News Releases
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
November 06, 2019
Crapo, Shaheen Push for Additional Efforts to Bring Home Missing Servicemembers
Washingon, D.C. -- According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), 359 Idahoans are listed as missing during their service in the United States Armed Forces. To continue his efforts to bring home prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA), U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced, with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), the Bring Our Heroes Home Act to provide for an expedited and consolidated process for declassifying and collecting records of POW and MIA pe… Continue Reading
November 06, 2019
Crapo Honors 28 Idaho Veterans & Volunteers With Spirit of Freedom Award
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R- Idaho) today announced 28 Idahoans will be recognized with the 2019 Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veterans Service Award. Individuals are nominated by veterans' organizations across Idaho for this annual award for serving our nation and veterans. The award, established by Crapo in 2002, is a small way to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of Idaho's veterans and volunteers who support Idaho veterans. As of 2019, 313 Spirit of Freedom Awards w… Continue Reading
November 01, 2019
Crapo Joins Bipartisan Group to Promote Reforms for Broken Budget Process
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, joined Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) and a bipartisan group of other Senators in introducing legislation that would fix the federal government's broken budget process. The Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Act, S. 2765, would provide a more orderly, deliberative budget process focused on long-term fiscal planning. It encourages bipartisan collaboration in tackling the nation's growin… Continue Reading
October 25, 2019
Crapo Announces Staff Changes
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today announced several staff promotions and hires in his Washington, D.C., office. Molly Carpenter joined the office in September as the new Military Legislative Assistant. Previously, Carpenter served in a similar role for the late Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) and Senator Jon Kyl (R-Arizona). She will cover policy areas of defense, military, intelligence, veterans and foreign affairs. Carpenter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political … Continue Reading
October 24, 2019
Crapo, Risch, Simpson Announce Senior Outreach Schedule in the Magic Valley
TWIN FALLS - Today, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representative 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 October and early November. 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 ava… Continue Reading
October 16, 2019
Crapo, Colleagues Express Concern Regarding Suicide Rates among National Guardsmen
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) expressing concerns with the high rates of suicide in the National Guard. Citing information from the DOD Annual Suicide Report for Calendar Year 2018, the letter acknowledges the suicide rate for members of the Guard was 30.6 suicides per 100,000 population, compared to 24.8 suicides per 100,000 population in the Active component, and … Continue Reading
October 04, 2019
Crapo: Proposed Transportation Rule Would Provide Greater Autonomy to Idaho Tribes
Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) earlier this week announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program at DOT. The announcement is the culmination of a three-year negotiated rulemaking process among representatives of Indian tribes, the DOT and the Department of the Interior (DOI). "The proposed rulemaking recognizes the unique self-governance capabilities of Idaho's tribes to strengthen infrastructure and redu… Continue Reading
October 02, 2019
Senators Call for Financial Certainty for Rural Counties
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and 27 of their Senate colleagues today requested that any end-of-year legislation include at least a two-year reauthorization of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) programs. In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the senators wrote, "Congress has an obligat… Continue Reading
September 23, 2019
Senate Recognizes September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate unanimously supported a Senate Resolution designating September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) introduced the resolution, which aims to "educate people in the United States about prostate cancer and early detection strategies crucial to saving the lives of men and preserving and protecting families." "I know firsthand the need for early screenings and warnings when it comes to … Continue Reading
September 23, 2019
Six Interns Join Crapo’s Offices for Fall Term
Washington, D.C. -- The Washington, D.C., and state offices of U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) will have four interns serve in various capacities for the fall of 2019. "Internships with the U.S. Senate provide each person with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in the legislative branch," said Crapo. "Our interns this fall will be tasked with assignments that help them witness firsthand how the views and needs of Idahoans are considered before Congress in the front office, … Continue Reading
September 20, 2019
Crapo, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize Breast Cancer Awareness Funding
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) have introduced legislation to reauthorize and increase funding for the Young Women's Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act. The earlier cancer cases are identified, the better the chance of surviving this often deadly disease. The key to early detection and treatment lies in education, advocacy and research. The EARLY Act, which first became law in 2010, empowers young a… Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Bipartisan Group of Western Senators Introduce Legislation to Provide Financial Certainty for Rural Counties
Washington, D.C. -- A bipartisan group of Western senators have introduced legislation to provide long-term financial security for rural counties. The legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) would reauthorize the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for ten years. The program provides critical resources to nearly 1,900 counties across 49 state… Continue Reading
September 05, 2019
Crapo Honors Latah County Sheriff With Spirit of Idaho Award
MOSCOW -- Under a donated new entertainment stage cover at the Latah County Fairgrounds and Events Center, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) honored Latah County Sheriff Richard "Richie" Skiles with his Spirit of Idaho (SOI) Award on Wednesday. "Sheriff Skiles already serves his community every day by putting on his uniform as Latah County Sheriff," said Senator Crapo. "Yesterday, I presented Sheriff Richie Skiles with the Spirit of Idaho Award because his selflessness and commitment to his c… Continue Reading
September 03, 2019
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
