News Releases
Idaho, Montana Downwinder Bill Reintroduced
Washington, DC - All four Senators representing Idaho and Montana are sponsoring new legislation that would make residents of the two states eligible for a federal government program that compensates people who lived in affected areas downwind of the Nevada Test Site during periods of atmospheric nuclear testing during the 1950s and 60s. Under the legislation, those victims would be compensated if they contracted cancer or other specified compensable diseases following the testing. The bipartisa… Continue Reading
June 24, 2009
Crapo, Leahy Introduce Crime Victims Reauthorization Bill
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) have introduced legislation to preserve and enhance federal assistance to crime victims under the Victims of Crime Act. The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act will ensure that victims of crime, through victim service providers around the country, will receive essential services that they need to become survivors and move forward with their lives. The Crime Victims Fund serves roughly four million crime victims ever… Continue Reading
June 24, 2009
Energy Needs Spur New Legislation, Caucus
Washington, DC. - Because Idahoans can't face another summer of rising energy prices, Congress must act quickly on comprehensive energy legislation, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo is joining with members of the new Senate Western Caucus to introduce the Clean, Affordable, Reliable Energy Act, known as the CARE Act, this week. The CARE Act promotes development of new alternative and renewable energy, while expanding domestic oil and gas operations. It seeks to streamline the leas… Continue Reading
June 18, 2009
Crapo Fights To Keep Water Rights
Washington, DC. - Concerned about significant expansions in the power of the federal government, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today voted against S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act, despite its passage by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW). Crapo, a member of the Senate EPW Committee, also placed a "hold" on the bill, signaling his readiness to filibuster the bill if necessary. "This bill threatens the current Clean Water Act statute and would allow for government reg… Continue Reading
June 17, 2009
Crapo Statement On Administration's Financial Regulatory Reform Plan
Washington, DC. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Republican Capital Markets Task Force and a member of the Senate Banking Committee, issued the following statement today following the announcement by the Obama Administration on financial regulatory reforms: "I intend to push for reforms that modernize and rationalize our federal financial regulatory system to handle the challenges of 21st century markets while ensuring American financial companies can compete in a global econo… Continue Reading
June 17, 2009
Crapo: Doctor-Patient Role Must Be Protected In Health Care Reform
Washington, DC. - With the process of crafting health care reform legislation underway before the Senate Finance Committee, Committee Member Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says doctors must maintain their critical role in leading health care decision-making. Crapo is co-sponsoring the PATIENTS (Preserving Access to Targeted, Individualized, and Effective New Treatments and Services) Act of 2009, which has been introduced by fellow Committee member Senator Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) and Senate Republican Lead… Continue Reading
June 16, 2009
Crapo Meets With Judge Sotomayor
Washington, DC. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said today he enjoyed a "pleasant, but brief" meeting this afternoon with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Following the 15-minute meeting, Crapo said he would wait to decide how he would vote on Sotomayor's nomination until after formal confirmation hearings expected next month before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Judge Sotomayor and I enjoyed a pleasant, but brief meeting, and I appreciate her willingness to meet with Senators persona… Continue Reading
June 12, 2009
Crapo, Risch Seek Forest Jobs, Collaboration Funding
Washington, DC. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are asking Senate appropriators to fully fund a program that would create new jobs and renewable energy products in the nation's forests, while protecting watersheds and wildlife habitat. Both Senators joined 14 other colleagues to request $40 million in funding for the Forest Landscape Restoration Act. The original language, sponsored by Crapo, was included in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act passed earlier this year. The Senate Ap… Continue Reading
June 10, 2009
Crapo Welcomes Summer Interns
Washington, DC. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo welcomes a number of students from Idaho to his offices to serve their internships this summer. All will be assisting with constituent contacts, legislative responsibilities, office administrative tasks and other duties. Four Idaho graduates and students are serving in Crapo's Washington DC office this summer: •Casey Attebery is a junior, studying Political Science at the University of Idaho. He is a native of Fruitland and graduated from Fruitlan… Continue Reading
June 02, 2009
Crapo Announces New Regional Directors
Washington, DC. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announces new leadership in his Idaho offices in Twin Falls and Caldwell. The changes took effect June 1. AJ Church is Crapo's new Regional Director in the South-Central Office, located in Twin Falls. Church, a Magic Valley native, is returning home to Twin Falls after working as Crapo's Regional Director in the Southwestern State Office in Caldwell. Church, born and raised in Twin Falls, is a graduate of Twin Falls High School and recently graduated… Continue Reading
