News Releases
Crapo, Risch, Wyden, Merkley Call on TriWest to Ensure Urgent Care Access for Veterans in Rural Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) today pressed TriWest Healthcare Alliance on its implementation of the new urgent care benefit under the VA MISSION Act following reports that veterans in rural Oregon and Idaho are unable to access the benefit. In a letter to TriWest President and Chief Executive Officer David J. McIntyre, Jr., the Senators noted that veterans in rural communities in their state have ci… Continue Reading
August 30, 2019
Crapo, Risch Join Colleagues Urging Supreme Court Judicial Independence
Washington, D.C. -- Idaho's U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined a group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) urging it to maintain an independent level of judicial jurisprudence. The letter is in response to recent political threats to restructure the Court. "We therefore ask that the Justices fulfill their oaths to 'faithfully and impartially' follow the law," the letter reads. "They should rule in this case only as the law di… Continue Reading
August 28, 2019
Crapo Statement on Retirement of Senator Johnny Isakson
Washington, D.C -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued this statement following Senator Johnny Isakson's (R-Georgia) announcement that he would retire at the end of this year: "Senator Isakson has been a committed and respected conservative leader. He has dutifully and faithfully represented the people of Georgia in various roles in the U.S. Congress for more than twenty years. Senator Isakson's leadership garnered legislative victories for his fellow veterans and fellow Georgians. We … Continue Reading
August 14, 2019
Senators: Placing Reactor Innovation Center in Idaho is a Credit to the Idaho National Lab
Idaho Falls -- In just three years, the nuclear advancement and technology plans envisioned by Idaho's U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and James Risch came to reality today at the Idaho National Laboratory. Flanked by Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Manager Bob Boston and Idaho National Lab (INL) Director Dr. Mark Peters, Crapo and Risch discussed the decision to locate the new National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) at the Idaho Falls facility. The NRIC is the result of the Nuclear Energy Innova… Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Crapo: Collaboration and Innovation are Key to Affordable Housing
Boise - During a tour of nationally-recognized models of affordable housing today with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo said collaboration between the government and private sector, as well as innovative approaches to housing models, are key to creating more affordable housing. Crapo noted, "Everyone agrees we must try to make more affordable housing available. Here in Idaho, home prices are on the rise and demand is high. W… Continue Reading
August 08, 2019
Crapo Brings HUD Secretary Carson to Idaho to Discuss Affordable Housing
Boise -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson and local Boise leaders will host multiple housing events on Monday, August 12 to discuss affordable housing challenges and innovative, collaborative solutions. Housing affordability is a critical issue in Idaho and all across the country. Nationwide, there is a shortage of millions of affordable rental homes available to lower-income Americans, and the gap between the demand for affo… Continue Reading
August 07, 2019
Crapo, Risch to Honor City of Carey’s Centennial
Boise, Idaho -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) will join Carey city officials in celebrating the city's 100th birthday. During the public ceremony, Senators Crapo and Risch will present a statement they submitted, with Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho-2), to the Congressional Record (page 42). "The picturesque community in Blaine County, Idaho, is in a beautiful area rich in history and extraordinary people," the statement reads. "The residents of Carey have m… Continue Reading
August 01, 2019
Crapo Supports Bipartisan Budget Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) maintained his track record of supporting U.S. national defense and efforts to counter foreign intrusion and aggression, and today voted to support the Bipartisan Budget Act, which the Senate passed in a 67-28 vote. He issued the statement below following the vote: "Although I am disappointed this budget agreement did not contain greater spending cuts, failure to enact it would have resulted in even greater spending. That would have inevit… Continue Reading
July 30, 2019
Crapo, Warner Legislation Would Secure U.S. Supply Chains Against Foreign Exploitation
Washington, D.C. - Citing the vital need for a secure U.S. industrial base, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia) have introduced bipartisan legislation to guard against attempts by the People's Republic of China and others to undermine U.S. national security by exploiting and penetrating U.S. supply chains. The Manufacturing, Investment, and Controls Review for Computer Hardware, Intellectual Property and Supply (MICROCHIPS) Act (S. 2316) would develop a national stra… Continue Reading
July 29, 2019
Crapo Announces Town Meetings & Other Public Events
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is announcing town meetings across Idaho during the months of August and September. Crapo, who has previously held town meetings in all 200 of Idaho's incorporated cities, is continuing his plans to visit unincorporated areas of the state as well. The August and September meetings extend that schedule. Crapo says he will discuss several initiatives he has undertaken as Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. T… Continue Reading
July 24, 2019
Crapo, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Combat Robocalls
Washington, D.C. -- Estimates indicate that Americans receive billions of robocalls to their mobile phones each year, and the number of robocalls to landlines soars even higher. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced legislation to establish a pilot program to expand the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) ongoing attempts to combat these unwanted computerized calls. "Scammers have flooded phone lines with incessant and unwanted computerized calls … Continue Reading
July 23, 2019
Crapo Votes to Support Victims Compensation Fund Reauthorization
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued this statement following Senate passage of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF): "I was in my first term in the U.S. Senate when news networks first reported that planes had hit the World Trade Towers in New York City on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 (9/11). Idahoans Brady Kay Howell, of Sugar City, and Ronald J. Vauk, of Nampa, were among those killed at the Pentagon that morning. I later… Continue Reading
July 23, 2019
Crapo Supports Secretary Esper Confirmation at Defense Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo issued the following statement following the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Dr. Mark Esper to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Department of Defense (DOD): "I congratulate Secretary Esper on his confirmation. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in matters of defense. Through his extensive background, Secretary Esper has demonstrated his commitment to sound, principled decisions at the highest levels of U.S. military operations. The women and m… Continue Reading
July 02, 2019
New Report Says Crapo Banking Bill Benefitting American Families, Workers and Businesses
WASHINGTON - A new report on the economic effects of federal deregulation issued by the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) cites Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo's (R-Idaho) Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) as a key driver of economic growth. The CEA report says that the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act "is expected to reduce regulatory burdens and help to expand the credit made available to small businesses… Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Crapo, Risch Support Pay Raise, Protections for U.S. Military in Defense Spending Bill
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today both voted to support the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen and build a more efficient and effective Department of Defense (DOD), fulfilling one of Congress's most serious responsibilities to provide for and protect our nation's armed forces. "As the U.S. continues to face mounting threats from rogue foreign adversaries, Congress must modernize our military to counter … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
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
