News Releases
Idaho Energy Projects Approved In Final Spending Report
Washington, DC - A number of Idaho initiatives received final Congressional approval today as the U.S. Senate approved the conference report for Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations requests. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will see more than $173 million in new funding for ongoing projects and infrastructure, plus $300 million for new initiatives, as well as continued cleanup activities under legislation approved today by a House-Senate conference committee working on Energy and… Continue Reading
October 13, 2009
Crapo: One-Half Trillion In New Taxes, Penalties In Health Proposal
Washington, DC - Excessive costs, absence of legislative language, lack of complete scoring estimates and a misleading assessment about a government takeover of the nation's health system were among the reasons that Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted "no" today as the Senate Finance Committee approved a health care reform measure. The Committee vote was 14 to 9, and the measure will now go before the full Senate, where Crapo said he'd continue to press for changes. The bill, with a preliminary cost… Continue Reading
October 07, 2009
Crapo: Put It On The Internet
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined several of his Senate colleagues today to demand changes in Senate rules so that final committee votes not be rushed before the public has a chance to review the content and costs of proposals before the chamber. Crapo said it is critical that Senators and the public be able to fully review and understand the impacts of legislation such as the draft health care proposals before Congress. Crapo supported plans written by Senator Jim Bunning (R-K… Continue Reading
October 06, 2009
Costs, Taxes In Health Bill Need Scrutiny
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, continued his push for transparency and accessibility as the Committee moves toward a final vote on health care reform legislation. Crapo, who has long held that the present draft legislation is too expensive, raises taxes on middle and lower-income families and fails to cut health costs, joined with nine of his Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana), urgin… Continue Reading
October 06, 2009
Crapo To Announce Economic Funding
October 02, 2009
Crapo Salutes Ucon Elementary's Fitness Award
Washington, DC - An Idaho elementary school has received national recognition for attention to fitness and sports. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said he is adding his congratulations to the top award to Ucon Elementary in Idaho Falls. The school placed first at the top of its division in the award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness (PCPFS). The PCPFS State Champion award recognizes schools that have the highest number of students scoring at or above the 85th percentile on the Preside… Continue Reading
October 01, 2009
Crapo: Middle-Class Families Hit In Health Proposal
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says the conceptual health care proposal before the Senate Finance Committee creates an undue burden on the middle class by raising taxes on families making less than $250,000 a year. He says those are the families the President pledged would not pay "one dime" in new taxes under his proposal. Crapo introduced an amendment before the committee to strike such tax increases from the proposal. "The bulk of the new taxes envisioned in this proposal, as es… Continue Reading
September 30, 2009
Crapo Questions Amtrak's Numbers
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is questioning the cost figures cited in a preliminary report Amtrak commissioned on the feasibility of restoring passenger rail service to Idaho along the former Pioneer Route. Tomorrow is the deadline for interested parties to comment on the preliminary study released by Amtrak. The final report on the feasibility of restoring the Pioneer Route is due to Congress on October 15th. While noting the comments from Idahoans coming into his offices remain… Continue Reading
September 29, 2009
U.S. Lumber Benefits From Trade Ruling
Washington, DC - Idaho's Congressional Delegation welcomed a ruling by an international arbiter in an ongoing dispute over Canadian softwood exports. The tribunal sided with the U.S. this week over an appeal related to Canada's proposed remedy for a Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) violation. As a result of the ruling a 10 percent duty on Canadian softwood imports may remain in effect. "Our trade agreements and rules must be upheld to better ensure Idaho and American softwood lumber companies … Continue Reading
September 25, 2009
Crapo Encourages Input On H-2A Program Rules
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is encouraging Idahoans to submit comments regarding the U.S. Department of Labor's H-2A agricultural guest worker program. Earlier this month, the Department of Labor proposed changes to the program through a proposed new rule and has invited written comments on the proposed rule to be received on or before October 5, 2009. The proposed rule and information regarding the process for submitting comments can be obtained through the following link on Crapo… Continue Reading
September 25, 2009
Crapo, Risch Score Victories In Interior Bill For Forest Management
Washington, DC -Collaborative forest land management and an increase in fire fighting funds were given priority as Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch supported amendments to the Interior Appropriations bill. The bill passed the full Senate by a 77 to 21 vote. One amendment provided $10 million for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund, a special fund created in the Forest Landscape Restoration Act to carry out locally-driven, collaborative land use activities. Senator Crapo… Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Crapo Warns Of Costs To Seniors, States
