News Releases
Crapo Legislation Honors Combat Wounded
Washington, DC - Purple Heart recipients and their families will receive increased national honors under legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo this week. The bipartisan Senate resolution, S. Con. Res. 36, sponsored by Crapo and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) establishes August 7, 2009, as "National Purple Heart Recognition Day." The Purple Heart is awarded to those who have been wounded or killed in combat during military service. The resolution, expected to be approved by … Continue Reading
July 27, 2009
Crapo To Vote Against Sotomayor
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo released the following statement regarding his decision to vote against Supreme Court nominee of Sonia Sotomayor: "Judge Sotomayor has distinguished herself throughout her career, serving as a strong role model for many as she has excelled in her chosen field. She has demonstrated one of the greatest things about America-the opportunity to become whatever you want with your God-given abilities. I enjoyed my meeting with her and found her to be a perso… Continue Reading
July 24, 2009
Defense Bill Contains Idaho Housing Partnership
Washington, DC - A groundbreaking partnership to transfer unneeded housing units from the Mountain Home Air Force Base to members of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes may soon be law, thanks to language added to a defense authorization bill. An amendment based on legislation written by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo (S. 390), was included in the final passage of the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390). Crapo supported the authorization bill, which passed the Senate on a vote of 87 to 7. "My legisl… Continue Reading
July 22, 2009
Crapo, Murray And Cantwell Introduce Bill To Protect Forest Land From Development While Saving Jobs
(Washington, D.C.) -U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) introduced legislation today that would protect private forestland from development by enabling non-profit conservation organizations to use bonds to purchase forest lands. Hailed by environmentalists and private landowners as a common sense solution, the Community Forestry Conservation Act of 2009, would allow communities to issue bonds on behalf of private non-profit organizati… Continue Reading
July 20, 2009
Idaho Delegation Reacts To Pfc. Bergdahl's Capture
Washington, DC - Members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation issued the following statement today in response to the capture of Hailey native, Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, by Taliban forces in Afghanistan. "Out of respect for Private First Class Bergdahl and his family, we have been declining to comment on his capture by the Taliban," said Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick. "With the Pentagon now confirming his identity, we add our thoughts and pray… Continue Reading
July 10, 2009
Crapo, Risch Co-Sponsor Amendment To Federal Switchblade Act
Washington, DC- Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch co-sponsored legislation this week that adds assisted-opening knives to the list of knives excluded from the Switchblade Act. The amendment was prompted by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency proposal that would ban those knives from importation into the U.S. "These knives are clearly not weapons", said Senator Mike Crapo, Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiv… Continue Reading
July 10, 2009
Idaho Ag, Energy Projects Clear Funding Hurdle
Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch say research efforts involving energy and agriculture in Idaho have fared well this week as the Senate Appropriations Committee made funding recommendations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 spending measures. Funding for the projects still must clear the full Senate and be approved by a conference committee with the U.S. House of Representatives. "The research and technology development conducted in Idaho in the energy and agricultural fie… Continue Reading
July 09, 2009
Crapo: Health Care Plans Must Make Fiscal Sense
Washington, DC - Some reform of the nation's health care system is needed to reduce costs and improve access to quality coverage, but whatever plan Congress adopts must make fiscal sense, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee that is working on one reform plan, said today that preliminary scores from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of one draft health reform bill show that this proposal is not passing financial muster. "An analysis from the… Continue Reading
July 09, 2009
Crapo To Discuss Energy, Health Issues In Statewide Forum
Washington, DC - Senator Mike Crapo will offer Idahoans an update on energy, health care and other issues being debated in Congress during a statewide teleconference next week. Crapo is inviting Idahoans to sign up for his iTownhall meeting, which will be held on the evening of Wednesday, July 15th. The call will begin at 7:00 p.m. Mountain/6:00 p.m. Pacific. To sign up for the iTownhall meeting, please go to Crapo's website, http://crapo.senate.gov and click on the iTownhall icon. You will b… Continue Reading
July 07, 2009
Owyhee Science Review Center Clears Hurdle
Washington, DC - A critical part of the Owyhee Initiative land management legislation led by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo through Congress received initial funding approval today from the Senate Appropriations Committee. In outlining agricultural appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $300,000 for the establishment and operations of the Rangeland Ecosystems Dynamics Program. The program, envisioned as the Science Review Center in the original Owyhee Ini… Continue Reading
July 07, 2009
Crapo: Include Nuclear In Climate Change Plans
Washington, DC - Any successful effort at addressing climate change, including cap and trade legislation, must include incentives to increase energy production from nuclear power sources, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo told Cabinet secretaries from the Obama Administration today. Crapo's comments came during a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As a member of the committee, he had the opportunity to question Energy Secretary Steven Chu and hear testimony from Agriculture Sec… Continue Reading
July 01, 2009
Owyhee Initiative Funding Begins
Duck Valley Indian Reservation - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will join members of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation tomorrow to discuss the first phase of funding that will implement provisions of the Owyhee Initiative land management legislation he passed earlier this year. The Owyhee Initiative, an eight-year collaborative written by Idahoans and led by Crapo in Congress, was authorized in the Omnibus Land Management Act of 2009. The process of allocating funding to… Continue Reading
June 29, 2009
Crapo, Risch Announce $1 Million For Ranchers
Washington, DC - Ranchers who lose livestock to wolf depredation in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming may be eligible for reimbursement from a fund of $1 million established in part by the efforts of Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch. Idaho's Senators included language in the recently-passed Omnibus Public Lands Bill (Public Law 111-11) to establish the Wolf Livestock Demonstration Project. The Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies has set a… Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
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: 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 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 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
