News Releases
BAUCUS, CRAPO BILL WOULD NIX RECREATION FEES
Washington, DC -- The U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies would be blocked from charging Americans higher fees to access their public lands under legislation introduced today by two prominent Western lawmakers. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today joined Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) in introducing the much-anticipated Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act of 2007 (S. 2438). The bill would revoke authority given federal agencies, with the exception of the National Par… Continue Reading
December 07, 2007
NAMPA RETIREES EARN CRAPO'S SPIRIT OF IDAHO AWARD
Nampa - Residents of a Nampa retirement community will be honored tomorrow for their ongoing contributions to Idaho military members serving overseas. Retirees at Silver Crest Estates II Retirement Center have been making donations of clothing, food, toys, quilts, and other items to Air Force members and their families through the military's Operation Warmheart program. Crapo recently learned of the group's ongoing generosity during the holiday season from retired Air Force Colonel Bruce Wong… Continue Reading
December 07, 2007
CRAPO ANNOUNCES IDAHO 2008 MILITARY ACADEMY NOMINATIONS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announced his nominations of 35 Idaho students to military service academies, for the freshman class entering in 2008. The students' applications are now being considered by four of the U.S. service academies, where final selections will be made. "I am proud to work with these future leaders from Idaho," Crapo said. "Not only will they continue their education, but they will dedicate themselves to protecting our country. With our nation engaged in the… Continue Reading
December 07, 2007
CRAPO: NEW YEAR SHOULD BRING REPEAL OF AMT
Washington DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says the Senate vote approving a temporary one-year fix to the problems created by the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is a "long-overdue first step," but now a vote is needed to repeal the tax completely. Crapo is a sponsor of legislation to repeal the tax, which is now hitting middle-income Americans, something it was not intended to do. "This most recent vote will, for this year, prevent an unexpected tax increase on thousands of Idahoans," Crapo said… Continue Reading
December 05, 2007
SENATORS ANNOUNCE TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION RESOLUTION
WASHINGTON, D.C.-In an annual effort to raise awareness of the crime of teen dating violence nationwide, Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York), Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Biden (D-Delaware) joined together to introduce a Resolution declaring February 4 - 8, 2008, "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week." This marks the third year that the United States Senate has introduced a resolution declaring the first fu… Continue Reading
December 04, 2007
CRAPO SUPPORTS PERU TRADE AGREEMENT
Washington, DC - The benefits to U.S. small businesses, including U.S. agriculture, are good reasons to support a new free trade agreement with Peru, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. H.R. 3688, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, was approved by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 77 to 18. Crapo voted in favor of the measure. Having just returned from a diplomatic trip to several Central and South American nations, Crapo noted the trade opportunities beyond ou… Continue Reading
December 04, 2007
CRAPO CO-SPONSORS BILL TO PROTECT BOATERS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has co-sponsored new legislation seeking to avoid a costly permitting process for owners of family and recreation boats not intended under federal law. Crapo, a member of the Congressional Boating Caucus and the Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, says recent judicial interpretations of environmental law could penalize boat owners for incidental discharge related to bilge water, engine cooling water and common deck runoff. The Recreation… Continue Reading
November 28, 2007
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS FOR THE SOLDIERS
Boise - A special delivery to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's Boise office this morning will bring a wonderful Christmas gift to hospitalized servicemen and women. Audrey Bowers, Emmett, with a little help from her husband, Jim, brought 37 handmade scarves to Crapo's office for delivery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Bowers has been knitting the scarves since August so that members of the U.S. military have something to cherish for Christmas this year. Bowers, whose son has… Continue Reading
November 20, 2007
Drought, fire conditions merit assistance request
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) in spearheading efforts to extend the deadline for federal assistance for ranchers and farmers affected by drought, fires and other disasters this year. Wyoming Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso (both R-Wyoming) are working with Crapo to build Republican support in the bipartisan effort started by Wyden and Crapo. Crapo, Enzi, Barrasso and other Senators signing the letter to the Chairman and Ranking Members of t… Continue Reading
November 19, 2007
CRAPO: FUNDING NEEDED TO PREVENT IED ATTACKS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is co-sponsoring a bill that is designed to keep those within the U.S. safe from IEDs (improvised explosive devices). The legislation, S. 2292, would stop attacks by utilizing new technologies discovered in fighting IED attacks overseas. It would enhance the ability and funding of the Office of Bombing Prevention within the Department of Homeland Security. That office is responsible for coordinating federal efforts to detect and prevent the threat of an … Continue Reading
