomination of David C. Nye, Idaho's Sixth District Judge from Pocatello, to be Idaho's next U.S. District Judge. Nye's nomination will now be reported to the floor for full Senate for consideration, the final step in his confirmation process. "I thank my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for taking up Judge Nye's nomination quickly and for una… Continue Reading
July 14, 2016
Crapo, Risch Say Pesticide Regulatory Reform Key to Fighting Zika
WASHINGTON - As Congress considers measures to prevent the Zika virus threat, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are calling on President Obama to support relief from the overregulation of pesticide users, including mosquito control authorities, in order to more effectively address current and future threats to public health. While the Senate is considering legislation that would provide $1.1 billion to fight the spread of the Zika virus, a filibuster by Senate Democrats has prevented the … Continue Reading
July 13, 2016
Crapo, Risch Support FAA Extension to Keep Idaho Flying Safely
With reforms to improve passenger safety and airport security, streamline passenger security screening, and provide stability for airline passengers, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today voted to support an extension of the Federal Aviation Administration. "This measure implements commonsense solutions to reduce the wait time at security checkpoints while preserving the security of aircraft," said Crapo. "Further, this bill provides some relief to consumers who choose to check baggage… Continue Reading
July 06, 2016
Crapo, Risch Vote to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement
Washington - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today voted to support two bills in the Senate that would strengthen immigration enforcement and protect Americans from those who illegally enter our nation with malicious intent or with criminal backgrounds. The bills, one sponsored by Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) and the other, known as known as Kate's Law, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), failed to receive enough votes to be taken up and considered by the Senate. "The United S… Continue Reading
