WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet alongside U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Colorado U.S. Representatives Ken Buck and Joe Neguse introduced the Water and Agriculture Tax Reform (WATER) Act. This bipartisan legislation reforms outdated tax provisions that hinder investment in needed agricultural infrastructure projects. "As they face a 1,200 year mega-drought, farmers an  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced the Headwaters Protection Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand support for two U.S. Forest Service (USFS) programs created by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in the 2018 Farm Bill. The two programs together prevent water pollution at the source, improve the health of our watershe  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: In an interview with the hosts of the Big Money Show on Fox Business, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) discussed the Biden Administration's overreaching policy to drive carbon-based fuels out of the economy regardless of cost to Americans. Between forty and sixty percent of the current residential furnaces on the market would be prohibited under proposed U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regulation  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023, and a letter: U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment at the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Dr. William A. LaPlante seeking answers regarding the implementation timeline and expressing support for Project Pele, a mobile micro nuclear reactor pilot program on schedule for deployment  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) have introduced the Water and Agriculture Tax Reform (WATER) Act. The bipartisan legislation reforms outdated tax provisions hindering investment in important infrastructure advances. Co-sponsors of the WATER Act include U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) and John Barrasso (R-Wy  more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in introducing the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2023, a bill that would split the massively overburdened Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and create a new Twelfth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to the split, the legislation would codify the Judicia  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) today introduced the Headwaters Protection Act along with Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico). This bipartisan legislation would expand federal support for U.S. Forest Service (USFS) programs that prevent water pollution at the source, improve the health of our watersheds, and ensure investments benefit downs  more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined 21 Senators to reintroduce the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2023. The legislation addresses the high number of "smash-and-grab" thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers by enhancing penalties for criminals who steal firearms from federally licensed firearms and ammunition dealers. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms   more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) joined their bipartisan colleagues U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and others to introduce the Headwaters Protection Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand support for two U.S. Forest Service (USFS) programs created by Heinrich in the 2018 Farm Bill. The two programs together preve  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release and letter on June 7, 2023: Senator John Hoeven and Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) this week led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in calling on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to restore normal operating hours at northern ports of entry or, at minimum, match the operating hours with their adjacent Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) ports. Hoeven and Risch were joined on the letter by S  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined their bipartisan colleagues U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and others to introduce the Headwaters Protection Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand support for two U.S. Forest Service (USFS) programs created by Heinrich in the 2018 Farm Bill. The two programs together prevent  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, issued the following statement on June 8, 2023: * * * "As American families work to recover from the economic challenges they've faced over the past few years, the federal government should make it easier for them to succeed, not harder. Unfortunately, instead of giving families and businesses the flexibility they need to creatively meet these challenges, the Biden Administration is trying to force political change through regulations. Nowhere   more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 6, 2023: Today, Representatives Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan Action for Dental Health Act for reauthorization. The legislation is co-authored by Congressman and dentist Mike Simpson and Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust Chair, Congresswoman Robin Kelly. The bill was overwhelmingly approved by the House and signed into law in 2018 and is due for reauthori  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release and letter on June 7, 2023: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), with a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers, today sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) demanding the agency expand the hours of operations at ports of entry in Idaho and other northern states or, at minimum, match the operating hours with their adjacent Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) ports. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idah  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, announced the selection of local businesses across Idaho to be honored as Idaho Small Businesses of the Month for June 2023 in conjunction with his Support Local Gems initiative, set to take place on Friday, June 9 th. The businesses will be recognized for the  more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jim Risch AND Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) joined Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in introducing the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2023, a bill that would split the massively overburdened Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and create a new Twelfth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to the split, the legislation would codify the Judici  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) today introduced the Headwaters Protection Act along with Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico). This bipartisan legislation would expand federal support for U.S. Forest Service (USFS) programs that prevent water pollution at the source, improve the health of our watersheds, and ensure investments benefit down  more

BOISE, Idaho, June 6 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 5, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and the Idaho Department of Commerce announced the fourth annual Support Local Gems initiative, which will serve as an all-day event to support Idaho small businesses. On Friday, June 9, 2023, Idahoans are invited to Support Local Gems by giving their business to their favorite local shops and restaurants. Idahoans can get involved by shopping at a small  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 5, 2023 and a letter: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Republican members of the Senate Intelligence Committee sent a letter to the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. In their letter, the senators demanded answers on whether 51 former members of the Intelligence Community misused their titles and abused their influence when they publicly suggested a press story abo  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: The Small Business Administration this week announced the full implementation of U.S. Senator Jim Risch's legislation the Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act. This legislation--by removing burdensome requirements for declaring disasters in rural communities--will allow rural homeowners, renters, and small businesses to more easily access disaster relief in the wake of a natural disaster  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following column on June 5, 2023: * * * The IRS Needs More Carrots Rather Than Sticks National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins has "urged" Congress to reallocate some of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) enforcement funding to better taxpayer services and modernize IRS systems because the slug of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding "disproportionately" favored enforcement. Her argument is persuasive: The most efficient way to imp  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on June 8, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing entitled "Consolidation and Corporate Ownership in Health Care: Trends and Impacts on Access, Quality, and Costs." As prepared for delivery: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman "Competition has the potential to drive down   more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statements on June 8, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statements on committee passage of legislation on Eswatini and human trafficking. Eswatini Resolution "Today's committee passage of S.Res.174 shows Congress has not forgotten the assassination of Thulani Maseko an  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee hearing on State Department services for the American people: an overview of consular affairs and programs. Witnesses included The Honorable Rena Bitter, assistant secretary of State at the Bureau of Cons  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement: * * * U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the diversion of U.S. food aid in Ethiopia: "It is deplorable that U.S. government food aid, which was intended to help prevent the mass starvation of innocent civilians in Ethiopia, has been diverted by criminals in a  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today introduced the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Enhancement Act, legislation to promote more effective oversight of U.S. foreign assistance. "The United States is the most generous contributor of foreign assistance in the  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), along with U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts), announced legislation to approve the first trade agreement signed under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, and set robus  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., and Ranking Member Richard Neal, D-Mass., today announced legislation to approve the first trade agreement signed under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and set robust transparency and consultation req  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2023, a bill that would split the massively overburdened Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and create a new Twelfth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to the split, the legislation would codi  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) released statements following the Committee's passage of their International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2023. Passed   more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson recently cosponsored H.R. 700, the Supply Chain Disruptions Relief Act, legislation that would provide needed short-term relief to help auto dealers recover from severe inventory shortages due to global supply chain issues. "Between the recent pandemic and ongoing global supply chain disruptions, auto dealers are in a tough spot to keep up with tax liabilities demanded by the ind  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today led Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., John Boozman, R-Ark., Mike Braun, R-Ind., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., James Risch, R-Idaho, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Todd Young, R-Ind., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., John Hoeven, R-N.D., Ted Cruz, R-Texas, an  more