November 16, 2007
TASK FORCE OPPOSES PASSAGE OF ANTI-COMPETITIVE TAX POLICY
Washington, DC - The Senate Republican Capital Markets Task Force, led by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, sent a letter today to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reporting to him the Senate should not increase tax rates on carried interest and publicly traded partnerships in order to offset tax legislation that may come before the Senate in the remaining weeks of this year's session. The letter included the signatures of 20 members of the Task Force and was sent in response to the passage of H… Continue Reading
November 16, 2007
CRAPO DISAPPOINTED FARM BILL LEFT IN LIMBO
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit, today issued the following statement regarding today's cloture vote on the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007. Crapo voted against cloture and continues to press for an open amendment process on the bill. The motion to invoke cloture, a procedure to limit debate and the amendment process, on the substitute a… Continue Reading
November 15, 2007
CRAPO: FARM BILL IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR PARTISAN POLITICS
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit, in a speech before the full U.S. Senate today, expressed disappointment with the Senate Majority Leadership for using procedural tactics to block open consideration of the Farm Bill and forcing a vote to move the closed bill forward. "I support the Senate Farm Bill," said Crapo. "It is important legislatio… Continue Reading
November 15, 2007
CRAPO HOSTS FIRST STATEWIDE iTOWNHALL MEETING
Washington, DC - Using Internet and telephone technology, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo hosted his first statewide iTownHall meeting. The hour-long meeting, held Wednesday evening, involved more than 4,000 Idahoans and is now posted on the Senator's website, http://crapo.senate.gov, for anyone who would like to listen to the event. There is also a link to allow people to sign up for future iTownHall meetings. "It was an outstanding opportunity to use this technology to hear from Idahoans on issues… Continue Reading
November 14, 2007
IDAHO, WYOMING AND MONTANA DELEGATIONS FIGHT FOR SNOWMOBILE USE TO REMAIN OPEN IN YELLOWSTONE
Washington, D.C. - Congressional members from Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana sent a letter today to the Director of the National Park Service, encouraging her to continue to allow winter public access to Yellowstone National Park by the means of snowmobile use. "As residents of the Intermountain West we share a love of the outdoors and the beautiful lands our region offers," the Delegations wrote in the letter. "As such, the preservation of our national parks is something we are deeply concerned… Continue Reading
November 14, 2007
CRAPO CO-SPONSORS BILL CLOSING METH LOOPHOLE
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is co-sponsoring a new bill closing an existing loophole in federal legislation that restricts access to drugs used in the manufacture of illegal methamphetamine. Crapo, who requested more federal help in the fight against meth last month on the Senate floor, says some retailers are avoiding compliance with federal laws that restrict the sale of the ingredients used to produce meth. He is co-sponsoring S. 2071, the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act,… Continue Reading
November 13, 2007
SENATORS CRAPO AND LIEBERMAN SPONSOR HEALTHY AMERICANS ACT
Washington, DC - The bipartisan Senate effort to reform the nation's ailing health care system took a step forward today as U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Bob Bennett (R-Utah) welcomed two more influential senators as sponsors of the Healthy Americans Act (S.334). U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, join a growing list of co-sponsors, which now totals 11 senators. Previously announced co-sponsors include: U.S. Se… Continue Reading
November 09, 2007
CRAPO CALLS FOR SUFFICIENT FIREFIGHTING FUNDS FOR WILDLAND FIRES IN IDAHO
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wants to ensure that sufficient funds are made available for wildland fire management in Idaho, including recovery and rehabilitation efforts underway from this year's fires. In letters sent to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Connor, Crapo noted that the funds are crucial for fighting and recovery from wildland fires in the state. Wildland Fire Management funds in the Fiscal Year 2008 Continuing Resolution are de… Continue Reading
November 08, 2007
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM AWARDS SHOW HISTORY, COMMITMENT OF MILITARY
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is honoring 14 Idahoans this Veterans Day weekend in ceremonies to held in Boise, Pocatello, Twin Falls and Lewiston. Crapo's sixth annual Spirit of Freedom Awards will honor both veterans and volunteers who work with veterans. This year's ceremonies demonstrate the long history of commitment and volunteerism that marks military service in Idaho. "This year, I am honoring veterans from almost 70 years of American military history-from World War II to … Continue Reading
November 07, 2007
CRAPO CO-SPONSORS BILL TO REPEAL AMT, MAKE TAX RELIEF PERMANENT
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is announcing legislation to end an unintended tax that could hurt up to 90,000 Idahoans this year, and prevent a major tax increase on all Idahoans in the next five years. The AMT Repeal and Tax Freedom Act is being heralded by Crapo and the bill's main sponsor, Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada) as a way to encourage greater economic growth by maintaining lower tax rates on capital gains and dividends. The bill also abolishes the unfair Alternative Minimum… Continue Reading
