News Releases
Delegation Urges Idahoans to Weigh in on Minidoka Refuge Plan
Washington, D.C. - Members of Idaho's Congressional Delegation are urging Idahoans to make their feelings known concerning any changes at Lake Walcott on the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge. This development comes as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which manages the National Wildlife Refuge System, is designing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Minidoka Refuge, as mandated by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. Idaho Senators Mike Crapo, Jim … Continue Reading
November 09, 2011
Crapo Honors Idaho Veterans and Volunteers with Spirit of Freedom Awards
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is paying tribute to seventeen inspirational Idahoans this Veterans Day in ceremonies in Boise, Lewiston, Twin Falls and Pocatello. This year marks the tenth year Crapo has honored Idaho veterans and volunteers who work with veterans through the Spirit of Freedom Awards. "The sacrifice and resolve demonstrated by veterans in the face of challenge does not end with the conclusion of their military service," said Crapo. "The contributions, patriotis… Continue Reading
November 09, 2011
Highway Bill Improved With Crapo Additions
Washington, D.C. - Idaho and other rural states will maintain their share of federal highway dollars under a draft highway spending bill approved by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and fellow members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee today. The committee included language from Crapo amendments in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century (MAP-21) legislation. The highway bill faces additional Senate committee hearings before a vote on the floor. The two-year meas… Continue Reading
November 08, 2011
Crapo: Collaboration Taking Higher Profile in U.S. Forest Service
Washington, D.C. - The use of collaboration and increased public involvement to address contentious federal land management issues is a welcome development, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo today noted the promotion of Region 1 Forester Leslie Weldon to become the new Deputy Chief for the U.S. Forest Service. Crapo said Weldon has been an active supporter and participant of the Clearwater Basin Collaborative (CBC), an advisory group Crapo helped establish more than three years ag… Continue Reading
November 04, 2011
Crapo Co-Sponsors Honest Budget Act
Washington, D.C. - The rise in the use of budget-setting shortcuts, gimmicks and other manipulations have become an all-too-familiar crutch for a Congress that is not living up to promises to cut spending. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, is joining fourteen Senate colleagues to sponsor the Honest Budget Act. "The Honest Budget Act should join the line-item veto and balanced budget proposals as sound fiscal policy that will bring transparency and accountabilit… Continue Reading
November 02, 2011
Senators Named True Blue Members of Congress
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have received the "True Blue" Award from Family Research Council Action and CitizenLink for their continued support for legislation that protects families. The organizations released their voting scorecard for the first session of the 112 th Congress outlining votes on issues that affect family issues. Crapo and Risch were two of only eight senators who scored a perfect 100 percent. To be recognized as a "True Blue" Member of the Sen… Continue Reading
October 27, 2011
Crapo to Honor ISU Cancer Efforts; Joins Domestic Violence News Conference
October 24, 2011
Crapo Site Named One of the Best Websites on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. - The official website of Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, http://crapo.senate.gov, has received a "112 th Congress Gold Mouse Award", making it one of the best websites on Capitol Hill. The award, announced today, was given by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to improve communications between citizens and Congress and to enhance operations in Capitol Hill offices. Crapo is one of only five Senators to receive the Gold… Continue Reading
October 20, 2011
Senators Crapo, Blunt Introduce Bill to Prevent EPA From Imposing Costly Regulations on Farmers, Ranchers
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt introduced the "Superfund Common-Sense Act of 2011" (S. 1729) this week, which would prevent the Obama Administration from imposing another needless and burdensome regulation on America's food producers. Crapo, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health. The legislation would clearly exempt manure, poultry litter an… Continue Reading
October 20, 2011
U.S. Senate Designates October as National Work and Family Month
Washington, DC - The United States Senate last night unanimously approved a resolution to designate the month of October 2011 as "National Work and Family Month." The resolution is sponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Senators Jeff Merkley (OR), Herb Kohl (WI) and Frank Lautenberg (NJ). This designation will encourage employers, employees, and communities across the nation to discuss and work together on mutually beneficial work-life programs and policies. "Working parents should be afforde… Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
Senate Adopts Potato Amendment
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch released the following statement today after an amendment to keep potatoes in school lunches was unanimously agreed to. "We are pleased to see that our Senate colleagues agree with us and recognize that the potato is an important vegetable to keep in school meals. It was clear that no one wanted to increase the cost of school meals, reduce local flexibility and make it more difficult to deliver the healthy foods our kids need." Crapo… Continue Reading
