News Releases
Backcountry Air Mail Cuts "Dangerous''
Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch want the U.S. Postal Service to reconsider ending backcountry air mail service to dozens of Idahoans living in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. In a letter to Postmaster General John Potter, the Senators noted that an alternative of USPS-provided post office boxes in Cascade for the disaffected customers is "not practical." "Asking residents to use a post office box in Cascade would require them to travel over 120 air mil… Continue Reading
April 29, 2009
Crapo Votes Against Budget Exceeding $3 Trillion
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted against a recommendation for a $3.4 trillion federal budget. The budget resolution bill, agreed to by a House-Senate conference committee, was approved by the full Senate on a 53-43 vote. "A budget totaling nearly three and one-half trillion dollars breaks every federal spending record," Crapo noted. "We've never been here before, and this budget sets the stage for trillions in federal deficits for many years to come. We will literally double th… Continue Reading
April 27, 2009
Crapo Seeks To Stop Public Lands Fees
Washington, DC - Legislation to stop Americans from paying twice to access their public lands has been reintroduced in the United States Senate by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Max Baucus (D-Montana). The Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act, S. 868, repeals legislation passed in 2004 that allowed federal agencies, with the exception of the National Park Service, to institute fees for public access to many campgrounds, trailheads and other public uses. Crapo and Baucus heard complaints from… Continue Reading
April 22, 2009
Crapo: Facts Show Indian Health Needs Attention
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, told Indian Health Service (IHS) Director designate Dr. Yvette Roubideaux that Tribal health concerns should be a top priority and that the evidence for that comes from his home state of Idaho. Crapo met today with Dr. Roubideaux and said, after that meeting which was held in his office on Capitol Hill, that he plans to support her nomination. Crapo said that, during his recent health care forums in Id… Continue Reading
April 15, 2009
Crapo Commends Tax Protests, Deficit Awareness
Washington, DC - In a demonstration of support, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo told Idahoans who are protesting high federal deficits and tax increases through "tea parties" today that he supports their efforts and has the voting record to demonstrate that. He also noted the similarities between today's events and his protest 15 years ago when he dumped the U.S. Tax Code into the Boston Harbor. As a member of Congress in 1997, Crapo joined with a handful of other members of the U.S. House of Represent… Continue Reading
April 13, 2009
Idaho Delegation To Hold Remote Office Hours In North-Central Idaho
Boise - Idaho's Congressional Delegation will hold remote office hours next week in an outreach effort to serve constituents across north-central Idaho. Staff members from the offices of Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressman Walt Minnick will meet with Idahoans in Genesee, Troy, Deary, Potlatch, Juliaetta, Kendrick, Bovill and Elk River over two days beginning Monday, April 20th. All constituents are encouraged to stop by the office locations to express their concerns about federa… Continue Reading
April 08, 2009
Owyhee Initiative Events, Health Care ForumsPlanned Next Week
Washington, DC - The historic passage of Idaho's Owyhee Initiative land management legislation will be the subject of two gatherings next week hosted by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Members of the work group that wrote the legislation and Crapo will join to talk about future implementation of the Initiative and how it could affect similar efforts in Idaho during meetings in Boise and Murphy. They will sign a ceremonial copy of the legislation. Crapo will also host four forums in Boise, Coeur d'A… Continue Reading
April 07, 2009
Crapo To Hold Health Care Forums Across Idaho
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced today he plans to chair health care forums in four Idaho cities this month to hear from Idahoans about health care reform and related issues before the Congress. Crapo is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over a number of health reform issues as well as tax issues which may be under consideration as the Senate takes up health care legislation. Although he signed on as a co-sponsor to one bipartisan health … Continue Reading
April 06, 2009
Delegation Recommends Nominee For U.S. Marshal
Washington D.C. - Members of Idaho's Congressional Delegation announced today they will recommend Pocatello City Councilman Brian Underwood to be the next U.S. Marshal for Idaho. Underwood works for the Idaho Department of Corrections as a warden. "Mr. Underwood is exactly what I had hoped to find in a nominee," Congressman Walt Minnick said. "He is bright, talented, and recommended by people I know and trust from across the political spectrum. He is committed to upholding the law and, most… Continue Reading
April 06, 2009
Crapo Joins Philanthropy Caucus
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is now one of seven Senators to serve on the Senate Philanthropy Caucus. The Caucus, with a partner effort in the U.S. House of Representatives, was formed to inform fellow Senators and Representatives about the important role that foundations play across the country. The Caucus also serves to identify issues of mutual interest to the philanthropic sector and lawmakers. The group is also charged with raising awareness about legislation and issue facing f… Continue Reading
April 03, 2009
Crapo Urges Swift Removal Of Mexico Ag Tariffs
