News Releases
Idaho Delegation Responds to Bergdahl News
Washington, D.C. - Idaho's Congressional delegation responded to news reports today that the Afghanistan Taliban are once again attempting to raise the possibility of a prisoner swap for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, who has been held captive for four years. Idaho's Congressional delegation issued this joint statement: "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Bowe Bergdahl and his family. His safe return has always been of the utmost importance to us, and his well-being is somethi… Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Crapo, Murray Introduce Bipartisan Amendment to Protect Pregnant Women From Shackling
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Patty Murray (D-Washington) introduced an amendment to the comprehensive immigration reform legislation under consideration in the Senate that would protect pregnant women detained by immigration officials from shackling and unnecessary restraint. The amendment extends an existing Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) ban on shackling pregnant women to include all pregnant women in detention or held under detainer. "The United St… Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Border Enforcement Should Be Done First
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is co-sponsoring an amendment to the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The RESULTS amendment, or Requiring Enforcement, Security and safety, & Upgrading Legitimate Trade and travel Simultaneously, introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), would require the government to meet border enforcement goals before granting legal status to the nation's immigrants in the country illegally. "Rarely does an issue i… Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Bipartisan Amendment On Tribal Representation Adopted
Washington, D.C. - Today, an amendment offered by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Montana Senator Jon Tester to the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, or the Immigration reform package, was agreed to on a vote of 94 to 0. This amendment will add four tribal representatives-two from the northern region and two from the southern region-to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Border Oversight Task Force. This amendment was prompted by a recent U.S. Governme… Continue Reading
June 17, 2013
Idaho Senators Object To Cuts To PILT Payments
Washington, D.C. - The Obama Administration announced the annual Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments for local governments across the country, including those in Idaho. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch oppose the administration's decision to cut these payments to meet sequester benchmarks. "Local communities in Idaho are going to feel a significant impact with a cut to their PILT payments," Crapo said. "PILT was enacted to provide payments to offset the impact of the presence of federa… Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Administration Should Not Play Politics With National Monuments
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has joined nine other Republican Senators in a letter to President Obama expressing alarm at reports that the president is considering politically motivated monument designations and urging against unilaterally designating any areas as national monuments. Consistently, the purpose of designating land as a national monument has been to protect important historical areas. "Recently, repor… Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Crapo Says Tribes Need Input On Border Security
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has joined an amendment, introduced by Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana), which would add tribal representation to the Border Oversight Task Force. This task force, established under the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, will make recommendations regarding immigration and border enforcement policies, procedures, strategies and programs. "Our nation's Indian tribes have as much at stake in immigration reform as ot… Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Opening Statement at Banking Committee Hearing Examining the Financial Crisis' Effect on Community Banks
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, today delivered the following remarks during a Banking Committee hearing entitled "Lessons Learned from the Financial Crisis Regarding Community Banks": Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today, the Committee will hear about lessons learned from the financial crisis regarding community banks. Thank you to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the U.S. Government A… Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Crapo Welcomes Summer Interns To His Washington, D.C. And Idaho Offices
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo welcomes nine new interns to his Washington, D.C., and Idaho regional offices for the summer semester to learn more about Congress and the legislative process. Having served an internship himself, Crapo says he knows firsthand the value of a Congressional internship. "The hands-on learning experiences about the political process that these internships provide are invaluable," Crapo noted. I learned a great deal during my internship, and am glad I hav… Continue Reading
June 05, 2013
Crapo And Klobuchar Get Swift Action From EPA
Washington, D.C. - After U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) urged swift action to implement their formaldehyde legislation, the EPA has moved forward with rules to protect consumers from dangerous chemicals in wood products. The newly proposed rules, which are required by the Senators' legislation, create a formaldehyde emission standard for manufactured and imported wood products and also establish a third-party certification process to ensure these standards ar… Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
