News Releases
CRAPO: AG SECRETARY-DESIGNATE SCHAFER HAS STRONG BACKGROUND
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, welcomes President Bush's nomination of former North Dakota Governor Edward Schafer and says that Schafer's diverse background and experience will be beneficial in making it through the Senate confirmation process. During his tenure as Governor, Schafer made economic development a priority in his rural state, a priority Crapo shares. "Schafer understands the important relationships between American agricu… Continue Reading
October 30, 2007
SENATE PASSES AMTRAK BILL WITH CRAPO AMENDMENT
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has approved an Amtrak rail passenger service spending bill that will likely result in a renewed effort to return service to southern Idaho, if the U.S. House agrees. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's amendment including Idaho-specific language about returning Amtrak was approved as a part of the full bill, which passed on a vote of 70 to 22. "Idahoans are contacting our offices and showing overwhelming support for returning Amtrak service to southern Idaho," Crapo s… Continue Reading
October 30, 2007
SENATE ADOPTS CRAPO AMTRAK AMENDMENT
Washington, DC - The effort to return passenger rail service to Idaho may get its best shot in a decade this week, according to Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo has successfully attached the Idaho-related amendment to an Amtrak funding bill, S. 294, now being debated by the U.S. Senate. The amendment was approved by unanimous consent on Monday evening. The Crapo amendment will set parameters on how Amtrak evaluates a return of the former Pioneer Route across southern Idaho in several ways. It forces… Continue Reading
October 29, 2007
CRAPO PUSHES TO RETURN AMTRAK TO IDAHO
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has launched an aggressive push to return passenger railroad service to southern Idaho. Crapo today filed an amendment to S. 294, a bill to fund Amtrak now being debated on the Senate floor; that amendment will strengthen an effort already in the bill to return the former Pioneer Route across southern Idaho in several ways. Crapo's amendment will ensure that Amtrak uses the same new methodology to determine whether to reinstate passenger rail service … Continue Reading
October 29, 2007
CRAPO HONORS MAGIC VALLEY IRAQ WAR VETERAN
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo honored a Shoshone native, Bronze Star recipient Major Vaughn Ward, with a statement published in the Congressional Record. Ward earned his medal for bravery during combat near where he was stationed in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2006. Crapo met with Ward earlier this month to congratulate him on his distinguished service and to present him with a gold-bordered copy of the statement. (A photo of the presentation accompanies this news release.) Ward's heroism … Continue Reading
October 26, 2007
CRAPO: ACADEMY DEADLINE NEARLY HERE
Washington, DC - More than 250 Idaho students have downloaded applications for nominations to U.S. military academies from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's website. The strong interest follows Academy Day presentations in Boise and Coeur d'Alene earlier this month. Crapo reminds interested Idaho students that applications for nominations to four of the nation's military academies must be submitted by Wednesday, October 31, 2007, to be considered for the class entering in 2008. Every year, Crapo nomina… Continue Reading
October 25, 2007
IDAHO FARMERS AND RANCHERS ASSISTED IN SENATE FARM BILL
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, says the 2007 Farm Bill approved in Committee today will be beneficial for Idaho producers. Senator Crapo supported the legislation that passed the Committee by voice vote following consideration over the past two days. The legislation continues and expands programs important to farmers and ranchers, including specialty crop, wheat, barley, pulse crop, sugar, organic, and wool producers. While work needs to … Continue Reading
October 25, 2007
CRAPO SAYS CAPITAL MARKETS TASK FORCE WILL TAKE ACTION ON GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the newly-created Senate Republican Capital Markets Task Force, told a national audience today legislative recommendations are forthcoming to reverse alarming trends for U.S. investors and business. Crapo and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, during a joint appearance today on CNBC's "Power Lunch" program, said the task force will seek improvements in tax policy, regulatory guidelines and other changes to restore U.S. financial leade… Continue Reading
October 24, 2007
SENATE SUPPORTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN IDAHO
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Senate approved the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill last night. Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo supported the measure and applauded several projects important to Idaho. Central to the bill is the support of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, to be held in Idaho. The bill provides $3 million - the taxpayer portion of the $23 million budget. It will be used for: housing, meals, security, com… Continue Reading
October 24, 2007
CRAPO: RURAL STATES LIKE IDAHO ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO METH
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today called for an increase in federal resources to stop the flood of illegal methamphetamine crossing U.S. borders and getting to rural states like Idaho. Crapo, during a speech on the Senate floor this week, said a 2006 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration documented that Idaho has one of the highest rates of methamphetamine use in residents age 12 and older. Crapo noted rural states like Idaho have fewer law enfo… Continue Reading
October 23, 2007
CRAPO WELCOMES FALL SEMESTER INTERNS TO D.C.
