News Releases
Crapo Amendment to End DOJâ??s â??Operation Choke Pointâ?? Clears Committee
Washington, D.C. -Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's amendment to the Senate budget proposal to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to end the controversial U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) program known as Operation Choke Point was approved on a 13-9 vote at the Senate Budget Committee markup of the Senate's Fiscal Year 2016 budget blueprint. Crapo, a strong critic of the program, argued that the DOJ must not politicize its enforcement policies by allowing Operation Choke Point to become an end r… Continue Reading
March 19, 2015
Crapo: The Problem Is That Spending Is Too High, Not that Taxes are Too Low
Washington, D.C. - We can no longer afford to delay making the tough decisions when it comes to reining in federal spending was the message Idaho Senator Mike Crapo delivered at a Senate Budget Committee hearing late yesterday afternoon. Crapo, who sits on the Senate Budget Committee, will begin work with his colleagues this morning to markup the Senate's version of the budget blueprint for FY 2016 before it heads to the Senate Floor. "The biggest crisis our nation faces, and our na… Continue Reading
March 17, 2015
Crapo: Ban on Firearm Possession on Corps Land A Clear Violation of the Second Amendment
Washington, D.C.-Legislation offered by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo to restore American's fundamental right to bear arms on lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is being included as a part of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 and was the focus of a Senate Environment and Public Works hearing on Capitol Hill this morning. Crapo's bill, S. 263, would remedy the current patchwork of firearm laws imposed across public lands. Under current law, a person may carry a weapon in… Continue Reading
March 17, 2015
Crapo, Warner Lead Bipartisan Group of Senators To Stop G-Fee Budgetary Gimmick
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia) led a bipartisan group of their colleagues on the Senate Banking Committee today to introduce a budget point of order to prevent the Senate from using Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from financing unrelated spending. The bill, S. 752, is co-sponsored by Senators Richard Shelby (R-Alabama), Jon Tester (D-Montana), Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), Joe Donnelly (D-In… Continue Reading
March 12, 2015
Crapo, Risch Back Bill To Prohibit Retroactive Tax Benefit Payments Under the President's Executive Action on Immigration
Washington, D.C. -Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to introduce legislation to prohibit recipients of deferred action under the President's recent executive immigration orders from claiming retroactive tax benefits through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) based on wages earned while working in the U.S. illegally. As many as five million individuals may be covered by the President's plan, allowing them to obtain work permits and Social Secur… Continue Reading
March 10, 2015
Crapo, Risch Note ATF To Drop Framework Limiting Sporting Ammo After 51 Senators Object
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch say they will maintain their vigilance over ammunition guidelines that officials with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms say they will shelve following withering criticism in the U.S. Senate. ATF today blamed a "publishing error" for the confusion over the status of the cartridges. Crapo and Risch joined with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to lead a letter from 51 colleagues in expressing concer… Continue Reading
March 10, 2015
Crapo Statement At Hearing to Examine Role of Venture Exchanges
Washington, D.C.-U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment, today delivered the following remarks during a subcommittee hearing to examine the role of venture exchanges in aiding capital formation and trading for small companies. Remarks as prepared for delivery: Today's hearing will provide insights into the challenges of trading stocks of small companies and whether a venture exchange can aid capital formation and se… Continue Reading
March 06, 2015
Crapo Sets Rexburg and Bellevue Town Meetings
Rexburg - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will meet with Idahoans at town meetings in Rexburg and Bellevue on Friday, March 13 th and Saturday, March 14 th. Crapo is continuing his series of town meetings across Idaho, where he is discussing the federal debt, government overreach and answering questions from Idahoans. During the meetings with Idahoans, Crapo has used presentation materials to help illustrate the growing danger of the national debt now in excess of $18 trillion. He notes that, lef… Continue Reading
March 04, 2015
Crapo Wants Review Of Any Iran Arms Deal
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) that requires congressional review of any forthcoming nuclear proliferation agreement with Iran. Co-sponsors of the legislation include Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), John McCain (R-Arizona), Robert Menendez (D… Continue Reading
February 27, 2015
HAUSER, DALTON MEETINGS CANCELLED TODAY DUE TO SENATE VOTES
Washington, DC - Today's U.S. Senate votes on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mean that Idaho Senator Mike Crapo must cancel planned town meetings in Hauser and Dalton Gardens that were scheduled today. Crapo is voting against a DHS spending plan because of President Obama's executive orders regarding immigration reform. Saturday's meetings remain scheduled unless Senate business runs late in the day Friday. The town meetings were set before the Senate schedule changed. Her… Continue Reading
February 27, 2015
Crapo: Congress Must Use 'Power of the Purse' To Stop Executive Amnesty
