News Releases
Crapo: Vietnam Vet's Recognition Long Overdue
Idaho Falls - A 45-year wait for an Idaho veteran to be recognized for his bravery and service to country will come to an end Saturday as he receives the Purple Heart from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Jerry Blackburn, of Leadore, served with the U.S. Army for two years during the Vietnam conflict. He was wounded while defending an officer's quarters in Saigon. Specialist Blackburn served from 1966 to 1968. During the "Tet Offensive," specifically the Battle of BOQ 3, Blackburn distinguished… Continue Reading
August 15, 2013
Wyden, Crapo, Risch Honor Firefighters; Call for Increased Commitment, Collaboration on Fire Policy
Boise - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) are visiting the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise Tuesday to thank firefighters for their extremely hard and dangerous work in yet another hazardous season for fighting wildfires. During the visit on Tuesday, the Senators will note that the country can do better in preventing catastrophic fires by using collaborative land management efforts and stronger proactive management on the nation's pu… Continue Reading
August 08, 2013
Greek Yogurt Program For Schools Detailed
Meridian - Idaho's participation in a historic change in the nation's school nutrition program will be discussed by federal, state, local and industry leaders during a news conference on Tuesday, August 13 th. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna, Meridian Joint School District No. 2 Superintendent Dr. Linda Clark, Chobani's Executive Vice President of Sales Kyle O'Brien, the United Dairymen of Idaho and Canyon County dairy producer Bernie Teunissen, am… Continue Reading
August 07, 2013
Crapo: Monitoring of Millions of Americans' Financial Accounts Raises Privacy Concerns
Boise - Idahoans and Americans who hold credit card, debit card, checking, mortgage, loan and other financial accounts are subject to a new massive data collection effort being undertaken by a federal agency. That is the message Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and members of a panel will be delivering next week during a news conference at the Idaho Statehouse. Crapo, the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, learned in recent months that the Consumer Financi… Continue Reading
August 07, 2013
Crapo Introduces Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Legislation
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation that would ensure farmers and ranchers have access to modern and safe water infrastructure. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) recently introduced The Water and Agriculture Tax Reform Act of 2013. Congressman Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) is leading companion legislation in the House. The bill would reform outdated tax provisions that hinder ditch and irrigation companies' ability to raise capi… Continue Reading
August 06, 2013
Crapo to Hear Public Testimony During Downwinder Movie Premiere in Emmett
Emmett - Attempts by Idahoans and others to compensate victims of radiation exposure related to U.S. nuclear arms testing in the 1950s and 1960s will be on display Saturday in Emmett. Referred to as "downwinders," these Americans suffered cancer and other various health issues as radiation from above-ground testing drifted east and north over a number of states. Crapo has co-sponsored legislation four times since 2005 to compensate victims of the radiation by amending the Radiation Exposure C… Continue Reading
August 02, 2013
Crapo, Cardin And King Team Up To Force CBO To Fully Count The Cost Savings Of Preventive Health Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) and Angus King (I-Maine) have joined together to introduce nonpartisan legislation that would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to more accurately reflect the cost-savings of preventive healthcare, including screenings. The Preventive Health Savings Act of 2013 (S. 1422) would also allow the Chairman or Ranking Member of the House or Senate Budget Committee, or the health committees-HELP, Finance, Ways and… Continue Reading
August 02, 2013
Idaho Senators Join Bill To Make Judgment Fund More Accountable
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are joining Senators Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to introduce the Judgment Fund Transparency Act. The Judgment Fund is available for court judgments and compromise settlements for lawsuits against the federal government and is paid directly through the U.S. Treasury. However, current law doesn't require the Treasury Department to publicly report these payouts. As a result, few public details exist about where … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Crapo, Bennet Introduce New Bill To Increase Resources, Continue Fight for Wildfire Mitigation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) continued their fight today to enhance our wildfire mitigation efforts. The Senators introduced a bill to provide targeted investments for mitigation and preparedness. The bill would help save future costs related to wildfire response efforts and the damage to property and land, and the Senators have put forward a proposal to ensure that the legislation would not add to the deficit. The Prepare, Ready, Equ… Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Crapo to Discuss Clearwater Basin Collaborative, Tour Kootenai River Restoration Project
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will begin the August state work period with several events in north Idaho. Crapo will discuss job creation, recreational opportunities and habitat and land preservation efforts in the Clearwater Basin when he meets with the Clearwater Basin Collaborative work group next week in Lewiston. Crapo will also speak to a community luncheon in Bonners Ferry and view the progress made by the Kootenai River Restoration Project, aimed at improving flood contr… Continue Reading
