News Releases
Crapo Secures Wins for Idahoans in Legislation Heading for President's Signature
Washington, D.C. -- Today, the U.S. Senate advanced two significant measures to the President's desk to be signed into law. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) voted in favor of both bills, H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, which will fully fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. "Partisan gridlock in Washington has prevented Congress from advancing singular, regular appropriations bills, but passing a long-term funding measure instead of another short-term stopgap is a step in th… Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Crapo, Colleagues Introduce 'Lower Costs, More Cures Act' to Tackle Prescription Drug Prices
Washington, D.C. -- A recent study suggested that in 2017, 37 percent of Idaho residents stopped taking medication as prescribed due to cost. Senate health care leaders Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Lower Costs, More Cures Act to lower prescription drug prices, bring greater transparency to the prescription drug industry and encourage American in… Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Short Line Rail Investment Effort to be Renewed
WASHINGTON -- Ongoing efforts by U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to encourage investment in short line railroad operations will be included in a year-end spending bill slated for approval by the Senate this week. Crapo, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, has long-championed tax incentives that encourage and support investment in short line railroads, a key for hauling goods to market in Idaho. The provision included in the appropriations bill will extend the Section 45G credit … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Crapo, Risch Support Defense Authorization Bill
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today supported the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report. This year's NDAA charts a consensus national defense policy that continues the restoration of military readiness; implements a National Defense Strategy to confront Russia, China and other adversaries; and cares for U.S. troops and their families. As Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and Chairman of the Sena… Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Crapo, Cardin Bill to Protect Fish Habitat Advances in the Senate
Washington, D.C. -- A bipartisan bill that seeks to empower local and regional stakeholders in fish habitat restoration and conservation passed out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) today. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) introduced S. 754, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (NFHCA) in March. "The relationships between local and regional habitat conservation stakeholders with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is critical to ma… Continue Reading
December 16, 2019
Crapo, Risch, Wyden, Merkley Announce Two-Year Authorization for Secure Rural Schools Program in End-of-Year Funding Package
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) today announced that a two-year authorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is included in the end-of-year funding package that will be considered by Congress this week. This significant win for rural communities in the Northwest and nationwide follows calls from the senators to reauthorize the lapsed program and provide financial certainty for counties containing… Continue Reading
December 13, 2019
Crapo, Toomey Introduce Measure to Lower Drug Costs for Seniors
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) are working to lower the price some seniors pay for prescription drugs when they go to the pharmacy. "Medicare Part D is a successful program, operating on the free-market principles of choice and competition," said Senator Crapo. "Our legislation would build on that proven foundation by expanding the number of plan options and incentivizing innovative benefit designs. When we empower patients to make decisions,… Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
County Payments Bills Pass Out of Committee
WASHINGTON -- Legislation to extend and improve federal county payments programs today passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee on bipartisan votes. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and James Risch (R-Idaho) wrote and backed bills to continue the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program by extending payments for two more years. Since enacted in 2000, SRS has provided a total of $7 billion in payments to more than 700 counties and 4,400 school di… Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Crapo: FISA Probe Unacceptably Biased
Washington, D.C. -- As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) had the opportunity today to question Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz about his investigation into DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) conduct during the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant process as it related to the 2016 presidential election. Video footage and an outline of Senator Crapo's line of questioning can be found below.… Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Crapo, Klobuchar Robocall Bill Clears Key Senate Committee
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)'s legislation to help stop unwanted robocalls has gained the support of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Crapo and Klobuchar introduced S. 2204, the Data Analytics Robocall Technology (DART) Act, to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report to Congress on the effectiveness of call blocking programs. This legislation gives Congress a voice in protecting co… Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Crapo: USMCA Announcement is Welcome News
