{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"ID\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-passing-of-jeffrey-holland", "Crapo Statement on Passing of Jeffrey Holland", "2025-12-27", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on the passing of Jeffrey R. Holland, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:\n\n\u201cI join other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in mourning the loss of President Jeffrey R. Holland. Known for his empathetic love and care for others, President Holland embodied a Christ-like spirit of generosity. His more than 30 years of service in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spread the gospel far and wide, inviting others to know the unrelenting love of Christ here on earth.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-backs-bill-to-bolster-aviation-safety", "Crapo Backs Bill to Bolster Aviation Safety", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo joined Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), John Boozman (R-Arkansas) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) in support of the Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety (SAFEGUARDS) Act. The bill Senator Crapo co-sponsored would make certain the revenue collected through the 9/11 Passenger Security Fee (PSF) is invested in bolstering aviation and airport security.\n\n\u201cPassenger security fees should be used as intended\u2014to fund aviation security activities,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cYears of diverting these funds have hampered TSA\u2019s ability to implement modernized screening technologies, particularly at checkpoints with high passenger volumes.\u201d\n\nAirline passengers currently pay a fee of $5.60 per each one-way ticket, intended to fund aviation security. Since 2014, more than $13 billion of the collected fees have been diverted to non-security uses, and this legislation would end that diversion and invest these fees back into airport security.\n\nThe Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screens millions of passengers and their luggage daily, providing services at 2,400 security lanes at the nation's 420 airports.\n\nThe SAFEGUARDS Act would:\n\nAllocate $500 million in PSF revenue annually for checked bag explosive detection systems (EDS); and\n\nSet aside $250 million annually for checkpoint technology improvements, including at exit lanes.\n\nTSA has screening checkpoints at all six of Idaho\u2019s major commercial airports, including Boise Airport (BOI), Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA), Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH), Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport (LWS) and Magic Valley Regional Airport (TWF).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-colleagues-call-on-president-to-maintain-marijuana-as-schedule-i-drug", "Crapo, Risch, Colleagues Call on President to Maintain Marijuana as Schedule I Drug", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined 20 of their Republican colleagues in sending a letter to President Donald Trump asking that marijuana remain a Schedule I drug. President Trump is expected to sign an executive order rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug.\n\n\u201cRescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America\u2019s next economic Golden Age. The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nCrapo and Risch are joined by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Jim Banks (R-Indiana), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama).\n\nMarijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I drug or substance with a high potential for abuse and lacks Federal Drug Administration approval. In the letter, Senators outlined concerns with reclassifying marijuana to Schedule III, reserved for substances with moderate to low risk for physical and psychological dependence, including:\n\nThe significant harm marijuana has on users, especially young people and pregnant or nursing women;\n\nMarijuana use causes impaired judgement, creating public safety risks on the roads and in workplaces; and\n\nThe massive tax break marijuana companies will receive and use to market marijuana to kids.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-delegation-celebrates-srs-reauthorization-for-rural-idaho-counties", "Idaho Delegation Celebrates SRS Reauthorization for Rural Idaho Counties", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--President Donald Trump today signed S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act, which will reauthorize the SRS program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and provide lapsed payments for FYs 2024 and 2025. The Idaho Congressional Delegation celebrated the President\u2019s signature as a win for Idaho\u2019s rural counties stewarding untaxed federal lands. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch led introduction of the bill in the U.S. Senate and U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher co-sponsored the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThirty-four of Idaho\u2019s 44 counties received SRS payments in 2023. Under Idaho law, 30 percent of SRS funding goes to counties to help with schools and the remaining 70 percent goes to roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. In FY 2023, $22.8 million was distributed to Idaho counties.\n\n\u201cThe SRS program is rooted in century-old federal land management policy. Without it, many counties in Idaho and across the country would fall short of the financial means to provide for integral community functions for local residents and visitors alike,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cI thank President Trump for signing this important bill into law, and I remain committed to working toward a long-term solution that provides more certainty to rural communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government made a promise to rural communities, and today I\u2019m proud to see President Trump follow through and reauthorize SRS,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cWhile we work to bring back historic timber revenue, SRS funding remains vital for Idaho counties to support schools, road maintenance, and other essential services.\u201d\n\n\u201cNearly two-thirds of Idaho is public land, which means a vast majority of rural counties throughout the state depend on the Secure Rural Schools Program,\u201d said Representative Simpson. \u201cRenewing this critical program will ensure a vital source of funding for Idaho counties and help pay for essential rural community services. I look forward to seeing this lifeline benefit local communities throughout Idaho for schools and infrastructure projects. As a longtime supporter of the SRS program, I am thrilled to see President Trump sign this into law.\"\n\n\u201cHaving a majority of Idaho\u2019s lands under federal government control forces our rural counties to rely on federal programs\u2014such as Secure Rural Schools (SRS)\u2014to support infrastructure projects, schools, and critical community services,\u201d said Representative Fulcher. \u201cI am grateful to President Trump for signing this important measure into law, and I am appreciative of Speaker Mike Johnson and House Leadership for their collaborative efforts to get it on the House floor, and passed. However, a long-term solution is necessary, and I will continue to advocate for one in Congress that ensures Idahoans dictate Idaho affairs\u2014not the federal government.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is deeply grateful for Senator Crapo\u2019s leadership in securing renewed funding for the Secure Rural Schools Act,\u201d said Idaho Association of Counties Executive Director Seth Grigg. \u201cHis steadfast determination and advocacy, along with the continued support of Senator Risch and Representatives Simpson and Fulcher, make a real difference for the safety of Idahoans. This funding is essential for timber counties across Idaho to maintain critical road infrastructure, invest in public safety, and support the basic services Idaho residents rely on every day.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis funding is essential to counties that have historically received resources from revenue-generating activities on federal lands within their boundaries,\u201d said Julia Lauch, Idaho State Forester. \u201cThe impact is greatest in rural counties dominated by federal land. State Forestry Agencies have strong partnerships with counties to further active management on neighboring lands and protect communities from wildfire risk; Secure Rural Schools\u2019 funds contribute to this work. This is shared stewardship in action, which in Idaho we have coined \u201cno boundaries forestry\u201d.\n\nThe advocacy of Idaho County, among many others across Idaho and our country, on behalf of the reauthorization was instrumental in reaching enactment of the legislation. Idaho County receives the largest portion of SRS funding in the state. Local community leaders helped make the case for the need for its reauthorization given the impacts of its absence.\n\n\u201cSenator Crapo\u2019s leadership has been indispensable in restoring Secure Rural Schools funding,\u201d said Idaho County Commissioner Skip Brandt. \"His efforts give rural timber counties in Idaho the stability we need to keep school bus routes safe and to continue basic road and public safety services. This is a big win for Idaho County and other rural counties throughout Idaho that rely heavily on these dollars. We appreciate Senator Crapo\u2019s willingness to lead the charge and get it done when other people thought it was too late.\u201d\n\nMembers of the Idaho Congressional Delegation have been long-term advocates of the SRS program, which has been extended and amended multiple times since its inception in 2000.\n\nPassage of the bill comes on the heels of a bipartisan, bicameral letter signed by 89 lawmakers, including Crapo, Risch and Fulcher.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-oregon-senators-celebrate-srs-reauthorization-for-rural-idaho-and-oregon-counties", "Idaho, Oregon Senators Celebrate SRS Reauthorization for Rural Idaho and Oregon Counties", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--President Donald Trump today signed S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act, which will reauthorize the SRS program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and provide lapsed payments for any missed payments for FYs 2024 and 2025. U.S. Senators from Idaho and Oregon celebrated the President\u2019s signature as a win for Idaho\u2019s and Oregon\u2019s rural counties stewarding untaxed federal lands. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) led introduction of the bill in the U.S. Senate.\n\nThirty-four of Idaho\u2019s 44 counties received SRS payments in 2023. Under Idaho law, 30 percent of SRS funding goes to counties to help with schools and the remaining 70 percent goes to roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. In FY 2023, $22.8 million was distributed to Idaho counties.\n\n\u201cThe SRS program is rooted in century-old federal land management policy. Without it, many counties in Idaho and across the country would fall short of the financial means to provide for integral community functions for local residents and visitors alike,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cI thank President Trump for signing this important bill into law, and I remain committed to working toward a long-term solution that provides more certainty to rural communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government made a promise to rural communities, and today I\u2019m proud to see President Trump follow through and reauthorize SRS,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cWhile we work to bring back historic timber revenue, SRS funding remains vital for Idaho counties to support schools, road maintenance, and other essential services.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural communities across Oregon and nationwide since I originally authored the program back in 2000,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m grateful Senator Crapo and I were able to get our legislation over the finish line to restore funding for communities that need it the most. This lapse in funding is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the support they need to not just survive, but thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith our bipartisan bill now law, the federal government has finally taken action to restore funding that is crucial to keeping schools open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural communities safe,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cExtending the SRS program ensures Oregon communities and local governments can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is deeply grateful for Senator Crapo\u2019s leadership in securing renewed funding for the Secure Rural Schools Act,\u201d said Idaho Association of Counties Executive Director Seth Grigg. \u201cHis steadfast determination and advocacy, along with the continued support of Senator Risch and Representatives Simpson and Fulcher, make a real difference for the safety of Idahoans. This funding is essential for timber counties across Idaho to maintain critical road infrastructure, invest in public safety, and support the basic services Idaho residents rely on every day.\u201d\n\n\"We are grateful to the Oregon federal delegation for their unremitting support of this program \u2014 a lifeline for our counties and schools,\" said Association of Oregon Counties Executive Director Gina Nikkel. \"Rural counties rely on SRS payments to provide numerous critical services for their communities, such as rural county roads, education, conservation projects, search and rescue missions, and wildfire prevention programs. We look forward to continuing to work with our federal partners for a permanent funding source for rural counties.\"\n\n\u201cThis funding is essential to counties that have historically received resources from revenue-generating activities on federal lands within their boundaries,\u201d said Julia Lauch, Idaho State Forester. \u201cThe impact is greatest in rural counties dominated by federal land. State Forestry Agencies have strong partnerships with counties to further active management on neighboring lands and protect communities from wildfire risk; Secure Rural Schools\u2019 funds contribute to this work. This is shared stewardship in action, which in Idaho we have coined \u201cno boundaries forestry\u201d.\n\nThe advocacy of Idaho County, among many others across Idaho and our country, on behalf of the reauthorization was instrumental in reaching enactment of the legislation. Idaho County receives the largest portion of SRS funding in the state. Local community leaders helped make the case for the need for its reauthorization given the impacts of its absence.\n\n\u201cSenator Crapo\u2019s leadership has been indispensable in restoring Secure Rural Schools funding,\u201d said Idaho County Commissioner Skip Brandt. \"His efforts give rural timber counties in Idaho the stability we need to keep school bus routes safe and to continue basic road and public safety services. This is a big win for Idaho County and other rural counties throughout Idaho that rely heavily on these dollars. We appreciate Senator Crapo\u2019s willingness to lead the charge and get it done when other people thought it was too late.\u201d\n\nCrapo, Wyden, Risch and Merkley have been long-term advocates of the SRS program, which has been extended and amended multiple times since its inception in 2000. Wyden originally authored the program in 2000.\n\nPassage of the bill comes on the heels of a bipartisan, bicameral letter led by Crapo and signed by 88 additional lawmakers, including Wyden, Risch and Merkley.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/12/17/2025/crapo-risch-support-americas-armed-forces", "Crapo, Risch Support America\u2019s Armed Forces", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators for Idaho Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today voted in favor of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fulfilling Congress\u2019s constitutional duty to \u201cprovide for the common defense.\u201d The U.S. Senate passed the bill by a vote of 77-20, and the U.S. House of Representatives previously passed it by a vote of 312-112. It now heads to President Trump\u2019s desk for signature.\n\n\u201cThe FY 2026 NDAA includes a number of wins for Idaho and America,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cIt provides our servicemembers a well-deserved pay raise and strengthens operational readiness to defend against foreign adversaries at home and abroad. The bill also secures funding for important projects at the Idaho National Laboratory which will have lasting, positive impacts on the local community, the economy and our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe NDAA prioritizes the recruitment of top candidates to defend our nation, keep the border secure, and strengthen our national security,\u201d said Risch. \u201cI am proud to support this legislation, secure critical provisions for Idaho, and give our servicemembers a well-deserved pay raise.\u201d\n\nSenators Crapo and Risch secured several critical provisions for the state of Idaho in the NDAA that will:\n\nEnhance U.S. nuclear energy leadership globally and combat China and Russia\u2019s growing influence on international nuclear energy development;\n\nCrack down on the import of deadly fentanyl and its precursors flowing from China to Mexico and across our borders;\n\nSupport the Idaho National Laboratory for tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel development; and\n\nStrengthen the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States\u2019 (CFIUS) ability to review foreign land purchases near sensitive military, intelligence and national laboratory sites.\n\nThe FY 2026 NDAA also:\n\nProvides a 3.8 percent pay raise for servicemembers;\n\nSupports the development of the Golden Dome missile defense system;\n\nAuthorizes investments to boost our naval fleet;\n\nRemoves diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) provisions;\n\nProhibits men from playing in women\u2019s sports at military service academies;\n\nRepeals or amends burdensome and outdated provisions to streamline Pentagon innovation;\n\nRestores munitions and readiness for all military services; and\n\nExpands and improves military recruitment.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-king-introduce-bill-to-streamline-state-veterans-home-inspections", "Crapo, King Introduce Bill to Streamline State Veterans Home Inspections", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine) today introduced the State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act, which would streamline redundant inspection requirements for State Veterans Homes (SVHs) nationwide.\n\nUnder current law, all SVHs must undergo an annual inspection survey by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides a comprehensive assessment of safety protocols, facility condition, clinical care practices and other standards required for certification.\n\nIn addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conduct a nearly identical annual inspection of SVHs serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries\u2014resulting in a roughly 75 percent overlap in the number of SVHs that face an audit from both agencies.\n\nThe bill would allow SVHs to forgo the CMS survey if they have met all the requirements of the annual VA survey.\n\n\u201cOverlapping survey requirements take time and resources away from the core mission of State Veterans Homes\u2014providing care to our nation\u2019s heroes,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cWe must remove unnecessary administrative burdens and allow for a more streamlined certification process, all without compromising the quality of care veterans deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine Veterans Home and state veterans homes across the country are a lifeline to the brave men and women who served,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cHowever, redundant inspections hamper their ability to deliver critical services and support. The State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act is commonsense legislation that will ensure we continue to provide the highest quality of care to our veterans while streamlining administrative processes. Keeping our promise to veterans everywhere \u2014 from Maine to Idaho \u2014 should never be partisan and I\u2019m grateful to partner with Senator Crapo on this issue.\u201d\n\n\"State Veterans Homes represent a sacred trust we hold to care for those who served our nation. The VA survey process is both rigorous and comprehensive, covering clinical care, financial stewardship, and life safety across all care levels. Duplicative CMS surveys add no meaningful oversight benefit and only increase costs and the burden on facilities and the Veterans we serve. I want to thank Senator Crapo for his leadership in advancing this important bipartisan legislation that restores commonsense oversight while upholding the highest standards of care.\" \u2013 Mark Tschampl, Director of the Idaho Division of Veterans Services\n\n\"The National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) strongly supports the State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act, a commonsense bill that would prevent unnecessary overregulation of veterans nursing homes. State Veterans Homes operate under the oversight of VA, which includes an annual inspection requiring them to meet about 200 health, safety, and quality standards. However, about 75% of the State Veterans Homes are also required to receive annual inspections by CMS covering substantially the same standards, leading to unnecessary costs and bureaucratic obstacles. This legislation is a vital step toward reducing redundancy in oversight while preserving the quality and accountability veterans deserve. NASVH extends our heartfelt thanks to Senator Crapo and Senator King for introducing this legislation and their unwavering commitment to our nation's veterans.\" \u2013 Diane Lynch, NASVH President\n\nThe CMS survey has been found to be 90 percent identical to the clinical life and safety sections of the VA inspection survey. The VA survey is considered more comprehensive as it accounts for domiciliary care and adult day health care, whereas the CMS survey does not.\n\nKey Provisions of the State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act:\n\nEliminate duplication: Reduce unnecessary, overlapping annual survey requirements by the VA and CMS.\n\nResource Efficiency: Free up SVH staff time and resources to focus more on veteran well-being and care.\n\nCost Savings: Cut redundant inspection expenses for taxpayers.\n\nMaintain Quality: Enable CMS to rely on robust, comprehensive VA inspection report findings.\n\nStreamline Reporting: Use VA inspection reports for the CMS Compare website to support informed consumer decision-making.\n\nOriginal co-sponsors of the bill include Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia) and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana).\n\nAs part of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations legislation enacted in November, Crapo also secured a provision requiring the U.S. Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on the ongoing backlogs halting SVH construction and renovation projects.\n\nBackground on State Veterans Homes\n\nSVHs are owned, operated, managed and financed by individual states through their divisions or departments of veterans\u2019 affairs. There are currently 172 VA-recognized SVHs across the country, including 166 skilled nursing programs, 48 domiciliary care programs and three adult health care programs.\n\nIdaho is home to four VA-recognized SVHs, located in Boise, Lewiston, Pocatello and Post Falls. All are operated by the Idaho Division of Veterans Services.\n\nView the full text of the bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-a-missed-opportunity-for-real-health-care-reform", "Crapo: A Missed Opportunity for Real Health Care Reform", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) voted to give American families more control over their own health care, while Democrats charted a course that will increase costs for millions of Americans and make no real reforms to a broken health care system.\n\nCrapo\u2019s legislation, the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, introduced alongside U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-Louisiana), would create pre-funded, patient-driven health savings accounts (HSAs). The Crapo-Cassidy plan would help cover out-of-pocket costs, reduce benchmark premiums by 11 percent and give families more control over their health care. This bill is an alternative to Democrats\u2019 temporary COVID bonuses, which send billions of tax dollars to insurance companies without lowering premiums. Democrats blocked the Crapo-Cassidy measure, which required 60 votes to advance, by a vote of 51-48.\n\n\u201cToday was a missed opportunity to lay the groundwork for real health care reforms,\u201d Crapo said. \u201cRepublicans put forward a fiscally responsible proposal to reduce premiums, save taxpayers\u2019 money and give Americans control over their health care. Meanwhile, Democrats insisted on extending the same policies that have led to rampant fraud and higher premiums. We cannot continue to throw good money after bad policy and paper over the cracks in our health care system. It is time to give Americans more control over their health care choices and make quality health care more affordable.\u201d\n\nBefore the vote, Crapo spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor in support of the Republican bill.\n\nOn the Democrats\u2019 proposal:\n\n\u201cThey call their plan a \u2018clean\u2019 extension. A three-year extension of this program with no reforms, costing hardworking families $83 billion, with tens of billions going to big insurance companies and fraudsters is anything but \u2018clean.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe Government Accountability Office recently uncovered how embarrassingly easy it is to game the Obamacare subsidy system, with the Wall Street Journal calling it a \u2018Mecca for Fraud.\u2019 This year, there were over six million improper enrollments, costing $27 billion.\n\n\u201cEven the Washington Post recognized that \u2018Obamacare subsidies make it too easy to scam the system.\u2019\u201d\n\nOn the Republican health care plan:\n\n\u201cInstead of the Minority Leader\u2019s $83 billion dollar extension, which would do nothing to reduce fraud and would keep driving premiums higher, Senator Cassidy and I have offered a fiscally responsible proposal that will reduce premiums, save taxpayers\u2019 money and give Americans control over their health care.\n\n\u201cOur bill provides pre-funded, patient-driven health savings accounts for Americans enrolled in qualified Obamacare bronze and catastrophic plans. Importantly, low-income Americans will still receive subsidies for those plans through the permanent portion of the premium tax credits.\n\n\u201cAmericans who choose this option will have both insurance coverage and help paying for their remaining out-of-pocket costs, all without giving insurers a reason to enroll them in plans without their knowledge, as has occurred for years.\n\n\u201cOur bill also fixes an error in the original design of Obamacare by funding the cost-sharing reductions it mandated, reducing benchmark premiums by 11 percent.\u201d\n\n______________________\n\nFull remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\nMr. President, we have spent a lot of time this week talking about the problems of our health care system. Premiums are rising, hospitals are struggling and out-of-pocket costs are out of control.\n\nThese problems are not new. They were used to justify creating Obamacare, and Obamacare has progressively made them worse. Americans did not keep their doctors, they did not keep their insurance plans and their premiums did not go down. In fact, Obamacare premiums have risen at roughly double the rate of employer-provided plans.\n\nOur Democrat colleagues have had only one response to these skyrocketing premiums: more spending. Without ever winning a single Republican vote, they created the Obamacare premium tax credits, expanded them to Americans of all income levels and extended that expansion.\n\nThose credits did not reduce costs. All they did was shift the cost to taxpayers and help insurers to hike premiums higher and higher.\n\nDemocrats know that Obamacare has failed. They themselves have said so repeatedly.\n\nBut with a deadline quickly approaching\u2014again, a deadline set by my Democrat colleagues\u2014they say we have no choice but to extend this policy again. This is a policy even they could not make permanent when they controlled all three branches of government. Even so, their only offer is more spending.\n\nThey call their plan a \u2018clean\u2019 extension. A three-year extension of this program with no reforms, costing hardworking families $83 billion, with tens of billions going to big insurance companies and fraudsters is anything but \u2018clean.\u2019\n\nThe Government Accountability Office recently uncovered how embarrassingly easy it is to game the Obamacare subsidy system, with the Wall Street Journal calling it a \u201cMecca for Fraud.\u201d This year, there were over six million improper enrollments, costing $27 billion.\n\nEven the Washington Post recognized that \u201cObamacare subsidies make it too easy to scam the system.\u201d\n\nFortunately, we have another option. Instead of the Minority Leader\u2019s $83 billion dollar extension, which would do nothing to reduce fraud and would keep driving premiums higher, Senator Cassidy and I have offered a fiscally responsible proposal that will reduce premiums, save taxpayers\u2019 money and give Americans control over their health care.\n\nOur bill provides pre-funded, patient-driven health savings accounts (HSAs) for Americans enrolled in qualified Obamacare bronze and catastrophic plans. Importantly, low-income Americans will still receive subsidies for those plans through the permanent portion of the premium tax credits.\n\nAmericans who choose this option will have both insurance coverage and help paying for their remaining out-of-pocket costs, all without giving insurers a reason to enroll them in plans without their knowledge, as has occurred for years.\n\nOur bill also fixes an error in the original design of Obamacare by funding the cost-sharing reductions it mandated, reducing benchmark premiums by 11 percent.\n\nThe Minority Leader\u2019s plan is not going to pass. But, if just a few of my Democrat colleagues join us in voting for our bill, we can put this crisis behind us and lay the groundwork for real reforms. For instance, Senator Wyden and I remain intent on getting our bipartisan pharmacy benefit manager reform to the president\u2019s desk.\n\nThe choice before us is clear:\n\nWe can continue with business as usual and extend the same policy that has brought our health care system to the point where every member of this body admits that it is broken, or -\n\nWe can try something different. We can change the incentives Obamacare gives insurers to drive premiums higher and put our confidence in Americans to make the best decisions about their own health care. If we fall off the Democrat-created subsidy cliff, it will not be because we had no other choice.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-americans-should-control-their-own-health-care", "Crapo: Americans Should Control Their Own Health Care", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) continued to make the case for the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, legislation to lower health care costs and give money directly to families to control their own care. He also explained why the Democratic plan of extending the Biden COVID bonuses is unsustainable and counterproductive and discussed the massive breadth of fraud in the subsidy program.\n\nOn Democrats\u2019 Obamacare crisis:\n\n\u201cIf there is a crisis coming, it is entirely of the Democrats\u2019 making. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle created the premium tax credits as part of the Obamacare system, because they did not trust their own policy to make health insurance affordable without shifting the burden of paying for it from enrollees to taxpayers.\n\n\u201cWhen the original premium tax credits failed to bring down premiums, they enhanced the tax credits. And then when that did not work, they extended the enhancements. They did all this without a single Republican vote.\n\n\u201cThey also chose the current expiration date they now say must be changed. They created the cliff they now oppose. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have had years to offer serious suggestions on how to reform the Obamacare subsidies, yet every time a deadline approaches, we are told there is no workable option except to extend them again.\n\n\u201cIt seems these subsidies were never truly meant to be temporary. But they should be. We do not have to go along with their last-minute extension, this time at the cost of $83 billion.\u201d\n\nOn fraud in the Biden COVID Bonuses:\n\n\u201cOf course, Mr. President, unscrupulous insurance brokers have been signing people up for Obamacare plans without their knowledge or consent for profit. Alarmingly, insurers make the most money through these fraudulent credits, because they retain the money even if no payments are made on behalf of patients.\n\n\u201cAs just one example, more people are signed up for $0 premium Obamacare plans in Miami-Dade than there are low-income people living there. One woman in Miami said she had been paid five times by brokers to enroll in Obamacare plans.\n\n\u201cThese are not isolated incidents. This year, 6.4 million Americans were improperly enrolled in enhanced Obamacare subsidies at a cost of $27 billion. The true cost of fraud was likely even higher, because the GAO also found in its report that tens of billions of dollars of subsidies in 2023 had not been reconciled to enrollees\u2019 incomes, meaning they could have misrepresented their incomes to qualify for bigger subsidies.\u201d\n\nOn the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act:\n\n\u201cSenator Cassidy and I introduced a sound plan earlier this week. Our bill, the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, is based on an idea endorsed by President Trump and by many of our colleagues: Americans, not insurance companies, should control their own health care spending.\n\n\u201cAmericans could use the permanent, original premium tax credits to purchase qualified bronze plans with a Health Savings Account (HSA) attached, and they would then receive monthly contributions into that HSA, totaling $1,000 to $1,500 annually. Instead of lining the pockets of big insurance companies, like these subsidies, our HSA contributions would help patients pay expenses not covered by their insurance plan.\n\n\u201cWhen patients can control their own care, they seek the most appropriate treatment options for their individual circumstances, incentivizing care providers to compete for patients by improving prices and care outcomes.\u201d\n\n______________________\n\nFull remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\nTomorrow, this chamber will have the opportunity to chart a new path forward on health care in this country. Senators will be given the choice to extend the Biden COVID bonuses for another three years, or to support health care reforms that will actually expand options, reduce premiums and give power to patients instead of insurance companies.\n\nBoth sides agree the cost of health care is too high. But we need to address the root causes of the explosive increase in health care costs, rather than mask them with unsustainable spending.\n\nWe are told the expiration of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies is a crisis, and that there is no time left to do anything but extend them.\n\nIf there is a crisis coming, it is entirely of the Democrats\u2019 making. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle created the premium tax credits as part of the Obamacare system, because they did not trust their own policy to make health insurance affordable without shifting the burden of paying for it from enrollees to taxpayers.\n\nWhen the original premium tax credits failed to bring down premiums, they enhanced the tax credits. And when that did not work, they extended the enhancements. They did all this without a single Republican vote.\n\nThey also chose the current expiration date they now say must be changed. They created the cliff they now oppose.\n\nOur colleagues on the other side of the aisle have had years to offer serious suggestions on how to reform the Obamacare subsidies, yet every time a deadline approaches, we are told there is no workable option except to extend them again.\n\nIt seems these subsidies were never truly meant to be temporary. But they should be. We do not have to go along with their last-minute extension, this time at the cost of $83 billion.\n\nEven our Democratic colleagues recognize our health care system needs reform. Leader Thune recently quoted many of them here on the Senate Floor.\n\nThey said, and I quote: \u201cWe did fail to bring down the cost of health care.\u201d They also said, and I quote again: \u201cNow, right now, we have a broken health care system.\u201d\n\nAnd it is not just rising premiums that prove Obamacare is broken.\n\nWe cannot ignore the pervasive fraud in this subsidy program.\n\nThe rules governing eligibility for these credits are often flaunted. In September, the Wall Street Journal reported that the rule barring people who can access affordable insurance through their employers is \u201cbarely enforced.\u201d\n\nBased on the Government Accountability Office\u2019s recent audit, income and citizenship verification rules are being ignored, too. Of their 24 fake applications for enhanced tax credits, 22 are receiving subsidies despite submitting falsified paperwork, or no paperwork at all.\n\nOne of their applicants even received an email specifically confirming his income verification was approved, even though he never submitted any proof of income in the first place.\n\nThe law prohibiting dual enrollment in Obamacare and Medicaid was broken 1.6 million times last year. Of course, Mr. President, unscrupulous insurance brokers have been signing people up for Obamacare plans without their knowledge or consent for profit.\n\nAlarmingly, insurers make the most money through these fraudulent credits, because they retain the money even if no payments are made on behalf of patients.\n\nAs just one example, more people are signed up for $0 premium Obamacare plans in Miami-Dade than there are low-income people living there. One woman in Miami said she had been paid five times by brokers to enroll in Obamacare plans.\n\nThese are not isolated incidents. This year, 6.4 million Americans were improperly enrolled in enhanced Obamacare subsidies at a cost of $27 billion. The true cost of fraud was likely even higher, because the GAO also found in its report that tens of billions of dollars of subsidies in 2023 had not been reconciled to enrollees\u2019 incomes, meaning they could have misrepresented their incomes to qualify for bigger subsidies.\n\nThis is the program our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are prepared to extend without changes.\n\nWe cannot afford to do so. We cannot afford the $83 billion price tag of their proposal, and we cannot afford to tacitly consent to this fraud. Nor can we afford to tell the hundreds of millions of Americans who are insured through means other than Obamacare that we are uninterested in their rising premiums.\n\nWhile Republicans did not create this crisis\u2014we did not create Obamacare, we did not create these subsidies and we did not create this expiration date\u2014we have plans to address it.\n\nSenator Cassidy and I introduced a sound plan earlier this week. Our bill, the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, is based on an idea endorsed by President Trump and by many of our colleagues: Americans, not insurance companies, should control their own health care spending.