October 17, 2011
Senators Fight to Keep Potatoes in Nutrition Programs
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are deeply concerned about new guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would drastically reduce the use of potatoes in school lunches. The Idaho Senators are joining Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mark Udall (D-Colorado) to introduce an amendment to the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill to prevent the USDA from requiring schools to cut the amount of potatoes served in school meals. This propo… Continue Reading
October 14, 2011
Two Outstanding Students Will Be Selected to Spend a Week in Washington Observing the Federal Government in Action
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch announced that the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has begun its statewide selection process. The two Idaho students selected will join 102 other delegates March 3-10, 2012 for the program's 50 th Anniversary Washington Week. The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 as stated in supporting Senate testimony from that year, "to increase young Americans' understanding of the interrelationship of the three branche… Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Trade Growth Key to Idaho's Economy
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch strongly support new free trade agreements expanding market opportunities for Idaho exporters with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Recent trade statistics show Idaho well above the national average in capitalizing on trade-oriented growth. The Idaho Senators joined a bipartisan majority as the Senate approved the three agreements by overwhelming margins. The pacts had already been approved in the U.S. House of Representatives. "Ex… Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Governor and Delegation React to NRC Approving Operating License for AREVA
Washington, D.C. - Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and the Idaho Congressional Delegation today offered their reactions to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's announcement that it has issued a license to AREVA Enrichment Services, LLC to construct and operate the Eagle Rock Enrichment Plant near Idaho Falls, Idaho. "Today's decision paves the way for AREVA to move forward with its eastern Idaho facility, which will be so important to the future of clean, safe and sustainable energy in our count… Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Delegation Says Idaho Case Shows Federal Overreach
Washington, D.C. - A Priest Lake, Idaho couple is headed for the U.S. Supreme Court over a land use dispute with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that should have never occurred, according to Members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation. Mike and Chantell Sackett were in Washington, D.C., today as part of a forum convened by Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and attended by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Idaho Representative Raúl Labrador. "This is what happens… Continue Reading
October 07, 2011
Crapo Fights for Farmers and Ranchers
Washington, D.C. - Farmers and ranchers across the United States continue to face regulatory uncertainty, stemming from potential rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In response, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works with oversight of the EPA, is taking proactive steps to lessen federal regulations on Idaho's food producers. Crapo is a lead proponent of two bills that will provide much-needed support to Idaho's agricultural… Continue Reading
October 06, 2011
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Continue County Payments
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today announced that they are introducing compromise legislation with a bipartisan group of senators that would enable the federal government to meet its obligations to states, counties and communities that host federal lands. The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, managed in Idaho by the U.S. Forest Service, and the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, provide funding to Idaho's counties t… Continue Reading
October 04, 2011
Crapo, Roskam Introduce Legislation to Permanently Cap Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates at 15 Percent
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee with oversight on tax issues, joined Representative Peter Roskam (R-Illinois), Chief Deputy Whip and member of the House Ways & Means Committee, to introduce legislation in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to permanently cap the capital gains and dividend tax rates at 15 percent. Crapo and Roskam say the legislation is needed to avoid an impending tax hike that would particularly affect Am… Continue Reading
October 04, 2011
Idaho Senators Earn Top Marks from Taxpayer Watchdog Group
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are two of just four U.S. Senators to score top ratings from a national taxpayer watchdog group that tracks voting records in Congress. The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) awarded Crapo and Risch its "Taxpayer Super Hero" designation in the 2010 Congressional Ratings that lists the voting records of all 535 members of Congress on measures that CCAGW tracked. The report identifies Members the group says have "stell… Continue Reading