July 26, 2013
Crapo to Speak at Bonners Ferry Luncheon
Washington, D.C. - Recent concerns over federal government debt and the intrusion into the private business of Americans by the IRS, federal financial bureaus and other federal agencies will be discussed by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo in Bonners Ferry on August 6 th. Crapo will keynote a public community luncheon organized by Bonners Ferry business and civic leaders. The 12:30 PM midday event will be held at the Kootenai River Inn on U.S. 95 in Bonners Ferry. Crapo is the lead Republican… Continue Reading
July 26, 2013
Crapo Announces Idahoâ??s Chobani Selected for Greek Yogurt Pilot Program
Washington, D.C. - Today, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced that Chobani, which employs more than 600 Idahoans at its Twin Falls production plant, has been selected as the Greek yogurt of choice for the new U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Greek yogurt pilot program. Idaho, along with three other states, was chosen earlier this month to participate in the pilot program that will feature Greek yogurt in school lunches starting in the fall of 2014. "Greek yogurt is packed with protein an… Continue Reading
July 25, 2013
Crapo, Risch Support Student Loan Bill
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch voted for H.R. 1911, the student loan bill, as amended in the Senate. The bill passed the full Senate 81-18. "This measure will make it less expensive for students to plan for college and it links rates to the financial markets," said Crapo. "I would prefer to return to the private sector handling student loans to reduce government bureaucracy, but action was needed and we were able to reach agreement on a bipartisan solution to help… Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Western Senators Introduce Measure To Offer Certainty For Cabin Owners
Washington, D.C. - Leading U.S. Senators from the American West introduced a bipartisan measure to make cabin user fees more affordable and predictable, allowing families to keep their cabins on Forest Service land at no cost to the federal government. Many Western families have owned family cabins on leased Forest Service land for generations. But due to skyrocketing land values, annual user fees are too expensive for many families, forcing some to consider abandoning their cabins. Led by Se… Continue Reading
July 22, 2013
Crapo, Bennet Secure Provision to Prioritize Wildfire Mitigation Efforts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) have secured a measure in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Bill to help prioritize wildfire mitigation efforts. The bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a report detailing its efforts to mitigate wildfires and identify any funding obstacles for current mitigation programs. Last week, Bennet and Crapo urged the Subcommittee to push FEMA to use a… Continue Reading
July 18, 2013
Crapo Votes Against EPA Administrator Nominee
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted against the President's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Gina McCarthy was approved by the full Senate, but Crapo joined 39 members in opposing her nomination. Crapo serves on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) which has jurisdiction over the EPA. "Idaho business owners, farmers and ranchers feel the impact of EPA regulations daily and they should be able to expect that our government will not pursue f… Continue Reading
July 18, 2013
Crapo Statement at Nominations Markup
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, delivered the following remarks during a Banking Committee mark-up of several nominations to federal agencies: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased that nearly all of these nominees can be moved today via voice vote. I congratulate each of them and wish them a speedy confirmation process on the floor. This is a clear reminder that the vast majority of the Presi… Continue Reading
July 16, 2013
Crapo: I Will Continue to Fight for Accountability and Transparency at CFPB
Washington, D.C. - In a speech on the Senate Floor today, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, reiterated his serious concerns with the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, highlighting common-sense improvements that should be made to increase accountability and transparency at the agency while strengthening protections for consumers. "[T]his is not a debate about whether Republicans in the Senate supp… Continue Reading
July 15, 2013
Crapo, Bennet Fight for FEMA Funding to Prevent Wildfires
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) are urging Congress to support more resources for wildfire mitigation efforts. Crapo and Bennet today urged the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to push the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use a greater share of its mitigation funding to prevent catastrophic wildfires in the coming years. As a first step they believe FEMA should report its efforts to date to support wildf… Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Crapo, Risch Push For Shelving All Obamacare Provisions
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are joining other Senate colleagues in asking for a full delay of all components of the Affordable Health Care Act, known as Obamacare. The Senators say Congress was not consulted on the decision to delay the employer mandate provisions in the legislation announced last week. As such, they say the entire law should be shelved in order to avoid the economic harm it will cause to American families. The letter is being led by the Senate … Continue Reading