\n\nAmericans could use the permanent, original premium tax credits to purchase qualified bronze plans with a Health Savings Account (HSA) attached, and they would then receive monthly contributions into that HSA, totaling $1,000 to $1,500 annually.\n\nInstead of lining the pockets of big insurance companies, like these subsidies, our HSA contributions would help patients pay expenses not covered by their insurance plan.\n\nWhen patients can control their own care, they seek the most appropriate treatment options for their individual circumstances, incentivizing care providers to compete for patients by improving prices and care outcomes.\n\nOur plan would also provide funding for cost-sharing reduction payments, which will reduce out-of-pocket costs for low-income patients, save taxpayers money and reduce premiums for benchmark marketplace plans by 11 percent.\n\nAdditionally, our bill would ensure federal health funding is spent for the benefit of Americans by strengthening citizenship verification requirements and discouraging states from providing taxpayer-funded health care to illegal aliens.\n\nSome of our Republican colleagues have offered plans of their own this week, which are also worth considering in the future.\n\nWe welcome bipartisan cooperation on these proposals, as with the pharmacy benefit manager reforms I recently introduced with Senator Wyden and many of our Finance Committee colleagues.\n\nBut we must not simply kick the can down the road yet again. Every time we spend tens of billions of dollars for unsupervised and poorly designed subsidies, as our colleagues are asking us to do, we worsen the health care crisis we all want to solve.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-bill-to-restore-funding-for-rural-idaho-counties-to-become-law", "Crapo Bill to Restore Funding for Rural Idaho Counties to Become Law", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo celebrated passage of his legislation, S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which will restore funding to rural counties that steward tracts of untaxed federal lands, now heads to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\n\n\u201cThe SRS program is vital to maintaining schools, roads and emergency response services in rural, forested counties,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cWe have a responsibility to these communities who house large swaths of untaxable federal land. The passage of this legislation will provide retroactive pay to counties that faced deep cuts since the program\u2019s expiration at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and restore funding levels for FY 2026. I continue to press for a long-term solution to provide Idaho\u2019s county governments with more certainty.\u201d\n\nPassage of the bill comes on the heels of a bipartisan letter signed by 89 lawmakers led by Crapo, along with his colleagues U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and U.S. Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-California) and Joe Neguse (D-Colorado), to U.S. House of Representatives leadership. The Senators and Representatives underscored the devastating impacts on rural counties absent funding from the SRS program and called for passage of the bill before the end of the year. The bill previously passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in June 2025.\n\nThe legislation reauthorizes the program through FY 2026 and provides lapsed payments for FYs 2024 and 2025. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) are original co-sponsors.\n\nBackground on the SRS program\n\nCongress first authorized the first SRS program in 2000 with enactment of the SRS and Community Self-Determination Act.\n\nThis legislation specifically assists counties containing tracts of federally owned forest land that are tax-exempt.\n\nThe program provides payments to county governments in areas where those forests are located because counties do not receive tax revenue from federal land; the payments come through timber receipts and other revenue generating activities within U.S. national forests.\n\nIn Idaho, $22.8 million was distributed across 34 counties to help pay for educational programs, emergency response systems and other services in Fiscal Year 2023.\n\nSince the program was not reauthorized in 2023, county payments reverted to 1908 timber sharing law, which represents about an 80 percent cut for some counties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-obamacare-has-undermined-health-care-in-america", "Crapo: Obamacare Has Undermined Health Care in America", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) called on his colleagues to support the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, legislation to lower health care costs and give money directly to families to control their own care. He also discussed Obamacare\u2019s failures, including the rampant fraud caused by the enhanced Obamacare health care subsidies, and explained why a straight extension of this program will do nothing to lower costs or premiums, or protect taxpayers.\n\nOn the failure of Obamacare:\n\n\u201cThere were signs from the start that Obamacare would not work, which is why not one single Republican voted for it. That is also why the Democrats created the premium tax credits in the first place: they did not trust the one-size-fits-all nature of Obamacare to lower costs or to expand options. Instead of decreasing, over the last 15 years, Obamacare premiums have increased over 220 percent. A family of four pays $10,000 more for coverage today than they did before Obamacare, and their deductibles have doubled. Insurance providers have dried up and rural hospitals are struggling.\n\n\u201cObamacare is broken and throwing good taxpayer money after bad policy is not going to fix it.\n\n\u201cThe enhanced premium tax credits account for only about four percentage points of next year\u2019s projected 20 percent increase in insurance premiums. Extending them will not solve this crisis. What it will do is cause tens of billions in more dollars to be paid directly to insurance companies without improving patient care or choice.\u201d\n\nOn fraud in the Biden COVID Bonuses:\n\n\u201cWith taxpayers footing the bill, these subsidies give insurance companies every single reason they need to keep hiking premiums. Even the Washington Post just yesterday explained that \u2018Obamacare subsidies make it too easy to scam the system.\u2019\n\n\u201cLast year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that 1.6 million Americans were enrolled in both Medicaid and Obamacare plans. This year, 6.4 million Americans were improperly enrolled in enhanced premium tax credits at a cost of $27 billion.\n\n\u201cAnother 12 million subsidized plans reported no claims in 2024, suggesting that many of them were opened on behalf of people who did not even know they were insured. Because insurance companies receive the subsidies regardless of whether a plan is used, there is no incentive on their part to check the enrollment status. In 2024, 35 billion dollars were paid out for these unused plans.\u201d\n\nOn the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act:\n\n\u201cSenator Cassidy and I have a different plan. The motivating principle is simple: patients should decide where their health care spending goes, not insurance companies.\n\n\u201cIn line with President Trump\u2019s call to direct money to patients instead of insurance companies, this approach builds on the success of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which expanded Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility to be paired with more affordable insurance plans.\n\n\u201cThese pre-funded, patient-driven accounts will help Americans pay for the out-of-pocket costs that are making health care unaffordable.\n\n\u201cOur plan would take some of the money that otherwise would be spent on the COVID bonuses and direct it into HSAs attached to Obamacare bronze or catastrophic plans as monthly deposits totaling 1,000 to 1,500 dollars a year. Families can use that money to cover costs not handled by their insurance policy, without waiting for insurance companies to approve their treatment decisions.\n\n\u201cFamilies can use that money to cover costs not handled by their insurance policy, without waiting for insurance companies to approve their treatment decisions. Our plan would also fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which mitigate out-of-pocket costs for low-income enrollees, reducing premiums by over 10 percent and saving taxpayers\u2019 money.\n\n\u201cIt is time to lay the groundwork for giving Americans more control over their health care choices and truly making quality health care more affordable.\u201d\n\n______________________\n\nFull remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\nThis week, we are going to spend a lot of time discussing the problems with our health care system. To do that, we need to understand how we got here.\n\nConcerns about rising health care costs are not new. In 2009, Democrats highlighted shortcomings in the American health care system as proof that the federal government had to intervene.\n\nPresident Obama told us how to judge his health care plan. He told us that Americans would be able to keep their insurance plans and their doctors.\n\nHe also told us that insurance premiums would go down. As everyone knows, these predictions did not come true.\n\nBut there were signs from the start that Obamacare would not work, which is why not a single Republican voted for it.\n\nThat is also why Democrats created the premium tax credits in the first place: they did not trust the one-size-fits-all nature of Obamacare to lower costs and expand options.\n\nInstead of decreasing, over the last 15 years, Obamacare premiums have increased over 220 percent.\n\nA family of four pays $10,000 more for coverage today than they did before Obamacare, and their deductibles have doubled.\n\nInsurance providers have dried up and rural hospitals are struggling.\n\nObamacare has undermined health care in America.\n\nIn 2021, Democrats again decided that premiums were too high and that a federal response was necessary.\n\nBut rather than fix the structural flaws in Obamacare, they created an even bigger subsidy with fewer guardrails to entice more people into a broken program.\n\nNot only did they make the subsidy bigger, they made everyone eligible regardless of their income, so families making $600,000 a year began to qualify.\n\nDemocrats also temporarily eliminated reviews to confirm accurate payments and allowed individuals to continuously enroll throughout the year.\n\nBecause those changes were made under the premise of responding to the pandemic, the enhancements were only supposed to last for two years.\n\nBut before they expired, Democrats extended them for three years, again without a single Republican vote.\n\nWith those expanded subsidies again about to expire\u2014again, at a date set by my Democrat colleagues\u2014the pattern has become clear:\n\nDemocrats respond to rising premiums by throwing taxpayer money at the problem.\n\nTheir supposedly \u201cshort-term\u201d fixes only drive premiums higher and make the problem harder to solve, leaving us with apparently no choice other than to do the same thing again and again.\n\nObamacare is broken and throwing good taxpayer money after bad policy is not going to fix it.\n\nThe enhanced premium tax credits account for only about four percentage points of next year\u2019s projected 20 percent increase in insurance premiums.\n\nExtending them will not solve this crisis.\n\nWhat it will do is cause tens of billions in more dollars to be paid directly to insurance companies without improving patient care or choice.\n\nWith taxpayers footing the bill, these subsidies give insurance companies every reason to keep hiking premiums.\n\nEven the Washington Post just yesterday explained that \u201cObamacare subsidies make it too easy to scam the system.\u201d\n\nLast year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that 1.6 million Americans were enrolled in both Medicaid and Obamacare plans.\n\nThis year, 6.4 million Americans were improperly enrolled in enhanced premium tax credits at a cost of $27 billion.\n\nAnother 12 million subsidized plans reported no claims in 2024, suggesting that many of them were opened on behalf of people who did not even know that they were insured.\n\nBecause insurance companies receive the subsidy regardless of whether a plan is used, there\u2019s no incentive to check the enrollment status.\n\nIn 2024, 35 billion dollars were paid out for these unused plans.\n\nMy colleagues in the House asked the Government Accountability Office to look into the fraud surrounding the Obamacare tax credits.\n\nTheir findings were shocking.\n\nThe GAO created fake identities and attempted to enroll them in subsidized Obamacare plans.\n\nAll four of their fake applicants in 2024 received subsidies.\n\nThis year, 18 of 20 applicants did.\n\nThe GAO also found tens of thousands of cases of apparent identity theft, and hundreds of thousands of cases where insurers or brokers changed people\u2019s plans or enrolled them in new ones without their consent.\n\nPerhaps worst of all, they found that over $21 billion worth of subsidies\u2014nearly a third of all subsidies paid out in 2023\u2014had not been double-checked against enrollees\u2019 income.\n\nThat means that there was nothing stopping those enrollees from misrepresenting their incomes to receive higher subsidies than those for which they were eligible.\n\nUltimately, it is not just taxpayers that are hurt by this fraud, although taxpayers should not be on the hook for it to begin with.\n\nThe other Americans who rely on federal health programs suffer as these programs go to waste.\n\nRepublicans addressed some of these program integrity issues in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act when we tightened eligibility and verification standards for federal health care programs.\n\nBut no degree of oversight and enforcement is as effective as addressing the basic incentives that result in fraud.\n\nI appreciate that some of my Democratic colleagues have finally acknowledged these issues, but the fact remains that they have not offered any ideas on how to solve them.\n\nExtending these expensive, fraud-ridden subsidies for another three years with no real reforms\u2014not one!\u2014is a non-starter.\n\nContinuing to pour billions of dollars more into the pockets of big insurance companies and fraudsters will not lower health care costs for American families\u2014especially when you consider that the vast majority of Americans are not insured through the Obamacare marketplace and are therefore not eligible for these subsidies in the first place.\n\nSenator Cassidy and I have a different plan. The motivating principle is simple: patients should decide where their health care spending goes, not insurance companies.\n\nIn line with President Trump\u2019s call to direct money to patients instead of insurance companies, this approach builds on the success of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which expanded Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility to be paired with more affordable insurance plans.\n\nThese pre-funded, patient-driven accounts will help Americans pay for the out-of-pocket costs that are making health care unaffordable.\n\nOur plan would take some of the money that otherwise would be spent on the COVID bonuses and direct it into HSAs attached to Obamacare bronze or catastrophic plans as monthly deposits totaling 1,000 to 1,500 dollars a year.\n\nFamilies can use that money to cover costs not handled by their insurance policy, without waiting for insurance companies to approve their treatment decisions.\n\nBecause families want the best value for their money, they will seek out the most appropriate treatment. Over time, this should result in lower health care costs as care providers compete for patients.\n\nOur plan would also fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which mitigate out-of-pocket costs for low-income enrollees, reducing premiums by over 10 percent and saving taxpayers\u2019 money.\n\nThese cost-sharing reductions would finally challenge the notion that Americans should simply accept ever-escalating premiums as the norm.\n\nIn contrast, Democrats\u2019 temporary COVID bonuses do not lower costs or premiums.\n\nThey throw billions of dollars at insurance companies, up to 20 percent of which can go to profit and overhead.\n\nOur plan avoids that issue and empowers patients to control their own health care.\n\nWe cannot transform our broken health care system overnight, but we can make real progress.\n\nWe still have a chance to enact reforms that will do more than paper over the cracks in our health care system. We should take that opportunity instead of making the enhanced premium tax credit mistake all over again.\n\nIt is time to lay the groundwork for giving Americans more control over their health care choices and truly making quality health care more affordable.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/chairs-crapo-cassidy-unveil-republican-bill-to-make-health-care-affordable-give-money-directly-to-families", "Chairs Crapo, Cassidy Unveil Republican Bill to Make Health Care Affordable, Give Money Directly to Families", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-Louisiana), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, unveiled the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, historic Republican legislation to lower health care costs and give money directly to families to control their own care. This bill is an alternative to Democrats\u2019 temporary COVID bonuses, which send billions of tax dollars to giant insurance companies without lowering insurance premiums.\n\n\u201cGiving billions of taxpayer dollars to insurers is not working to reduce health insurance premiums for patients,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cWe need to give Americans more control over their own health care decisions. This bill builds on the work we did in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and will help Americans manage the rising cost of health care without driving costs even higher.\u201d\n\n\u201cInstead of 100 percent of this money going to insurance companies, let\u2019s give it to patients. By giving them an account that they control, we give them the power. We make health care affordable again,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy.\n\nThis legislation:\n\nSends money to patients, not giant insurance companies;\n\nAmericans on affordable bronze and catastrophic plans would access these dollars in a Health Savings Account (HSA).\n\nThese funds cannot be used for abortion or dangerous gender transitions.\n\nLowers insurance premiums by funding cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments;\n\nEmpowers Americans to choose the insurance plan that fits their needs by increasing access to low-cost catastrophic plans;\n\nPrevents illegal immigrants from accessing Medicaid by requiring states to verify citizenship and immigration status before coverage; and\n\nStops taxpayer dollars from funding gender transition services under Medicaid and excludes them as an essential health benefit for plans sold on the Obamacare exchanges.\n\nBackground\n\nIn line with President Trump\u2019s call to direct money to patients instead of insurance companies, this approach builds on the success of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which expanded HSA eligibility to be paired with more affordable insurance plans. These pre-funded, patient-driven accounts will help Americans pay for the out-of-pocket costs that are making health care unaffordable.\n\nIn contrast, Democrats\u2019 temporary COVID bonuses do not lower costs or premiums. They throw billions of dollars at insurance companies\u2014up to 20 percent of which can go to profit and overhead\u2014and the expiration of this policy only accounts for roughly 4 percent of the premium increase in 2026. Instead of subsidizing insurance companies, Congress should empower patients to control their own health care.\n\nClick here for a one-pager.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-announces-staff-changes-and-new-hires", "Crapo Announces Staff Changes and New Hires", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced new hires and staff changes in his Washington, D.C., and Boise offices.\n\nKyra Smith has rejoined Senator Crapo\u2019s office as Press Secretary. Kyra previously served in Senator Crapo\u2019s Washington, D.C., office before moving home to Idaho. In her time away from the office, Kyra oversaw operations at an Idaho-based health care communications business and its subsequent merger with a national brand. She also served as a director of marketing and regulatory affairs, helping health care organizations navigate the transition to value-based care. Kyra holds a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Idaho.\n\nBrendan Campbell joined Senator Crapo\u2019s office as Legislative Assistant. Brendan is responsible for issues related to agriculture, public lands, tribal affairs and energy. Brendan previously worked for the National Park Foundation and the Senate Western Caucus under Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming). He holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science and government from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.\n\nKennedy Cummins, a Murtaugh native, has been promoted to Legislative Correspondent. Kennedy first joined Senator Crapo\u2019s Boise office as an intern and was quickly promoted to Staff Assistant. In her new role, Kennedy will be responsible for defense, foreign affairs and homeland security issues. She will graduate from Boise State University in December with a degree in political science.\n\nChristian Horchler rejoined the Washington, D.C., office as Staff Assistant and Office Manager. Christian previously served as an intern for the fall 2024 term. He holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science with an emphasis in foreign affairs from Brigham Young University--Idaho.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-join-cornyn-to-introduce-back-the-blue-act", "Crapo, Risch Join Cornyn to Introduce Back the Blue Act", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators for Idaho Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and over 30 of their Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves.\n\n\u201cThe Back the Blue Act reinforces our commitment to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line each day serving their communities,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cThose who seek to harm law enforcement and judges should face swift justice, and this legislation provides the tools within the federal criminal code to enforce tougher penalties on these violent offenders.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny violence or attacks against law enforcement officers are unacceptable,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThe Back the Blue Act reinforces law and order, holds criminals accountable, and protects our state and nation\u2019s brave law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe.\u201d\n\nBackground on the Back the Blue Act:\n\nStrengthens laws to protect police officers\n\nCreates a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if death results; the offender would otherwise face a minimum sentence of 10 years.\n\nCreates a new federal crime for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. However, no prosecution can commence absent certification by the Attorney General that prosecution is appropriate.\n\nCreates a new federal crime for interstate flight from justice to avoid prosecution for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for this offense.\n\nCreates a specific aggravating factor for federal death penalty prosecutions\n\nClarifies that the murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer or first responder is a statutory aggravating factor for purposes of the federal death penalty.\n\nLimits federal habeas relief for murders of law enforcement officers\n\nImposes time limits and substantive limits on federal courts\u2019 review of challenges to state-court convictions for crimes involving the murder of a public safety officer, when the public safety officer was engaged in the performance of official duties or on account of the performance of official duties. These changes are consistent with the fast-track procedures created in 1996, which are applied to federal death penalty cases.\n\nLimits recovery of certain damages and fees for individuals engaged in felonies\n\nLimits the type of civil damages and attorney\u2019s fees recoverable by a criminal as a result of purported injuries incurred during the commission of a felony or crime of violence.\n\nExpands self-defense and second amendment rights for law enforcement officers\n\nAllows law enforcement officers, subject to limited regulation, to carry firearms into federal facilities and other jurisdictions where such possession is otherwise prohibited.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Narcotic Officers\u2019 Associations\u2019 Coalition (NNOAC), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA) and the Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD.\n\nThe legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Jim Banks (R-Indiana), Marsha Blackburn, (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Shelly Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-heinrich-lamalfa-torres-reintroduce-the-native-american-seeds-act", "Crapo, Heinrich, LaMalfa, Torres Reintroduce the Native American Seeds Act", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Today, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), along with U.S. Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-California) and Norma Torres (D-California), reintroduced the Native American Seeds Act of 2025. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would assist tribal governments working to protect seeds that are culturally significant to their communities.\n\n\u201cBy empowering tribal self-governance and equipping native communities with the tools to preserve traditional agriculture systems and culturally significant seeds, we can help safeguard these deeply rooted practices for generations to come,\u201d said Crapo.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to lead legislation that will help preserve Tribes\u2019 cultural practices and way of life by protecting Native seeds and traditional foodways for future generations,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cThis effort will grow local economies in Indian Country and help ensure Tribal members remain connected to their culture and heritage.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting native heritage starts with making sure seeds that hold traditional importance aren\u2019t lost to disaster or neglect,\u201d said Rep. LaMalfa. \u201cThis legislation gives Tribes the flexibility they need to preserve and grow these plants on their own terms. With wildfires, drought, and other challenges threatening seed stocks nationwide, this bill strengthens farming efforts on reservations and helps maintain a link to traditions that shouldn\u2019t be pushed aside. I\u2019m pleased to join Congresswoman Torres in leading this effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cTraditional seeds hold centuries of knowledge, culture, and resilience,\u201d said Congresswoman Torres. \u201cThis bill recognizes the fundamental importance of preserving these seeds\u2014not just for food security, but for the cultural, spiritual, and environmental legacy they carry. From ceremonial practices to sustainable agriculture, Native communities have cultivated these seeds with intention and care. The Native American Seeds Act of 2025 will help ensure that future generations can continue these traditions and protect their heritage. I\u2019m proud to partner with Congressman LaMalfa, Senator Heinrich, and Senator Crapo to champion this vital effort.\u201d\n\n\"The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes appreciate the efforts of Senator Crapo, Senator Heinrich, Representative Torres, and Representative LaMalfa to introduce this important legislation to assist us in our efforts to preserve seeds for numerous plants, including camas, bitterroot, wild onions, sage, and chokecherry, that hold deep cultural, historical, and ceremonial significance to us. This bill will help the federal government honor its obligations under the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868 and enable future generations to continue our traditional ways of life,\u201d said Donna Thompson, Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.\n\nThe Native American Seeds Act of 2025 directs the U.S. Secretary of the Department of the Interior to work with Tribes to identify Native American seeds and to support tribal seed banks, related facilities and traditional agricultural systems. Additionally, the legislation prohibits the disclosure of culturally sensitive or proprietary tribal information provided to the Department.\n\nAcross the country, factors such as wildfire, drought, insect/disease outbreak, inclement weather and contamination have increased the challenges that Tribes face in preserving their seeds. This bill will help ensure that tribal connections to plants holding traditional importance will continue for future generations while also strengthening food security, improving physical and mental health outcomes and expanding opportunity and participation on reservations.\n\nRead full text of the bill HERE.\n\nOriginal co-sponsors: Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) and Senator Ben Lujan (D-New Mexico)\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-wyden-introduce-bipartisan-pharmacy-benefit-manager-legislation", "Crapo, Wyden Introduce Bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Legislation", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "\u201cPharmacy benefit managers should not profit from overcharging patients for their prescriptions,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation is a decisive step toward making the prescription drug market easier to navigate for both patients and pharmacies. These proposals form a strong foundation for additional efforts to promote pharmacy access, demystify drug pricing and reduce costs for both taxpayers and seniors.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time to go after middlemen who are making Americans\u2019 prescription drugs more expensive,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThe Finance Committee has put forward a comprehensive approach to stop the pharmacy benefit manager business practices that are harming seniors and taxpayers who count on Medicare to deliver affordable prescription drugs. It\u2019s time to get this done.\u201d\n\nDelink PBM compensation from their negotiated rebates to disincentivize PBMs from promoting higher-priced medications;\n\nIncrease PBM reporting requirements to Medicare Part D plan sponsors and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and empower Part D plan sponsors to audit their PBM for compliance with contract requirements;\n\nReinforce existing requirements that plan sponsors contract with any willing pharmacy that meets their standard contract terms and conditions to better protect independent pharmacies in rural areas from practices that have contributed to widespread closures;\n\nRequire participation by retail community pharmacies in the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, which would ensure accurate Medicaid payments to pharmacies; and\n\nMandate PBMs pass Medicaid payments directly to pharmacies to ensure transparent drug costs for states and taxpayers.\n\nSenators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-New Mexico), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mark Warner (D-Virginia), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) co-sponsored the PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-wyden-lamalfa-neguse-lead-push-for-passage-of-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization", "Crapo, Wyden, LaMalfa, Neguse Lead Push for Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), alongside their colleagues Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-California) and Joe Neguse (D-Colorado), led a bipartisan coalition of 89 lawmakers in sending a letter to House leadership requesting urgent consideration of S.356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Self Determination Act. The bill, which unanimously passed in the Senate in June of 2025, would reauthorize the program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and provide lapsed payments for FYs 2024 and 2025.\n\nFunding for the SRS program lapsed in September of 2023, with the last authorized payments distributed to counties in early 2024.\n\n\". . . Counties and school districts across 41 states have seen a 63 percent cut in funding. This $177 million loss is devastating for rural communities, leading to school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance and reduced public safety services. These are not abstract policy debates; they are tangible consequences for local governments and the communities that steward untaxed federal lands,\" the letter reads.\n\n\"Counties applaud Senators Crapo and Wyden and Representatives LaMalfa and Neguse for leading this bipartisan push to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools,\u201d said National Association of Counties (NACo) Executive Director Matthew Chase. \u201cWith unanimous Senate support and strong bipartisan support in the House, the path forward should be clear: SRS keeps schools operating, roads maintained and public safety services funded in communities that manage vast federal lands, and must be reauthorized now. Given that more than 700 rural counties have been awaiting these payments since the program lapsed at the end of FY 2023, we urge House leadership to act expeditiously by passing the bipartisan, bicameral SRS package.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery public school student in this country should have opportunities and resources that are not determined by their ZIP code,\u201d said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association. \u201cOur students deserve access to a wide range of learning experiences that prepare them for the real world. Today, one in five public school students attends a rural public school. Rural students and the communities that support them need sustained investment. That is why we applaud the bipartisan, bicameral call for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act and send it to the President for signature. Our nation\u2019s rural students need this support to reach their full potential. We are grateful to Senators Crapo and Wyden and Representatives LaMalfa and Neguse for their steadfast commitment to rural communities, their families, and their students through their leadership on this important measure.\u201d\n\n\"Western Governors appreciate the efforts of many leaders in Congress, including Senators Crapo and Wyden and Representatives LaMalfa and Neguse, to ensure rural communities will continue to have financial support for essential services,\" said Jack Waldorf, Executive Director, Western Governors\u2019 Association. \"The Governors believe it is incumbent upon the federal government to ensure counties and states receive continued, predictable, and full payments under each of the three titles of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program.\"\n\nView the full text of the letter HERE.\n\nBackground on the SRS program:\n\nThe first SRS program was authorized in 2000 with enactment of the SRS and Community Self-Determination Act.\n\nThis legislation specifically assists counties containing tracts of federally owned forest land that are tax-exempt.\n\nThe program provides payments to county governments in areas where those forests are located because counties do not receive tax revenue from federal land; the payments come through timber receipts and other revenue generating activities within U.S. national forests.\n\nIn Idaho, $25 million was distributed across 34 counties to help pay for educational programs, emergency response systems and other services this past year.\n\nSince the program was not reauthorized, county payments reverted to 1908 timber sharing law, which represents about an 80 percent cut for some counties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/new-report-billions-of-dollars-wasted-consumers-harmed-due-to-health-care-fraud-in-obamacare-plans", "New Report: Billions of Dollars Wasted, Consumers Harmed Due to Health Care Fraud in Obamacare Plans", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identifying several avenues of widespread fraud in Obamacare Marketplace plans, including large-scale failures that have allowed applicants using fake identities, stolen Social Security numbers and incorrect income estimates to receive Obamacare subsidies at taxpayers\u2019 expense.\n\n\u201cThe GAO\u2019s findings further illustrate the brokenness of Obamacare,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cThe temporary, enhanced COVID-era credits have exacerbated Obamacare\u2019s structural failures, causing fraud to explode and leaving taxpayers to subsidize criminals and shady insurance brokers. Premiums and out-of-pocket costs are rising for all Americans, but as we look for ways to improve the health care system, this investigation serves as a stark reminder that we cannot simply throw good money after bad policy.\u201d\n\nAs part of its investigation, GAO created fake identities and attempted to enroll them in Obamacare advance premium tax credits (PTCs), a taxpayer-funded subsidy for Obamacare recipients. All four of its fake applicants were approved in 2024 and 18 of 20 fake applicants in 2025 were receiving subsidies as of September.\n\nThe Obamacare Marketplace accepted some of these enrollees with falsified proof of income, Social Security numbers and citizenship status, and others were approved even when no documents were submitted.\n\nIn addition to successfully enrolling almost all its fake applicants in the subsidy program, the GAO found the program was at risk of the following forms of fraud:\n\nIdentity theft: 66,000 Social Security numbers were enrolled in multiple plans in 2024.\n\nOne Social Security number was enrolled in 125 different policies, totaling 71 years\u2019 worth of credits, in 2023.\n\n$94 million in subsidies went to plans created with Social Security numbers belonging to a deceased individual.\n\nUnauthorized changes: In 2024, 160,000 applications for PTCs were likely changed by insurance brokers without the authorization of the enrollee.\n\nIn just eight months, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services received over 270,000 complaints from Americans who were enrolled or switched into plans they did not want.\n\nThese changes allow brokers to charge fees they should not receive and can disrupt enrollees\u2019 care.\n\nCredit overpayment: Nearly a third of PTCs paid in 2023 were not reconciled to enrollees\u2019 income.\n\nWithout this check, enrollees can receive larger subsidies by intentionally misrepresenting their income at the time of enrollment.\n\nThe investigation was requested by Congressmen Jason Smith (Missouri), Brett Guthrie (Kentucky) and Jim Jordan (Ohio).\n\nRead the report HERE.\n\nRelated:\n\nU.S. House Committee on Ways and Means: Watchdog Finds Consumer Harm and Billions of Taxpayer Dollars Wasted in Health Care Fraud in Affordable Care Act Plans\n\nU.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Non-Partisan Watchdog Finds Consumer Harm and Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars Wasted Due to Health Care Fraud in Affordable Care Act Plans\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-shaheen-reintroduce-bill-to-expedite-recovery-of-missing-servicemembers", "Crapo, Shaheen Reintroduce Bill to Expedite Recovery of Missing Servicemembers", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--On the heels of the news Idaho welcomed home the remains of 2nd Lieutenant Charles Atteberry after more than 80 years missing in action, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) have again introduced legislation that would eliminate obstacles preventing families and caseworkers from accessing records needed for recovery of America\u2019s prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA). The Bring Our Heroes Home Act has 7 co-sponsors and previously advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously last November.