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo issued the following statement after the announcement of a deal on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): "Today's announcement on the USMCA is welcome news. There was no question NAFTA needed to be renegotiated to give goods and services made in the United States fairer treatment among trading allies. President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer's forceful negotiations on behalf of America's farmers and workers fulfills one… Continue Reading
December 05, 2019
Crapo, Cortez Masto Introduce New Bill to Improve Water Conservation at the Department of Energy
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) introduced the Energy and Water Research Integration Act. This bill would require the Department of Energy (DOE) to consider water conservation during energy research projects and focus federal research and development on creating technologies to decrease water consumption in energy production. "This legislation would encourage research into energy technologies that would improve and maximize the use o… Continue Reading
December 03, 2019
ICYMI: Crapo Discusses Nuclear Energy With Bret Kugelmass on the Titans of Nuclear Podcast
Washington, D.C. -- In November, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Bret Kugelmass of the Titans of Nuclear Podcast to discuss the benefits of nuclear energy. Titans of Nuclear released the podcast on Monday, December 2, 2019. The full interview is below. Kugelmass opened the interview inquiring about Senator Crapo sharing a hometown with the Idaho National Lab (INL) and asked if growing up around a nuclear energy hub had impacted his career in politics. As Crapo put it, he has been c… Continue Reading
November 21, 2019
Energy Committee Holds Hearing on Crapo, Wyden, Risch Secure Rural Schools Legislation
Washington, D.C. -- The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing today to examine federal payments to local governments provided through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) programs. The Committee considered several pieces of legislation related to rural county payments, including U.S. Senator Mike Crapo's (R-Idaho) legislation, S. 430. The Committee also considered U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's (D-Oregon) legislation, S. 1643, of which Crapo ha… Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Energy Committee to Consider Crapo, Wyden, Risch Secure Rural Schools Legislation
Washington, D.C. -- The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing Thursday, November 21, 2019, to discuss legislation that provides federal payments to local governments through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) programs. The Committee will consider several pieces of legislation related to rural county payments, including U.S. Senator Mike Crapo's (R-Idaho) legislation, S. 430, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's (D-Oregon) legislation, S. 16… Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Bipartisan Crapo, Duckworth Bill to Help National Labs Find Qualified Employees Passes Senate Committee
Washington, D.C. -- Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee unanimously today and will now be considered by the full Senate. With many employees of our National Laboratories and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) retiring age, the DOE National Labs Jobs ACCESS Act (Apprenticeships for Complete and Committed Employment for Specialized Skills) would esta… Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Crapo, Risch Urge Successful Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) sent a letter to Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) and Patty Murray (D-Washington), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to urge the committee to include workforce development programs in any reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). "Each week, we hear from Idaho's employers about their need for more qualified, skilled workers to meet the d… Continue Reading
November 14, 2019
ICYMI: Crapo Launches #MilitaryMonday
Washington, D.C. - Idaho is home to many veterans and currently-serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have demonstrated exemplary military service during their careers. On Veterans Day 2019, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) launched a new monthly social media feature to highlight an Idaho servicemember's or veteran's service to our country. The new feature, #MilitaryMonday, will take place on the second Monday of each month. "Idaho's servicemembers and veterans have made a lasting im… Continue Reading
November 12, 2019
Crapo, Risch, Simpson Announce Late November, Early December Senior Outreach Schedule in the Magic Valley
TWIN FALLS, ID - Today, U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Rep. Mike Simpson announced that representatives from their Twin Falls regional offices will be holding outreach hours at senior centers throughout the Magic Valley in late November and early December. Staff members will be available from 11:00am - 1:30pm at each visit to discuss federal issues and concerns. Representatives from the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) and CSI Office on Aging will also be available t… Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
Crapo, Risch Praise DOE-Idaho Spent Fuel, Waste Cleanup Agreement
Washington, D.C. -- Idaho Governor Brad Little and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden today reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that will allow research quantities of commercial spent nuclear fuel to be brought to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). U.S. Senators for Idaho Mike Crapo and Jim Risch issued the following statements, praising the agreement. "This agreement is a good step forward for Idaho and the Department of Energy to ensure successful treatment and shi… Continue Reading
