WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) signed a letter demanding the Biden Administration stop any eleventh-hour attempts to breach the four hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) led the letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. Crapo and Risch were joined by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) in sending the letter. "  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) wrapped two weeks of meetings with the first tranche of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees. "President Trump deserves to have a Cabinet he selects to help deliver on his conservative agenda," said Crapo. "I have had productive conversations with several nominees and appreciate their willingness to meet with me and share their visions for America's future. Each of these  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the lead Republican of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the Social Security Administration, issued the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Frank Bisignano to serve as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration: "The Social Security Administration provides more than $1 trillion in benefits to millions of sen  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) released the following statement after meeting with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary: "RFK Jr. is passionate about ending our chronic disease epidemic and making measurable improvements in America's federal health care programs. We had a good discussion about his vision for HHS, priorities and the opp  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) released the following statement after meeting with Jamieson Greer, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR): "The U.S. Trade Representative will play a critical role in the next Administration by negotiating and enforcing trade agreements that ensure American businesses have the opportunity to compete in globa  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) are applauding the inclusion of language based on the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The U.S. Senate passed the FY 2025 NDAA by an 85-14 vote on Wednesday. Crapo and Hickenlooper introduced the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapit  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) applauded Senate passage of the Urban Canal Modernization Act, which would allow Bureau of Reclamation aging infrastructure funding to help address repairs for urban canals with extraordinary maintenance issues. Many western canals, like the New York Canal in Idaho's Treasure Valley, have gone from being rural in nature to surrounded by urban infrastructure over t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today demanded the Biden Administration answer for the sale of border wall construction materials. The auctioning of border wall components has exacerbated the illegal immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border and undermines the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) duty to fortify national security and protect Americans. "By opting to sell materials intende  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fulfilling Congress's constitutional duty to "provide for the common defense." The FY 2025 NDAA strengthens America's military capabilities, bolsters national security, and incorporates key provisions important to the state of Idaho. The legislation supports our troops and th  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) today celebrated the passage of their bipartisan bill designating U.S. Highway 20 between Newport, Oregon, and New England as the "National Medal of Honor Highway." "Idaho's veterans enrich our communities through service past and present. Medal of Honor recipients have acted well beyond the call of duty, and many continue to do so long after they leave mil  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced today that his Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. Co-led with U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), this legislation will make it easier for "Good Samaritans," such as state agencies, nonprofits, and other groups, to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hardrock mines. Heinr  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, issued the following statement on Dec. 19, 2024: * * * U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher issued the following statement after voting against the American Relief Act, 2025: "With very limited time to review, I cannot in good conscience vote for a spending bill that raises the debt limit by early estimates of $4 trillion without corresponding spending cuts, and that includes unrelated policy expenditures like the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacemen  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Today, Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-ID) joined a letter to Senate Republican Leader-Elect John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson led by Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD) and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) on the need to prioritize the prompt passage of a border security-focused reconciliation bill at the beginning of the 119th Congress. "Following President Trump's decisive victory," the law  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today demanded the Biden administration stop any eleventh-hour attempts to breach the lower Snake River dams. "The incoming administration should be allowed the time and opportunity to carefully review and shape the management of the Columbia River System, including the lower Snake River dams. The river system is the backbone of the Pacific Northwest, providing essential benefits to  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Jim Risch, member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, announced the selection of seven Idaho small businesses as Local Gems. This recognition is part of the fifth annual Support Local Gems All Season Long initiative, a public awareness campaign Senator Risch created to encourage Idahoans to support the small businesses that make Idaho special. These small   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) applauded Senate passage of the Urban Canal Modernization Act, which would allow Bureau of Reclamation aging infrastructure funding to help address repairs for urban canals with extraordinary maintenance issues. Many western canals, like the New York Canal in Idaho's Treasure Valley, have gone from being rural in nature to surrounded by urban infrastructure over   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) today demanded the Biden administration answer for the sale of border wall construction materials. The auctioning of border wall components has exacerbated the illegal immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border and undermines the Department of Defense's (DOD) duty to fortify national security and protect Americans. "By opting to sell materials intended for the  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fulfilling Congress's constitutional duty to "provide for the common defense." The FY 2025 NDAA strengthens America's military capabilities, bolsters national security, and incorporates key provisions important to the state of Idaho. The legislation supports our troops and t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced today that their Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. This legislation will make it easier for "Good Samaritans," such as state agencies, nonprofits, and other groups, to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hardrock mines. "After years of red tape and unne  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following column on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * Celebrating Adoption In Idaho For 25 years, National Adoption Day has been celebrated just before Thanksgiving, making the holiday season a beautiful reminder of the Idaho families who lovingly grow through adoption. In recognition of National Adoption Day this year, Idahoans gathered at the Bingham County Courthouse in Blackfoot to celebrate these very special children and families. The Senat  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following column on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Christmas In Idaho For 20 years, the Idaho State Historical Society produced a "charming, old timey newsletter," called the Prospector, for Idaho students and anyone interested in learning more about Idaho History. An archive of the newsletter, available at https://history.idaho.gov/prospector-club-archives/, contains an edition titled "Christmas in the West" that chronicles some of the Christ  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member Senate Finance Committee released the following remarks from a Dec. 5, 2024, from an open executive session to consider the nomination of David Samuel Johnson to be Treasury inspector general for tax administration: * * * "Mr. Johnson has been nominated to serve as Inspector General for Tax Administration at the Department of the Treasury. "Mr. Johnson has strong qualifications and oversight experience, and I appreciate his servi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- 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) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of Halie Craig and James Coughlan to be members of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). As prepared for delivery: "The International Trade Commission or ITC is an important institution. It provides Congress and the Ad  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- 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 released the following statements on his priorities that were included in the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): Caesar Sanctions "The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act has played an important part in shaping U.S. policy towards Syria. In  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- 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, Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), wrote to President Biden, urging him to take more decisive action against foreign entities   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- 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, Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), released the following statement in response to Romania's efforts to address Russian interference in its presidential elections: "Vladimir Putin's assault on Romania's elections is yet anot  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), four senior members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement in response to Romania's efforts to address Russian interference in its presidential elections: "Vladimir Putin's assault on Rom  more