\n\nAccording to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, approximately 80,930 Americans--including 359 Idahoans--remain unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars and other conflicts.\n\n\u201cIdaho welcomed home another missing hero just a few weeks ago, and we cannot give up on our efforts to identify and bring home every remaining missing servicemember,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cWe must cut the bureaucratic red tape that delays bringing them to an eternal resting place here at home. We owe their families and loved ones the assurances they have not been forgotten.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe families of America\u2019s missing service members carry the heavy weight of uncertainty, waiting years and often decades for answers about their loved ones who served our nation with courage and conviction,\u201d said Shaheen. \u201cWe owe it to these families to make that wait as short as possible and free from unnecessary bureaucratic burden. Our bipartisan Bring Our Heroes Home Act takes meaningful steps to ensure that vital records are preserved, responsibly declassified and made accessible so that families can finally gain the clarity they deserve. Our nation has a solemn responsibility to honor every hero\u2019s legacy and to ensure none are forgotten or left behind.\u201d\n\nThe Bring Our Heroes Home Act would:\n\nCreate a collection of missing Armed Forces and civilian personnel records at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for families and caseworkers to easily access;\n\nRequire executive agencies to identify, locate and transmit any missing Armed Forces personnel records to the National Archives for placement in the collection; and\n\nEstablish an independent Missing Armed Forces and Civilian Personnel Records Review Board to identify missing personnel records, facilitate the transmission and disclosure of these records, and review any decisions by federal agencies to postpone declassification for purposes of protecting sensitive classified material.\n\nIdaho recently welcomed home 2nd Lieutenant Charles Atteberry, a World War II servicemember from Parma who had been missing and unidentified for 80 years. Through the U.S. military\u2019s use of DNA testing, Lt. Atteberry was able to be identified from a mass grave in Taiwan. Lt. Atteberry\u2019s brother, Lloyd, also served in the military as a pilot during World War II. Lloyd is still considered missing in action and his remains have not been recovered since he was reportedly shot down in 1943.\n\nAdditional co-sponsors of the measure include Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Alex Padilla (D-California), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).\n\nBill text is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/11/21/2025/crapo-co-leads-effort-to-better-realize-long-term-savings-from-preventive-health-care", "Crapo Co-Leads Effort to Better Realize Long-Term Savings from Preventive Health Care", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today joined his colleague Senator Angus King (I-Maine), as well as Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), in reintroducing S. 3204, the Preventive Health Savings Act. This bipartisan legislation would enable the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to better account for how certain health care initiatives may yield prevention-related savings, allowing congressional leaders to receive more accurate and informed estimates for policymaking. Currently, CBO uses a 10-year budget window when providing its analyses. The proposed bill would increase this outlook to 30 years.\n\n\u201cIt is important we have a clear, long-term picture of the return on investment from preventive health care measures,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cRemoving current CBO limitations benefits any future health care reform and helps pave the way for additional preventive measures that save lives and reduce costs.\u201d\n\nThe Preventive Health Savings Act limits the definition of preventive health to \u201caction that focuses on the health of the public, individuals, and defined populations in order to protect, promote, and maintain health and wellness and prevent disease, disability, and premature death that is demonstrated by credible and publicly available evidence from epidemiological projection models, clinical trials, observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis.\u201d This would ensure a tailored review of policies intended to curb federal health care expenditures through prevention-focused actions.\n\nThe legislation is also supported by a large coalition of health care-focused organizations and patient advocacy groups, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Physical Therapy Association, the National Association of Community Health Centers, Premier, Inc. and the Healthcare Leadership Council.\n\nCompanion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is being led by Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-California), Diana DeGette (D-Colorado), Buddy Carter (R-Georgia) and Scott Peters (D-California).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-co-leads-effort-to-better-realize-long-term-savings-from-preventive-health-care", "Crapo, Hickenlooper Reintroduce Legislation to Preserve Night Sky from Interference, Aid Research", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) reintroduced the bipartisan Dark and Quiet Skies Act to preserve the night sky from unintentional light and radio interference.\n\n\u201cThe vastness of Idaho\u2019s wilderness allows for truly magnificent wonders in the night sky,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cThe advancement of space technology has made these majestic spaces fewer, and collaborative approaches to mitigate interference is vitally needed.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s bipartisan agreement that we need a strong space economy and cutting-edge scientific research to unlock the mysteries of our universe,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cThe Dark and Quiet Skies Act helps us do both. This is a no-brainer solution, and we\u2019re pushing to get it done.\u201d\n\nScientific and amateur space observations can be disrupted by the light and radio transmission of passing satellites. Satellites have increased from 2,200 in orbit in 2019 to over 11,000 as of 2024. Current estimates predict there will be over 60,000 by 2030.\n\nThe Dark and Quiet Skies Act would create a Center of Excellence overseen by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop best practices to reduce light and noise interference. The Center would stimulate voluntary participation and collaboration among the astronomical community, industry and federal agencies to research, develop and deploy light interference mitigation techniques.\n\nBill one-pager is available HERE. Full text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/11/19/2025/crapo-announces-finance-committee-staff-updates", "Crapo Announces Finance Committee Staff Updates", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today announced the following staff updates:\n\nMary Kate Carter, International Trade Policy Advisor\n\nMary Kate rejoins the Committee from Lot Sixteen, where she co-led the firm\u2019s trade practice as vice president of government relations. She previously worked as an associate manager for international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as a professional staff member for the Committee under then-Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). She earned her M.A. in International Trade and Investment Policy from The George Washington University and a B.A. in French and International Trade from Clemson University.\n\nMichael Hawthorne, Tax Counsel\n\nMichael joins the Committee from Squire Patton Boggs, where he was an associate in the Public Policy Practice Group working on issues involving tax and trade legislation. He previously served as a law clerk on the Senate Judiciary Committee under Ranking Member Grassley, the House Ways and Means Committee under Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations under Chairman Rob Portman (R-Ohio). He received his J.D. and his B.A. in Political Science from The George Washington University.\n\nAlexander Hughes, Press Assistant\n\nAlexander joins the Committee as a recent graduate of Harvard University, where he earned his A.B. in Government. He previously interned at the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party under Chairman John Moolenaar (R-Michigan) and at National Review.\n\nAnna Rose Moore, Senior Health Policy Advisor\n\nAnna Rose joins the Committee from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions under Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), where she was a health policy advisor working on issues including commercial health insurance and pharmacy benefit manager reform. Anna Rose holds a M.P.H. and a B.S. in Public Health from Georgia Southern University.\n\nSee here for a full list of Crapo Finance Committee staff.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-executive-session-to-consider-social-security-ustr-hhs-nominations", "Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider Social Security, USTR, HHS Nominations", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to consider the nominations of Arjun Mody to be Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, Jeffrey Goettman to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR), Julie Callahan to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the USTR, and Thomas (March) Bell to be Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cWe meet today to consider favorably reporting the nominations of Arjun Mody, who is nominated to serve as the Deputy Commissioner for the Social Security Administration (SSA), Jeffrey Goettman, who is nominated to serve as the Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR), Julie Callahan, who is nominated to serve as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at USTR and March Bell, who is nominated to serve as the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).\n\n\u201cThis morning\u2019s meeting will provide members with the opportunity to offer remarks on the nominees. We will notify members of a time and location later today to conduct the vote off the Senate floor.\n\n\u201cEach of the nominees proved themselves to be well qualified at their hearing.\n\n\u201cMr. Mody highlighted his extensive experience working with congressional leaders to build consensus and find solutions to challenging policy issues. He will bring the same work ethic and collaborative approach to the Social Security Administration.\n\n\u201cMr. Goettman demonstrated his commitment to ensuring the resiliency of U.S. manufacturing supply chains, particularly for small businesses. I look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to ensure the formulation of trade policy that is both fair and economically sound.\n\n\u201cDr. Callahan brings decades of expertise to USTR, as reflected by the over 80 trade associations supporting her nomination. If confirmed as Chief Agriculture Negotiator, she will ensure the important interests of American agriculture are championed on the world stage.\n\n\u201cLastly, Mr. Bell will utilize his extensive oversight experience if he is confirmed as Inspector General to fight waste, fraud and abuse, and to keep Congress abreast of the HHS\u2019s steps to save taxpayer dollars.\n\n\u201cI will be voting in favor of each nominee and encourage my colleagues to do the same.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-hearing-on-the-rising-cost-of-health-care", "Crapo Statement at Hearing on the Rising Cost of Health Care", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the rising cost of health care.\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cAfter the longest shutdown in history, the federal government has reopened.\n\n\u201cFor 43 days, Americans lived with disruption and uncertainty. Essential food assistance was paused, paychecks for servicemembers and federal workers were withheld, and air travel was delayed for safety.\n\n\u201cBoth sides agree the cost of health care is too high. But sending billions of dollars to insurance companies while premiums continue to rise and the deficit continues to grow is not a solution.\n\n\u201cWe need to address the root causes of the explosive increase in health care costs, rather than mask them with unsustainable spending.\n\n\u201cFor 43 days, Republicans made the same offer\u2014reopen the government and we will negotiate. Today, we meet to discuss potential solutions. To our witnesses, thank you for your willingness to appear on such short notice to share your insights.\n\n\u201cOur health care system is broken. Obamacare failed to make health care more affordable. Premiums and out-of-pocket costs are rising for all Americans.\n\n\u201cIn the individual market, the Obamacare subsidies\u2014which do not expire, despite some confusing rhetoric\u2014only mask year-over-year price increases. The temporary, enhanced COVID-era credits, which Democrats twice set to expire, exacerbate structural failures. Fraud has exploded and incentives to hold down premiums have evaporated.\n\n\u201cIn fact, only three to four percentage points of the underlying premium increase confronting patients is the result of the expiration of the enhanced COVID credits.\n\n\u201cSome will argue that time has run out to consider alternatives to extending the COVID credits. I encourage my colleagues to avoid this conclusion and instead keep an open mind in search of a bipartisan outcome.\n\n\u201cWe need both short-term and long-term, sustainable solutions.\n\n\u201cIn the short term, we cannot simply throw good money after bad policy. If we keep advancing a system that drives up premiums, we will make this problem even harder to solve.\n\n\u201cInstead, we should set the groundwork for giving Americans more control over their health care choices. Rather than accepting the current system of giving billions of taxpayer dollars to insurers, we should consider providing financial assistance directly to consumers through health savings accounts (HSAs), which are now available on the Obamacare exchanges because of a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill.\n\n\u201cLeveraging long-standing provisions in the tax code, like the medical expense deduction, could help patients further defray high out-of-pocket prices.\n\n\u201cTo guide future policymaking, a commission at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) could evaluate and recommend options to further reduce costs for all Americans.\n\n\u201cWe should fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which mitigate out-of-pocket costs for low-income enrollees, reduce premiums for all Obamacare plans by over 10 percent and save taxpayers\u2019 money.\n\n\u201cWe should also enact pharmaceutical benefit manager (PBM) reform, which would realign incentives in the drug supply chain to lower patient costs at the pharmacy counter. Ranking Member Wyden and I intend to reintroduce the Senate Finance Committee\u2019s package shortly and we invite all members of this Committee to join us as co-sponsors as we move the bill to the President\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\n\u201cThe PBM process undertaken by this Committee should serve as a model for other reforms. Health care integration can produce efficiencies, but too much consolidation can result in monopolistic powerhouses that block innovative disruptors, limit market competition and constrain consumer choice.\n\n\u201cWe must also seek to expand care access points to avoid costly treatment delays. Establishing long-term telehealth flexibility would allow patients to receive care in lower-cost settings. We should reform our clinician payment system to bolster the workforce, increase reimbursement stability for independent practitioners and allow a wider variety of providers to deliver services.\n\n\u201cSwift coverage of cutting-edge innovations and an emphasis on preventive measures can reduce higher long-term costs.\n\n\u201cWe cannot transform our broken health care system overnight, but this Committee has a proven record of bipartisan success. Today\u2019s hearing is the first step in building the foundation for reform.\n\n\u201cThank you, again, to our witnesses.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-advances-social-security-ustr-hhs-nominations", "Finance Committee Advances Social Security, USTR, HHS Nominations", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014The U.S. Senate Finance Committee advanced the nominations of Arjun Mody to be Deputy Commissioner of Social Security by a vote of 14-13; Jeffrey Goettman to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative by a vote of 17-10; Julie Callahan to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the USTR by a vote of 17-10; and Thomas (March) Bell to be Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by a vote of 14-13. Following the vote, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the statement below:\n\n\u201cI commend the Committee\u2019s action and congratulate each nominee.\n\n\u201cAs a veteran of Capitol Hill, Mr. Mody is well equipped to assist Commissioner Bisignano in administering the programs overseen by the Social Security Administration.\n\n\u201cMr. Goettman\u2019s experience at the Export-Import Bank will serve him well as he ensures American interests are protected abroad.\n\n\u201cDr. Callahan\u2019s endorsement by over 80 trade associations representing farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers testifies to her ability to promote U.S. agriculture in international negotiations.\n\n\u201cMr. Bell will play a critical role in ensuring that Medicare and Medicaid are protected from inefficiency and fraud.\n\n\u201cI am confident in each nominee\u2019s ability to serve Americans\u2019 best interest and implement the President\u2019s agenda and look forward to their confirmation by the full Senate.\u201d\n\nExecutive session information can be found here.\n\nRead Chairman Crapo\u2019s full statement at the nomination hearing here, and his statement at the executive session here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/24-idahoans-receive-crapos-spirit-of-freedom-award", "24 Idahoans Receive Crapo's Spirit of Freedom Award", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo announced the names of 24 Idahoans who are the recipients of his 2025 Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veteran Service Award. The honorees--10 veterans and 14 volunteers--were presented with the award at local ceremonies across the state. The Senator created the award in 2002 to recognize the invaluable contributions of Idaho veterans and those who volunteer in service to veterans. Since the award\u2019s creation 23 years ago, 424 Spirit of Freedom Awards have been bestowed.\n\n\"I am honored to recognize these remarkable individuals for their extraordinary service to our nation and Idaho's veterans,\" said Crapo. \"We extend our deepest gratitude to the veterans who bravely served our nation with honor and to the volunteers who continue to serve them with unwavering dedication. Their spirit of service inspires us and upholds the values our nation's veterans fought to protect. Each award recipient is a reflection of the incredible impact one individual can have on their community.\"\n\nSubmissions for the 2026 Spirit of Freedom Service Award can be made by contacting Courtney Lehosit in Crapo\u2019s Boise office. The following biographies for each of the recipients highlight their significant contributions to our country and its veterans.\n\nVeterans:\n\nLanny R. Ames, Kimberly: American Legion Post 76 of Kimberly nominated Lanny Ames, a Cold War and Vietnam era Veteran. Lanny earned the rank of Master Sergeant and many honors during his extensive U.S. Air Force career. They include the Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Good Conduct Medal and Outstanding Unit recognitions. His service included assignments with the Strategic Air Command for 20 years, and numerous other locations, including Idaho, England, Maine, Alaska and Nebraska. Lanny has also served in many leadership roles with the American Legion and dedicated 22 years to serving as a reservist with Idaho Fish and Game. Lanny and his wife, Naomi, have two daughters and one son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is deeply proud of his family, many of whom have also served in the U.S. Air Force.\n\nLarry Auman, Idaho Falls: The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 972 and American Legion Post 56, both of Idaho Falls, nominated Larry Auman, who served our country as a Machinist Mate 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After six years in the Navy, Larry worked for more than 40 years in the nuclear industry as a health physicist in nuclear power operations at U.S. Department of Energy facilities across the United States. Since retiring from the Idaho National Laboratory, Larry has dedicated considerable time to supporting veterans and various veterans service organizations. This includes his responsibility for finances, minutes, correspondence, member notifications and overall leadership of multiple veterans service organizations. An example of his service includes his extensive work to make sure veterans are honored through service recognition on their graves. Larry is known as someone with a deep commitment to supporting veterans and their families.\n\nJason Brown, Lewiston: The Idaho State Veterans Home-Lewiston nominated Jason Brown, who served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning many recognitions for his service. Jason continues to serve his community and its veterans. Jason is a Corporal in the Nez Perce County Sheriff\u2019s Department and supervises several patrol deputies as well as serves as an operator for the local SWAT team. Jason uses his role as a patrol deputy to speak with veterans in crisis and connect them with resources. He also gives generously of his time volunteering with several entities such as Toys for Tots, Courageous Survival, assisting with the Marine Corps Birthday Ball and spending time with veterans at the Guys' Coffee Group at the veterans home. Jason is known for selflessly prioritizing his fellow veterans and engaging within the community on multiple levels while on and off duty.\n\nTammy Clement, Meridian: The Department of Idaho Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) nominated Tammy Clement. In 2010, Tammy retired from a 27-year career of service with the U.S. Air Force and Idaho Air National Guard. She served in support of Operation Noble Eagle and earned the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and many recognitions, including the Air Force Achievement Medal with one device and Air Force Commendation Medal with one device. Additionally, her significant efforts in support of her fellow veterans include starting, organizing and equipping the official VFW District 5 Honor Guard. Tammy has organized and assisted with more than 800 events and activities, dedicated more than 1,700 hours and traveled more than 15,000 miles in giving generously to veterans. Tammy\u2019s husband Michael Clement also retired from the Idaho Air Force National Guard and assists with events as an active VFW member.\n\nRichard Lee Falardeau, Lewiston: The Idaho State Veterans Home-Lewiston nominated Richard Lee Falardeau, who served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. He served as a Flight Engineer on the Fairchild C-123 during the Vietnam War and later transitioned to the C-141 Starlifter, where his skill and precision helped carry out complex global missions. In his final years of military service, Richard was selected for the elite C-141 Embassy Run Flight Team, supporting U.S. embassies worldwide. Richard earned the rank of Master Sergeant and recognitions that include four Meritorious Service Award ribbons and one Defense Meritorious Service Medal for exceptional performance and valor. After his military career, Richard brought his ingenuity to an Exxon Refinery, where he worked for 15 years as a technician. Richard and his wife, Bonnie, who passed away in June, were married 64 years. They raised three children who carry forward his legacy of honor, curiosity and dedication. Richard\u2019s daughter, Felecia, wrote, \u201cFrom the oceans to the skies to innovations on the ground, Master Sergeant Richard Falardeau embodies courage, devotion, and the unwavering spirit of freedom that this award so proudly honors.\u201d\n\nWilliam (Billy) Lawson, Boise: The Idaho Veterans Assistance League (IVAL) nominated Billy Lawson, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy who served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. During his nine years of service, he earned many recognitions and served overseas including as a Construction Flight Commander at the Air Force Central Command in the Middle East. Billy and his wife, Tori, thankfully, chose to reside in Idaho, where he is a medical student at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM). Billy was a greatly valued volunteer in the canteen at the Idaho State Veterans Home-Boise, consistently showing up with warmth, reliability and a deep sense of purpose. In addition to recruiting other ICOM students to enrich activities throughout the home, Billy brought his golden retriever, Stanley, who made a lasting impact, providing comfort, joy and companionship.\n\nHolly Leonard, Boise: The Idaho State Veterans Home-Boise nominated Holly Leonard, who served our country for more than a decade in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps and Air Force Nurse Corps Reserves. She earned the rank of Major and multiple honors for her service that took her across our country, including assignments in Texas, Ohio and Arizona. Her career after her military service included nursing positions in orthopedic surgery, IBM\u2019s Employee Medical Department, Tucson and Scottsdale School Districts, and as a CPR and First Aid Instructor. Holly has also dedicated her time to volunteering for the Red Cross, Hospice, Kenya Mission Trips and at the Idaho State Veterans Home. Holly met her husband at the Luke Air Force Base, where he served as a flight surgeon for an F-16 squadron.\n\nVic Markell, Kimberly: American Legion Post 7 of Twin Falls nominated Vic Markell, who served in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic during the Vietnam War and continues to serve his community. After his military service, Vic worked for BASF for 30 years. He has been an American Legion member for 55 years and has dedicated considerable time to helping with food preparation and cooking for veterans for the post\u2019s monthly meetings and quarterly breakfasts. He also plans and cooks for other events, such as the Veterans Day chili feed, and helps with many post projects. Additionally, he assists with charity work for his church.\n\nCarson Wesley Spear, Star: The Warhawk Air Museum nominated Carson Spear, who served as a platoon leader in the U.S. Army in Southern Baghdad deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. He earned the rank of Captain and many honors that include the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Carson has been the museum\u2019s Executive Director since 2023. He oversees numerous events and projects honoring veterans, including the Kilroy Coffee, preserving veterans\u2019 histories, producing an airshow and the opening of the new Global War on Terror Expansion. Carson, who grew up in a family that honors veterans, went to UC Davis before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in Field Artillery in 2001. Carson and his wife, Erin, have two children and many animals, and he is also involved in the veterans community as a Mission43 Leaders Fellow, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion member.\n\nGary Williams, Post Falls: The Idaho State Veterans Home-Post Falls nominated Gary Williams, who dedicated more than 20 years to serving in the U.S. Marines. He earned the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and maintained aviation search radars in both the Vietnam War and Desert Storm before retiring from the military in 1992. Many generations of Gary\u2019s family have also served in our nation\u2019s military. After his service, Gary went on to work in training\u2014using his skills to help others. Gary, a father to two daughters and one son, enjoys spending time with his family in north Idaho that also includes grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Kady Aamot shared, \u201cGary warmly invites many, and shares in comradery in nearly every season of life. Whether it\u2019s a friendly face in the hall, a great idea or suggestion, or welcoming those around him\u2014Gary displays bravery and honors bravery in those around him.\u201d\n\nVolunteers:\n\nEva Ackerman, Pocatello: Bannock County Veterans Services nominated Eva Ackerman, who enjoys giving back to the veterans who have given up everything to serve our country. Eva has assisted veterans since 2010. She said it makes her heart happy to know she was able to do a little bit for someone. She volunteers with a number of organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 4, Run to Remember with the Field of Heroes, Bannock County Veterans Memorial Association among others, helping coordinate lunches and dinners held at the Memorial Building and much more. Eva and her husband, Larry, are known for always being willing to help. Eva is part of a family dedicated to military service. She enjoys it when the various organizations come together to work toward the same mission, and she shared, \u201cI\u2019ve met several veterans who are very good. I love to find the good in people. . . .\u201d\n\nAllen (Al) Arnold, Idaho Falls: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2146 of Idaho Falls nominated Al Arnold, who has been involved in area veterans activities for more than 20 years. Al, a U.S. Navy retiree, has participated in more than 1,700 graveside honors for veterans, served in many capacities in veterans service organizations and is known for always being willing to help veterans and their families. He is a critical leader in the Bonneville Memorial Team and with the War Bonnet Round Up American Legion fundraising effort. He and his late wife were honored as Rodeo Volunteers of the Year. Al serves others for the friendship and to give back to his country and fellow servicemembers who have given him so much in his life. Al retired as a Lieutenant in 1990 after more than 25 years and earning many honors for his distinguished service. He served on a guided missile destroyer, fleet ballistic missile submarine and fast attack submarine and as an instructor and supervisor for training of Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operators at the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho.\n\nMark A. Arnstam, Boise: The United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated (USSVI) Boise Base Submarine Veterans nominated Mark Arnstam, a retired U.S. Navy Submarine Veteran who helps his fellow veterans navigate the process of receiving an MRI at the Boise Veterans Administration Medical Center. Mark is recognized for his lifetime of service to others and his experience as a veteran contributing to his ability to help veterans and their families navigate the Veterans Administration. During Mark\u2019s 25 years of military service, he served on three submarines and qualified as a nuclear Machinist Mate, welder and a diver. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Mark has since given more than 5,400 hours over the past 10 years to assisting veterans. Patient care, safety and privacy are of utmost importance to him, and he enjoys easing anxiety, apprehension and fear of the confined MRI machine.\n\nRobert (Bob) L. Cook, Boise: The Idaho State Veterans Home-Boise nominated Bob Cook, a volunteer serving veterans for roughly 37 years. Bob\u2019s twin brother Bill\u2019s service in the U.S. Air Force inspired Bob\u2019s efforts to assist veterans. As a proud representative of the Gear Jammers Car Club, Bob has become a cherished figure in the veteran home\u2019s community. Each spring, Bob organizes a car show that brings joy and camaraderie to veterans. Bob enjoys listening to veterans\u2019 stories about cars they remember. JoAnn Daron shared, \u201cThe event is more than just a display of classic cars\u2014it\u2019s a heartfelt tribute to those who\u2019ve served, and a highlight of the year that we all eagerly anticipate. . . . His efforts remind us of the power of community and the importance of honoring those who\u2019ve given so much.\u201d\n\nHolly Harrison and Tim Hennessey, Boise: SEAL Future Foundation, Inc. nominated Holly Harrison and Tim Hennessey, a dynamic couple who lead the SEAL Future Foundation\u2019s Forward Operating Base in Boise. They have built a welcoming community to assist Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL)s with transitioning into civilian life through events, gatherings and other opportunities to connect with one another and build trusted local relationships. Tim and Holly are recognized for modeling quiet professionalism and stewardship, and ensuring every gathering, introduction and program honors the trust placed in them as they help veterans and their families thrive in their next chapters. Tim and Holly are described as proud members of the Boise community, and Leah Crosby shared, \u201cBecause of Tim and Holly\u2019s efforts, dozens of Navy SEALs and their families in Idaho have found the connection, purpose and support they need to live healthy, meaningful lives beyond their military service.\u201d\n\nCheri Honas, Pocatello: Bannock County Veterans Services nominated Cheri Honas, whose military family inspired her six years of service to veterans through the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1. Cheri loves meeting new people and the feeling that God gave her the time to give back. She cannot think of a better way to use her time than dedicating it to serving veterans. Cheri is known as someone who is always willing to step up with whatever veterans need. She helps with immediate, short-term needs and helps coordinate the luncheons and dinners held at the Veterans Memorial Building. Cheri is a mother of three, grandmother and great-grandmother, who is a goer and loves to bake. Cheri said, \u201cGod looks down on all of us and smiles when he sees us making someone happy. He especially loves his veterans. . . .\u201d\n\nAmanda Knight, Boise: Mission43 nominated Amanda Knight, who draws from her personal experience as a military spouse and daughter of a veteran to help veterans and their families navigate higher education, training certification and other opportunities. Amanda\u2019s approach blends mentorship, resource connection and motivational coaching. Dan McGurkin wrote, \u201cAmanda\u2019s unique strength lies in her compassion and perseverance; she has talked participants through moments of self-doubt and helped them rediscover their confidence. Several members credit her steady encouragement as the reason they completed programs they once thought were beyond their reach.\u201d Amanda\u2019s experience balancing family, career, deployments and transitions inspired her work to ensure military families do not have to navigate these challenges alone. In 2025 alone, Amanda guided nearly 500 members through their educational journeys.\n\nLynn Leggat, Pocatello: Bannock County Veterans Services nominated Lynn Leggat, who has volunteered helping veterans for the past three years. Lynn\u2019s husband, William Leggat, served in the U.S. Air Force. After William passed away, Lynn was guided through prayer to serve veterans. She started out helping with steak dinners at the American Legion after hearing about a dinner on the radio and showing up to help. She is now a staple at any luncheon or dinner, has become the Chaplin for her organization and plans to also serve at the veterans home. She primarily assists veterans through the American Legion Auxiliary, but also she assists with Amvets and other organizations. The list of projects Lynn assists with is lengthy and also includes assisting with the Field of Heroes Information Booth, 9/11 Commemoration, Pearl Harbor Remembrance, Veterans Day Luncheon and Veterans Day Parade. Lynn loves being of service.\n\nTiffany Sedorus, King Hill: The Boise U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Medical Center (VAMC) nominated Tiffany Sedorus, who served in the U.S. Army\u2019s 82nd Airborne Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom and gives generously of her time to fellow veterans. Tiffany assists at the Boise VAMC and Mountain Home Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). She consistently volunteers in the VAMC\u2019s inpatient psychiatric unit teaching the \u201cTaking Charge of My Life and Health\u201d class that she has also taken to veterans in Mountain Home. Tiffany, who is married and has dogs and horses, comes from a family rooted in military service. She devotes her Saturdays to helping some of the most vulnerable veterans, and she cherishes hearing their stories, relating to them and learning from their experiences. Serena Young wrote, \u201cShe is driven by a desire to demonstrate that there is life beyond mental and general health struggles.\u201d\n\nDelores Silcott, Filer: American Legion Post 7 of Twin Falls nominated Delores Silcott, who has given generously of her time over the past 18 years to work in the Post\u2019s bingo hall every Sunday. For the past 20 years, Delores has been an active member of the Post\u2019s auxiliary. In addition to managing the Post\u2019s bingo program, Delores helps with Christmas programs, poppies programs and voting programs for veterans. Delores\u2019 husband was a veteran, and she just wants to help and enjoys working with and meeting new people. Brian English notes that Delores has only taken one vacation from the bingo program over the years she has run the program, and she is always there early to set up and stays late to clean up. She just has the desire to help veterans.\n\nTony Speer, Caldwell: The Warhawk Air Museum nominated Tony Speer, who started out riding his bike to volunteer at the museum when he was in the fourth grade. He then swept the floors and gave tours and has since helped build the museum\u2019s information technology systems. Tony\u2019s family has a rich history of military service. His father was an Army veteran who passed away when Tony was six years old. Tony, who helps manage servers and software for St. Luke\u2019s and pilots his own airplane, credits his experience at the museum with helping him to get to where he is now. He shared, \u201cThe museum has grown to feel like a second home and the people there a second family for me.\u201d Carson Spear described Tony as a quiet professional who has devoted more than 23 years, often going above and beyond, to support the work at the museum. Carson wrote, \u201cTony always has an excellent attitude, works incredibly hard to honor veterans, and we appreciate him so much.\u201d\n\nTeri Weissrock-Engler, Boise: The Idaho Veterans Assistance League nominated Teri Weissrock-Engler, who was inspired to support veterans in her community to honor her late husband in a meaningful way. Teri shared that being surrounded by powerful examples of service and sacrifice, including family members, inspired her volunteer work assisting veterans. Her husband, Arthur Engler, earned the Bronze Star for his service in the U.S. Army on Omaha Beach in World War II. She is a regular volunteer in the canteen at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise and assists with a range of events at the home. She also helps the Idaho Foodbank with community outreach and support. Teri, who greatly values the time she spends with veterans, wrote, \u201cThese moments have created a deep sense of community for me\u2014while also reminding me of the incredible sacrifices these veterans have made for our freedom.