News Releases
Senators Seek Pea, Lentil, Bean Focus in New Farm Bill
Washington, D.C. - Students and farmers could benefit from a new federal initiative supported by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington). The Senators are leading a letter to members of the Farm Bill Conference Committee promoting a five-year pilot program that promotes the use of pulse crops-dry beans, dry peas, lentils and chickpeas-in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's nutrition program. Northwest states are a prime producer of pulse crops. The Pulse Health I… Continue Reading
October 30, 2013
Crapo: Budget Conference Committee Must Result in Strong Budget Enforcement Process
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Budget Committee and a conferee to the Senate-House Budget Conference Committee, delivered an opening statement at the first public meeting of the committee charged with reconciling differences between the two chambers' budgets. Acknowledging the short time frame for the committee to reach a large-scale agreement, Crapo focused on the need to lay the foundation for processes that would result in strong fiscal reforms moving forward. … Continue Reading
October 29, 2013
Crapo Supports Resolution Disapproving of Federal Debt
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today rejected S.J. Res. 26, a resolution to disapprove of the president's exercise of authority to suspend the debt limit and increase the debt ceiling. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo supported this resolution of disapproval, urging the President to allow for an open conversation to enact necessary spending reforms before the deadline to raise the nation's borrowing limit is approached yet again. "Our national debt is now at a record $17 trillion and climbing high… Continue Reading
October 18, 2013
Crapo Extends Internship Application Deadline And Invites Idaho Students to Apply
Washington, D.C. - Due to the government shutdown during the first few weeks of October,Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced today that he will extend the application deadline for the internship program in spring of 2014. Students now have until November 15, 2013,to submit an application to be considered for a position within one of the Senator's seven offices. Each semester, Senator Crapo welcomes students to his office to serve internships in both Washington, D.C., and in his regional offices … Continue Reading
October 18, 2013
Deadline Approaching for U.S. Military Academy Applications
Washington, D.C. - With the government shutdown now concluded, Members of Idaho's Congressional Delegation are reminding Idahoans that the deadline for submitting applications for U.S. Academy Nominations is just over a month away. High school seniors and parents interested in attending an academy should submit completed application packetsby November 30, 2013. The unfortunate shutdown forced the cancellation of an Academy Nomination Open House in Boise, but the application deadline remains … Continue Reading
October 17, 2013
Crapo Appointed To Budget Conference Committee
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, has been named as one of the twenty-one senators of the U.S. Senate who will serve on a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives-passed budgets. This bipartisan group, from both the Senate and House, will work to find compromise between the differing budgets with a deadline to report back to Congress by December 13, 2013. The Senate and House… Continue Reading
October 16, 2013
Crapo, Risch Oppose Debt Ceiling and Government Funding Deal
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch voted against legislation to delay the nation's borrowing limit until February 7, 2014, and temporarily fund government operations until January 15, 2013. Included in the agreement is a requirement for both chambers of Congress to go to conference on a budget with a reporting deadline of December 13, 2013, as well as new safeguards to ensure people who receive federal subsidies to purchase health insurance under Obamacare are eligible t… Continue Reading
October 10, 2013
Crapo: Approaching Debt Limit Shows Need To Enact Further Fiscal Reforms
"Secretary Lew said, 'We've made progress on our overall debt crisis in the past few years, and I think that we can continue to work on those kinds of steps if you will simply pass this clean debt ceiling' and do so in a way that involves no negotiations from the president in any way. I reminded him that a major part of the progress we have made in the last couple of years was made when we met the debt ceiling two years ago. It was the Budget Control Act that put into statute over $2 trill… Continue Reading
October 09, 2013
Crapo on Yellen Nomination for Fed Chair
Washington, D.C. - Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement regarding the expected nomination of Janet L. Yellen to serve as the next Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "As is always the case, Ms. Yellen's nomination to serve as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve Board will be carefully reviewed and considered by the Banking Committee. The next Fed Chair faces a unique set of challenges, including winding… Continue Reading
October 04, 2013
Idaho Delegation Postpones Service Academy Day
Washington, D.C. - The Idaho Congressional Delegation postponed the 2013 Service Academy Day that was previously scheduled for Sat., Oct. 5 at Gowen Field, Boise, ID. Notice will be given once this event is rescheduled.… Continue Reading
September 30, 2013
Crapo, Risch Join In Mourning Loss Of Cenarrusa
