WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee issued the following statement on Feb. 25 by Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, at a hearing entitled "Surface Transportation Reauthorization: Public Transportation Stakeholders' Perspectives": "Today's hearing will focus on the reauthorization of the FAST Act, the nation's current surface transportation bill, which expires on September 30. "We will hear the perspective and priorities of key public transportation stakeho  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 -- Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced committee membership changes for the second session of the 116th Congress. "I am glad to welcome Senator Perdue back to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the second session of the 116th Congress," said Risch. "I am also glad to announce that Senator Barrasso  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 -- Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, issued the following statement in response to the release of the Columbia River Draft Environmental Impact Statement: "I am thankful to see the draft release of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Federal Columbia River Power System. After one of the largest federal studies ever undertaken, at an estimated cost of $40 million, I am glad to see a preferred alternative that does not include dam breaching. "That being said, I have concerns  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 -- Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Tsai Ing-wen was re-elected as Taiwan's fourth democratically elected leader * * * U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and Interna  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced recent staff promotions and hires in his Washington, D.C., and Idaho Falls offices. Molly Carpenter has been promoted to Legislative Director. Previously, Carpenter served the Crapo office as legislative assistant for defense, military, intelligence, veterans and foreign affairs. Carpenter has served a decade in the U.S. Senate, having previously worked for the late S  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following remarks on Feb. 25 at a hearing entitled "Surface Transportation Reauthorization: Public Transportation Stakeholders' Perspectives": "Today's hearing will focus on the reauthorization of the FAST Act, the nation's current surface transportation bill, which expires on September 30. "We will hear the perspective and priorities of key public transportation sta  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following column: The original North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) needed to be re-negotiated. I voted against passage of NAFTA in 1993, because it was flawed. The agreement traded away sovereign rights of individual states and the federal government. Many goods and services originating in the United States received unfair treatment among trading partners. It also failed to provide sufficient market access and address problemat  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following statement on the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the Columbia River System Operation: "The Draft EIS offered by this administration is expansive, science-based, and appropriately recognizes the critical importance of the four dams on the Lower Snake River to the region's energy production, flood risk management, irrigation, and economic well-being. The challenges related to salmon and steelhead recover  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the swearing in of South Sudan's transitional government leadership, including Riek Machar as first vice president: "The swearing-in of South Sudan's new transitional leadership marks a crucial milestone in a much-delayed peace process. Since the country's independence in 2011, South Sudan's leaders have been marked by grand corruption, violence, and self-interes  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Yesterday, following more than a year of bipartisan work and negotiations, Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources introduced an energy innovation bill package in which 5 of Senator Jim Risch's priorities were included. The legislation, the American Energy Innovation Act, will modernize U.S. energy policy and ensure cont  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Jim Risch (R-ID) celebrated a major victory for the U.S. potato industry. For 20 years, U.S. potato growers have faced an unresolved trade dispute with China over the export of fresh American-grown potatoes to Chinese markets. In January 2020, the United States reached a Phase 1 trade deal with China that will facilitate the export of potatoes grown in Idaho, Wash  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * - Would decrease disruptive, duplicative surveys that divert time and care from veterans * * * U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jon Tester (D-Montana) introduced bipartisan legislation to simplify the inspection process at State Veterans Homes (SVH) to help the nation's veterans continue to receive high quality care by facilities unburdened by bureaucratic overlap. "Idaho's three State Veterans H  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and dozens of their colleagues this week sent a letter to President Trump urging him to file a petition for a rehearing of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit's decision to invalidate hardship relief for small refineries under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter was also signed by Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jim Inhofe   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) celebrated a major victory for the U.S. potato industry. For 20 years, U.S. potato growers have faced an unresolved trade dispute with China over the export of fresh American-grown potatoes to Chinese markets. In January 2020, the United States reached a Phase 1 trade deal with China that will facilitate the export of potatoes grown in Idaho, Washin  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 -- Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following joint statement of congratulations to the Tunisian people on the formation of their new government: "We welcome the newly formed Tunisian government under Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh, following months of arduous negotiations. "Tunisian lawmakers from across the political spectrum came together in pursuit of common cause,  more