\u201d\n\nGary Wiester, Post Falls: The Idaho State Veterans Home-Post Falls, where Gary has volunteered for more than a year, nominated Gary. Gary is characterized as an outstanding volunteer willing to step in where needed\u2014from building rapport with residents of the home to mentoring new volunteers. Gary served two years in the U.S. Army, raised his family in southwest Washington and built a post-military career in construction management, where leadership, teamwork and attention to detail became second nature. He also volunteered for more than 12 years as an assistant to the Chaplain and Sergeants at the Kootenai County Jail and served with Kootenai County Search and Rescue. Kady Aamot shared that Gary\u2019s military, professional and personal background help him connect with others in a meaningful way. She wrote, \u201cWhether it\u2019s through a warm conversation, helping a resident get to an event, or just showing up with a smile, his steady presence and humble service have made a lasting impact on the community at the Post Falls Veterans Home.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-25-colleagues-applaud-trump-admins-exclusion-of-unrwa-from-gaza-peace-process", "Crapo, 25 Colleagues Applaud Trump Admin\u2019s Exclusion of UNRWA from Gaza Peace Process", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) and 24 colleagues in sending a letter applauding President Trump and U.S. Department of State Secretary Mark Rubio for excluding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from the Gaza peace process, citing UNRWA\u2019s ties to Hamas.\n\n\u201cAs discussions on Gaza\u2019s future continue, we must avoid repeating the mistakes that empowered the terror group to take hold in the first place,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cFor decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has operated in Gaza, yet extensive reporting, investigations, and intelligence assessments documented systemic infiltration of the agency by Hamas and other U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations.\n\n\u201cIn response to these alarming findings, the United States rightfully suspended funding to UNRWA and Israel barred the agency from operating on its territory,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cThese steps were necessary because UNRWA has shown it cannot maintain neutrality or operate without being co-opted by terrorists. During your recent visit to Israel, you reaffirmed UNRWA\u2019s ties to terrorism, describing the agency as \u2018a subsidiary of Hamas\u2019 and making clear that it \u2018is not going to play any role\u2019 in the delivery of aid to Gaza. Reinstating UNRWA would only recreate the very conditions that allowed Hamas to entrench itself and exert control in Gaza.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe strongly urge the administration to ensure that UNRWA play no role in any efforts to stabilize, govern, and rebuild Gaza,\u201d the lawmakers concluded. \u201cInstead, we encourage the United States to work with vetted international partners, trusted regional actors, and nongovernmental organizations that are demonstrably free of terrorist influence and committed to transparency, accountability, and peace.\"\n\nAdditional signers included Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and John Hoeven (R-North Dakota.).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write in support of the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to advance lasting stability in Gaza and enduring security for Israel. President Trump\u2019s leadership has been instrumental in negotiating and maintaining the ceasefire agreement and in securing the ongoing release of hostages. It is vital to continue applying maximum pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages still held in Gaza. We also commend the administration's continued commitment to ensuring that Hamas is fully disarmed and can never rule again in the territory. As discussions on Gaza\u2019s future continue, we must avoid repeating the mistakes that empowered the terror group to take hold in the first place.\n\nFor decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has operated in Gaza, yet extensive reporting, investigations, and intelligence assessments documented systemic infiltration of the agency by Hamas and other U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations. At least twelve UNRWA employees took part in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, and roughly ten percent of UNRWA\u2019s Gaza staff have ties to terrorist groups, with many more having close relatives involved in these organizations. Since October 7, Hamas has repeatedly stolen the agency\u2019s aid and supplies, weapons have been found in its schools, tunnel infrastructure has been uncovered in or near its facilities, and its buildings were even used to hold hostages. Long before the war, UNRWA\u2019s curriculum was already known to radicalize Palestinian youth by promoting antisemitism and glorifying terrorism.\n\nIn response to these alarming findings, the United States rightfully suspended funding to UNRWA and Israel barred the agency from operating on its territory. These steps were necessary because UNRWA has shown it cannot maintain neutrality or operate without being co-opted by terrorists. During your recent visit to Israel, you reaffirmed UNRWA\u2019s ties to terrorism, describing the agency as \u201ca subsidiary of Hamas\u201d and making clear that it \u201cis not going to play any role\u201d in the delivery of aid to Gaza. Reinstating UNRWA would only recreate the very conditions that allowed Hamas to entrench itself and exert control in Gaza.\n\nWe strongly urge the administration to ensure that UNRWA play no role in any efforts to stabilize, govern, and rebuild Gaza. Instead, we encourage the United States to work with vetted international partners, trusted regional actors, and nongovernmental organizations that are demonstrably free of terrorist influence and committed to transparency, accountability, and peace.\n\nWe appreciate your leadership and stand prepared to work with the Trump administration to support Gaza reconstruction efforts and ensure lasting security for Israel.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-senate-vote-to-reopen-government", "Crapo Statement on Senate Vote to Reopen Government", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement after the Senate advanced a measure to reopen the federal government. The measure provides full-year appropriations for Agriculture, Legislative Branch and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 and contains a Continuing Resolution for the remainder of the federal government through January 2026:\n\n\u201cI voted again today to reopen and fund the federal government. The unserious political games by Senate Democrats placed an undue burden on our servicemembers, small businesses, federal employees and communities that rely on federal resources--all of which could have been avoided.\n\n\u201cThe three appropriations bills we also advanced support our veterans, invest in rural communities, protect our national security and contain needed cost-savings measures. We must continue bipartisan work on the remaining appropriations bills before the January 2026 deadline.\n\n\u201cInsurance premiums are skyrocketing because our health care system is broken. Simply extending the temporary Biden COVID bonuses, which account for only four percentage points of the coming premium increases, is not a solution. I remain committed to tackling the root causes of rising health care costs, rather than masking them with more unsustainable spending.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-leads-more-than-100-members-of-congress-to-reaffirm-support-for-cdfi-fund", "Crapo Leads More Than 100 Members of Congress to Reaffirm Support for CDFI Fund", "2025-10-23", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. Representative Young Kim (R-California) sent a bicameral letter to U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought reaffirming support for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and urging the Administration to continue carrying out the statutory obligations of the Fund, emphasizing its elimination will negatively impact the economy long-term. An additional 103 Republican Members of Congress signed the letter.\n\n\u201cCDFIs play an important role in supporting economic development in rural, tribal and other underserved communities in our states,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cThey enhance the viability of community development projects, especially in rural areas, by offering flexible financing tools such as longer loan terms and interest-only repayment periods.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is unclear how these programs will continue to operate if the CDFI Fund\u2019s obligations cease to function,\u201d the letter continues.\n\n\u201cWe stand ready to work with the Administration to make additional improvements at the Fund to ensure it fulfills its purpose of serving communities left behind by the federal government and the traditional finance sector,\u201d the letter concludes.\n\nThe letter also highlights certain programs administered by the Fund, including:\n\nThe New Markets Tax Credit program, which has created over one million jobs since the credit\u2019s creation and was made permanent under the President\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA); and\n\nThe Capital Magnet Fund, which scales housing investments to build new housing and pairs with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, also permanently expanded by the OBBBA, to address the nation\u2019s housing shortage.\n\nText of the letter is available HERE.\n\nSenator Crapo is the co-chair of the Senate Community Development Finance Caucus.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-elected-officials-request-briefing-on-mountain-home-afb-joint-training-announcement", "Idaho Elected Officials Request Briefing on Mountain Home AFB Joint Training Announcement", "2025-10-17", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Idaho\u2019s U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, U.S. Representative Mike Simpson and Governor Brad Little sent a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth requesting a briefing on the recent announcement of a joint training agreement for Qatari troops at the Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB).\n\n\u201cIn the interest of informing our constituents, maintaining open lines of communication, and fostering closer federal and state collaboration regarding this training squadron, we would like the Department to provide more information about the plans and intentions of this mission now that it appears to be finalized,\u201d wrote the officials. \u201cWe request that you provide a briefing to the Idaho Congressional Delegation, as well as for the Governor of Idaho and state legislators potentially impacted by the agreement, in Boise on the details of this agreement.\u201d\n\nThe Idaho officials requested additional information about the agreement, including:\n\nGiven the technological capabilities of the Mountain Home AFB range complex, what measures will be implemented to safeguard against any compromise to our national security?\n\nWhat screening, intelligence, or vetting processes are in place to ensure no trainees have ties to hostile or extremist organizations?\n\nAre there any specific security concerns for the surrounding communities and for U.S. military personnel stationed at Mountain Home AFB?\n\nIs there a long-term plan to convert Mountain Home AFB into a multi-national training facility for foreign allies?\n\nHow many Qatari personnel will be involved in the training mission?\n\nHow long will they be deployed to Idaho?\n\nWill families be allowed to accompany Qatari personnel, and what restrictions, if any, will be placed on their travel?\n\nIs there a total cost to American taxpayers to house, train, and feed the foreign military personnel covered by this agreement?\n\nRead the full letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/10/10/2025/crapo-risch-support-americas-armed-forces", "Crapo, Risch Support America\u2019s Armed Forces", "2025-10-10", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fulfilling Congress\u2019s constitutional duty to \u201cprovide for the common defense.\u201d\n\nThe FY 2026 NDAA strengthens America\u2019s military capabilities, bolsters national security and includes key provisions important to the state of Idaho. The legislation supports our troops and their families through well-deserved pay increases.\n\n\u201cThe most critical component of the annual NDAA is ensuring our military is prepared to face off against and mitigate threats from our adversaries both at home and abroad,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cThe Senate\u2019s passage of this important legislation puts us one step closer to providing for the common defense.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA ensures our military remains mission-ready, can protect and defend our nation, and provides servicemembers with a well-deserved pay raise \u2013 if only Democrats would end this government shutdown,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThis legislation prioritizes recruitment of the best candidates to defend America, keep the border secure, and strengthen our national security.\u201d\n\nSenators Crapo and Risch secured several critical provisions for the state of Idaho in the NDAA that will:\n\nEnhance U.S. nuclear energy leadership globally and combat China and Russia\u2019s growing influence on international nuclear energy development;\n\nCrack down on the import of deadly fentanyl and its precursors flowing from China to Mexico and across our borders;\n\nSupport the Idaho National Laboratory for tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel development;\n\nStrengthen the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States\u2019 (CFIUS) ability to review foreign land purchases near sensitive military, intelligence and national laboratory sites;\n\nReduce regulatory barriers to new and affordable housing; and\n\nImprove the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to enhance transparency and performance.\n\nThe FY 2026 NDAA also:\n\nProvides a 3.8 percent pay raise for servicemembers;\n\nSupports the development of the Golden Dome missile defense system;\n\nAuthorizes investments to boost our naval fleet;\n\nRemoves diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions;\n\nProhibits men from playing in women\u2019s sports at military service academies;\n\nRepeals or amends more than 100 burdensome and outdated provisions to streamline Pentagon innovation;\n\nRestore munitions and readiness for all military services; and\n\nExpand and improve military recruitment.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-advances-treasury-irs-nominations", "Finance Committee Advances Treasury, IRS Nominations", "2025-10-08", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014The U.S. Senate Finance Committee advanced the nominations of Jonathan Greenstein to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury by a vote of 14-13; Donald Korb to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and an Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury by a vote of 15-12; and Derek Theurer to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury by a vote of 14-13. Following the vote, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the statement below:\n\n\u201cI commend the Committee\u2019s action and congratulate each nominee. Mr. Greenstein will face the important task of restoring key international organizations like the International Monetary Fund to their original missions. Mr. Korb\u2019s previous experience as Chief Counsel of the IRS will equip him to hit the ground running when he returns to the role and to ensure the tax code is enforced fairly and impartially. As a veteran of Capitol Hill, I am sure Mr. Theurer will keep Congress well-informed about Treasury\u2019s work as the Department continues to implement our recent tax cuts for working families. I am confident in each nominee\u2019s ability to serve Americans\u2019 best interest and implement the President\u2019s agenda and look forward to their confirmation by the full Senate.\u201d\n\nExecutive session information can be found here.\n\nRead Chairman Crapo\u2019s full statement at the nomination hearings here and here, and his statement at the executive session here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-senate-confirmation-of-idaho-nominees", "Crapo Statement on Senate Confirmation of Idaho Nominees", "2025-10-07", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed, by a vote of 51-47, four nominees from Idaho for various positions at the federal level.\n\n\u201cThe four Idahoans confirmed by the Senate today are intimately aware of the many commonsense needs of our state. Their expertise and knowledge will promote the opinions and on-the-ground experiences of Idaho\u2019s constituents at the federal level. I look forward to working with them in these new capacities.\u201d\n\nThe four confirmed nominees include:\n\nMichael Boren to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment;\n\nAlex Adams to be Assistant Secretary for Family Support, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;\n\nBart McKay Davis to be United States Attorney for the District of Idaho for the term of 4 years; and\n\nBrandon Judd to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Chile.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-congratulates-travis-hill-on-nomination-to-lead-fdic", "Crapo Congratulates Travis Hill on Nomination to Lead FDIC", "2025-10-01", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and former Chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, today applauded the nomination of Travis Hill to serve as the Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).\n\n\u201cPresident Trump made an excellent choice nominating Travis Hill to permanently lead the FDIC. Travis has a deep understanding of financial services policy and in his current role as acting FDIC Chairman, he has already proven effective at refocusing the agency\u2019s efforts on core banking practices. In addition to his extensive professional experience, Travis has the diligence and character to effectively lead the agency. I look forward to supporting this well-deserved nomination and am confident he will ensure a safe, sound and competitive banking system for all Americans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-booker-lead-resolution-to-recognize-september-as-national-prostate-cancer-awareness-month", "Crapo, Booker Lead Resolution to Recognize September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month", "2025-09-30", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) led introduction of a Senate Resolution to recognize September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The resolution also encourages all Americans to take part in efforts to increase early detection, improve treatment and discover more breakthroughs for the disease, which has a 99 percent survival rate if caught in the earliest stage.\n\n\u201cRegular health screenings help detect prostate cancer early, when treatment is most effective,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cI hope all men will discuss screening options with their health care provider and educate themselves further about early detection.\u201d\n\n\u201cProstate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States and devastates far too many families,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThe unanimous passage of this bipartisan resolution represents our shared commitment to investing in advances and raising awareness around prostate cancer, expanding access to treatment, and saving lives.\u201d\n\n\"Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is a powerful reminder for men to understand their risk and take proactive steps toward lifesaving early detection and treatment options,\" said Courtney Bugler, President and CEO of ZERO Prostate Cancer. \"We are deeply grateful to Senator Crapo and Senator Booker for their steadfast leadership. Their commitment has been instrumental in advancing awareness, research, and support for men and families impacted by this disease. We are proud to stand alongside them and other champions in Congress, not just during this month, but year-round, as we continue to work together toward a future where no man faces prostate cancer alone.\u201d\n\nAdditional co-sponsors of the Resolution include Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland).\n\nProstate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. One in eight men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes, and one in 41 men in the United States will die from the disease.\n\nRead the full Resolution HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-nelson-embodied-love-of-jesus-christ", "Crapo: Nelson Embodied Love of Jesus Christ", "2025-09-28", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) celebrated the life of Russell Marion Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and issued the following statement on the news of his passing:\n\n\u201cA wise and thoughtful man, President Nelson dedicated nearly four decades of leadership service to his faith and the Church--outwardly demonstrating the call to practice Christlike love. His service to others was not limited solely to his faith, but to his country and his fellow soldier, having served as a member of the United States Army Medical Corps. President Nelson was a renowned surgeon and medical researcher, earning many awards and recognitions for his revolutionary and groundbreaking medical procedures. He was an exceptionally kind leader whose lifetime focus centered on embodying the love of Jesus Christ. His was a life well lived, and I join other members of the Church in mourning his passing. My prayers are with President Nelson\u2019s wife, children and many grandchildren as they grieve his loss here on earth, but celebrate in the hope of one day rejoining him in perfect peace in Heaven.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/senate-honors-work-of-forensic-scientists", "Senate Honors Work of Forensic Scientists", "2025-09-18", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a Senate Resolution designating September 14-20, 2025, as National Forensic Science Week. The resolution, introduced by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Alex Padilla (D-California), and co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), honors the role forensic science plays in administering justice to crime offenders and exonerating the innocent.\n\n\u201cForensic scientists help to provide truth in the criminal justice system,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cForensic science frees the innocent and furnishes justice for victims, and the Idaho State Police is a leader in significance of these essential services. It is an honor to acknowledge and recognize their invaluable efforts, as well as those of forensic scientists across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s justice system relies on accurate forensic science,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019ve partnered with Senators Crapo, Cornyn, and Risch in this bipartisan effort to highlight the critical role strong partnerships among forensic science laboratories and federal agencies play in protecting public safety and fighting injustice.\u201d\n\n\u201cForensic science plays an integral role in America\u2019s criminal justice system,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cThis week, we recognize Idaho\u2019s forensic scientists who work hard to provide closure to victims, convict dangerous criminals, and free the innocent.\u201d\n\n\u201cWithout robust forensic science, the United States criminal justice system would not be able to function,\u201d said Matthew Gamette, Idaho State Police Forensic Services Laboratory System Director. \u201cWe appreciate the support of the United States Senate, and specifically our Senators from Idaho, in recognizing the important contributions of forensic scientists to advance the science in forensic science, provide critical information to law enforcement and the courts, and to bring resolution to victims of crime and their families. We appreciate the support of Congress in funding forensic science providers, including medical examiner and coroner offices, to assist them in being more efficient, effective, and innovative in solving forensic science cases.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the resolution HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-welcomes-fall-2025-interns", "Crapo Welcomes Fall 2025 Interns", "2025-09-15", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Five interns joined U.S. Senator Mike Crapo\u2019s (R-Idaho) offices in Washington, D.C., and Boise for the fall 2025 term.\n\n\u201cDuring President Trump\u2019s historic second term, there is much for this fall\u2019s interns to experience in the halls of Congress and in my state offices,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cThrough their internships, these bright, young individuals will actively engage with Idaho\u2019s constituents, expand their knowledge of the federal policymaking process and grow hard and soft skills important for their future careers. I am delighted to have them on board for this fall and look forward to their success.\u201d\n\nThree interns are serving in the Washington, D.C., Office:\n\nJack Gabrieli is a native of Boise, Idaho, currently in his junior year at Creighton University. He is majoring in Economics.\n\nTrevor Rasmussen lives in Lewiston, Idaho, and is a recent graduate from the University of Idaho. He earned his B.A. in international studies/relations.\n\nDaisy Aguilar is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is currently a junior at George Washington University. She is studying political science and marketing, with aspirations of attending law school.\n\nTwo interns are serving in the Boise Office:\n\nMegan Knudson is a native of Santa Clarita, California, currently in her senior year at Boise State University. She is studying political science.\n\nRyan Collins is a native of Kuna, Idaho, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He earned his B.S. in political science from Arizona State University and is interested in attending law school.\n\nCrapo hosts interns in his Washington, D.C., office as well as in the various regional offices throughout Idaho. The applications for the spring 2026 term close on October 15, 2025. Students interested in positions for the spring, summer or fall semesters can find more information about the application process, internship expectations and deadlines for applying on the Senator's official website at: https://www.crapo.senate.gov/services/for-students/internships.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-delegation-supports-empowerment-of-local-communities-for-americas-250th-celebration", "Idaho Delegation Supports Empowerment of Local Communities for America\u2019s 250th Celebration", "2025-09-12", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The Idaho Congressional Delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum requesting the agency allocate portions of the funding provided under Section 50305 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act directly to the 56 state and territorial America 250 (A250) commissions. The 250th celebration of America\u2019s founding will be an opportunity to support local history organizations and bring history to life for millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cOver the past several years, we have advocated for meaningful investment in America 250 (A250) activities, with a focus on ensuring celebrations are rooted in local communities through the support of more than 21,000 history organizations across the country,\u201d the letter reads in part.\n\n\u201cDoing so will empower communities across the nation to participate in, and shape, commemorations reflective of their individual histories and contributions to our shared national story,\u201d the letter continues. \u201cIn Idaho, partnerships between communities and local history organizations have proven to be an essential asset in educating young Idahoans and preserving our state\u2019s unique history.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-requests-information-on-social-security-data-protections", "Crapo Requests Information on Social Security Data Protections", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Following recent allegations of data mishandling within the Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) requested information from the agency to better understand the SSA\u2019s data storage and security practices, and to immediately confirm whether sensitive personally identifiable information was accessed, leaked, hacked or disseminated in any unauthorized fashion.\n\n\"All credible whistleblower allegations must be taken seriously and claims should be thoroughly investigated if warranted,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cIt is critical that federal agencies work to implement the strongest protections for Americans\u2019 most sensitive personal information and ensure any data mismanagement is addressed through congressional oversight.\u201d\n\nIn the letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano, Crapo requests information on:\n\nWhat actions SSA took upon receipt of the whistleblower\u2019s concerns about the agency\u2019s data security practices;\n\nWhat security measures are in place to ensure sensitive information is handled in accordance with applicable laws and regulations;\n\nWhen SSA first stored personally identifiable information in a cloud environment; and\n\nHow the SSA assesses the risk of providing certain agency employees with the ability to transfer data from the Numident database to a private cloud environment, and if the process diverged from the agency\u2019s usual risk assessment process.\n\nRead the full letter here or below:\n\nDear Commissioner Bisignano:\n\nI write to inform you that my staff and I reviewed information recently made public through disclosures and supplemental documents provided to Congress and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, by Mr. Chuck Borges, a protected whistleblower and former Chief Data Officer of the Social Security Administration (SSA or \u201cagency\u201d) on August 26, 2025.\n\nIn his complaint against the agency, Mr. Borges described alleged shortfalls in how SSA safeguards personally identifiable information (PII), in a test cloud environment, including how the agency governs access, management, and storage of such sensitive information. Mr. Borges further alleged that his attempts to report his security concerns to his superiors were ignored, which in turn created a hostile work environment and culminated in his resignation from the SSA on August 29.\n\nAs Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance (\u201cCommittee\u201d), I must take very seriously every allegation made by a protected whistleblower. Further, given the large amount of sensitive data under SSA\u2019s control, I consider the protection and security of PII held by the agency to be a matter of first importance.\n\nAs an immediate first step, considering the seriousness of Mr. Borges\u2019 allegations concerning SSA\u2019s ability to safeguard data collected and maintained by the agency, please inform the Committee on Finance immediately upon receipt of this letter whether the Numident database itself or any data contained in the Numident was accessed, leaked, hacked, or disseminated in any unauthorized fashion.\n\nTo better understand the SSA\u2019s data security practices more broadly and the agency\u2019s response, if any, to Mr. Borges\u2019 allegations, I am providing you with the opportunity to respond to the following questions by September 23, 2025.\n\nWhat actions did SSA take upon receipt of Mr. Borges\u2019 concerns about the agency\u2019s data security practices, including its handling of the Numident database and the data it contains?\n\nWhat security measures and/or oversight mechanisms are in place at SSA to ensure sensitive data and PII are handled in accordance with applicable laws and regulations?\n\nWhen did SSA first store PII in a cloud environment? Why and when did SSA select Amazon Web Services (AWS) to be the agency\u2019s cloud service provider?\n\nHow did the SSA assess the risk of providing certain agency employees with the ability to transfer data from the Numident database to a private cloud within SSA\u2019s AWS cloud environment? Did this process diverge from the agency\u2019s usual risk assessment process? If so, how?\n\nIf there are any other matters relevant to the Committee better understanding the agency\u2019s data security practices generally or Mr. Borges\u2019 concerns specifically, please provide additional details for the Committee\u2019s awareness.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to your immediate response to the first question regarding the status and security of Americans\u2019 personal information in the agency\u2019s possession, and to the other questions within two weeks.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-simpson-fulcher-celebrate-reversal-of-biden-era-public-lands-rule", "Crapo, Risch, Simpson, Fulcher Celebrate Reversal of Biden-era Public Lands Rule", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher released the following statements upon the Trump Administration\u2019s reversal of a Biden-era Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule. The public lands rule violated the legal mandate for managing public lands for multiple-uses like grazing, timber production, mining and energy development and blocked access to federal lands.\n\n\u201cPublic lands provide a range of benefits to the lives of Idahoans and other Westerners. The BLM rule finalized under the previous Administration circumvented Congress and empowered special interest groups over those who live, work and recreate on these lands,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cPresident Trump and Secretary Burgum are once again restoring commonsense policies with regard to federal land management.\u201d\n\n\u201cMultiple use is a legal requirement, not a suggestion. Today, President Trump and Secretary Burgum have returned common sense to the management of our public lands,\u201d said Risch. \u201cRestoring Idaho\u2019s access to our public lands for long-standing multiple uses like recreation, grazing, energy production, and mineral development will result in conservation without impeding or replacing the productivity on our public lands.\u201d\n\n\u201cReversing the harmful Biden-era Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, which locked up millions of acres of our nation's public lands, is long overdue. I am grateful that President Trump listened to Idahoans and those from the West who cherish the concept of multiple use on public lands,\u201d said Simpson. \u201cAs Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I appreciate President Trump and Secretary Burgum for their leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with the Trump administration to support the very people who rely on our federal lands for ranching, grazing, recreation, and much more.\u201d\n\n\"I applaud President Trump\u2019s action to rescind the Biden-era Bureau of Land Management\u2019s Conservation and Landscape Health rule\u2014an effort I have been spearheading in the House through the WEST Act. This rule would have effectively locked up millions of acres across the U.S. that countless families and businesses have relied on for grazing, ranching, and recreation for generations. The administration\u2019s move to roll back this regulation protects the way of life for Americans across the West and preserves Congress\u2019s intent of multiple-use on public lands,\" said Fulcher.\n\nThe Idaho delegation has urged the BLM to withdraw the proposed Public Lands Rule and introduced legislation to block the rule.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-treasury-irs-nominations-hearing", "Crapo Statement at Treasury, IRS Nominations Hearing", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider Jonathan Greenstein to be Deputy Under Secretary for International Finance at the Department of the Treasury and Donald Korb to be Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cThank you to our nominees, Mr. Greenstein and Mr. Korb, for being here today. Congratulations on your nominations and thank you both for your willingness to serve.\n\n\u201cWe will first hear from Jonathan Greenstein, who is nominated to serve as the Deputy Under Secretary for International Finance at the Treasury Department.\n\n\u201cThis position deals with matters pertaining to international finance, economic development, bilateral and regional economic engagement and international debt.\n\n\u201cIf confirmed, Mr. Greenstein will be responsible for ensuring the U.S. remains a leader in international organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. These organizations, while important, have suffered from mission creep in recent years, expanding their focus far beyond their core mandates.\n\n\u201cI welcome Mr. Greenstein\u2019s thoughts on how we can return these organizations to their respective original missions. I also look forward to hearing his views on how the Treasury Department can effectively protect against currency manipulation to ensure other nations do not gain an unfair competitive advantage in international trade.\n\n\u201cNext, we will hear from Donald Korb, who is nominated to serve as Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).\n\n\u201cThe Chief Counsel of the IRS is the top legal officer and advisor to the Commissioner on all matters relating to the interpretation, administration and enforcement of tax laws. Mr. Korb knows the position well, having served in the role of Chief Counsel from 2004 to 2008. I will also note that his previous nomination was unanimously approved by this Committee.\n\n\u201cThat previous experience provided Mr. Korb first-hand insight into the importance of fair and impartial interpretation of our tax laws and assurance that taxpayer rights are strictly protected. The agency will be well-served by having a steady hand who understands these duties in one of its most senior positions.\n\n\u201cMr. Korb is among the most highly respected tax lawyers in the country. I trust that his integrity and judgment will lead him to focus on how best to serve the American taxpayer, enforce the law with integrity and fairness for all and build confidence in the IRS. I also look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to ensure that tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are effectively and properly implemented.\n\n\u201cThank you again to our nominees for their time today.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-assassination-of-charlie-kirk", "Crapo Statement on Assassination of Charlie Kirk", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder and conservative political activist, Charlie Kirk, at Utah Valley University.\n\n\u201cCharlie was a leader in the conservative political movement with many promising years to come. His assassination is a vile and reprehensible act of political violence. Charlie promoted open dialogue and invited conversation from people of all backgrounds--especially with those with whom he disagreed. This loss to the conservative movement is deep.\n\nMy heart, as well as many hundreds of thousands of others, breaks for his family as he cannot be replaced as a husband and a father. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Erika, and their two small children. May God hold them close.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T15:07:37Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-bennet-hickenlooper-lujan-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-invest-in-americas-forests-and-watersheds", "Crapo, Risch, Bennet, Hickenlooper, Luj\u00e1n Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Invest in America\u2019s Forests and Watersheds", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-New Mexico) introduced the Headwaters Protection Act to invest in America\u2019s forests and watersheds by expanding two key U.S. Forest Service (USFS) programs. The two programs together prevent water pollution at the source, improve the health of our watersheds and ensure investments benefit downstream communities.\n\n\u201cNatural resources and the environment are best protected through collaborative efforts at the local level,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cWe must support watershed restoration projects that encourage collaboration in small, rural and disadvantaged communities and Tribes without exerting federal control over private lands.