Washington, D.C.-Idaho Senator Mike Crapo released the following statement after voting against final passage of H.R. 240, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2015, which was ultimately stripped of provisions to stop the President's executive action on immigration: "No one should gain any advantage or benefit toward citizenship or legal permanent resident status because of illegal entry into the United States," said Crapo. "The President's reckless executive action … Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Crapo Backs Trafficking Bill Affecting Women and Children
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, who last session led efforts to renew the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), used today's 20 th anniversary of VAWA's original enactment to announce his support for the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act making its way through the U.S. Senate. The bill had an initial hearing this week. Crapo and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) were lead sponsors of last year's VAWA legislation which also contained language aimed at combating trafficking. … Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Crapo Plans Latah, Clearwater Town Meetings
Moscow - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will meet with Idahoans at town meetings in Latah and Clearwater Counties on Friday, March 6th and Saturday, March 7 th. Crapo is continuing his many town meetings across Idaho, where he is discussing the federal debt, government overreach and other issues. As a part of his visits with Idahoans throughout the state, Crapo has used presentation materials to help illustrate the growing danger of the national debt now in excess of $18 trillion. He notes that,… Continue Reading
February 25, 2015
Crapo Calls on Defense Secretary to Halt Back-Door Divestment of the A-10
Washington, D.C.-Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today joined Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire) and six other colleagues to send a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter following the U.S. Air Force's efforts to place 18 A-10 Thunderbolts on backup aircraft inventory (BAI) status. The senators are concerned the move will negatively impact the readiness of the A-10 fleet and request Secretary Carter reconsider this effort as well as the Air Force's broader efforts to divest the A-10. "… Continue Reading
February 24, 2015
Crapo Plans North Idaho Town Meetings
Coeur d'Alene - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will visit north Idaho this week for a continuation of his series of town meetings. The local listening sessions come as the senator also plans another statewide town meeting via the telephone tomorrow night. The tele-town meeting begins at 7:00 PM Mountain Time/6:00 PM Pacific Time. To participate in Crapo's tele-town meeting Wednesday evening, Idahoans must sign up in advance on Crapo's website at https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/townhall.cfm As… Continue Reading
February 23, 2015
Crapo Leads Coalition of 52 Senators to Object to Additional Cuts to Medicare Advantage
Washington, D.C.-Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committeeis leading a bipartisan group of 52 senators in calling on the Administration to refrain from making additional harmful cuts to the successful, market-based Medicare Advantage (MA) program in 2016. On top of the new reductionsproposed late Friday, the program faces over $200 billion in cuts in the coming years as a result of Obamacare. More than 16 million seniors and individuals with disabilities, includ… Continue Reading
February 19, 2015
Crapo Encourages Idaho Students To Apply for Senate Internship Program
Washington, D.C. -The deadline is rapidly approaching for Idaho's students to apply for internship opportunities in U.S. Senator Mike Crapo's Washington, D.C., office, or one of his six regional offices throughout Idaho. Students have until March 1 to submit an application to be considered for an internship position for both the summer and fall semesters. The internship experience provides Idaho students a unique opportunity to learn about Congress and the legislative process firsthand. Intern… Continue Reading
February 18, 2015
Crapo, Risch: SCRAP Act Will Defund Costly FDA Regulations
Washington, D.C. -- In a continued effort to prevent costly new regulatory burdens from being imposed on Idaho farmers, Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today introduced the SCRAP Act, or Stopping Costly Regulations Against Produce, in the U.S. Senate. This legislation would defund the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposed fresh produce rule that will negatively impact farmers throughout the country. On January 4, 2013, the FDA issued a proposed rule for growing, harvesting, packi… Continue Reading
February 12, 2015
Crapo, Risch, Wyden Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Renew Safety Net For Rural Counties
Washington, D.C.- Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) today introduced a bipartisan bill to renew the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which supports schools, law-enforcement and roads in more than 700 rural counties across the country. The legislation also addresses additional payments to counties under the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. "While we continue to work on multiple ways to improve the economy of our rural counties that have … Continue Reading
February 11, 2015
Crapo Will Hold First Statewide Tele-Townhall of 2015 in Late February
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will host his first tele-townhall meeting of 2015 later this month and is encouraging Idahoans to participate. During the hour-long call, Crapo will take questions from Idahoans on a variety of topics currently being debated in Congress, including new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency efforts to increase federal control over state waters, federal education mandates, the economy and the President's strategy to defeat ISIS. The teleforum will take… Continue Reading