June 01, 2009
Salmon Funding Restored, Thanks To Crapo, Risch
Washington, DC. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have successfully convinced the Obama Administration to restore $50 million in funding to restore Northwest salmon. The President and his staff responded to requests from Crapo, Risch and others in the Pacific Northwest to an original Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal that would have zeroed out the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Program. "Idaho is home to half of the critical spawning habitat for salmon, and the federal government must… Continue Reading
May 28, 2009
Crapo To Address Energy, Salmon, Water Issues
Boise - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will discuss energy-related issues, such as renewable energy, water and endangered salmon plans, during a speech to the NW Energy Coalition on Friday. Crapo, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Ranking Member on the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, has been a part of hearings involving issues such as species recovery and climate change. He convened a salmon and water summit in 2003, bringing Northwest participants to the Idaho Stateh… Continue Reading
May 28, 2009
Idaho Exempted From New Roadless Directive
Boise, ID - Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo say they are pleased that a new U.S. Forest Service directive on roadless areas will exclude Idaho. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that no road construction or timber removal will take place on National Forests under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule without approval from the Secretary for one year. "Idahoans worked hard through a collaborative process to put together a roadless plan that made sense for our state. I… Continue Reading
May 27, 2009
Crapo To Meet With Clearwater Basin Collaborative
Lewiston - Almost one year to the day after it was founded, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will meet with the Clearwater Basin Collaborative group during a visit to north central Idaho on Thursday. The Collaborative held its first meeting on May 29, 2008, and was formed to assist in long-range planning that could resolve multiple-use disputes on issues in the Clearwater Basin. Crapo and Collaborative members will discuss updates on the past Elk Collaborative and federal legislation that Crapo has s… Continue Reading
May 22, 2009
Rural Transit Bill Keeps Systems Running
Washington, DC-Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) and Jon Tester (D-Montana) are taking steps to improve how money is distributed to rural transit systems across the country. The Senators have introduced the Rural Transit Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2009 to increase rural, elderly, and disabled transit funding in rural states like Idaho, Montana and South Dakota. Crapo, a member of the Senate Banking Committee with jurisdiction over public transit issues, is the l… Continue Reading
May 22, 2009
Crapo To Meet With Tea Party Organizer
Idaho Falls - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will meet with the organizer of the recent Idaho Falls "Tea Party" on Memorial Day to receive oversize copies of the Declaration of Independence signed by participants of the anti-tax event. Andi Elliot led efforts at the April 15th event, where participants signed copies of the Declaration of Independence to send a message to Washington, DC about federal spending. Crapo, who could not attend the Tea Party event due to the Senate schedule in Washington, … Continue Reading
May 20, 2009
Cuba Trade, Travel Bill Reintroduced
Washington, DC - Idaho agriculture could benefit from better trade opportunities with Cuba under legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and a large bipartisan group of co-sponsors in the Senate. Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, joined with Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) to introduce the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009. … Continue Reading
May 20, 2009
'Growth' Act Keeps Retirement Funds Working
Washington, DC. - People investing for retirement through the use of mutual funds should not pay capital gains taxes until those shares are sold, according to Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota). To keep retirement savings earning more money for a longer period of time, Crapo and Johnson have introduced the GROWTH (Generate Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding) Act. Crapo, a member of both the Senate Finance and Banking Committees; and Johnson, a member of… Continue Reading
May 15, 2009
New Apache Aircraft Coming To Gowen Field
Washington, DC. - Following months of consultations involving Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Idaho Army National Guard personnel, and Congressional and Guard representatives from other states, the U.S. Army has agreed on an upgrade of the Apache helicopter fleet stationed at Boise's Gowen Field. The decision means Idaho will receive new AH-64D Apache Longbows, the Army's top attack helicopter and a major improvement in equipment and training for the 1-183rd Aviation Battalion of Army Guardsmen and ot… Continue Reading
May 14, 2009
EchoHawk Nomination Passes Committee
Washington, DC - Former Idaho Attorney General Larry EchoHawk is on track to become the next Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, following a voice vote by the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Committee who introduced EchoHawk at last week's nomination hearing, supported his nomination. The Senate has not yet scheduled a floor vote on the nomination. "Larry's diverse background, including experience in law enforcement, in politics and man… Continue Reading