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen managed properly, National Forests can provide the foundation for healthy watersheds, providing clean drinking water and irrigation,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThe Headwaters Protection Act will allow community, industry, and federal partners to improve and protect critical forest water sources for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the West, the survival of our economy and our way of life depends on the stewardship of our forests and watersheds,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cWe need to pass this legislation to protect critical water resources for downstream communities and make our forests more resilient to wildfire, drought, and a changing climate.\u201d\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s forests and grasslands are key to healthy watersheds, with benefits that flow far downstream,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cOur bill equips farmers, cities, and the Forest Service to help reduce water pollution at the source and deliver cleaner water for our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWater is essential to the health and safety of our communities. Protecting and improving our watersheds is critical to ensuring reliable access to clean drinking water and making our forests more resilient against wildfires,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe Headwaters Protection Act will strengthen these efforts by investing in watershed management and pollution prevention. Importantly for New Mexico, it also expands the Water Source Protection Program to include acequias and land-grant mercedes as eligible water users, recognizing their vital role in our state\u2019s water systems.\u201d\n\nTo ensure clean drinking water for communities, the USFS has two key authorities to manage our forests for watershed health: the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) and the Watershed Condition Framework (WCF). The WSPP invests in projects that prevent water pollution at the source by encouraging farmers and ranchers, water utilities, Tribes, local governments and the USFS to work in partnership to restore forest health and impaired watersheds. The WCF establishes a consistent process at the USFS to evaluate the health of watersheds and ensure investments benefit downstream communities.\n\nThe Headwaters Protection Act would improve the WSPP by increasing and expanding access to funding and directing the program to prioritize local, collaborative partnerships to protect forests and watersheds. It would also create dedicated funding for WCF and makes a technical change to the program to ensure management activities in our National Forests do not lead to the long-term degradation of our watersheds.\n\nSpecifically, the Headwaters Protection Act would:\n\nReauthorize the WSPP and increase the authorization of appropriations for the program;\n\nBroaden the range of water users who can participate in and benefit from the WSPP;\n\nReduce financial barriers for water users to participate in the WSPP;\n\nPrioritize WSPP projects that benefit drinking water quality and improve resilience to wildfire and climate change;\n\nMake a technical change to the WCF to ensure healthy watersheds do not become degraded; and\n\nAuthorize new appropriations for the WCF.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-executive-session-to-consider-ustr-hhs-nominations", "Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider USTR, HHS Nominations", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to consider the nominations of Bryan Switzer to be Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR), Gustav Chiarello to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Michael Stuart to be General Counsel at HHS.\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cWe meet today to consider favorably reporting the nominations of Rick Switzer to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative, Gus Chiarello to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Mike Stuart to be General Counsel of HHS.\n\n\u201cThe meeting this morning will provide members with the opportunity to offer remarks on the nominees. Following statements, we will recess briefly then proceed to this morning\u2019s hearing with Secretary Kennedy. Later today, we will notify members of the time and location of the vote on these nominations.\n\n\u201cAt his hearing, Mr. Switzer discussed his commitment to trade policies and practices that place the American economy and the American worker first. I look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to ensure that our trade policy prioritizes U.S. competitiveness, spurs job creation and promotes innovation.\n\n\u201cMr. Chiarello and Mr. Stuart discussed the critical issues in our health care system, including soaring costs, a burdensome drug approval process and the opioid crisis. If confirmed, both Mr. Chiarello and Mr. Stuart will have the opportunity to advise Secretary Kennedy on potential solutions. Given their respective backgrounds, I am confident in their ability to provide thoughtful counsel to the Secretary.\n\n\u201cI will be voting in favor of each nomination and I encourage all of my colleagues on the Committee to do the same.\n\n\u201cI now recognize Ranking Member Wyden for his remarks.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-hearing-on-the-presidents-2026-health-care-agenda", "Crapo Statement at Hearing on the President\u2019s 2026 Health Care Agenda", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the President\u2019s 2026 health care agenda with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\n\n\u201cToday, we meet to hear from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. about President Trump\u2019s 2026 health care agenda.\n\n\u201cMr. Secretary, thank you for being here. While I expect a spirited debate today, I would remind my colleagues that each Senator is limited to five minutes. At the end of the five-minute timeframe, I will gently tap the gavel and encourage my colleagues to conclude their remarks at that time.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump and Secretary Kennedy have made a steadfast commitment to Make America Healthy Again. Under this Administration, HHS has placed patients at the center of the health care system, empowering them with the tools and information they need to create a healthier future.\n\n\u201cWe know that chronic diseases\u2014such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes\u2014are some of the leading causes of death in America. Now, the Department has a renewed focus on tackling the root causes of chronic disease and promoting prevention first.\n\n\u201cI look forward to exploring ways that the federal government can further align payment incentives to support healthy living and fight chronic disease. The Administration has also prioritized efforts to end waste, fraud and abuse in our federal health care programs, including through eligibility and enrollment verification.\n\n\u201cThis critical work is not just about saving taxpayer dollars; it is about restoring trust and ensuring vital programs like Medicare and Medicaid are sustainable for generations to come. In July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the agency identified 2.8 million Americans simultaneously enrolled in multiple Medicaid or Affordable Care Act Exchange plans.\n\n\u201cStopping this duplicate enrollment, while working with states to ensure individuals do not inappropriately lose coverage, has the potential to save taxpayers $14 billion annually. CMS has also taken steps to provide states with additional immigration information to verify eligibility for federal health care programs.\n\n\u201cPreserving lifelines like Medicaid for those who are legally entitled under the law will ensure long-term sustainability. Congress has bolstered these efforts by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).\n\n\u201cThe OBBBA enacts commonsense reforms to reduce improper payments and brings needed personal accountability to the Medicaid program. These reforms will protect Medicaid and refocus the program on the most vulnerable patients the program was intended to serve.\n\n\u201cOBBBA also created the Rural Health Transformation Program\u2014the single largest investment in rural health care in decades\u2014to help stabilize and modernize the rural health delivery system throughout the country. These accomplishments reflect a vision for a health care system that is proactive, efficient and patient-centered.\n\n\u201cWhile many of the issues discussed today may be partisan in nature, this Committee has a deep history of bipartisan health care accomplishments. I remain committed to partnering with this Administration and Ranking Member Wyden to enact policies that realign incentives in the prescription drug supply chain, expand access to telehealth, and ensure long-term stability in our physician payment system.\n\n\u201cMr. Secretary, I look forward to hearing from you today about the Administration\u2019s effort to Make America Healthy Again and how we can continue to work together to achieve this shared goal.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-advances-ustr-hhs-nominations", "Finance Committee Advances USTR, HHS Nominations", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014The U.S. Senate Finance Committee advanced the nomination of Bryan Switzer to be Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) by a vote of 15-12, and the nominations Gustav Chiarello to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Michael Stuart to be General Counsel at HHS, each by a vote of 14-13. Following the vote, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the statement below:\n\n\u201cI commend the Committee\u2019s action and congratulate each nominee. I share Mr. Switzer\u2019s commitment to trade policies and practices that place the American economy and workers first. I look forward to working with him to ensure that our trade policy prioritizes U.S. competitiveness, spurs job creation and promotes innovation. Mr. Chiarello and Mr. Stuart are well-equipped to address the critical issues in our health care system, including soaring costs, a burdensome drug approval process and the opioid crisis. I am confident in each nominee\u2019s ability to serve Americans\u2019 best interest and implement the President\u2019s agenda. I look forward to their confirmation by the full senate.\u201d\n\nExecutive session information can be found here.\n\nRead Chairman Crapo\u2019s full statement at the nomination hearing here, and his statement at the executive session here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-obbb-makes-americans-more-prosperous", "Crapo: OBBB Makes Americans More Prosperous", "2025-08-22", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Boise, Idaho--During the Senate state work period, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) spoke at an Idaho event with Americans for Prosperity (AFP) to discuss the ways the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) builds on the Trump tax credits by making provisions permanent and delivering additional middle-class tax relief.\n\nThe OBBB:\n\nFulfills President Trump\u2019s promises like no taxes on tips and no taxes on overtime.\n\nCreates new and significant tax relief for our seniors.\n\nBenefits families with a bigger, permanent child tax credit, expanded child care benefits and the first ever federal school choice tax credits.\n\nBenefits businesses with a permanent 20 percent small business deduction and full expensing for factories and capital equipment.\n\n\u201cThe One Big Beautiful Bill is significant and sweeping, and it is probably one of the most consequential pieces of legislation most of us will have worked on in our lifetimes,\u201d Crapo said.\n\nAFP Managing Director Kent Strang: \u201cThe truth is, the OBBBA represents a generational opportunity to transform the American economy. From unleashing innovation and cutting red tape to delivering real relief for families and small businesses, the bill is already making a difference\u2014and AFP is committed to making sure every American knows it.\u201d\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-releases-preliminary-housing-survey-summary", "Crapo Releases Preliminary Housing Survey Summary", "2025-08-20", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Boise, Idaho--At a roundtable discussion with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and other local housing stakeholders, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) shared preliminary details of the results of his 2025 Housing Survey. The Survey was conducted from March 31, 2025, to May 31, 2025. It garnered over 5,000 responses from Idahoans.\n\n\u201cThe overwhelming participation of Idahoans in this survey is indicative of the widespread concern about housing affordability in Idaho,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cOngoing affordability issues, such as wages not keeping up with costs; low housing supply not keeping up with demand; and market pressures, like high interest rates, are among the most pressing concerns Idahoans reflected in their responses. While Idahoans share many frustrations, the survey further highlighted differences in specific challenges and desired solutions--reflecting a vital need for a careful, targeted and collaborative policy approach.\u201d\n\n\u201cI thank Secretary Turner for joining me in Idaho to hear from a variety of stakeholders on housing issues most pressing to my constituents, and I remain committed to working with him, the Trump Administration and my colleagues in Congress to find collaborative, achievable solutions to improving housing affordability in Idaho and across the nation,\u201d Crapo concluded.\n\nThe preliminary summary is available HERE.\n\nThe summary captures the most common themes as mentioned by homeowners and renters, which account for 90.1 percent of the total respondents. Information for additional respondents (banker, insurance agent, local government, realtor or homebuilder) is not yet available as review has not yet concluded.\n\nDue to the expansive nature of the survey, Senator Crapo\u2019s office continues to evaluate all responses to the survey. A more comprehensive report of the results will be released once a thorough review of the responses has concluded.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-hud-secretary-turner-visit-idahos-first-opportunity-zone-project-highlight-benefits-of-programs-permanent-expansion", "Crapo, HUD Secretary Turner Visit Idaho\u2019s First Opportunity Zone Project, Highlight Benefits of Program\u2019s Permanent Expansion", "2025-08-19", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Twin Falls, Idaho--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner visited 2nd South Market, Idaho\u2019s first completed Opportunity Zone (OZ) project and Idaho\u2019s first food hall. During their visit to the Magic Valley, Senator Crapo and Secretary Turner met with Lisa and Dave Buddecke, owners of the 2nd South Market, discussed the benefits of the OZ program and highlighted the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) for Idahoans.\n\nPictured from left: Idaho Senate Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, Senator Mike Crapo, Secretary Turner, Dave Buddecke, Lisa Buddecke\n\nTo access downloadable photos from the event, please click HERE.\n\n\u201cPermanence of the 2017 Trump tax cuts was a top priority of mine when drafting the One Big Beautiful Bill. Permanency provides the consistency needed to help drive success for American businesses, communities, families and workers,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201c2nd South Market is a shining example of the Opportunity Zone Program at work in Idaho. It is a first-of-its-kind in the state, and I hope there will be more development like it in the Magic Valley soon. I could not be happier to be joined today by Secretary Turner, Lisa and her husband Dave, and other members of the Magic Valley community.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to President Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill, Opportunity Zones are now a permanent part of the tax code. This much needed continuity allows for the creation of more jobs, the construction of more homes, and the revitalization of more forgotten neighborhoods across the country,\u201d said Secretary Turner. \u201cI am delighted to join Senator Crapo and the Magic Valley community today in the great state of Idaho to witness first-hand how Opportunity Zone projects like 2nd South Market are transforming the lives of Idahoans and breathing new life into the state.\u201d\n\n\u201cWere it not for this building\u2019s location in an Opportunity Zone, developing Idaho\u2019s first food hall would not have been possible,\u201d said Lisa. \u201cWe hope our small success story serves as a catalyst for future projects \u2013 not just in Twin Falls and Idaho \u2013 but across rural communities throughout the country. Local business successes can happen when a great federal program like this make them possible.\u201d\n\n\"Southern Idaho has become one of the most successful rural regions in the country, and programs like the New Markets Tax Credit and the Trump Administration's Opportunity Zones are a big reason why,\u201d said Idaho State Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon. \u201cWith Senator Crapo\u2019s support of these important tools, we\u2019ve been able to attract investment, create jobs, and transform communities across the Magic Valley. The results speak for themselves\u2014Southern Idaho is thriving.\"\n\nBackground:\n\n2nd South Market is a 13,000 square-foot food hall restaurant in a refurbished 1926 blacksmith and machining building. The Market brings together small local business owners--including seven vendors--that collectively employ nearly 80 people. The project\u2019s first investment was launched in 2019, and 2nd South Market opened in January 2021. The business is the first completed Opportunity Zone project in Idaho. It boasts over 13,000 square-feet of food vendors and a full bar, as well as an additional 14,700 square-feet outside socializing area.\n\nOpportunity Zones were established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to encourage private, long-term investments in low-income urban areas and rural communities with low economic activity. Within the first two years of the program, 54 percent of Idaho\u2019s Opportunity Zones saw investments. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, makes permanent the expanded OZ program, especially focusing on spurring investment in rural areas. It also enables governors to expand the map of targeted communities and creates new reporting and transparency requirements to evaluate the program\u2019s success.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-drives-deficit-reduction", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Drives Deficit Reduction", "2025-08-18", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.-- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act achieves record savings with a combination of historic spending reductions and provisions that power economic growth. This legislation represents a long-overdue step to stabilize our country\u2019s fiscal trajectory.\n\n\u201cThe way to address the deficit is not to tax hardworking taxpayers more, it is to grow the economy and spend less. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill cuts federal spending by over $1.5 trillion and reduces the deficit by roughly $400 billion. That does not include the bill\u2019s pro-growth elements, which the Council of Economic Advisers estimates will increase federal revenues by more than $4 trillion, adding up to nearly $4.5 trillion in deficit reduction,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nSavings and Deficit Reduction:\n\n$366 billion in deficit reduction, according to CBO\n\n$1.6 trillion in mandatory spending reductions: The White House\n\n$4 trillion in economic growth generated, per CEA\n\nEconomic Growth Projections:\n\n$248 billion in economic growth will come from the manufacturing sector alone, per NAM\n\nPermanence for the [bill\u2019s] four cost recovery provisions would more than double the long-run economic effect, per Tax Foundation\n\nMaking the small-business deduction permanent will create 1.2 million jobs over ten years, growing to 2.4 million jobs in the long run, per NFIB\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-achieves-record-savings", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Achieves Record Savings", "2025-08-11", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The One Big Beautiful Bill Act achieves record savings by making commonsense reforms to federal spending programs and rolling back Biden Administration subsidies and regulations.\n\n\u201cBy pairing the largest reduction in mandatory spending in history with measures that boost economic growth, this bill takes meaningful steps to get our country\u2019s fiscal trajectory back on track,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nKey wins:\n\nEliminates hundreds of billions of dollars in Green New Deal subsidies.\n\nPrevents Medicaid payments for beneficiaries who have died, are enrolled in multiple states or do not qualify for the program.\n\nIncreases the frequency of eligibility verifications.\n\nEstablishes work requirements for able-bodied adults who are choosing not to work and do not have dependent children or elderly parents in their care.\n\nSlows spending growth in Medicaid over the next 10 years by addressing waste, fraud and abuse.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cThe Senate\u2019s legislation delivers historic improvements to buttress our Medicaid system\u2014a program designed to help pregnant women, the disabled, the elderly, and children\u2014by implementing common sense work requirements for able-bodied adults. These improvements prioritize care for the most vulnerable Medicaid recipients, save the program from financial ruin and are overwhelmingly supported by voters.\u201d \u2013 Americans for Tax Reform\n\n\u201cThe Senate\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill Act contains significant wins for the American people and advances key pieces of the America First agenda, including: eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid by creating work requirements, tightening eligibility, and limiting state financing schemes; and scaling back wasteful Green New Deal subsidies forced onto taxpayers in Biden\u2019s deceptively named Inflation Reduction Act.\u201d \u2013 Heritage Action\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-stands-with-president-trump-in-strong-opposition-to-debanking-practices", "Crapo Stands with President Trump in Strong Opposition to Debanking Practices", "2025-08-07", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) applauds President Donald Trump\u2019s signing of an executive order \u201cguaranteeing free and fair banking for all Americans,\u201d on August 7, 2025. As a long-time member and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Crapo has consistently worked to ensure an even playing field and expand access to financial services to individuals and businesses.\n\nThe executive order states that, under the Biden Administration, bank regulators pressured financial institutions to cut off or debank individuals, families and businesses for their \u201cpolitical affiliations, religious beliefs or lawful business activities.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have spent many years challenging banks and federal activities that employ tactics to cut off credit and capital services to law-abiding businesses if they do not comply with the bank\u2019s \u2018preferences,\u2019\u201d Senator Crapo said. \u201cToday, President Donald Trump is taking steps to stop these underhanded methods of advancing a political agenda. I look forward to continuing to work with this Administration to repeal harmful practices that hinder law-abiding businesses from accessing full-scale banking resources.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-applauds-us-department-of-interior-decision-to-cancel-lava-ridge-wind-project", "Crapo Applauds U.S. Department of Interior Decision to Cancel Lava Ridge Wind Project", "2025-08-06", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Interior\u2019s announcement on August 6, 2025, that it will move to cancel the Lava Ridge Wind Project, which was approved by the Biden Administration in December 2024. The project would have constructed 231 wind turbines on approximately 57,447 acres near Jerome, Idaho, despite strong opposition from local community members, state officials and Idaho\u2019s congressional delegation.\n\n\u201cThanks to the U.S. Department of the Interior and Secretary Doug Burgum\u2019s leadership, the Lava Ridge project is dead once and for all,\u201d Senator Crapo said. \u201cThis harmful proposal by the previous Administration willfully neglected widespread opposition from the local community. I am glad to see President Donald Trump fulfilling his commitment to making sure Idaho voices on this matter were heard and respected.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-implements-commonsense-medicaid-reforms", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Implements Commonsense Medicaid Reforms", "2025-08-01", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Medicaid was created to help pregnant women, children, seniors and Americans with disabilities. Targeting waste, fraud and abuse in the program ensures that it stays financially viable for the populations who need it most.\n\nThe problem:\n\nDemocrats have incentivized Medicaid to enroll healthy Americans and cost-shift funding responsibilities to the federal government, driving up costs for taxpayers and risking the program\u2019s sustainability for those who need it most.\n\nAs a result, Medicaid spending has ballooned with outlays increasing over 200 percent since 2008 and over 50 percent since 2019 alone.\n\nAs spending has surged, so have improper payments and ineligible enrollments, along with gimmicks and loopholes.\n\nCommonsense reforms:\n\nWork requirements for able-bodied adults who are choosing not to work.\n\nAble-bodied adults without dependents can work, enroll in school or volunteer for 80 hours per month in order to receive taxpayer-subsidized Medicaid coverage.\n\nTightens eligibility verification by requiring states and recipients to verify eligibility twice a year for these benefits.\n\nPrevents payments for beneficiaries who have died, are enrolled in multiple states or do not qualify for the program.\n\nProhibits states from waiving asset tests for long-term services, removing individuals from Medicaid rolls who have homes worth over $1 million.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cRepublicans are boosting the economy, saving taxpayers billions of dollars, and showing their deep belief in lower-income Americans\u2019 ability to contribute to our country\u2019s future. \u2026 They alone have passed the biggest welfare reform in U.S. history.\u201d - Hayden Dublois, Foundation for Government Accountability\n\n\u201cThe GOP bill also includes sensible measures such as asking states to check their Medicaid expansion rolls every six months and more scrutiny on ObamaCare subsidies. That is necessary because the Biden Administration waved millions onto health entitlements \u2026 These are common-sense ideas that have public support.\u201d - Wall Street Journal Editorial Board\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/07/31/2025/crapo-announces-finance-committee-staff-updates", "Crapo Announces Finance Committee Staff Updates", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today announced the following staff updates:\n\nMolly Newell, Chief International Trade Counsel\n\nMolly has been promoted to Chief International Trade Counsel. Molly joined the Finance Committee in January 2023 from Hogan Lovells US LLP, where she was an associate in the International Trade and Investment practice group working on issues involving trade remedies, customs, and U.S. trade policy. Before Hogan Lovells, she was a Senior Legislative Assistant in Representative Luke Messer\u2019s (R-Indiana) office. Molly holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center; a Master in Economic Law from Sciences Po; and a B.A. in French and International Studies from Indiana University.\n\nBrian Bombassaro, International Trade Counsel\n\nBrian rejoined the Committee in March after working as a Senior Associate at Arnold & Porter LLP. Prior to that, he served under former Finance Committee Chairmen Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). He received his J.D. from Yale Law School, M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School and B.S.B.A. and B.A. from the University of Florida.\n\nCaitlin Wilson, Senior Health Counsel\n\nCaitlin joins the Committee from the Senate Budget Committee, where she participated in the reconciliation process to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as senior counsel. She previously served as counsel to Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) and the House Energy and Commerce Committee under Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington). She received her J.D. from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and her B.A. in Political Science from Gettysburg College.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-executive-session-to-consider-treasury-hhs-nominations", "Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider Treasury, HHS Nominations", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to consider the nominations of Jonathan McKernan to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury and Alex Adams, of Idaho, to be Assistant Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary for Family Support.\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cWe meet today to consider favorably reporting the nominations of Jonathan McKernan, who is nominated to serve as Under Secretary for Domestic Finance at the Treasury Department, and Dr. Alex Adams, who is nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).\n\n\u201cThe meeting this morning will provide members with the opportunity to offer remarks on the nominees. Following statements, we will recess briefly then proceed to this morning\u2019s nominations hearing. Later today, we will notify members of the time and location of the vote on Mr. McKernan and Dr. Adams.\n\n\u201cDuring his hearing, Mr. McKernan discussed his plans to use the Office of Domestic Finance\u2019s wide-ranging authority to bring back sound and balanced regulation to our financial system. Properly tailoring regulation to underlying risks, rather than intangible policy goals, will provide much needed relief to financial institutions and the individuals they service. I look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to accomplish this goal.\n\n\u201cDr. Adams spoke strongly about his belief that federal policy should strengthen, rather than supplant, parents\u2019 capacity to make the best decisions for their children. As the Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Dr. Adams knows what policy decisions empower states to provide critical assistance to some of America\u2019s most vulnerable populations. I am confident in his ability to lead the array of programs under the Administration for Children and Families at HHS.\n\n\u201cI will be voting in favor of both nominations and I encourage all of my colleagues on the Committee to do the same.\n\n\u201cBefore turning to Senator Wyden for his remarks, let me take a moment to acknowledge the retirement of Bob Becker. Bob has been with the Senate Recording Studio for 34 years and is retiring in August, today\u2019s executive session and hearing are his last \u2013 we are glad you get to end your career with the best Committee. He is the recording studio\u2019s \u2018Go-to Hearing Director\u2019 and has been essential in directing hearing coverage, coverage of the Senate floor and working in the recording studio in various roles. We wish Bob all the best on his well-earned retirement and thank him for his many years of service.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-ustr-hhs-treasury-nominations-hearing", "Crapo Statement at USTR, HHS, Treasury Nominations Hearing", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider Bryan Switzer to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR), Gustav Chiarello III to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Michael Stuart to be General Counsel of HHS and Derek Theurer to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury.\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cThis meeting will come to order. Thank you to our nominees, Mr. Switzer, Mr. Chiarello, Mr. Stuart and Mr. Theurer for being here today. Congratulations on your nominations and thank you all for your willingness to serve.\n\n\u201cWe will first hear from Rick Switzer, who is nominated to serve as the Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) for Asia, Textiles, Investment, Services and Intellectual Property.\n\n\u201cMr. Switzer has over 25 years of experience advancing U.S. strategic interests both domestically and internationally. Throughout his career as a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State, he negotiated international agreements, expanded market access for U.S. businesses, and protected American firms from unfair trade practices such as intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer. I look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to ensure that USTR implements policies that promote U.S. competitiveness, build supply chain resilience and address emerging global challenges.\n\n\u201cNext, we will hear from Gus Chiarello, who is nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).\n\n\u201cThe ASFR is responsible for providing advice and guidance to the Secretary on all aspects of budget, financial management, acquisition policy and grants supervision. If confirmed, Mr. Chiarello would play a vital role in managing and overseeing the allocation of resources across the full range of HHS programs. His experience in consumer protection, regulatory reform, competition and antitrust issues will make him a valuable addition to the HHS team. As an attorney who served at both the Federal Trade Commission and with the House Judiciary Committee, he is prepared to ensure HHS resources are stewarded to benefit all Americans.\n\n\u201cWe will also hear from Mike Stuart, who is nominated to serve as General Counsel of HHS.\n\n\u201cThe General Counsel supports the development and implementation of the Department's programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary and the organization's various agencies and divisions. Mr. Stuart will be instrumental in making sure that new laws and regulations are effectively implemented at HHS. He is well suited for the position given his decades of legal experience, including previous service as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. His experience prosecuting cases related to the opioid crisis and Medicaid fraud demonstrates a strong commitment to protect patients and root out waste and abuse in health care systems.\n\n\u201cFinally, we will hear from Derek Theurer, who is nominated to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Treasury Department.\n\n\u201cThe Deputy Under Secretary is responsible for advising the Secretary on congressional relations matters in order to assist in the formulation of policy and to determine the overall direction of the Department. Mr. Theurer is a veteran of Capitol Hill and undoubtedly understands the importance of keeping Congress informed of Departmental actions. Given his experience, I also expect him to prioritize timeliness in responding to inquiries from Congress.\n\n\u201cThank you again to our nominees for their time today.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-advances-treasury-hhs-nominations", "Finance Committee Advances Treasury, HHS Nominations", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014The U.S. Senate Finance Committee advanced the nominations of Jonathan McKernan to be an Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Alex Adams, of Idaho, to be Assistant Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary for Family Support, each by a vote of 14-13. Following the vote, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the statement below:\n\n\u201cCongratulations to each nominee. Mr. McKernan\u2019s extensive qualifications will help him restore sound and balanced regulation to our financial system, and he is well prepared to serve as Under Secretary for Domestic Finance. Mr. Adams strongly believes that federal policy should strengthen parents\u2019 ability to make the best decisions for their children, and I am confident in his ability to lead the array of programs under the Administration for Children and Families at HHS. I look forward to their confirmations by the full Senate and working with them in these roles.\u201d\n\nExecutive session information can be found here.\n\nRead Chairman Crapo\u2019s full statement at the nomination hearing here, and his statement at the executive session here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/senate-banking-committee-unanimously-advances-comprehensive-housing-legislation", "Senate Banking Committee Unanimously Advances Comprehensive Housing Legislation", "2025-07-30", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, of which U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is a senior member, unanimously advanced the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. Senator Crapo is a co-sponsor of the legislation, which was led by Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts).\n\n\u201cHomes are the foundation for economic success, family stability and community cohesiveness,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cUnfortunately, lack of affordable housing is routinely the number one concern I hear from Idahoans. We must reform inefficient segments of U.S. housing across all markets to make the American dream of homeownership more attainable.\u201d\n\nThe comprehensive housing package would take various steps to increase access to affordable housing for Americans across the country by expanding and preserving the housing supply, improving housing affordability, and increasing oversight and efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs. The measure contains several provisions Senator Crapo co-sponsored as standalone bills, including:\n\nThe Housing Supply Frameworks Act;\n\nThe Rural Housing Service Reform Act;\n\nThe Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act;\n\nThe Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act;\n\nThe Housing Supply Expansion Act; and\n\nThe Helping More Families Save Act.\n\nText of the bill is available here, and a section-by-section summary is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-protects-rural-hospitals", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Protects Rural Hospitals", "2025-07-30", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) makes the single largest investment in rural health care since the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.\n\nRural hospitals have faced ongoing issues for many years, including low patient volumes, inadequate workforces, crumbling infrastructure, outdated technology and changing reimbursement trends. The fiscal vulnerabilities they face are multifaceted and often unique to each facility. The $50 billion rural hospital fund is intended to provide immediate relief to rural hospitals while allowing facilities to establish the tools necessary to be successful in the long term.\n\n\u201cThis legislation makes the largest investment in decades in rural health care, ensuring states have the resources they need to address the unique challenges facing their rural hospitals,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). \u201cThis is an efficient way to ensure the sustainability of our rural health care facilities while protecting taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud and abuse.\u201d\n\nRead the fact sheet about the Rural Health Transformation Program HERE.\n\nKey Points About the Rural Health Transformation Program:\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) supplies $50 billion to stabilize and strengthen rural hospitals and providers.\n\nFifty percent of the $50 billion funding allocation will be divided equally among states that submit an application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).