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) led a bipartisan group of Senators, including Idaho Senator Jim Risch, in sending a letter to the President urging him to work toward a swift solution to bring about the removal of the tariffs Mexico recently imposed on more than 80 U.S. products and encouraging the inclusion of this issue in discussions with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. "Mexico is an essential market for U.S. agriculture," said Crapo, who serves… Continue Reading
April 03, 2009
Crapo: Budget Blueprint Too Expensive
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said attempts to pare back the Senate's budget blueprint for the coming fiscal year fell short and he had to vote against the proposal. Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, saw some of his efforts to amend the FY 2010 Budget Resolution to bolster renewable energy and other issues rewarded, however, in the final product. The Senate approved the budget resolution on a 55 to 43 vote. No Republican Senators voted in favor of the measure. Crapo … Continue Reading
March 31, 2009
Idaho Senators Say INL Funding Will Speed Cleanup
Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch helped to secure new federal funding that will create hundreds of new jobs and accelerate cleanup at Department of Energy (DOE) facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory. DOE announced today that Idaho will receive $468 million. Crapo and Risch successfully inserted language calling for the funding into the economic stimulus bill passed earlier this year by Congress. During negotiations on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of… Continue Reading
March 30, 2009
Owyhee Initiative Signed Into Law Today
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will be at the White House today at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time as President Obama signs into law a public lands bill containing Crapo's Owyhee Initiative legislation. Other Idahoans involved in the Owyhee Initiative process have traveled to Washington to be a part of the event. Owyhee Initiative Work Group chairman Fred Grant, Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Chairman Robert Bear and Executive Director Rick Johnson of the Idaho Conservation League are also in Washing… Continue Reading
March 30, 2009
Owyhee Initiative Signed Into Law
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said he was glad to be in the company of fellow Idahoans today at the White House as President Barack Obama signed the public lands bill containing Idaho's Owyhee Initiative legislation. Crapo, members of the Owyhee Initiative Work Group, the Idaho Delegation and many others worked for eight years on the collaborative effort to preserve the economic interests and wild lands of Southwest Idaho. It creates the first wilderness in Idaho in nearly 30 years. … Continue Reading
March 27, 2009
Crapo Budget Amendment Aims To Release Over $1 Billion To Victims Of Crime
Washington, DC - In a voice vote during the FY 2010 Budget Resolution mark-up, the Senate Budget Committee unanimously approved an amendment by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo that would prevent Congress from shifting money away from victims of crime nationwide. "For too many years, Congress has been robbing this fund of non-taxpayer dollars to pay for taxpayer-funded programs, not the intended recipients under the law-crime victims," said Crapo. "It is time to fix this oversight in the system that … Continue Reading
March 27, 2009
Crapo Rejects Farm Cuts In Budget Proposal
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, is warning against unwarranted cuts in the safety net for Idaho and American agriculture as Congress considers proposals for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 budget. Crapo joined Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) in leading a bipartisan group of 21 Senators, including Idaho Senator Jim Risch, in sending a letter to the President expressing opposition to Market Access Program (MAP) funding cuts proposed in the Presid… Continue Reading
March 26, 2009
Crapo Opposes Budget That Passes Debt To Future Generations
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo voted no today as the Senate Budget Committee approved a Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Budget Resolution on a 13-10 vote along party lines. The daylong markup in committee included yes votes on two key amendments offered by Crapo concerning Americans' right to know about the federal debt and on funding issues related to assisting victims of domestic violence and other crimes. "While Idahoans, and Americans across the country are cutting back on their spending… Continue Reading
March 26, 2009
Idaho Delegation Welcomes Use Of Dairy Products In Nutrition Programs
Washington, DC - Idaho's Congressional Delegation lauded a plan announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today to utilize approximately 200 million pounds of nonfat dry milk for nutrition programs and assist the dairy industry to withstand current challenges with decreased dairy prices and high input costs. In February, Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick wrote U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to urge assistance for the Id… Continue Reading
March 25, 2009
Crapo Commends Final Passage Of Owyhee Initiative
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said local collaboration and a commitment to working in a bipartisan fashion are the reasons Idaho will soon have its first land management and wilderness legislation in nearly 30 years. The U.S. House of Representatives today gave final approval to a Public Lands bill already approved by the Senate. President Obama is expected to sign the legislation during a White House ceremony, perhaps as early as Monday. Crapo's Owyhee Initiative legislation star… Continue Reading