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch released the following statement after learning of the passing of long-time Idaho Secretary of State, Pete Cenarrusa: "The state of Idaho lost a dear friend yesterday with the passing of Pete Cenarrusa. Pete had a unique capacity to lead people and institutions with good will, great humor and wise counsel. Pete was a personal friend and advisor to both of us and we will forever remember the example he set for all public servants. Pet… Continue Reading
September 30, 2013
Crapo Votes To Delay Obamacare One Year
Washington, D.C. - Today, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted to protect a provision in the government funding continuing resolution (CR) that would fully delay Obamacare for one year. Over the weekend, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a CR with an amendment delaying Obamacare for one year and repealing the medical device tax, which a majority of Senators and Representatives have previously voted to remove. Crapo commended the House for including the delay and called on the Majority Leade… Continue Reading
September 27, 2013
Crapo on FHA Taxpayer-Funded Bailout
Washington, D.C. - Responding to a notice from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today indicating that it will require a nearly $2 billion taxpayer-funded bailout this year, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement: "Today, the FHA informed me that it will require significant taxpayer assistance. Unfortunately, the announcement comes as no surprise and is unacceptable. This failure reinforces the ne… Continue Reading
September 27, 2013
Crapo And Risch Vote Against Obamacareâ??Again
Washington, D.C. - Today, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch voted against cloture on the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR), saying they disagree with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nevada) intended procedural motion to strike provisions defunding Obamacare from the bill. Crapo and Risch signed a letter led by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) vowing to stop Obamacare from being funded. "Before the enactment of Obamacare, I was deeply concerned about the dam… Continue Reading
September 27, 2013
Crapo Votes Against U.S. Senate Continuing Resolution
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, voted against final passage of the Senate Continuing Resolution (CR). The vote was 54-44. Following the vote, Crapo released the following statement. "The CR passed by the Senate today is the wrong approach to our fiscal situation, which continues to deteriorate," Crapo said. "Passage of this CR allows federal funding to continue at levels that drive us ever deeper into debt. Making this CR particular… Continue Reading
September 26, 2013
Crapo Welcomes Fall Interns To D.C. And Local Idaho Offices
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo welcomes seven new interns to his local Idaho and Washington, D.C., offices to learn more about Congress, the federal government and the legislative process this fall. Interns play a critical role in the Senator's offices, assisting staff with legislative research, constituent communications, administrative tasks and many other duties. Washington, D.C., Office Erin Heuring recently graduated from the University of Idaho where she studied Engl… Continue Reading
September 26, 2013
County Payments Plan On Way to President's Desk
Washington, D.C. - Federal legislation that will send $270 million to rural counties to help offset tax-free federal land within their borders is on its way to the President's desk for signature. The U.S. Senate today passed the county payments language as part of H.R. 527, the Helium Stewardship Act, which was approved in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. The legislation calls for payments through the Secure Rural Schools program through Fiscal Year 2014. It also benefits indus… Continue Reading
September 26, 2013
Crapo, CBO Agree Serious Debt Issues Ahead
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, in a letter today, along with other Republican colleagues on the committee, wrote to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew urging him to disclose how long and how great of a debt limit increase the Obama administration is requesting from Congress. The Senators further called on the administration to immediately launch discussions to combat the nation's long-term debt through concrete, structural entitlement… Continue Reading
September 19, 2013
Crapo, Risch Co-Sponsor Measure To Protect Idahoans Private Information
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are co-sponsoring a new bill introduced by the Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The Trust But Verify Act will prevent the implementation of health insurance exchanges established under Obamacare until the U.S. Government Accountability Office and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General can verify that the proper tools are in place to protect the private information of enrollees. "Proper saf… Continue Reading
September 19, 2013
Crapo, Risch Support Helium Stewardship Act
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo today joined an overwhelming majority of their Senate colleagues in supporting the Helium Stewardship Act, authored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Risch, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, along with Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Murkowski, had approved the legislation at the committee level. The bill, which passed the full Senate on a 97-2 vote and now goes to the U.S. H… Continue Reading
