News Releases
Crapo Pushes For Improved Education Benefits ForGuard And Reserve Members
Washington, DC - Members of America's Guard and Reserve are contributing to the nation's security more than ever in the war on terrorism, and their education benefits should reflect that, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo has joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Enhancement Act of 2008. The legislation introduced today would improve the REAP program for all citizen soldiers in three ways: • Provide accruable benefit… Continue Reading
April 14, 2008
Food Banks, Hungry Benefit From Bill Co-Sponsored By Crapo
Washington, DC - People receiving assistance from food banks will benefit under federal legislation, co-sponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, aimed at increasing donations of federal food. The Federal Food Donation Act (S. 2420), which was introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) and co-sponsored by Senators Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey), has been reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Homeland S… Continue Reading
April 11, 2008
Crapo, Craig Seek Emergency Funding For Counties
Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig are joining a bipartisan group of senators seeking to include payments to counties in a emergency supplemental spending bill before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Craig and Crapo have signed a letter headed by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) seeking to include an extension and funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act of 2000 and the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program (PILT). Crapo… Continue Reading
April 11, 2008
Owyhee Initiative Hearing Set For April 22
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced that his legislation to protect lands, rivers and ranchers, and allow for local land management decisions in Owyhee County will receive a hearing on April 22 before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. The Owyhee Initiative has been a nearly eight-year process, bringing together interests across the public lands spectrum to preserve wild lands in Idaho while guaranteeing economic interest… Continue Reading
April 10, 2008
Crapo Language On Minidoka Passes Senate
Washington, DC - Legislative language originally introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo to reform the boundaries of the Minidoka Internment National Monument near Jerome was approved today by the Senate as part of a larger public lands package. The passage of the bill means human rights advocates, including the Friends of Minidoka, Inc., can proceed with plans to raise additional funding to restore the site where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. Crapo was the keynote spea… Continue Reading
April 09, 2008
Crapo Honored For Business Initiatives
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has been honored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for his leadership on pro-business and pro-growth issues. Crapo was awarded the Chamber's "Spirit of Enterprise Award" during a ceremony in Washington. DC. Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget, Finance and Banking Committees and Ranking Member on the Senate Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit, was chosen for his votes on issues including energy… Continue Reading
April 04, 2008
Crapo And Simpson Ask For Clemency For Vela
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Idaho 2nd District Representative Mike Simpson are asking U.S. military authorities to grant clemency to Sergeant Evan Vela, who was court martialed and convicted of murder without premeditation by a military court in February 2008. In separate letters to Major General Rick Lynch, Crapo and Simpson outlined their concerns with the conviction and the precedent it set regarding soldiers following military orders. In his letter, dated March 7, 2008, … Continue Reading
April 03, 2008
Crapo, Work Group Recommend Earmark Reforms
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and fellow members of the Fiscal Reform Working Group today proposed greater transparency and accountability regarding earmarks and directing savings from earmark cuts toward reducing the federal debt. Crapo was appointed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to help lead efforts on earmark reform. Crapo and fellow task force members made their recommendations public during a news conference in Washington, DC. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) is C… Continue Reading
April 02, 2008
Public-Private Partnerships Build Communities
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is encouraging Idaho community leaders to consider the USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program for funding opportunities in the coming year. Crapo, the Ranking Member on the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit, says the program offers low-interest loans and grants that can assist with infrastructure improvements ranging from fire stations to recreation centers and health… Continue Reading
April 02, 2008
Crapo Promotes Financial Awareness
Washington, DC - Issues ranging from the housing crisis, to federal deficits, bankruptcy and individual finances make this a good time to review personal financial awareness, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance and Banking Committees, co-sponsored Senate Resolution 495, which passed by unanimous consent last night. "This resolution encourages all Americans to stay abreast of the financial conditions that affect their pocketbook, their savings and their… Continue Reading
March 31, 2008
Crapo: Congress Needs To Enact 21st Century Regulation For 21st Century Markets