\n\nThe remaining 50 percent will be distributed to states based on a formula developed by the CMS Administrator. The law requires the CMS Administrator to consider a state\u2019s rural population, proportion of health care facilities in rural areas and situation of hospitals that serve a high proportion of low-income patients.\n\nAssuming all 50 states apply and are approved, each state will receive at least $100 million per year for five years.\n\nBecause rural hospitals and providers face vulnerabilities that are multifaceted and unique, the RHTP allows the states--who know the issues in their communities better than the federal government--to work with providers to determine the best use of funds. This will give rural hospitals the tools to stabilize their finances in the short term and offer states the opportunity to create a long-term plan.\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-warner-lead-bipartisan-push-urging-timely-deployment-of-federal-funds-to-community-lenders", "Crapo, Warner Lead Bipartisan Push Urging Timely Deployment of Federal Funds to Community Lenders", "2025-07-29", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia), co-chairs of the Senate Community Development Finance Caucus, today led a bipartisan group of Senators in a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, urging swift action to disburse congressionally-appropriated funding from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The letter calls for transparency and timeliness in deploying the $324 million allocated in the Fiscal Year 2025 spending package to support over 1,400 CDFIs across the country.\n\nCDFIs serve as vital engines of economic growth and financial inclusion in some of the nation\u2019s most underserved communities, leveraging federal investment to provide loans, capital and financial services in areas that are often overlooked by traditional financial institutions.\n\n\u201cSince its inception over three decades ago, the CDFI Fund has proven critical to the CDFI sector\u2019s success and has met the mission to create a public-private partnership to promote access to capital in our most underserved rural and urban communities,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cEach year, CDFIs leverage federal dollars from the CDFI Fund with private-sector investment to boost small business formation, increase housing production, and deliver new capital to America\u2019s forgotten communities.\u201d\n\nThe CDFI Fund was established in 1994 to promote access to capital in distressed communities. Each year, it enables CDFIs to leverage private capital alongside federal support to build housing, expand access to credit, and drive job growth in low-income areas. In the FY25 appropriations package, Congress allocated $324 million to support the CDFI Fund\u2019s programs. However, as of this month, significant delays remain in awarding and obligating those funds, creating uncertainty for the more than 1,400 certified CDFIs that rely on the Fund for program continuity and impact.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s imperative that congressionally-approved funds for the CDFI Fund are deployed strategically and in a timely manner. Delay in the obligation of funds hinders critical projects in our states and could constrain the flow of capital to businesses and consumers who need it the most,\u201d pressed the Senators. \u201cTo date, the CDFI Fund has yet to announce and disburse awards for five programs within its portfolio even though application periods closed months ago. Furthermore, other programs have yet to publish applications for the current fiscal year. The uncertainty around the deployment of federal funds from the CDFI Fund is concerning but can be addressed expeditiously. Therefore, we request that your Office issue a spending plan to Congress outlining the timelines for the obligation of all discretionary funds. The plan should provide Congress and the CDFI community with certainty that there will be continuity in the programs that have been lawfully funded.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Crapo and Warner, the letter was also signed by U.S. Sensators Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Todd Young (R-Indiana).\n\nToday\u2019s letter to vote follows a March letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, also led by Crapo and Warner and signed by 23 Senators, emphasizing the bipartisan support for the CDFI Fund and highlighting the fund\u2019s critical role in providing capital to underserved communities.\n\nA copy of today\u2019s letter is available here and text is below.\n\nDear Director Vought,\n\nWe write to request information on the Office of Management and Budget\u2019s efforts to deploy FY25 funding provided to the CDFI Fund. As you know, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 appropriated $324 million for the CDFI Fund and prescribed those funds to support over 1,400 CDFIs in rural and urban communities. As your Office seeks to implement and execute on this funding legislation, we urge you to swiftly obligate all discretionary funding provided by Congress to the CDFI Fund in a timely manner.\n\nSince its inception over three decades ago, the CDFI Fund has proven critical to the CDFI sector\u2019s success and has met the mission to create a public-private partnership to promote access to capital in our most underserved rural and urban communities. Each year, CDFIs leverage federal dollars from the CDFI Fund with private-sector investment to boost small business formation, increase housing production, and deliver new capital to America\u2019s forgotten communities.\n\nIt\u2019s imperative that congressionally-approved funds for the CDFI Fund are deployed strategically and in a timely manner. Delay in the obligation of funds hinders critical projects in our states and could constrain the flow of capital to businesses and consumers who need it the most. To date, the CDFI Fund has yet to announce and disburse awards for five programs within its portfolio even though application periods closed months ago. Furthermore, other programs have yet to publish applications for the current fiscal year.\n\nThe uncertainty around the deployment of federal funds from the CDFI Fund is concerning but can be addressed expeditiously. Therefore, we request that your Office issue a spending plan to Congress outlining the timelines for the obligation of all discretionary funds. The plan should provide Congress and the CDFI community with certainty that there will be continuity in the programs that have been lawfully funded.\n\nThank you for your consideration of our request. We stand ready to work with the Administration to support CDFIs and the communities that they serve.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/lewiston-tribune-dont-believe-all-the-false-claims-about-the-big-beautiful-bill", "Lewiston Tribune: Don\u2019t Believe All the False Claims About the Big Beautiful Bill", "2025-07-28", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "In response to the July 11 Lewiston Tribune opinion piece \u201cWhat Mike Crapo did with his vote\u201d by Marc Johnson: I was proud to stand next to President Donald Trump when he signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law because it will greatly benefit Idahoans by preventing the largest tax increase in history, making pro-growth tax policies permanent to improve the economic outlook for Idaho families and businesses, and providing additional tax relief to hardworking Idahoans and job creators. It also ensures a more responsible use of taxpayer dollars by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending programs and reducing deficit spending.\n\nDespite the significant benefits the law will deliver for everyday Idahoans, critics have repeatedly put forward false claims that the law overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy, shreds the social safety net and puts rural hospitals at greater risk of closure. Opponents of President Trump\u2019s bill have steadily launched the misleading narrative that the new law is \u201ctax cuts for billionaires and corporations\u201d to try to hide the fact that it prevents massive across-the-board tax hikes \u2014 to the tune of more than $4 trillion \u2014 and provides targeted tax relief that overwhelmingly benefits low- and middle-class families and workers.\n\nAccording to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation \u2014 which previously estimated the bill provides more than $600 billion in new tax relief to middle-class households \u2014 the largest proportional benefits in new tax relief go to workers and families making less than $50,000. New policies like a standard deduction boost, an increased child tax credit, enhanced child care affordability, no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, additional tax relief for seniors and savings accounts for children are hardly benefits for \u201cbillionaires.\u201d\n\nWhere Medicaid is concerned, opponents of curbing federal government spending have engaged in the politics of fear, warning that hospitals will close, people will lose coverage and lives are at risk.\n\nThe truth is curbing waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program provides past-due and desperately needed improvements to the program and does not jeopardize rural hospitals.\n\nWhile Medicaid was created to help pregnant women, children, seniors and Americans with disabilities, in recent years, Democrats have incentivized states to enroll healthy Americans and noncitizens into the Medicaid program, driving up costs for taxpayers and risking the program\u2019s sustainability for those who need it most. As a result, Medicaid spending has ballooned, with outlays increasing 50% since 2019. This rate of expansion is unsustainable and puts the future of the program at risk.\n\nRural hospitals have faced ongoing issues for many years, including outdated technology, an inadequate workforce and inappropriate reimbursement structures. There are multiple federal programs designed to support rural facilities and the One Big Beautiful Bill does not alter any of these programs.\n\nIt does, however, establish a $50 billion Rural Transformation Fund to provide additional relief to rural hospitals, 50% of which will be divided equally among states. This means Idaho\u2019s rural hospitals will receive significant, immediate financial assistance. And because rural hospitals\u2019 vulnerabilities are unique, it allows the states \u2014 which know the issues in their communities better than the federal government \u2014 to work with providers to determine the best use of funds.\n\nAt the same time, the bill ends the gimmicks and loopholes that other states have used to get higher Medicaid payments from the federal government. These changes do not affect Idaho, which has been a responsible steward of federal taxpayer dollars. But for the states that need help re-focusing their Medicaid programs, the aforementioned rural hospital fund can serve as a bridge, allowing them to establish the tools necessary to stabilize vulnerable facilities in the short-term while creating a long-term rural transformation plan.\n\nA far cry from gutting health care, the bill arguably makes the single largest investment in rural health care since the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. It is an efficient way to direct federal taxpayer dollars that ensures the sustainability of our rural health care facilities while protecting Idaho taxpayers from waste, fraud and abuse.\n\nThe law also takes commonsense steps to ensure Medicaid payments are not going to certain noncitizens, beneficiaries who have died or are enrolled in multiple states, and increases the frequency of eligibility verifications for able-bodied adults. It establishes work requirements for able-bodied adults and asks them to work, enroll in school or volunteer for 20 hours per week in order to receive taxpayer-subsidized Medicaid coverage. This does not apply to anyone who is disabled, pregnant or caring for young children, among other exemptions.\n\nThe One Big Beautiful Bill Act is significant and sweeping, and I expect questions from Idahoans to better understand its impact. But it is important that the facts do not get buried by the many false narratives and misleading rhetoric being advanced. I continue to maintain extending pro-growth tax policy, delivering targeted tax relief for middle-class families and workers, and reining in wasteful spending is the best way to restore economic prosperity and opportunity for Idahoans, and this law takes necessary and overdue steps to do just that.\n\nCrapo, R-Idaho, represents Idaho in the U.S. Senate, where he chairs the Finance Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-tillis-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-increase-housing-supply-reduce-costs", "Crapo, Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Housing Supply, Reduce Costs", "2025-07-25", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Alex Padilla (D-California) recently introduced the bipartisan Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025, which would modernize the federal definition of \u201cmanufactured housing\u201d to include modular or prefabricated homes built without a permanent chassis. By allowing off-chassis manufactured homes, the bill expands consumer access to more efficient and cost-effective designs, providing greater architectural flexibility to better integrate into existing neighborhoods.\n\n\u201cWe must find new, innovative ways to expand affordable housing venues so more individuals can achieve the American Dream of owning their home,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cIt is time to throw out established norms and cut bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way of innovative designs to increasing affordable housing.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to support this commonsense legislation that expands housing options for hardworking families in North Carolina and across the country,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cBy modernizing the definition of manufactured homes, we can encourage innovative and affordable designs and help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership.\u201d\n\n\u201cManufactured housing plays an important role in helping more Americans access homeownership, but we need to make sure outdated regulations aren\u2019t preventing newer, potentially more innovative models from coming to market,\u201d said Senator Scott. \u201cThis legislation will remove red tape and lower the costs of building these types of homes, increasing access to affordable housing opportunities for Americans across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cManufactured homes are some of the most affordable housing solutions on the market, but outdated laws are preventing newer, safer models from becoming widely available,\u201d said Senator Gallego. \u201cOur bipartisan bill makes a simple update to allow for greater design flexibility and bring down the cost of manufactured homes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to build as many homes as we can to address our national shortage, and we can\u2019t let outdated rules needlessly constrain supply,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cOur bill will unlock manufactured homes in both urban and rural areas around the country, making manufactured homes and all housing more accessible and affordable.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith this small adjustment, our legislation would help increase the production of affordable housing in California during a historic housing crisis,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cSimply modifying the definition of manufactured houses would cost the government nothing and could unlock greater design flexibility while increasing the desperately needed affordable housing supply.\u201d\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/magic-valley-times-news-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-will-help-idahos-rural-hospitals", "Magic Valley Times-News: The One Big Beautiful Bill Will Help Idaho\u2019s Rural Hospitals", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has been signed into law, providing significant benefits to Idahoans, including cutting taxes for working families, promoting American manufacturing and energy dominance, and strengthening health care programs to support our most vulnerable populations.\n\nNevertheless, the \u201cpolitics of fear\u201d have continued and disinformation misleads Idahoans about the law\u2019s impact on Idaho\u2019s health care system. In reality, this law represents the largest investment in rural health care in decades.\n\nThe OBBBA ensures a more responsible use of taxpayer dollars by ending loopholes certain states use to get higher Medicaid payments from the federal government. There are two main tools states use to draw down more funds: state-directed payments and provider taxes.\n\nHowever, it is important to know that Idaho is not one of the states playing games with federal funding. Idaho does not use state-directed payments and does not have non-nursing home provider taxes above 3.5 percent.\n\nA responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, Idaho will not be affected by these reforms. Instead, Idaho\u2019s rural hospitals will benefit from a new Rural Health Transformation Program that allocates money to all states, not just those using gimmicks to draw down more federal money.\n\nThis $50 billion rural hospital fund is available to all states and 50 percent will be divided equally among states. This means Idaho stands to gain at least $100 million per year for five years.\n\nThis is arguably the single largest investment in rural health care in more than 20 years. While it provides a way for states that do rely disproportionately on federal funding to make a financial plan, states like Idaho can provide immediate relief to rural hospitals and establish the tools necessary to be successful in the future.\n\nTo understand how the bill\u2019s reforms will save taxpayer dollars, it is important to understand how state-directed payments and provider taxes work.\n\nState-directed payments are used with Medicaid managed care and allow states to increase rates to providers over the base reimbursement rate. The Biden Administration expanded these payments to reach as high as the average commercial rate, much higher than those routinely paid by federal health programs. The OBBBA prohibits new state-directed payments over Medicare rates immediately and gradually phases down existing payments beginning in 2028. Again, Idaho does not currently use state-directed payments, but there is nothing in the law to prevent it from using these payments in the future.\n\nFor provider taxes, states levy these fees on hospitals and other entities, then use that revenue to collect more federal dollars. For every dollar states spend on Medicaid, the federal government matches at a higher rate. The match is nine-to-one for the Obamacare expansion population, which gives states an incentive to spend more on healthy, able-bodied individuals than on vulnerable patients.\n\nThe OBBBA stops provider tax gaming immediately and incrementally lowers states\u2019 maximum rate beginning in 2028 until it reaches 3.5 percent. Because Idaho does not currently have a non-nursing home provider tax above 3.5 percent, it is ahead of the curve. Recognizing nursing homes overwhelmingly serve vulnerable patients, Congress exempts those provider taxes from the phase down.\n\nCurbing waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program provides past-due and desperately needed improvement to the program and does not jeopardize rural hospitals. The states that have relied on financing gimmicks have necessary budgetary decisions to make in the years ahead. However, the reality is for states like Idaho, this bill represents a reward for the wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars and a historic investment in rural health care.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-blumenthal-warren-file-major-richard-star-act-as-amendment-to-must-pass-defense-bill", "Crapo, Blumenthal, Warren File Major Richard Star Act as Amendment to Must-Pass Defense Bill", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) announced they are filing the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the annual must-pass defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nCurrently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments--leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees. If adopted, the Senators\u2019 Major Richard Star Act will fix this unjust policy for medical retirees with a combat-related disability--providing them their full VA disability and DOD retirement payments.\n\n\u201cThe Major Richard Star Act corrects a severe injustice for combat-wounded veterans,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cThe support for this correction is clear. Though the namesake of our legislation is no longer with us, we must pass this fix on behalf of the more than 50,000 veterans, including hundreds in Idaho, who stand to benefit.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Major Richard Star Act would correct one of the deepest injustices in our present veterans\u2019 disability system. As an amendment to the NDAA, it would enable tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans to collect the full benefits they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cRight now they\u2019re denied fair, complete compensation because they are subject to a dollar-for-dollar offset of their VA disability and military retirement benefits. It\u2019s unacceptable--and I\u2019m joining my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to right this wrong by seeking to attach our legislation to this year\u2019s NDAA. With more than 31 cosponsors, adopting our amendment is a commonsense next step to finally provide these military retirees who already sacrificed so much the benefits they need and earned.\u201d\n\n\"Our veterans put their lives on the line for this country, and it\u2019s time our government gives them the full benefits they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cIncluding this bill in the NDAA will ensure the federal government keeps its promise to our veterans.\"\n\nThis bipartisan legislation is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran who was forced to medically retire due to his combat-related injuries. Major Star sadly lost his battle with cancer on February 13, 2021.\n\nThe Senators\u2019 legislation has 76 bipartisan cosponsors, and is supported by the following military, veterans and survivor organizations: Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), American GI Forum, The American Legion, American Logistics Association, American Military Society, American Veterans (AMVETS), America\u2019s Warrior Partnership, American WWII Orphans Network, Armed Forces Retiree Association, Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Blue Star Families, Burn Pits 360, Catholic War Veterans of the USA & Auxiliary, Chief Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard (CWOA), Code of Support Foundation, Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service, Inc. (COA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Gold Star Spouses of America, Grunt Style Foundation, Gold Star Wives of America (GSW), Healing Household, Heroes Athletic Association, Hire Heroes USA, HunterSeven Foundation, Japanese American Veterans Association, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV), K9s for Warriors, Marine Corps League (MCL), Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA), Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America (MCA), Military Family Advisory Network, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the World Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Mission Roll Call, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA), National Defense Committee, National Guard Association of the United States, National Military Family Association (NMFA), Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (NERA), Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), Operation First Response, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Project Sanctuary, The Ranger Leadership and Policy Center, Quality of Life Foundation, Reserve Organization of America (ROA), Sea Service Family Foundation, Stronghold Freedom Foundation, Student Veterans of America, TBI Warrior Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), The Independence Fund (TIF), United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA), United States Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association (USCG CPOA), United Through Reading, VetsFirst/United Spinal Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Wounded Paw Project and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-drives-business-growth", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Drives Business Growth", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The One Big Beautiful Bill Act drives economic growth by making key business provisions permanent, giving businesses the certainty they need to invest, hire and grow.\n\n\u201cPermanent tax policy provides businesses with the certainty they need to invest, save and plan for the future, which will power economic growth and ignite the U.S. economy,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nKey wins:\n\nFull expensing for domestic R&D to encourage domestic innovation.\n\nFull expensing for new capital investments, like machinery and equipment, to boost domestic production.\n\nRestores interest deductibility to a globally competitive standard to help finance critical domestic investments.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cThe Chamber thanks Leader Thune, Chairman Crapo, and all who are working to make the pro-growth reforms of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, including the deduction for domestic R&D expenditures, 100% bonus depreciation for certain business investments, and an expanded business interest limitation. The Chamber applauds the Senate for voting to make these provisions permanent features of the tax code.\u201d - U.S. Chamber of Commerce\n\n\u201c[This bill sends] a swift, decisive signal that America will remain a premier destination for businesses to invest, hire and grow.\u201d - Business Roundtable\n\n\u201cI applaud Chairman Mike Crapo, Leader John Thune and their Senate colleagues for advancing international tax policies that keep the U.S. the top destination for global investment. These provisions will help sustain American jobs, drive innovation, and reinforce a stable tax environment that attracts cross-border capital and world-class know-how.\u201d - Global Business Alliance President and CEO Jonathan Samford\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-executive-session-to-consider-ustr-treasury-nominations", "Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider USTR, Treasury Nominations", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to consider the nominations of Joseph Barloon to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) and Brian Morrissey, Jr. to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cWe meet today to consider favorably reporting the nominations of Joe Barloon, who is nominated to serve as Deputy USTR and Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Brian Morrissey, who is nominated to serve as the General Counsel of the Treasury Department.\n\n\u201cThe meeting this morning will provide members with the opportunity to make remarks on the nominees. Following statements, we will recess briefly then proceed to our nominations hearing this morning. Later today, we will notify members of the time and location of the vote on Mr. Barloon and Mr. Morrissey.\n\n\u201cDuring his hearing, Mr. Barloon discussed his plan to work in good faith with WTO Members to advance the interests of the United States. Importantly, based on his prior tenure as General Counsel to the U.S. Trade Representative, Mr. Barloon understands the critical role the WTO plays in ensuring market access for our farmers and businesses of all types. If confirmed, Mr. Barloon will work to restore U.S. leadership at the WTO.\n\n\u201cBuilding on prior Treasury Department experience, Mr. Morrissey is well-suited to provide critical legal and policy advice to the Secretary and other senior Department officials. He is exceptionally qualified for the position, and his nomination received bipartisan support from Treasury General Counsels dating back to 1977. I was encouraged to hear that he will prioritize a close working relationship with Congress to ensure that the Department effectively implements all laws Congress sends to it.\n\n\u201cI will vote in favor of both nominations and I encourage all of my colleagues on the Committee to do the same.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-treasury-hhs-nominations-hearing", "Crapo Statement at Treasury, HHS Nominations Hearing", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a nomination hearing to consider Jonathan McKernan to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury and Alex Adams of Idaho to be Assistant Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary for Family Support.\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cThank you to our nominees, Mr. McKernan and Dr. Adams, for being here today. Congratulations on your nominations and thank you both for your willingness to serve.\n\n\u201cToday, we will first hear from Jonathan McKernan who is nominated to serve as the Under Secretary for Domestic Finance at the Treasury Department.\n\n\u201cThe Domestic Finance office develops policies and guidance for Treasury Department activities in areas involving financial institutions, federal debt finance, financial regulation and capital markets. Sensible guidance in these areas better ensures financial stability and the growth and resilience of our economy.\n\n\u201cMr. McKernan has a demonstrated track record of support for sound and balanced regulation. As a member of the Board of Directors at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Mr. McKernan opposed burdensome rulemakings, such as the Basel III Endgame Proposal, which would have hindered economic growth and reduced lending to households and businesses.\n\n\u201cHe also served in senior advisory roles on the staff of the Senate Banking Committee, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the Treasury Department.\n\n\u201cMr. McKernan, I look forward to working with you, if confirmed, to bolster and protect our domestic financial system.\n\n\u201cWe will also hear from Dr. Alex Adams--from Eagle, Idaho--who is nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Family Support, which oversees the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).\n\n\u201cACF plays a vital role in supporting some of America\u2019s most vulnerable populations, including foster care and adoption assistance, both of which have garnered bipartisan interest from this Committee. It is imperative that this agency is led by someone with a deep understanding of these complex issues, a commitment to sound fiscal management, and a proven track record of delivering results.\n\n\u201cDr. Adams\u2019 service as the Director of Idaho\u2019s Department of Health and Welfare has prepared him to lead ACF. He has overseen a staff of nearly 3,000 individuals and an annual budget of $5.5 billion and delivered clear results for Idahoans.\n\n\u201cAs Director, Dr. Adams placed a strong emphasis on child welfare, working with the Idaho State Legislature to enact laws to extend foster care to age 23, allow kin-specific licensing standards, and enhance time to permanency.\n\n\u201cDr. Adams also has a strong record on budget and efficiency, having served as Governor Little\u2019s budget and regulatory director. He has demonstrated a keen eye toward fiscal responsibility, reducing regulatory burden and maximizing the impact of taxpayer dollars. This experience will be invaluable as he oversees the varied programs under ACF's purview.\n\n\u201cHis nomination has also received letters of support from a broad range of different stakeholders, which I request to be entered into the record.\n\n\u201cThank you again to our nominees for their time today.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-advances-ustr-treasury-nominations", "Finance Committee Advances USTR, Treasury Nominations", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Senate Finance Committee today advanced the nominations of Joseph Barloon to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) and Brian Morrissey, Jr., to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury, each by a vote of 14-13. Following the vote, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the statement below:\n\n\u201cEach of the nominees advanced by the Committee today will bring vital experience to their respective roles. Mr. Barloon will work to advance the Unites States\u2019 trade interests at the World Trade Organization as the Administration reestablishes U.S. leadership and will be an incredible advocate for American businesses and farmers. Mr. Morrissey is well-suited to provide critical legal and policy advice to the Secretary and other Treasury officials, and has made it clear he will work closely with Congress to ensure the Department effectively implements all laws. I look forward to each nominee\u2019s confirmation by the full Senate.\u201d\n\nExecutive session information can be found here.\n\nRead Chairman Crapo\u2019s full statement at the nomination hearing here, and his statement at the executive session here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-applauds-cms-efforts-to-root-out-fraud-saving-taxpayers-billions", "Crapo Applauds CMS Efforts to Root Out Fraud, Saving Taxpayers Billions", "2025-07-21", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.-- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services\u2019 (CMS) efforts to protect taxpayer dollars after the Agency announced it has found 2.8 million Americans enrolled in multiple Medicaid or Affordable Care Act Exchange plans, the removal of which is projected to save taxpayers $14 billion annually.\n\n\u201cThis effort builds on our work in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, guarding the integrity of our health care programs and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent on the populations they were designed to serve. These are the commonsense steps all agencies should be taking, and I applaud Administrator Oz for his commitment to cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse,\u201d Crapo said.\n\nBackground:\n\nCMS announced that an analysis of 2024 enrollment data identified 2.8 million Americans either enrolled in Medicaid or the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in multiple states or simultaneously enrolled in both Medicaid/CHIP and a subsidized Affordable Care Act (ACA) Exchange plan.\n\nAs a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, CMS now has new tools it needs to prevent the federal government from paying twice for the same person\u2019s care.\n\nCMS will continue to partner with states by providing the necessary resources and guidance to reduce duplicate enrollment.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-reintroduce-bill-to-split-ninth-circuit-court-of-appeals", "Crapo, Risch Reintroduce Bill to Split Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals", "2025-07-21", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) have reintroduced the Judicial Reorganization Act that would split the current Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and create a new Twelfth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.\n\n\u201cThe nation\u2019s largest and busiest circuit court of appeals has been overburdened for years--covering more than 11,000 cases annually from nine Western states and two U.S. territories,\u201d Crapo said. \u201cThe Ninth Circuit\u2019s significant backlog and inefficiency impedes the administration of justice throughout the region. The time is now to divide the court to reflect the West\u2019s massive population growth and provide greater access to justice for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has long reflected the values of California, which dominates its justices and judicial cases,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThe Judicial Reorganization Act would split and modernize the Ninth Circuit, allowing for more manageable caseloads and justice that aligns with the values of Idaho.\u201d\n\nCurrently, western states are subjected to an overly encumbered, inconsistent and slow judiciary. This stems from having the largest circuit court in the nation in terms of geography, population and workload. The Ninth Circuit has jurisdiction over 40 percent of the landmass of the United States and one-in-five Americans. One fifth of all pending federal appeals and 56 percent of all immigration cases in the nation are filed within the Ninth Circuit. With 29 appellate judges, the court also has more than double the average number of authorized judgeships among the 13 circuits.\n\nAdditionally, the population and geographic expanse the Ninth Circuit covers have experienced explosive growth since the court\u2019s creation in 1891. Creating a new circuit would solve the inefficiencies associated with the size of the Ninth Circuit and expand many Americans\u2019 access to justice.\n\nThe Judicial Reorganization Act would divide the current Ninth Circuit into two new circuits:\n\nA new Ninth Circuit covering California, Guam and Hawai\u2019i;\n\nA Twelfth Circuit with jurisdiction over Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.\n\nThe legislation would also increase the total number of judges in the two circuits to 31--adding one appellate judge to each court, as requested by the United States Judicial Conference. Eighteen appellate judges would serve in the Ninth Circuit and 13 appellate judges in the Twelfth Circuit.\n\nThe legislation would authorize the appropriation of funds needed to provide additional court facilities and implement the change.\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-to-receive-429-million-in-pilt-funding-for-community-services", "Idaho to Receive $42.9 Million in PILT Funding for Community Services", "2025-07-21", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) announced 44 local governments in Idaho will receive a total of $42.9 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2025. Since local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help cover the costs associated with maintaining community services.\n\n\u201cWhere the federal government owns large plots of land and does not pay local property taxes in rural communities, it has a responsibility to provide resources for vital services such as firefighting, police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cPILT payments give Idaho\u2019s 44 counties much-needed stability for essential services.\u201d\n\n\u201cEach of Idaho\u2019s 44 counties rely on PILT payments to maintain and provide essential community services,\u201d said Risch. \u201cI remain fully committed to funding PILT to ensure local governments can offset the nontaxable, federal land within their borders.\u201d\n\nCrapo and Risch have been long-term proponents of ensuring the long-term viability of the PILT program.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) collects more than $20.7 billion in revenue annually from commercial activities on public lands. A portion of those revenues is shared with states and counties. The balance is deposited into the U.S. Treasury, which, in turn, pays for a broad array of federal activities, including PILT funding.\n\nPayments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction.\n\nA full list of funding by state and county is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-cuts-taxes-for-workers", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Cuts Taxes for Workers", "2025-07-21", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The One Big Beautiful Bill Act invests in workers, delivering on President Trump\u2019s promises to end tax on tips and overtime for millions of hardworking Americans. It also lessens the administrative burden on gig workers and small businesses.\n\n\u201cThis legislation enables the tipped and hourly workers who keep our economy running to keep more of each hard-earned paycheck,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nKey wins:\n\nNo tax on tips for millions of tipped workers.