News Releases
Crapo, Risch Introduce “State Fiscal Flexibility Act”
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) have introduced S. 743, the "State Fiscal Flexibility Act," a bill to eliminate a provision in the American Rescue Plan that prevents states from using relief funds to cut taxes. "If a state like Idaho wants to provide tax relief in the interest of economic recovery, and to help people return to earning their livelihoods, the American Rescue Plan says it wi… Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Crapo Joins Call to Stop Sale of Seattle Archives Facility
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) among the 25 bipartisan congressional members of the Idaho, Washington, Alaska and Oregon delegations in sending a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), requesting it stop the sale of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility in Seattle in light of a recent court decision temporarily blocking the sale from moving forward. Fellow me… Continue Reading
March 06, 2021
Crapo: Massive COVID “Relief” Bill Misses the Mark
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, voted against H.R.1319, the nearly $2 trillion budget reconciliation bill. This partisan bill, the product of a rushed process and non-pandemic wish-list items, passed in the U.S. Senate by a party-line vote of 50-49. "In 2020, Congress passed five bipartisan bills, totaling nearly $4 trillion, in pandemic relief," said Crapo. "No bill earned fewer than 90 votes in the Senate, and the largest… Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Crapo, Risch Join 25 Colleagues to Support Fair Access to Banking
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, and U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) have co-sponsored S. 563, the Fair Access to Banking Act, which would prevent discrimination by banks and financial service providers against constitutionally-protected industries and law-abiding businesses, such as firearms manufacturers. The bill is led by Senator Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) and co-sponsored by 24 additional Senators. "Over the last fe… Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Crapo Emphasizes Need for Fair Trade Policy at Hearing with USTR Nominee
WASHINGTON, DC - At a hearing to consider the nomination of Katherine Tai to serve as the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, stressed the need for strong enforcement of our trade deals and urged Ms. Tai, if confirmed, to press for policies that create a fairer climate for trade and expanded growth opportunities in the international marketplace for Idaho businesses and consumers. WATCH: Ranking Member Crapo deli… Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Crapo Announces Staff Changes
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today announced recent staff promotions and hires in his Washington, D.C., office. Salvatore Corasaniti has been promoted to Legislative Assistant. Sal covers issues related to police, judges, civil rights, budget, telecommunications and rural broadband, elections and campaign reform, and regulatory issues. Sal began working for Senator Crapo in January 2015 as an intern, and has since served as staff assistant, legislative correspondent an… Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Idaho, Oregon Senators Leading Bipartisan Push for Critical County Payments
Washington, D.C.--Idaho and Oregon congressional leaders are pushing to ensure counties do not lose out on essential services due to federal land ownership. The bipartisan push for reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is led by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon). The bill would reauthorize the SRS program through September 2022. The program, which helps fund essential services in rural communities home… Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Crapo Presses Becerra on “Medicare for All”
Washington, D.C.--Today, the Senate Finance Committee held its nomination hearing for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). In his opening statement, Ranking Member Crapo (R-Idaho) expressed concerns with Mr. Becerra's support for such policies as "Medicare for All," as well as Becerra's role in enforcing California's restrictive actions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Crapo also highlighted Medicare's looming fiscal… Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Crapo, Klobuchar Reintroduce Legislation to Combat Robocalls
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) are taking steps to cut down on scammers using robocalls to defraud consumers by reintroducing S. 357, the Data Analytics Robocall Technology (DART) Act. This legislation will establish a pilot program to expand the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) ongoing attempts to combat unwanted computerized calls. The Congressional Research Service cites data indicating robocalls have risen to as high as 5.2 b… Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Crapo, Tester, Moran Lead Bipartisan Push to Provide Disabled Veterans Full Military Benefits
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Montana) and Committee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) today introduced the Major Richard Star Act, bipartisan legislation to provide combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of military service their full benefits. The bill, S. 344, is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star-a father, husband, and decorated war veteran who, as a result of his combat-related injuries, was… Continue Reading
February 13, 2021
Crapo Statement on Impeachment Trial