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, member of both the Senate Banking and Finance Committees, believes the U.S. Department of Treasury's "Blueprint for a Modernized Financial Regulatory Structure," released today, makes progress in updating the current regulatory model for financial markets. The blueprint provides recommendations including short-term recommendations to regulatory coordination and oversight; intermediate-term recommendations to modernize our regulatory structure within the… Continue Reading
March 24, 2008
Crapo Notes Information Sessions On Stimulus Payments
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, noted Idahoans interested in receiving more information concerning tax returns and the economic stimulus payment program would have an opportunity to learn more about the programs this coming Saturday, March 29th. The Internal Revenue Service is holding Saturday meetings in several locations aimed at reaching out to those eligible for economic stimulus payments, including those who are otherwise not required to … Continue Reading
March 12, 2008
Crapo To Award Purple Heart, Honor Women In History
Washington, DC -Staff Sgt. Donald Cobb, a Nampa resident, will receive the Purple Heart for his military service and sacrifice in Iraq from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo next week. Cobb was injured in multiple roadside bomb explosions during deployment to Iraq. Cobb, who was deployed with the 116th Calvary Brigade from Idaho, was reassigned to the 163rd Infantry Battalion while in Iraq. He was among the Idaho servicemen and women visited by Crapo during a visit to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas in July… Continue Reading
March 07, 2008
Crapo Honors Tribute To Iraq Vets And 9/11
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will honor a Pocatello middle school student Saturday with the Spirit of Idaho Award relating to her tribute to fallen Iraqi veterans Nick Gummersall and Blake Stephens. Crapo will join with family members of the servicemen to present the award to 13-year old Brontee Dominique Sherer, who organized an event called "Spice Up The Night." The event, which was held last September 11th, honored the service of Sgt. Gummersall and Sgt. Stephens, both of Pocatel… Continue Reading
March 06, 2008
Crapo Advances County Payments In Budget Outline
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and others, have successfully inserted language into the coming year's federal budget blueprint to assist with an extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, commonly called county payments. Crapo's action means the Committee's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution recognizes and provides budget flexibility to extend the Secure Rural Sch… Continue Reading
March 06, 2008
Delegation Reaches Out To Rural Towns
Boise, ID - Representatives from Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig and Congressman Mike Simpson are coming to a community near you. Given that it is not possible for constituents to visit each state office, the members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation have scheduled informational sessions at local senior centers and will provide local Idaho staff to help Idahoans deal with various concerns. Representatives from all three offices will be joined by Tamara Stricker and Nora Wells from Sen… Continue Reading
March 05, 2008
More Choices For Patients, Respiratory Therapists Under Crapo-Lincoln Legislation
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo teamed with Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) to introduce legislation that gives respiratory patients and therapists more choices for effective treatment. The Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative Act of 2008 (S. 2704) revises current Medicare law to permit Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs), who have earned a bachelor's degree, to provide certain services (smoking cessation, asthma management, medication education and inhaler training) under… Continue Reading
March 05, 2008
Crapo Warns Of Large Tax Increases
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, warned new spending proposals being considered in the Senate could raise taxes on Americans by $1.3 trillion over the next five years. Crapo took to the Senate floor today to decry the spending proposals as "an embarrassment" and "not responsible" to future generations. Leadership in the Senate Budget Committee is expected to finalize work on a budget blueprint for spending in the coming fiscal year that could… Continue Reading
February 29, 2008
Crapo Honors Efforts To Help Children During Soda Springs Events
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will note two volunteer efforts by Idahoans to improve the lives of children both here and abroad during ceremonies on Saturday in Soda Springs. Crapo will present his Spirit of Idaho Award to four residents of Soda Springs who have worked on two different projects to improve the lives of children. Alexis Rice and Kaycie Clark will be honored for starting a youth center in Soda Springs. The two worked to create "The Station" as a safe haven for youth … Continue Reading
February 28, 2008
Crapo Urges "Fresh Look" At U.S.-Cuba Policy
Washington, DC - In a letter sent to the Administration today, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined with 23 other Senators, including Idaho Senator Larry Craig, to urge a "fresh look" at the current U.S. policy toward Cuba. The bipartisan letter, which is attached to this news release, proposes that the resignation of Cuban leader Fidel Castro presents an opportunity for the U.S. to reconsider its decades-old policy of isolation and estrangement toward that country. In part, the letter r… Continue Reading