\n\nNo tax on overtime for millions of America\u2019s hourly workers.\n\nRepeals the Democrats\u2019 onerous IRS reporting requirements on gig workers.\n\nIncreases the 1099-MISC threshold, reducing the paperwork burden for small businesses and workers.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cWe greatly appreciate the Senate\u2019s inclusion of other AICPA priorities in its bill, particularly: repealing the American Rescue Plan Act\u2019s lowered threshold for Form 1099-K to $600 for an unlimited number of transactions; and increasing the filing threshold for Forms 1099-NEC and Forms 1099-MISC from $600 to $2,000, adjusted for inflation.\u201d - AICPA\n\n\u201cThe Coalition for 1099-K Fairness strongly supports the Senate Finance package\u2019s inclusion of language to raise the 1099-K reporting threshold. This commonsense provision would increase the threshold to over $20,000 in total payments and more than 200 transactions per calendar year\u2014effectively stopping the implementation of a burdensome $600 threshold, regardless of transaction count, scheduled to take effect in 2026 under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP).\u201d - Coalition for 1099K Fairness\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-wins-with-one-big-beautiful-bill", "Idaho Wins with One Big Beautiful Bill", "2025-07-18", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--According to estimates from the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) will raise real wages in Idaho by $3,600 to $6,400 over the next four years. The CEA also finds hundreds of thousands of Idahoans will benefit from the bill's tax benefits for seniors, no tax on tips and no tax on overtime. The legislation will also protect 35,000 jobs in Idaho that would have been at risk if the Trump tax cuts had expired.\n\nIdaho wages and take-home pay:\n\nOBBB will raise wages in Idaho by an inflation-adjusted range of about $3,600 to $6,400 over the next four years.\n\nA typical family with two children in Idaho can expect to see higher take-home pay of about $7,200 to $10,200 with OBBB compared to if it had not passed.\n\n300,000 seniors in Idaho could benefit from tax relief for seniors in the legislation.\n\nAround 24 percent of all employees in Idaho regularly work overtime and could benefit from the no tax on overtime.\n\nIdaho jobs, businesses and housing:\n\nOBBB will protect about 35,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Idaho over the next four years, relative to if the Trump tax cuts had expired.\n\n41,000 firms in Idaho could be eligible for the law's permanent small business deduction, or about 45 percent of all firms.\n\nOBBB makes the Opportunity Zone program permanent, which will lead to increased investment in low-income communities across Idaho.\n\nRead the CEA\u2019s summary HERE on how the OBBB will help Idaho.\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-boosts-small-businesses", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Boosts Small Businesses", "2025-07-18", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers targeted relief to America\u2019s small businesses, making their tax deduction permanent, repealing onerous IRS reporting regulations and enabling workers to benefit from businesses\u2019 success.\n\n\u201cFreeing small businesses from onerous reporting requirements and providing them certainty through a permanent small business deduction allows them to expand and invest,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). \u201cThat means more jobs and higher wages in our local communities, on top of new provisions that allow taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks.\u201d\n\nKey wins:\n\nPermanent small business deduction, enabling job creation and spurring local economic activity.\n\nNo tax on tips for millions of tipped workers.\n\nNo tax on overtime for millions of America\u2019s hourly workers.\n\nRepeals the Democrats\u2019 onerous IRS reporting requirements on gig workers.\n\nIncreases the 1099-MISC threshold, reducing the paperwork burden for small businesses and workers.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cH.R. 1 extends the pro-growth policies from the TCJA and builds on their success, expanding key incentives from the 2017 law while introducing new provisions that further support manufacturing investment in the United States.\u201d - National Association of Manufacturers\n\n\u201cMaking the small business deduction permanent is NFIB\u2019s number one legislative priority and the most important thing Congress can do to help small businesses and their workers.\u201d - National Federation of Independent Businesses\n\n\u201cThe \u2018One Big, Beautiful Bill,\u2019 now on its way to President Donald J. Trump for his signature, includes tax policies that will strengthen the restaurant and foodservice industry, enabling restaurant owners and operators across the country to create jobs, invest in their business and provide certainty for their local economies.\u201d - National Restaurant Association\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-senate-passed-rescissions-package", "Crapo Statement on Senate-Passed Rescissions Package", "2025-07-17", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on the Senate\u2019s passage of the $9 billion rescissions package:\n\n\u201cI cast my vote in support of rescinding funds for wasteful foreign aid programs that have deviated from their original intent or that do not promote American interests. By reducing waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending, we can better ensure the long-term viability of the programs most critical for our national security and for global health programs that protect Americans from the spread of fatal diseases.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-schmitt-introduce-bill-to-increase-penalties-for-crimes-against-first-responders", "Crapo, Risch, Schmitt Introduce Bill to Increase Penalties for Crimes Against First Responders", "2025-07-16", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) introduced the Graham Hoffman Act, which would make it a federal crime to assault first responders.\n\n\u201cThe devastating loss of Idaho firefighters John Morrison and Frank Harwood and severe injury of David Tysdal during a premeditated, deadly ambush last month in Coeur d\u2019Alene remind us of the real dangers and sacrifices first responders make every day to protect our families and communities,\u201d Crapo said. \u201cTheir loss impels us to strengthen the law and deter further violence to ensure justice is fully meted on any individual who attacks our law enforcement or first responders.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast month\u2019s evil attack on first responders in north Idaho is a stark reminder of the dangers our brave men and women in uniform face every day,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThe Graham Hoffman Act is commonsense legislation to properly punish those who assault the men and women who keep our communities safe. Vicki and I continue to pray for the victims of the north Idaho ambush, their loved ones and all affected by this reprehensible act.\u201d\n\n\u201cGraham Hoffman was a courageous firefighter-paramedic whose life was tragically cut short at the hands of a known criminal who had been released from custody shortly before the attack. This tragic loss underscores the urgent need to protect our first responders, who put their lives on the line to serve our communities. This legislation, in honor of Graham, ensures that anyone who assaults or kills a first responder faces the full force of federal law,\u201d said Schmitt.\n\nCrapo and Risch are joined by U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Ashley Moody (R-Florida), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) and Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire).\n\nOn June 29, 2025, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Hardwood and Coeur d\u2019Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison were killed in an ambush while responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. Another first responder, Coeur d\u2019Alene Fire Department Engineer Dave Tysdal, was seriously injured and remains in recovery.\n\nThis legislation is named in honor of Graham Hoffman, a paramedic from Kansas City, Missouri, who was attacked and killed in the line of duty by a known criminal on April 27, 2025.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-slashes-seniors-tax-burden", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Slashes Seniors\u2019 Tax Burden", "2025-07-16", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers on President Trump\u2019s promise to seniors, providing significant tax relief to low- and middle-income seniors with a bonus exemption on top of other significant tax relief.\n\n\u201cThis legislation reflects our commitment to care for our seniors, ensuring low- and middle-income senior citizens receive a crucial tax break and are able to keep more of the money they have earned over the course of their lives,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nKey wins:\n\nProvides a $6,000 bonus exemption to millions of low- and middle-income seniors, slashing their tax burden.\n\nPermanent lower tax rates, letting Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\nPermanent increased and enhanced standard deduction, claimed by over 90 percent of taxpayers.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cThe bill\u2019s broadest tax impact comes from making permanent the reduced income tax rates enacted during Trump\u2019s first term and initially set to expire after this year. Another key provision, backed by AARP, provides targeted tax relief for older adults in the form of a $6,000 \u201cbonus\u201d deduction that could offset federal taxes on Social Security benefits.\u201d \u2013 AARP\n\n\u201cThe One, Big, Beautiful Bill will unleash the full potential of the U.S. economy. It locks in permanent, pro-growth tax cuts for families, workers, and job creators. The bill also enacts No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and new tax cuts for seniors. The OBBB will strengthen important programs for those who need them most and save taxpayer dollars by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. This consequential legislation cements the blue-collar boom and improves the lives of Americans on every rung of the economic ladder. As we saw after the passage of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, American businesses will hire, invest, and raise wages now that this Administration and the Republican Congress have delivered certainty and stability for the economy.\u201d \u2013 Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary\n\n\u201cUnder the One Big Beautiful Bill, 51.4 million seniors \u2013 88 percent of all seniors receiving Social Security income \u2013 will pay no tax on their Social Security.\u201d \u2013 Council of Economic Advisers\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-and-bipartisan-senators-introduce-bill-to-empower-states-and-communities-to-reduce-homelessness", "Crapo and Bipartisan Senators Introduce Bill to Empower States and Communities to Reduce Homelessness", "2025-07-11", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) introduced the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act, legislation to cut red tape and create local solutions for addressing homelessness.\n\n\u201cWith rising rates of homelessness sweeping across America, nonprofit organizations on the front lines deserve maximum support as they stretch limited donations and funding to provide shelter, food, skills training, addiction recovery and hope to our friends and neighbors who need it most,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation is urgently needed to strengthen the Housing Choice Voucher Program, remove burdensome regulations and better coordinate between diverse agencies serving unhoused individuals.\u201d\n\nAs of January 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported approximately 771,480 people experiencing homelessness during the annual point-in-time count. The 2024 count represented an all-time high, which was an 18 percent increase from 2023. The 2025 point-in-time count results have not been released by HUD.\n\nSpecifically, the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act:\n\nEases the bureaucratic burdens for Continuum of Care organizations by moving the time intensive annual application process for funding to every other year.\n\nEmpowers local communities by cutting federal red tape and allowing homeless service providers to respond more quickly and effectively to local needs.\n\nRemoves unnecessary federal barriers that prevent individuals from accessing housing and support services in a timely manner.\n\nMakes commonsense reforms to the Housing Choice Voucher Program by streamlining unit inspections, income verification and allowable uses of funds--reducing waste and inefficiency.\n\nStudies the hiring, retention and compensation of staff at all levels of homeless service organizations.\n\nAuthorizes specific and targeted funding to upgrade the outdated software used for applications and grant management of the CoC Program.\n\nImproves coordination between local healthcare systems, law enforcement, veterans\u2019 programs and job training services to deliver integrated support and reduce repeat homelessness or justice system involvement.\n\nSupports better use of data--including advanced tools like artificial intelligence--to making sure resources are going where they are needed most.\n\nEstablishes more feedback mechanisms for service providers and people with lived experience of homelessness to advise HUD on the effectiveness of federal homelessness policies and programs.\n\nContinues the work of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and increases congressional oversight of the council.\n\n\u201cDespite record levels of federal funding, homelessness continues to rise. It\u2019s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach isn\u2019t working,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe challenges we face in South Dakota are not the same as those in California or New York. This legislation takes a conservative approach by shifting power back to the states and communities closest to the problem. This commonsense bill cuts red tape and enables local leaders to deliver faster, more effective and more appropriate solutions for the people they serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cWithout a safe, affordable place to live nothing else in your life works--not your job, health, family or education,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThis bipartisan bill makes commonsense reforms to federal homelessness programs: cutting red tape for homeless service providers, streamlining and improving federal housing vouchers, reducing administrative burden and modernizing out-of-date software systems. It will reduce homelessness while using taxpayer dollars more efficiently. We know that the best ideas come from those closest to the issues, and that\u2019s why our legislation gives local leaders in Minnesota and across the country the tools and flexibility they need to address homelessness no matter the ZIP code.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when more Americans are facing homelessness and there are fewer federal resources available, we must do everything we can to make programs more effective and assist people by connecting them to housing, local health systems and behavioral health programs that can offer the ongoing, community-based support they need,\u201d said Reed.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed the Bipartisan Policy Center; National Low Income Housing Coalition; the Council of State Community Development Agencies, whose members include the Idaho Department of Commerce and the Idaho Housing and Finance Association; the National Alliance to End Homelessness; Catholic Charities USA and the Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment.\n\n\"Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action is proud to endorse the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act and applauds Senators Mike Rounds, Tina Smith, Mike Crapo and Jack Reed for their bipartisan leadership. The bill\u2019s focus on cutting red tape, streamlining the Housing Choice Voucher program and improving data coordination aligns closely with the proposals put forth by BPC in its American Housing Act,\u201d says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action. \u201cThese practical reforms will help communities more effectively address homelessness and connect people with housing and services.\u201d\n\n\u201cStreamlining systems isn\u2019t just good governance--it\u2019s what\u2019s needed to meet the urgent housing needs of people across the country,\u201d said National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Renee Willis. \u201cThe bipartisan Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act enacts common-sense reforms to improve coordination between government agencies and the private sector, ensuring programs more effectively serve people with the most urgent housing needs.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-lujan-take-bipartisan-action-to-secure-clear-guidance-for-claimants-following-the-recent-extension-and-expansion-of-reca", "Crapo, Luj\u00e1n Take Bipartisan Action to Secure Clear Guidance for Claimants Following the Recent Extension and Expansion of RECA", "2025-07-11", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-New Mexico) encouraged the Trump Administration to provide detailed guidance for claimants to access the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program following its expansion and extension by Congress. In letters to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Senators Crapo and Luj\u00e1n highlighted the need to implement guidance quickly and efficiently for the expanded RECA program as the current extension of RECA expires in just over two years.\n\n\u201cAfter decades of advocacy, communities harmed by radiation exposure are set to finally receive long-overdue recognition and compensation. This achievement marks a significant step toward providing some justice to families who have waited far too long,\u201d the Senators wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi. \u201cAfter decades of struggle, we ask that the Department of Justice move swiftly to issue guidance for claimants to access the program.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs you know, the current extension of the program expires in just over two years. This means time is limited to fulfill the promise of this expansion and ensure every eligible uranium miner and onsite participant receives compensation,\u201d the Senators wrote to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. \u201cWe urge the Department of Labor to act swiftly and efficiently in developing and posting guidance to implement the expanded RECA and Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) programs.\u201d\n\nCrapo is a longtime Senate proponent of expanding the RECA program. In 2022, Crapo was successful in securing an extension of the RECA program for two years, allowing more individuals more time to apply for compensation. In July 2023, the U.S. Senate passed, by a vote of 61-37, an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen RECA. The program would have been expanded to include Idaho victims. Later, in December, the amendment was stripped from the conference report of the NDAA. The program expired June 7, 2024.\n\nThe full text of the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi is available here.\n\nThe full text of the letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-statesman-crapo-one-big-beautiful-bill-wont-explode-the-national-debt", "Idaho Statesman: Crapo: One Big Beautiful Bill Won\u2019t \u2018Explode the National Debt\u2019", "2025-07-11", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Claiming that the One Big Beautiful Bill will \u201cexplode the national debt\u201d is plain wrong.\n\nAccording to a more accurate estimate by the Congressional Budget Office, it cuts federal spending by over $1.5 trillion and reduces the deficit by $400 billion. That doesn\u2019t include the bill\u2019s pro-growth elements, which the Council of Economic Advisers estimates will increase federal revenues by more than $4 trillion, adding up to nearly $4.5 trillion in deficit reduction.\n\nContrary to the \u201cpolitics of fear\u201d that Democrats employ, it strengthens and improves spending programs, like Medicaid, by targeting waste, fraud and abuse. And despite false narratives about \u201ctax cuts for billionaires,\u201d the reality is this legislation not only prevents massive across-the-board tax hikes, but provides additional tax relief that overwhelmingly benefits low- and middle-class families and workers. Through policies like a boosted standard deduction, expanded benefits for child care, no taxes on tips or overtime, and tax relief for seniors, working class Americans are the biggest winners under this bill.\n\nIn addition to historic mandatory spending reductions, deficit reduction and tax relief, the bill invests in our border, modernizes our military and restores American energy dominance. I\u2019d call that a win for Idahoans and all Americans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-jonathan-gould-ready-to-lead-the-occ", "Crapo: Jonathan Gould Ready to Lead the OCC", "2025-07-10", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and former Chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, congratulated Jonathan Gould on his confirmation to be the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) by a vote of 50-45.\n\n\u201cJonathan\u2019s extensive background, including his firsthand experience at the OCC, means he\u2019ll be ready to hit the ground running as Comptroller. I am confident in his ability to carry out the agency\u2019s critical mission to ensure the safety and soundness of our banking system, and to ensure banks provide fair access to financial services. He has the experience, quality of character and demeanor to be an effective leader of the agency, and I look forward to working with him in this new role.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-introduce-bill-to-ban-radical-gender-ideology-in-schools", "Crapo, Risch Introduce Bill to Ban Radical Gender Ideology in Schools", "2025-07-10", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to introduce the Say No to Indoctrination Act to codify President Trump\u2019s executive order preventing taxpayer dollars from funding radical gender ideology in K-12 schools.\n\n\u201cChildren should not be radicalized, indoctrinated or taught gender ideology in public elementary or secondary schools funded by federal tax dollars,\u201d Crapo said. \u201cThis legislation places commonsense guardrails around the use of these dollars in public education, which will ensure schools are providing foundational instruction in subjects like mathematics and reading rather than divisive concepts of gender ideology.\u201d\n\n\u201cSchools should prepare our children for the future, not promote radical gender ideology,\u201d said Risch. \u201cThe Say No to Indoctrination Act puts an end to woke education practices in K-12 schools and makes President Trump\u2019s commonsense policy permanent.\u201d\n\nThe bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama). It has received support from Concerned Women for America and American Principles Project.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, radical left-wing ideology has preyed on K-12 students in our nation\u2019s school systems. It's high time we put a stop to these woke lesson plans that take advantage of children and undermine parental rights,\u201d said Budd. \u201cI am proud to join Senator Risch and my colleagues to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding public schools that teach gender ideology.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs American students lag behind globally in math, reading and writing, the last thing our taxpayer-funded teachers and schools should be doing is teaching radical leftist nonsense like so-called gender theory,\u201d said Marshall. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support this legislation to codify President Trump\u2019s executive order, and ensure our children\u2019s education is focused on meaningful, future-ready skills, not woke ideology.\u201d\n\n\u201cParents send their kids to school to learn the skills they need to succeed later in life, not to be indoctrinated with radical gender ideology. There are only two genders\u2014male and female, and not a single penny of federal funds should go to schools that teach anything different,\u201d said Schmitt.\n\n\u201cOur children go to school to be educated, not indoctrinated,\u201d said Tuberville. \u201cI\u2019ve always said that education is the key to unlocking opportunity. But under Joe Biden, Democrats turned our children\u2019s classrooms into woke propaganda HQ. Schools should focus on teaching kids to read, write and do math. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Say No to Indoctrination Act to get woke politics out of the classroom.\u201d\n\nThe Say No to Indoctrination Act codifies the Executive Order President Trump issued on January 20, 2025, declaring that no taxpayer dollars be sent to K-12 schools that teach or promote radical gender ideology.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-invests-in-families", "The One Big Beautiful Bill Invests in Families", "2025-07-09", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--The One Big Beautiful Bill Act invests in American families by making the Trump tax cuts permanent, enhancing the child tax credit and strengthening childcare assistance. Together, these measures make raising a family more affordable for hardworking taxpayers.\n\n\u201cThis legislation not only prevents the biggest tax hike in history, but it also provides significant tax relief for hardworking families through measures like increasing and making the doubled child tax credit permanent, and enhancing tax benefits that make child care more affordable,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nKey wins:\n\nPermanent lower tax rates, letting Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\nPermanent increased and enhanced $2,200 child tax credit for tens of millions of families.\n\nPermanent increased and enhanced standard deduction, claimed by over 90 percent of taxpayers.\n\nStrengthens employer-provided childcare credit and boosts childcare assistance.\n\nEstablishes savings accounts for newborns, building financial security for the next generation.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cWe applaud the Senate\u2019s action to progress this critical legislation and expand upon President Trump\u2019s tax relief for hardworking Americans. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill will protect families and small businesses from the largest tax hike in history and deliver No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and new tax cuts for seniors. The passage of this bill will deliver the permanence and certainty both individual taxpayers and businesses.\u201d \u2013 U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent\n\n\u201cPassing an extension and permanency for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) out of the Senate is the next step in extending tax cuts for working Americans. The TCJA was an unmitigated success that benefitted American families, workers, and the overall economy.\u201d \u2013 Americans for Prosperity\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/chairman-crapo-one-big-beautiful-bill-delivers-on-america-first-policies", "Chairman Crapo: One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers on America-First Policies", "2025-07-04", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the President signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law:\n\n\u201cToday, as we celebrate the creation of our extraordinary country and the independence on which it was formed, we have cause for additional celebration: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act being signed into law.\n\n\u201cThis landmark legislation fulfills President Trump and Congress\u2019s promises to the American people. It makes permanent the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts and delivers additional tax relief to hardworking Idahoans while investing in our border, modernizing our military and restoring American energy dominance.\n\n\u201cIt also takes significant steps to get our fiscal house in order, reducing federal spending by over $1.5 trillion and delivering over $400 billion in deficit reduction. When taking the pro-growth economic effects of Trump\u2019s agenda into account, which the Council of Economic Advisers estimates will increase federal revenues by more than $4 trillion, we are achieving nearly $4.5 trillion in deficit reduction.\n\n\u201cThis bill also improves and strengthens programs like Medicaid by targeting waste, fraud and abuse, ensuring it remains financially viable for those it was designed to help. It also delivers significant new tax relief to low- and middle-class families and workers through policies like a boosted standard deduction, increased tax benefits for child care, no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime and tax relief for seniors.\n\n\u201cThese are the policies the American people voted for, and they will make our country safer, stronger and more prosperous. On this and every Fourth of July, may God continue to bless America and our enduring exceptionalism.\u201d\n\nAs Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal tax and federal health care policy, Crapo is one of the chief architects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. For more information on the provisions within the Finance Committee\u2019s jurisdiction, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-applauds-house-passage-of-president-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill", "Crapo Applauds House Passage of President Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill", "2025-07-03", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on House passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:\n\n\u201cWe worked closely with our House colleagues throughout this process to deliver on a shared goal of making our country stronger, safer and more prosperous. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we are extending pro-growth tax policy, ensuring Americans can keep more of their hard-earned money, providing additional tax relief to those who need it most, and taking long-overdue action toward getting our fiscal house in order.\n\n\u201cThis legislation achieves the most significant spending reductions in history. According to nonpartisan scorekeepers, by targeting waste, fraud and abuse in our federal spending programs, it reduces federal spending by over $1.5 trillion and will reduce the deficit by more than $500 billion over ten years. That is before taking into account the dynamic pro-growth elements of the bill, which the Council of Economic Advisers estimates will increase federal revenues by more than $4 trillion when combined with other elements of President Trump\u2019s economic agenda. That\u2019s nearly $4.5 trillion in deficit reduction.\n\n\u201cDespite false narratives about \u2018tax cuts for billionaires and corporations,\u2019 the reality is this legislation not only prevents massive across-the-board tax hikes, but also provides new tax relief that overwhelmingly benefits low- and middle-class families and workers. Through policies like a standard deduction boost, tax benefits for child care affordability, and delivering on the President\u2019s agenda on no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime and tax relief for seniors, low- and middle-income Americans are the biggest winners under this bill.\n\n\u201cToday is a good day for the American people, and I applaud my colleagues and thank them for their partnership in this historic effort that will restore economic prosperity and opportunity for all Americans.\u201d\n\nAs Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, Crapo is one of the chief architects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. For more information on the provisions within the Finance Committee\u2019s jurisdiction, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/one-big-beautiful-bill-provides-important-overdue-compensation-for-idaho-downwinders", "One Big Beautiful Bill Provides Important, Overdue Compensation for Idaho Downwinders", "2025-07-02", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Idaho Downwinders could finally receive compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) thanks to a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by the United States Senate. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) negotiated the inclusion of Idaho victims in the final language.\n\n\u201cMany Idahoans have died or suffered as a result of cancer related to fallout from 1950s to 1960s Cold War-era above-ground nuclear weapons testing with no recompense,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cIdahoans have been unfairly left out of the RECA program for far too many years. The Senate\u2019s passage of language to include Idaho in the program marks one step closer to ensuring affected Idahoans will finally start to receive the compensation they rightfully deserve. I urge the U.S. House of Representatives to preserve this provision.\u201d\n\nThe provision would:\n\nExtend RECA compensation through December 31, 2027;\n\nInclude Idaho in the list of affected states;\n\nExtend downwind eligibility states through November 1962;\n\nSet compensation for Downwinders and onsite participants at $100,000; and\n\nExpand coverage for uranium miners.\n\nThe provision needs to remain in the version of the reconciliation bill to be considered next by the U.S. House of Representatives, and then the reconciliation bill must be signed by the President for the expansion to become law.\n\nCrapo is a longtime Senate lead of expanding the RECA program. In 2022, Crapo was successful in securing an extension of the RECA program for two years, allowing more individuals more time to apply for compensation. In July 2023, the U.S. Senate passed, by a vote of 61-37, an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen RECA. The program would have been expanded to include Idaho victims. Later, in December, the amendment was stripped from the conference report of the NDAA. The program expired June 7, 2024.\n\nTo read Senator Crapo\u2019s statement on the full passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/chairman-crapo-statement-on-senate-passage-of-one-big-beautiful-bill-act", "Chairman Crapo Statement on Senate Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill Act", "2025-07-01", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today hailed Senate passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:\n\n\u201cWith this bill\u2019s passage, the United States Senate is fulfilling President Trump\u2019s promise to secure the border, fortify our national defense and unleash American energy. This legislation also prevents the biggest tax hike in U.S. history from ever happening, delivers additional tax relief to hardworking families and takes significant steps to get our fiscal house in order.\n\n\u201cMaking the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent ensures Americans keep more of their hard-earned money, and gives businesses the certainty they need to make the long-term investments that power economic growth. New tax relief from policies like no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, tax relief for seniors and additional child care assistance will overwhelmingly benefit the working class.\n\n\u201cThe legislation also achieves historic savings by targeting waste, fraud and abuse in our federal spending programs, strengthening them for the most vulnerable citizens they are intended to help.\n\n\u201cExtending good tax policy, delivering targeted relief and reining in wasteful spending is the best way to restore economic prosperity and opportunity for all Americans. I look forward to getting it to the President\u2019s desk as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nCrapo, as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over tax policy, is one of the chief architects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\nFor more information on the provisions within the Finance Committee\u2019s jurisdiction, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-honoring-heroic-coeur-dalene-firefighters", "Crapo Statement Honoring Heroic Coeur D'Alene Firefighters", "2025-07-01", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Coeur D\u2019Alene, Idaho--Two of Idaho\u2019s finest firefighters--Coeur D\u2019Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Harwood--sacrificed their lives rushing to extinguish a reported fire on Sunday. As Idahoans and as a nation, we are forever in debt to these men who paid the ultimate price while protecting their fellow firefighters, community homes and surrounding neighborhoods. I join many Idahoans to honor and revere their heroic lives, actions and legacies.\n\nI continue to pray for Coeur D\u2019Alene Fire Department Engineer Dave Tysdal, who was in critical condition, and the other innocent first responders who came under fire and eliminated the threat.\n\nTheir bravery, character and deep dedication in the face of unspeakable tragedy deserves the highest commendation one can bestow. Their families will be honored, supported and lifted up by Idaho communities, their band of firefighters, caring friends and other loved ones.\n\nFrank Harwood and John Morrison are forever etched in our hearts, having secured their place among the greatest of heroes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/one-big-beautiful-bill-new-tax-relief-overwhelmingly-benefits-working-class", "One Big Beautiful Bill: New Tax Relief Overwhelmingly Benefits Working Class", "2025-07-01", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Through policies like a standard deduction boost, tax benefits for child care affordability, and delivering on the President\u2019s agenda on no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime and tax relief for seniors, Senate Republicans\u2019 legislation provides significant relief to low- and middle-income Americans.\n\nAccording to a distributional analysis from the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation\u2014which previously estimated the tax bill provides more than $600 billion in new tax relief to middle-class households\u2014the largest proportional tax benefits go to workers and families making less than $50,000.\n\n\u201cDespite false narratives about \u2018tax cuts for billionaires and corporations,\u2019 the reality is this legislation not only prevents massive across-the-board tax hikes, but also provides new tax relief that overwhelmingly benefits low- and middle-class families and workers,\u201d said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nAccording to JCT\u2019s analysis, for the following income categories, the new tax relief would provide:\n\nLess than $15,000 \u2013 16.4% cut\n\n$15,000-$30,000 \u2013 27.1% cut\n\n$30,000-$40,000 \u2013 9.5% cut\n\n$40,000-$50,000 \u2013 7.2% cut\n\nREAD: Tax Wins for Hardworking Americans and Main Street\n\nREAD: One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers Historic Tax Relief, Achieves Record Savings\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-and-17-senate-colleagues-reintroduce-legislation-to-end-counting-of-illegal-immigrants-in-determining-electoral-college-votes-and-congressional-district-apportionment", "Crapo, Risch and 17 Senate Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to End Counting of Illegal Immigrants in Determining Electoral College Votes and Congressional District Apportionment", "2025-06-30", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), a member of the Senate Rules Committee, and sixteen colleagues in reintroducing the Equal Representation Act, legislation to ensure that only legal citizens are factored into the count for congressional districts and the Electoral College map that determines presidential elections. The current method of counting illegal immigrants for purposes of representation serves as a perverse incentive for open borders to boost the relative political power of the states and voters that court it.