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the statement below following his vote to acquit on the matters of impeachment: "This week's trial was unconstitutional. The House's impeachment proceeding blatantly violated established guarantees of due process. Furthermore, the plain text of the Constitution limits impeachment to current civil officers of the United States, specifically stating that, 'The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall… Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
Crapo: Pandemic Relief Should Be Bipartisan
Washington, D.C.--Today, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, voted against the adoption of S.Con.Res.5, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget Resolution. The proposed budget directs the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over major direct spending programs and all revenue and debt limit legislation, to increase the deficit by a staggering $1.3 trillion, without even determining or deliberating what polices would have the biggest impact in growin… Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Crapo Chairs Committee on Committees, Announces Committee Assignments for 117th Congress
Washington, D.C.,--Following the 50-50 power-sharing agreement finalized on February 3, 2021, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) served, for a ninth consecutive term, as Chairman on the Republicans' Committee on Committees, the panel responsible for committee assignments for the 117th Congress. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnel (R-Kentucky) selected Senator Crapo for the role, and Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) assisted in the selection process. "I appreciate Leader McConnell's con… Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Crapo Honors Fallen Idaho National Guardsmen
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement honoring the life and service of three fallen Idaho Army National Guard personnel. The individuals were killed after their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Boise on February 2, 2021, while participating in a routine training flight. "I am saddened to learn about the passing of the three brave pilots of the Idaho National Guard during an exercise training. Chief Warrant Officer Anderson, Chief Warrant O… Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Crapo, Risch Introduce Balanced Budget Amendment
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) today joined U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) and 12 additional co-sponsors in introducing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring the President and Congress to enact annual balanced budgets. The joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment outlining requirements for the submission and approval of annual balanced budgets. "I have long supported a balanced budget amendment as an … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Crapo Welcomes New Interns for Spring Term
Washington, D.C.--Two interns have joined U.S. Senator Mike Crapo's (R-Idaho) Washington, D.C., and Boise offices for the spring term. "No doubt, the interns joining my office this spring are experiencing a number of historic events, all while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present daily challenges across our country," said Crapo. "Each of these individuals have expressed a commitment to public service and have risen to the continued challenges of a working environment of social distancin… Continue Reading
January 28, 2021
Crapo and Risch Introduce Bill to Block Biden Energy Ban
Washington, D.C.,--Today, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) to introduce the Protecting our Wealth of Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2021. The POWER Act, co-sponsored by a quarter of the U.S. Senate, would prohibit the president or his secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture and Energy departments from blocking energy or mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters without Congressional approval. "Energy and minera… Continue Reading
January 27, 2021
Crapo and Risch: A Return to Obama WOTUS Rule Would Impede States’ Rights, Hurt Farmers and Ranchers
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) to introduce a Senate resolution affirming the need to uphold the Trump administration's Navigable Waters Protection rule, which replaced the misguided Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that gave the federal government unprecedented power over Idaho's land and water. "For years, I have pushed back against extreme levels of federal overreach, including the Obama-Biden WOTU… Continue Reading
January 27, 2021
Crapo Announces 2021 Academy Nominations
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced the nomination of 52 young Idahoans to the nation's military academies. The U.S. service academies will review the students' applications and make final decisions on admittance. Eight students received nominations to more than one academy. "The U.S. military academies are filled with top-tier students from across the nation who have expressed a deep commitment to country and service," said Crapo. "Idaho has many promising young l… Continue Reading
January 26, 2021
Idaho Delegation Introduces Legislation to Split the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and add a Federal Judge to Idaho
Washington, D.C.--The Idaho Congressional Delegation introduced legislation to address the federal judicial crisis in Idaho. H.R. 320 and its Senate companion would split the Ninth Circuit Court into two circuits. The new Ninth Circuit would be composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, and Northern Mariana Islands. The new Twelfth Circuit would be composed of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Every few decades, Congress must exercise its Cons… Continue Reading