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has welcomed several college students with Idaho ties to his Washington, D.C., office for the fall semester. The students will have opportunities to assist with office procedures, constituent correspondence, legislative support and media relations. Internships typically run eight to twelve weeks. "Each semester, it is a pleasure to host several students as interns in my Washington, D.C., office," Crapo said. "This gives them an interesting opportunity… Continue Reading
October 23, 2007
CRAPO SEEKS PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and the Senate Youth Program are looking for Idaho students to participate in a study program that could net them a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, DC to study the federal government in person. The two Idaho students selected would join 102 others from around the country to travel to the nation's capital from March 1-8, 2008. The program, paid for by private dollars through the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, has featured many high sc… Continue Reading
October 22, 2007
TELEHEALTH EXPANDS UNDER CRAPO-THUNE PROPOSAL
Washington, DC - Rural medical services using improved technology known as telehealth will receive a boost under a proposal co-sponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and cleared by the U.S. Senate. Crapo joined Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) to sponsor an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill that adds $6.8 million to increase telehealth resources across the nation. The amendment has been approved as part of the bill, which is due … Continue Reading
October 22, 2007
EMERGENCY CRP GRAZING EXTENDED FOR IDAHO COUNTIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended to November 10th the opportunity for ranchers in drought and wildfire impacted Idaho counties to graze livestock on lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The Idaho Congressional Delegation requested the extension. Counties eligible for the extended emergency grazing are: Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Camas, Caribou, Cassia, Franklin, Fremont, Oneida, Power, and Washington. Ranchers … Continue Reading
October 18, 2007
CRAPO TO DISCUSS COLLABORATION IN SANDPOINT
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will be part of a panel discussion on solving land management issues through collaboration during the Idaho Conservation League's "Wild Idaho North" conference this weekend in Sandpoint. Crapo will speak Saturday during a panel discussion on wilderness and land use issues. He will point to his Owyhee Initiative legislation as a model for local collaboration and consensus that is needed to fuel reforms to land management policy or to create new legislatio… Continue Reading
October 17, 2007
CRAPO CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REPEAL OF AMT
Washington, DC - Close to 90,000 Idaho families may be facing an unexpected tax if Congress doesn't act quickly to end an outdated federal income tax. In a news conference on Capitol Hill today, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said that the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is now threatening tens of millions of middle-income Americans. The tax, created in 1969 to stop a handful of wealthy individuals who were legally avoiding paying any taxes, was not indexed for inflation; as a result, millions of middle… Continue Reading
October 17, 2007
MORE IDAHO PROJECTS CLEARED IN CJS BILL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo voted in support of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill for FY 2008, which cleared the full Senate today. The legislation includes funding for a variety of Idaho projects that will improve law enforcement around the State and support research and development at Idaho universities. "I'm very pleased with the level of support the Senate has shown for these Idaho projects, which will h… Continue Reading
October 15, 2007
CRAPO CITES BENEFITS OF IDAHO COOPERATIVES
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is praising the work behind new farm-to-market cooperatives in Idaho that recently obtained federal funding and could be an economic and business model for others to follow. Hagerman I.D.E.A. (Improvement, Development, Education and Appreciation) Incorporated is receiving a $60,294 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the "Idaho's Bounty" cooperative program. The cooperative serves much of southern Idaho, benefiting workers and customers in … Continue Reading
October 12, 2007
GAO REPORT UNDERSCORES NEED TO MODERNIZE FINANCIAL REGS, IMPROVE COMPETITIVENESS
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says a report released today by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides valuable information that Congress can use to improve U.S. global competitiveness with regard to U.S. financial markets. Today's GAO report was mandated by Crapo's Financial Services Regulatory Act of 2006. "Congress needs to seriously consider this report and begin to examine and consider how to modernize our federal financial regulatory system," Crapo said. "In … Continue Reading
October 11, 2007
CRAPO: SHRINKING FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT SHOWS TAX RELIEF POLICY IS WORKING
Washington, DC - With today's news that the federal budget deficit continues to shrink, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, noted that economic strength fueled by federal tax relief has resulted in the federal budget deficit falling to its lowest level in five years. Crapo, also a member of the Senate Finance Committee overseeing federal tax policy, said that today's announcement by the U.S. Treasury strengthens what he and others on the committee have been saying … Continue Reading