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said today that senior citizens and state taxpayers will feel the pain if health care reforms envisioned in the Senate Finance Committee are approved by Congress. Crapo, a member of the Finance Committee, charges the legislation could hurt senior citizens who enjoy coverage under the popular Medicare Advantage program because that program may be cut by $113 billion under the present proposal. Crapo offered an amendment to the bill today that would hav… Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Crapo Goes On Greta Van Susteren Program To Discuss Health Care
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says Americans deserve to read and calculate the costs of a health care reform bill now before the Senate Finance Committee. Crapo, a member of the committee, is making an appearance tonight during the "On the Record" program hosted by Greta Van Susteren. The program airs in Idaho at 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time and 7:00 Pacific Time on the Fox News Channel. "We have been working in the Finance Committee to improve the present bill by adding amendments," C… Continue Reading
September 23, 2009
Crapo: Don't Vote On Health Bill Without Public Review
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo warned today that some members of the Senate Finance Committee are in such a rush to pass a health care reform bill that there may be final votes before the legislation is even written out in final form. Crapo, a member of the Finance Committee debating amendments on the bill this week, said some members may be seeking to avoid public scrutiny and an independent cost analysis of the legislation. The bill has yet to be finalized. Crapo noted that even … Continue Reading
September 22, 2009
Senate Amendment Promotes Accountability In Fire Funding
Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch supported an amendment to an Interior Department spending bill today erasing plans to spend $2.8 million in badly-needed forest fire mitigation funding in Washington, DC. The nation's capital, an area with no national forests, planned to use the funding for park activities and festivals. The amendment written by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) effectively frees up the stimulus money to ensure that it can spent where it is needed most. … Continue Reading
September 22, 2009
Senate Urges Action On Prostate Cancer
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a two-time survivor of prostate cancer, urges all men to become more aware of the disease and encouraged them to follow through with regular checkups and testing. Crapo and his fellow Senators unanimously approved S. 277, a resolution designating September 2009 as "National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month." The resolution notes that one in six men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, noting that prostate ca… Continue Reading
September 18, 2009
Amtrak Report On Pioneer Restoration Released
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wants Idahoans and Northwest residents to offer comment on a preliminary feasibility study just released by Amtrak that says passenger rail service may be restored to southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Restoring the service will come at a cost. Crapo and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden got a Congressional mandate forcing Amtrak to study restoring the former Pioneer Line that ran from Portland through Boise, Shoshone and Pocatello to Utah before being discont… Continue Reading
September 17, 2009
Crapo: Cut Funding For Acorn
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wants to cut all funding for the community action group ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). Earlier this week, Crapo voted with the majority of the Senate (83 to 7) to block federal funding to ACORN from the transportation and housing appropriations bill. Today, the Senate voted (85 to 11) to stop Interior funding that could go to the organization. Crapo has also co-sponsored a bill introduced by Senator Mike Johanns (R-Nebrask… Continue Reading
September 16, 2009
Crapo Notes Partisan Effort On Health Care
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo issued the following statement today regarding a new legislative proposal on health care reform. Crapo is a member of the Senate Finance Committee that may vote next week on a legislative proposal announced today by Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana). Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also helped work on the proposal, but the end product failed to win Republican backing. "The Chairman and the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee have wo… Continue Reading
September 16, 2009
Crapo, Colleagues Question Proliferation Of Czars
Washington, DC - Has the White House employed too many special-issue advisers, known as "czars," who are eluding public scrutiny and Congressional oversight? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and a number of his Senate colleagues believe so, and have highlighted their concerns in a letter to the President. "These positions raise serious issues of accountability, transparency, and oversight," wrote Crapo and Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee), Robert Bennett (R-Utah), Kit Bond (R-Missouri), Susan Coll… Continue Reading