Ranking Member Crapo Statement at Banking Committee Hearing on Iran Sanctions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, today delivered the following remarks during a Banking Committee hearing entitled "Iran Sanctions: Ensuring Robust Enforcement, and Assessing Next Steps": Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ten days from now, Iranians will vote in an election stage-managed by the ruling Guardian Council for a president who, once selected, is destined to continue the longstanding policies of the A… Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
Senators Want White Potatoes Eligible For Purchase Under WIC
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have joined Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mark Udall (D-Colorado) to introduce an amendment to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, more commonly known as the Farm Bill, that would reinstate fresh white potatoes as eligible for purchase under the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. "The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to ignore the nutritional guidance that encourages an intake of fi… Continue Reading
May 30, 2013
Crapo Submits North Idaho Testimony in IRS Probe
Post Falls - As part of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's investigation into alleged Internal Revenue Service (IRS) harassment of Tea Party and other conservative organizations, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has submitted documents and testimony from a Coeur d'Alene-area couple. Crapo will meet Friday with Phil and Leslie Damiano, of Hayden Lake, who submitted the documents, during a special meeting of the Panhandle Pachyderm Club in Post Falls. The meeting at Templin's Red Lion Inn is free and o… Continue Reading
May 29, 2013
Crapo, Otter to Honor WWII Veterans, Wyakin Warriors
Boise - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will join Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter to honor two Idaho veterans, aged 91 and 88, who served during World War II.. George Koyama was wounded by a grenade while manning a foxhole and received the Purple Heart. On Thursday, he will receive the Bronze Star and the Commemorative Congressional Gold Medal, in this case the Nisei Soldiers of World War II Bronze Medal. Koyama's brother, Joe, served stateside at Fort Snelling in Minnesota. He will also receive the N… Continue Reading
May 28, 2013
Crapo Joins Instagram
Pocatello - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo kicked off the Memorial Day state work week with the announcement that he has joined Instagram, the online photo-sharing service that allows users to take pictures, apply digital filters and share them across multiple social networks. Crapo's account will highlight his work in the U.S. Senate and throughout Idaho. "Staying connected to my constituents is a top priority and with today's technology, there are so many avenues to do that." said Crapo. "Like ot… Continue Reading
May 27, 2013
Crapo Offers Keynote Remarks at Veterans Event
Pocatello - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will offer remarks tonight during the closing ceremonies for the Idaho Field of Heroes event in Pocatello. The Field of Heroes honors service members and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Crapo is also attending the POW*MIA Thunder Run Tribute. Both events are at Century High School in Pocatello. On Tuesday, Crapo will offer opening remarks… Continue Reading
May 24, 2013
Crapo, Chobani to Announce Expanded Market for Greek Yogurt
Twin Falls - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will join with Jim McConeghy, Chief Financial Officer for Chobani, and Halil Ulukaya, Chief Operations Officer for Chobani, for a discussion on the future of the Greek Yogurt industry in Idaho and across the country.-and milestone progress to bring access to Greek Yogurt to more consumers. Chobani currently employs more than 600 people at its one million-square-foot Twin Falls plant, the largest yogurt production facility in the world. Honored with Foo… Continue Reading
May 23, 2013
Idaho Brain Injury Summit Reaches Out to Veterans, Parents
Pocatello - Many Idahoans may be suffering from undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries resulting from battlefield conflicts, high school sports injuries, automobile accidents and even incidents where seniors have fallen down. Given the growing magnitude of these injuries, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is joining with the Idaho Doctors Hospital, the Aegis Research Institute at Bingham Memorial Hospital, the Institute of Rural Health at Idaho State University and many Idaho physicians to launch the Idah… Continue Reading
May 23, 2013
Crapo Commends Nomination of Chief Economist Mike Piwowar to SEC
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the nomination of Republican Chief Economist Mike Piwowar to serve as a Republican commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): "Mike's in-depth expertise of capital markets and background as a chief economist make him exceptionally well-qualified for this position as the SEC moves forward on critical issues. As the … Continue Reading
May 22, 2013
Crapo, Risch, Benishek Work To Protect Farmers With SCRAP Act
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to prevent potentially devastating regulatory burdens from being placed on U.S. farmers, Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Congressman Dr. Dan Benishek (R-Michigan) today introduced the SCRAP Act, or Stopping Costly Regulations Against Produce, in the U.S. House and Senate. This legislation would defund the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposed fresh produce rule that will negatively impact farmers throughout the country. "The FD… Continue Reading