\n\n\u201cOnly U.S. citizens should be included in Census Bureau counts to apportion congressional and Electoral College representation,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cThis vital reform would prevent states like California and New York from padding their population totals with those here illegally to tip the scales and boost their political power in Washington, D.C.\u201d\n\n\u201cDemocrats are undermining the rights of U.S. citizens by encouraging illegal immigrants to enter our country and skew congressional redistricting for political gain,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cThe Equal Representation Act requires that the Census Bureau include a citizenship question ensuring American values and voices take priority.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is unconscionable that illegal immigrants and non-citizens are counted toward congressional district apportionment and our electoral map for the presidency, which also heavily skews the seat count in the U.S. House of Representatives,\u201d said Senator Hagerty. \u201cWhile people continue to flee Democrat-run cities, desperate Democrats have back-filled the mass exodus with illegal immigrants so that they do not lose their seats in Congress or their electoral votes, hence artificially boosting their political power and in turn diluting the power of other Americans\u2019 votes. I\u2019m pleased to lead my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation that would require a citizenship question on the census and will ensure that only citizens are counted in congressional redistricting.\u201d\n\nCurrently, illegal immigrants are counted for congressional district apportionment and, therefore, Electoral College votes. For example, in a state like California, millions of illegal alien residents result in California taking several more congressional seats and Electoral College votes than the state\u2019s population of citizens would justify. In other words, being a magnet for illegal immigration increases the power of a Californian\u2019s vote relative to an individual in another state with less population boost from illegal immigration. This creates a perverse incentive encouraging illegal immigration and resettlement to increase political power.\n\nCo-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Steve Daines (R-Montana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama).\n\nThe Equal Representation Act:\n\nRequires that the Census Bureau include a citizenship question on any future census to provide a greater understanding of the U.S. population and delineate between citizens and non-citizens for apportionment purposes;\n\nProhibits non-citizens from being counted for purposes of congressional district and Electoral College apportionment; and\n\nRequires that the Census Bureau publicly report on certain demographic data.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn January 2024, Senate Republicans introduced the Equal Representation Act.\n\nIn March 2024, every single Senate Democrat voted against the legislation as an amendment to appropriations bills, which put them on the record siding with illegal aliens over American citizens.\n\nThe House of Representatives passed the Equal Representation Act on May 8, 2024.\n\nFollowing House passage, Senate Democrats once again blocked the legislation.\n\nIn a hearing, former Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo admitted to Senator Hagerty that higher local illegal alien populations equal more congressional seats and electoral votes.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-senators-lead-moment-of-silence-on-senate-floor-to-remember-fallen-idaho-firefighters", "Idaho Senators Lead Moment of Silence on Senate Floor to Remember Fallen Idaho Firefighters", "2025-06-30", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Idaho\u2019s U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch delivered remarks and led a moment of silence on the Senate floor during the Senate\u2019s vote-a-rama on the reconciliation bill to remember the victims of Sunday\u2019s ambush attack on Idaho firefighters. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray (both D-Washington) also remembered the firefighters and commended Washington first responders for their assistance to the community.\n\nTo view their remarks, click HERE or the image above.\n\nText of Senator Crapo\u2019s remarks is below:\n\n\u201cThe Senate has important work to accomplish today to prevent a more-than $4 trillion tax hike on American workers and families.\n\n\u201cWe will accomplish that goal.\n\n\u201cHowever, while business continues here, life for the north Idaho community of Coeur d\u2019Alene remains at a very painful standstill as we mourn the horrific loss of two firefighters.\n\n\u201cYesterday afternoon, firefighters from Coeur d\u2019Alene and Kootenai County were responding to a fire on Canfield Mountain.\n\n\u201cUpon arrival, they were ambushed by gunfire.\n\n\u201cTwo brave firefighters were murdered.\n\n\u201cAnother has already undergone surgery for gunshot wounds.\n\n\u201cAs we continue our work today, I ask my colleagues to join me sending your prayers for that firefighter\u2019s full recovery, the deceased victims, their families and the entire north Idaho community grieving this heinous act.\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cThere was a huge influx of support from those who put their lives on the line every day, and some lost their lives yesterday. I ask you join us for a moment of silence and prayer.\u201d\n\nText of Senator Risch\u2019s remarks is below:\n\n\u201cWhile the Senate continues our important work to provide the American people with the largest tax cut in history today, we would be remiss if we did not pause for a moment and call attention to the tragic events that took place in Coeur d\u2019Alene yesterday.\n\n\u201cWhile responding to a fire, two of North Idaho\u2019s brave firefighters were ambushed and murdered. One is in serious, critical condition.\n\n\u201cThis evil attack on the people who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities is despicable and it\u2019s NOT Idaho.\n\n\u201cI ask my Senate colleagues to join me, Senator Crapo, and all Idahoans in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and all who have been affected by this reprehensible act.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-one-big-beautiful-bill-delivers-historic-tax-relief-achieves-record-savings", "Crapo: One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers Historic Tax Relief, Achieves Record Savings", "2025-06-29", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Ahead of Senate debate on President Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy and federal health care programs, explained the bill prevents massive tax hikes across the board, and overwhelmingly benefits middle-class households and job creators.\n\nSenator Crapo highlighted the bill not only prevents the largest tax increase in U.S. history, but also makes the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent and delivers significant tax relief\u2014$600 billion, according to nonpartisan scorekeepers\u2014to everyday Americans through policies like no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, tax relief for senior citizens and tax relief that makes child care more affordable and accessible. He also cited projections that the bill\u2019s commitment to permanence on the business side of the tax code will spur growth and increase federal revenues, noting that this dynamic growth, combined with record savings, will put the country on a better fiscal trajectory.\n\nClick HERE for tax wins.\n\nClick HERE for a bill overview.\n\nClick HERE to view the Finance Committee\u2019s 2025 Tax Reform landing page.\n\nFull remarks as delivered:\n\n\u201cMr. President, I am here to talk about the centerpiece of the reconciliation bill\u2014making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent.\n\n\u201cThe One Big Beautiful Bill prevents the largest tax hike in history and provides groundbreaking new tax relief for middle-class workers and families.\n\n\u201cThis legislation permanently extends the Trump tax cuts, which proportionally benefited the middle-class the most.\n\n\u201cIf these tax cuts were allowed to expire, taxpayers in all income groups would face massive tax hikes, and a point that my colleagues on the other side seem to consistently forget, or ignore, is that the vast majority of the burden\u2014$2.6 trillion\u2014would fall on taxpayers making less than $400,000 per year.\n\n\u201cBut before I discuss what would happen, I want to address an issue that is a constant theme on the other side. And that\u2019s that this bill is going to be a huge increase in the deficit.\n\n\u201cYou heard the previous speaker say that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has scored this bill to have a huge, multi-trillion dollar deficit increase. The fact is that CBO has scored this bill to have a $507 billion deficit reduction.\n\n\u201cLater on in my remarks, I\u2019ll point out that that score doesn\u2019t even take into account the growth in the economy and the revenue in that will come to our treasury from revitalizing and giving a boost to our economy.\n\n\u201cWhat will happen if we don\u2019t do this, and do what the Democrats are demanding that we do? And that\u2019s to let this tax increase happen, so they can say they\u2019re going to use it to pay the deficit down.\n\n\u201cThe average family of four would see a tax hike of $1,700 and their child tax credit would be cut in half.\n\n\u201cTwenty million small business owners would face massive tax hikes, with rates up to 43 percent.\n\n\u201cThe standard deduction, which simplifies tax filing for 90 percent of Americans, would be cut in half.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses and farms would see their death tax exemption cut in half.\n\n\u201cThe Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) warns this $4 trillion tax hike would also lead to an economic downturn and potential recessionary headwinds, noting the impacts would disproportionately fall on young people, minorities and workers without college degrees.\n\n\u201cWe have been working for more than a year on legislation that prevents that outcome and provides additional tax relief specifically targeted to benefit low- and middle-income families and workers.\n\n\u201cDespite critics\u2019 rhetoric about tax cuts for \u2018billionaires and corporations,\u2019 the reality is this legislation prevents massive tax hikes across the board and overwhelmingly benefits middle-class households and job creators.\n\n\u201cAccording to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), this bill provides more than $600 billion of new tax relief for hardworking Americans, including:\n\n$73 billion in inflation tax relief targeted at income brackets below $100,000 per year.\n\n$205 billion in tax relief to the 90 percent of taxpayers who claim the standard deduction.\n\n$93 billion in additional tax relief for seniors through a new $6,000 bonus exemption.\n\n$124 billion investment in children of low- and middle-income families, in addition to the permanent, doubled child tax credit.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m going to say that again\u2014the permanent, doubled child tax credit.\n\n\u201cThe significant tax relief we are providing to hardworking families includes:\n\nPermanent lower tax rates, letting Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\nPermanent increased and enhanced standard deduction, claimed by over 90 percent of taxpayers.\n\nOn top of making the doubled child tax credit permanent, we are also increasing it for tens of millions of families.\n\nTax relief for seniors in the form of a $6,000 bonus exemption for low- and middle-income seniors, slashing their tax burden.\n\nNo tax on tips for millions of tipped workers like waitresses, barbers, hairstylists and taxi drivers.\n\nNo tax on overtime for millions of America\u2019s hourly workers who work overtime and keep America running.\n\nNo tax on auto loan interest for new cars made in the U.S., allowing hardworking families to fully deduct auto loan interest on American-made cars.\n\nEnhanced 529 education savings accounts, making education expenses more affordable and accessible for families.\n\nNew \u201cTrump savings accounts\u201d for newborns and children up to age 18, building financial security for the next generation.\n\nWe make child care more accessible and affordable for working families by enhancing the child and dependent care credit, and the dependent care assistance program.\n\n\u201cThe list goes on and on.\n\n\u201cWe extend the paid family and medical leave credit, and expand health savings accounts for health care expenses.\n\n\u201cWe repeal onerous IRS reporting requirements on gig workers, reduce the paperwork burden for small businesses, and so much more.\n\n\u201cAll of this is just on the individual side of the tax code.\n\n\u201cThe business side of the tax code has the potential to generate phenomenal economic growth.\n\n\u201cWhen my Republican colleagues and I began talking about how best to extend and enhance the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we agreed that one of our top priorities was to make it permanent.\n\n\u201cThe reforms we made in 2017\u2014including lower rates for corporations and small business owners, along with international tax reforms\u2014increased domestic investment, boosted economic growth and increased take-home pay.\n\n\u201cA growing economy powered a strong labor market.\n\n\u201cWorkers saw record wage growth and the unemployment rate fell dramatically to the lowest in 50 years at 3.5 percent.\n\n\u201cCorporate inversions\u2014or businesses leaving America\u2014became a thing of the past as America became the place to do business again. Capital formation exploded in the United States.\n\n\u201cRestoring these critical business provisions and making them permanent is key to driving additional growth and investment in the United States.\n\n\u201cFor the businesses that spur investment and economic activity across the country, this bill:\n\nMakes the 20 percent small business deduction permanent, enabling job creation and spurring local economic activity.\n\nRestores and makes permanent full expensing for domestic R&D, encouraging domestic innovation.\n\nRestores and makes permanent full expensing for new capital investments like machinery and equipment, boosting domestic production.\n\nRestores and makes permanent interest deductibility, helping to finance critical domestic investments and keeping America globally competitive.\n\nIncludes full expensing for new factories and factory improvements to accelerate domestic manufacturing.\n\nPermanently renews and enhances the Opportunity Zone program, driving $100+ billion of investment to rural and distressed communities.\n\n\u201cAccording to the Tax Foundation, \u2018Permanence for the [bill\u2019s] four cost recovery provisions would more than double the long-run economic effect.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe National Association of Manufacturers predicts $248 billion in economic growth will come from the manufacturing sector alone, along with over 1 million jobs and over $100 billion in wages.\n\n\u201cThe National Federation of Independent Businesses says making the small-business deduction permanent will create 1.2 million jobs over ten years, growing to 2.4 million jobs in the long run.\n\n\u201cThat growth also means more federal revenue created the right way.\n\n\u201cThe Council of Economic Advisers estimates the tax legislation alone will drive more than $2 trillion in offsetting deficit reduction, thanks to permanent provisions that power economic growth and incentivize investment.\n\n\u201cOver a ten-year window with this legislation in effect, CEA estimates debt as a share of GDP will fall to 94 percent, compared to 117 percent if the Trump tax cuts expire.\n\n\u201cFar from adding to the deficit, this legislation will finally put us on sound financial footing as we power economic growth and curb spending.\n\n\u201cFor those who claim this bill will add over $4 trillion to the deficit, it bears repeating: preventing a $4 trillion tax hike is not the same as deficit spending.\n\n\u201cAnd to those who say we should let a $4 trillion tax hike to go into effect to pay down the national debt\u2014every tax increase that Congress has adopted for as long as I can remember was not used to pay down the national debt.\n\n\u201cIt was used to increase spending. And that is exactly what is going to happen if the Democrats have their way and force these tax hikes to happen.\n\n\u201cExtending current tax policy means that tax revenue as a percent of GDP will remain relatively unchanged.\n\n\u201cWe do not have a revenue problem in America\u2014we have a spending problem.\n\n\u201cThat is why we asked JCT to score this legislation under a more realistic scenario using a current policy baseline.\n\n\u201cThe Council of Economic Advisers estimates that making the Trump tax cuts permanent\u2014combined with other Trump Administration pro-growth policies like regulatory reform and so forth\u2014will increase federal revenues by more than $4 trillion, far more than offsetting any deficit estimates.\n\n\u201cWhen combined with the $1.6 trillion in spending reductions, this bill represents historic savings for taxpayers, far exceeding spending reductions in past bills by hundreds of billions of dollars.\n\n\u201cTo achieve this record level of savings, we are slashing Biden\u2019s Green New Deal spending and promoting America-First energy.\n\n\u201cWe are eliminating hundreds of billions of dollars of the Green New Deal subsidies, including ending wasteful credits like the EV tax credit.\n\n\u201cWe stop penalizing fossil fuels in favor of unreliable and expensive green energy, and instead support consistent energy sources, making energy affordable again.\n\n\u201cWe are also rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending programs, like Medicaid.\n\n\u201cThis will not reduce benefits for those who are qualified and for whom Medicaid was intended\u2014it will reduce waste, fraud and abusive scams that are being used to get American taxpayers to funnel money into states or other programs.\n\n\u201cMedicaid was created to help pregnant women, children, seniors and Americans with disabilities. We are continuing to protect them, they will not lose benefits, and the politics of fear that you hear constantly are simply false.\n\n\u201cBut in recent years, Democrats have incentivized Medicaid to enroll healthy Americans and illegal immigrants, driving up costs for taxpayers and risking the program\u2019s sustainability for those who need it most.\n\n\u201cAs a result, Medicaid spending has ballooned with outlays increasing over 200 percent since 2008 and over 50 percent since 2019 alone.\n\n\u201cThis rate of expansion is unsustainable and puts the future of the program at risk.\n\n\u201cAs spending has surged, so have inappropriate payments and ineligible enrollments, along with gimmicks and loopholes.\n\n\u201cPeople are alarmed by these statistics. Official reports indicate the federal government made $543 billion in inappropriate Medicaid payments from 2015 through 2024. Some experts think that number is closer to $1 trillion. That is what we\u2019re addressing in this legislation.\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to ensure that programs like Medicaid work efficiently and effectively and remain financially viable for those it was designed to help.\n\n\u201cFor months, my Democrat colleagues have engaged in the politics of fear, warning that Republicans are going to rip this critical program from those most in need.\n\n\u201cLet me be clear: this legislation does not take Medicaid away from any recipients for whom the program was designed to help. Children, the elderly, the disabled or infirm, adults caring for children and elderly relatives are protected by this bill.\n\n\u201cWe would not be honoring our obligation to these recipients if we allow the program to continue to balloon, forcing vulnerable populations to compete for available resources with able-bodied adults who refuse to work.\n\n\u201cAs one father recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal, \u2018Medicaid was created to help people like my son. He is 17, has severe autism and epilepsy and needs constant attention. Yet thanks to Obamacare\u2019s Medicaid expansion, he is stuck on a multiyear waiting list for in-home care because able-bodied adults are competing for the same resources.\u2019\n\n\u201cCBO estimates that over 1.4 million illegal aliens are receiving Medicaid benefits.\n\n\u201cBrett Guthrie, the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House, correctly notes, \u2018Every dollar misspent on illegal immigrants and ineligible individuals in the Medicaid program means less money going to our children, our pregnant women and mothers, individuals who are disabled, and seniors.\u2019\n\n\u201cRepublicans are committed to preserving and strengthening Medicaid for the people Medicaid was intended to serve.\n\n\u201cThat starts with making commonsense reforms to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the program.\n\n\u201cThis bill targets rampant fraud in the program by removing illegal aliens, deceased recipients or those enrolled in multiple states.\n\n\u201cIt eliminates wasteful spending by ensuring Medicaid payments align with levels in Medicare and other spending programs, and increases the frequency of eligibility checks.\n\n\u201cIt requires more personal accountability and promotes pathways to work for able-bodied adults.\n\n\u201cThe work requirements proposed in this legislation are simple: if you are an able-bodied adult without dependents, you can qualify for taxpayer-funded Medicaid by spending 20 hours per week working, participating in work training, going to school, or participating in community service or volunteer work.\n\n\u201cThe majority of Americans agree that these rules are reasonable guardrails to protect a program designed to help the most vulnerable Americans.\n\n\u201cThe bill also corrects abusive practices by freezing and reducing provider taxes, a financing gimmick used by states to increase the federal spending they receive.\n\n\u201cFor those concerned about funding for rural hospitals during the transition back to responsible funding levels, the legislation creates bridge funding to help stabilize rural hospitals and enhance their long-term financial solvency.\n\n\u201cAnd while Democrats claim Republicans are slashing Medicaid spending, the reality is that even with these reforms, Medicaid spending is projected to continue to grow by billions of dollars over the next ten years.\n\n\u201cOnly in Washington is a smaller increase in spending considered a cut.\n\n\u201cIn reality, these reforms will improve, protect and preserve Medicaid for the most vulnerable Americans.\n\n\u201cWe have had a very robust debate over how best to deliver on President Trump\u2019s agenda, and I am proud of what we achieve in this legislation.\n\n\u201cThe tax provisions in our bill\u2014from the permanent extension of the lower tax rates to the increased child tax credit to the permanent tax relief for businesses\u2014will deliver financial security to American families and grow our economy.\n\n\u201cThe health care provisions will protect and preserve Medicaid for the Americans the program was intended to serve.\n\n\u201cAnd while more work remains, this bill\u2019s economic growth combined with deficit reduction finally puts our country on a much better fiscal trajectory.\n\n\u201cSome of them have been working with us on these provisions for years, and we greatly appreciate your partnership in this effort. I ask unanimous consent to have these individuals\u2019 names printed in the record.\n\n\u201cI also have to thank my incredible staff who have forgone sleep over the past several months to provide timely, indispensable insight, facts, legislative text, counsel and so much more.\n\n\u201cWithout them, we would not be at this point ready to deliver this much-needed, growth-focused policy for the American people.\n\n\u201cI ask unanimous consent to have the names of my entire Finance Committee staff printed in the record.\n\n\u201cEven with all that we accomplish in this legislation, there are dozens of additional good ideas, smart policies and commonsense reforms that we were not able to include today, and I commit to continuing to work with my colleagues to advance those goals as we move forward.\n\n\u201cBut today\u2019s historic legislation is more than a good start and will pay dividends for American families.\n\n\u201cExtending good tax policy, delivering targeted relief and reining in wasteful spending, as achieved in this bill, is the best way to restore economic prosperity and opportunity for all Americans.\n\n\u201cI look forward to getting it to the President\u2019s desk as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T12:29:27Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-highlights-tax-wins-for-hardworking-americans-and-main-street", "Crapo Highlights Tax Wins for Hardworking Americans and Main Street", "2025-06-28", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today released an updated revenue estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation\u2019s (JCT) of the Finance Committee\u2019s tax title, which demonstrates significant tax relief for working families and small businesses.\n\n\u201cIf the Trump tax cuts expire, taxpayers in all income groups would face massive tax hikes and the majority of the burden\u2014$2.6 trillion\u2014would fall on taxpayers making less than $400,000 per year,\u201d Crapo said. \u201cThis legislation prevents that outcome and delivers more than $600 billion of new tax relief specifically targeted to benefit low and middle-income families and workers.\u201d\n\nDespite critics\u2019 rhetoric about tax cuts for \u201cbillionaires and corporations,\u201d the reality is this legislation prevents massive tax hikes across-the-board and overwhelmingly benefits middle-class households and job creators.\n\nThe Joint Committee on Taxation says the One Big Beautiful Bill provides:\n\n$73 billion in inflation tax relief targeted at income brackets below $100,000 per year.\n\n$205 billion in tax relief to the 90 percent of taxpayers who claim the standard deduction.\n\n$93 billion in additional tax relief for seniors through a new $6,000 bonus exemption.\n\n$124 billion investment in children of low- and middle-income families, in addition to the permanent, doubled child tax credit.\n\nThe legislation provides significant tax relief to hardworking families:\n\nPermanent lower tax rates, with an additional year of inflation adjustment to the 10 percent and 12 percent brackets, letting Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\nPermanent increased and enhanced standard deduction. Beginning in 2025, the standard deduction, claimed by 90 percent of taxpayers, increases by $1,500 for married couples, $1,125 for a head of household and $750 for individuals.\n\nPermanent increased and enhanced child tax credit for tens of millions of families. Increases the child tax credit to from $2,000 to $2,200 per child beginning in 2025.\n\nTax relief for seniors. Provides a $6,000 bonus exemption to millions of low- and middle-income seniors, slashing their tax burden.\n\nNo tax on tips for millions of tipped workers. Creates a deduction of up to $25,000 for qualified tips for millions of tipped workers like waitresses, barbers, hairstylists, and taxi drivers.\n\nNo tax on overtime for millions of America\u2019s hourly workers. Creates an above-the-line income deduction for overtime premium payments of up to $12,500 for hourly workers who work overtime and keep America running.\n\nNo tax on auto loan interest of up to $10,000 for new cars made in the U.S., allowing hardworking families to fully deduct auto loan interest on American-made cars.\n\nEnhances 529 education savings accounts, making education expenses more affordable and accessible for families.\n\nEstablishes savings accounts for newborns and children up to age 18, building financial security for the next generation.\n\nExtends paid family and medical leave credit to all 50 states and lowers minimum employee work requirement to six months from one year.\n\nEnhances the child and dependent care credit and the dependent care assistance program, making child care more accessible and affordable for working families.\n\nRepeals the Democrats\u2019 onerous IRS reporting requirements on gig workers who rely on third-party payment processors like Venmo and PayPal for transactions.\n\nIncreases the 1099-MISC threshold, reducing the paperwork burden for small businesses and workers.\n\nExpands health savings accounts, allowing taxpayers to save and invest more of their own money tax-free to use for health care expenses.\n\nPermanent deduction on charitable contributions for non-itemizers. Establishes a permanent deduction of up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for joint filers who do not itemize deductions.\n\nFor small businesses that spur investment and economic activity, the bill:\n\nMakes the 20 percent small business deduction permanent and includes a new, inflation-adjusted, minimum deduction of $400 for taxpayers who have at least $1,000 of qualified business income (QBI). Ensures small business owners with a certain QBI level are entitled to an enhanced baseline deduction, enabling job creation and spurring local economic activity.\n\nRestores and makes permanent full expensing for domestic R&D to encourage domestic innovation. Permanently allows businesses to immediately expense 100 percent of the cost of qualified property acquired on or after January 19, 2025. Without restoration of immediate 100 percent expensing, businesses were only allowed to immediately expense 40 percent of the cost for 2025 before it was scheduled to fall to 20 percent in 2026.\n\nRestores and makes permanent full expensing for new capital investments. Permanently allows businesses to immediately expense 100 percent of the cost of qualified property acquired on or after January 19, 2025. Without restoration of immediate 100 percent expensing, businesses can only immediately expense 40 percent of the cost for 2025, and this percentage would fall to 20 percent in 2026. It also increases the maximum amount a taxpayer may expense under Section 179 to $2.5 million. Permanent expensing for investments in machinery and equipment will boost domestic production.\n\nRestores and makes permanent interest deductibility. Permanently restores the ability of businesses deducting net interest payments to include depreciation and amortization costs for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. Since 2017, the amount of interest deductions that businesses can take became limited to only using earnings before interest and taxes, representing a significant tax increase on firms. Restoring and making the deduction permanent at a globally competitive standard will help finance critical domestic investments.\n\nIncludes full expensing for new factories and factory improvements to accelerate domestic manufacturing. Under current law, businesses must deduct the cost of nonresidential real property over a 39-year period.\n\nPermanently renews and enhances the Opportunity Zone program, driving $100+ billion of investment to rural and distressed communities.\n\nClick HERE for tax wins.\n\nClick HERE to view text of the Finance reconciliation bill.\n\nClick HERE for a section-by-section.\n\nClick HERE for a bill overview.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T12:29:27Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-senate-one-step-closer-to-delivering-historic-tax-relief", "Crapo: Senate One Step Closer to Delivering Historic Tax Relief", "2025-06-28", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Senate cleared a significant procedural hurdle to advance President Trump\u2019s economic agenda.\n\n\u201cThe Senate is one step closer to fulfilling our commitment to prevent the largest tax hike in history, deliver additional tax relief to working families and Main Street, and rein in wasteful government spending. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill to the President\u2019s desk as quickly as possible.\u201d\n\nClick HERE to read about tax wins in the Finance Committee\u2019s title.\n\nClick HERE to view the Finance Committee\u2019s 2025 Tax Reform landing page.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T12:29:27Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/chairman-crapo-and-chairman-smith-applaud-trump-administration-for-international-tax-agreement-protecting-american-workers-and-businesses", "Chairman Crapo and Chairman Smith Applaud Trump Administration for International Tax Agreement Protecting American Workers and Businesses", "2025-06-26", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--After Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent announced a forthcoming international tax agreement, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) issued statements regarding Section 899 and the OECD Pillar 2 / global minimum tax project:\n\n\u201cWe applaud President Trump and his team for protecting the interests of American workers and businesses after years of congressional Republicans sounding the alarm on the Biden Administration\u2019s unilateral global tax surrender under Pillar 2. Reaching a joint understanding with the G7 means the U.S. can reclaim tens of billions of dollars that had been ceded from our tax base by Democrats\u2019 America-Last policy.\n\n\u201cAt the request of Secretary Bessent and in light of this joint understanding to preserve U.S. tax sovereignty and allow U.S. tax laws to co-exist with the Pillar 2 regime, we will remove proposed tax code Section 899 from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and we look forward to active engagement with Treasury on these important issues.\n\n\u201cWe are committed to restoring Americans\u2019 confidence in our representative government by putting America first. Congressional Republicans stand ready to take immediate action if the other parties walk away from this deal or slow walk its implementation.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-senate-gop-colleagues-introduce-resolution-supporting-operation-midnight-hammer", "Crapo, Senate GOP Colleagues Introduce Resolution Supporting Operation Midnight Hammer", "2025-06-26", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Missouri), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) in introducing a Senate resolution in support of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, including Operation Midnight Hammer, and praising President Trump\u2019s efforts to reestablish deterrence and achieve lasting peace in the region as deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.\n\n\u201cWhereas, in August 2002, the Islamic Republic of Iran\u2019s secret nuclear program was revealed, including the existence of a fuel enrichment plant in Natanz, Iran, and the heavy-water plant in Arak, Iran;\n\nWhereas, on April 11, 2006, the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that it had enriched uranium for the first time to a level close to 3.5 percent at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant in Natanz, Iran;\n\nWhereas, in 2018, during a raid on a warehouse in Tehran\u2019s Turquzabad district, Israel\u2019s Mossad seized a vast nuclear archive of approximately 100,000 documents (commonly known as \u2018\u2018Iran\u2019s Atomic Archive\u2019\u2019), which revealed Iran\u2019s AMAD Plan, a structured nuclear weapons program aimed at producing 5 nuclear warheads, including detailed designs, high explosive tests, detonator development and integration of a warhead into the Shahab 3 ballistic missile;\n\nWhereas, on May 31, 2021, it was reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran failed to provide any explanation for the uranium remnants found at undeclared sites in Iran, and such an explanation had not been provided as of the date of the enactment of this resolution;\n\nWhereas, on May 30, 2022, the International Atomic Energy Agency (referred to in this preamble as the \u2018\u2018IAEA\u2019\u2019) reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran had achieved a stockpile of 43.3 kilograms (95.5 pounds) of 60 percent highly enriched uranium, which is roughly enough material to construct a nuclear weapon;\n\nWhereas, on February 27, 2023, the IAEA reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran had enriched uranium to 83.7 percent, which is just short of the 90 percent threshold for weapons-grade fissile material;\n\nWhereas, on September 16, 2023, the IAEA reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran banned the activities of nearly one-third of the IAEA\u2019s most experienced nuclear inspectors in Iran, a decision that, according to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, harmed the IAEA\u2019s ability to monitor Iran\u2019s nuclear program;\n\nWhereas, on December 28, 2023, the Governments of the United States, of France, of Germany and of the United Kingdom jointly declared, \u2018\u2018The production of high-enriched uranium by Iran has no credible civilian justification;\u201d\n\nWhereas, on July 23, 2024, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence published an assessment, in accordance with the Iran Nuclear Weapons Capability and Terrorism Monitoring Act of 2022 (22 U.S.C. 8701 note; section 5593 of Public Law 117\u2013263), stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran has \u2018\u2018undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so;\u201d\n\nWhereas, on November 15, 2024, the IAEA reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued to expand its enrichment facilities and install additional advanced centrifuges, including at the Natanz Nuclear Facility, where there are 15 cascades of advanced centrifuges, and the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, where there are advanced preparations for the expansion of the facility;\n\nWhereas, on February 26, 2025, the IAEA reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran has between 5 and 7 metric tons of enriched uranium and had increased its total stockpile of 60 percent highly enriched uranium to 274.8 kilograms (605.83 pounds), which, if further enriched, could be sufficient to produce 6 nuclear weapons;\n\nWhereas, on May 31, 2025, the IAEA released a comprehensive report detailing Iran\u2019s noncompliance with its Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons safeguards obligations, noting that Iran\u2014\n\n(1) increased its stockpile of 60 percent highly enriched uranium to 408.6 kilograms as of May 17, 2025, which constitutes a 50 percent increase compared to its February 2025 report, a stockpile sufficient for approximately 9 nuclear weapons (if further enriched);\n\n(2) conducted undeclared nuclear activities at four sites\u2014Lavisan-Shian, Varamin, Marivan, and Turquzabad\u2014involving nuclear material and equipment; and\n\n(3) provided inaccurate or contradictory explanations, which severely obstructed IAEA verification efforts and raises serious concerns about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program;\n\nWhereas, on April 7, 2025, President Donald Trump stated, \u201cYou know, it\u2019s not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That\u2019s all there is;\u201d\n\nWhereas, on April 8, 2025, a senior official of the Islamic Republic of Iran rejected the dismantlement of its nuclear program by stating, \u201cTrump wants a new deal: end Iran\u2019s regional influence, dismantle its nuclear program and halt its missile work. These are unacceptable to Tehran. Our nuclear program cannot be dismantled;\u201d\n\nWhereas, on April 15, 2025, in an ultimatum issued to the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Trump\u2014\n\n(1) demanded that a new nuclear deal be signed within 60 days to dismantle Iran\u2019s nuclear program; and\n\n(2) warned that failure to comply with this demand would result in military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons;\n\nWhereas, on April 16, 2025, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran rejected United States demands and asserted its right to maintain its nuclear program and missile capabilities, escalating tensions and setting the stage for subsequent military operations by Israel and the United States;\n\nWhereas, on June 13, 2025, Israel began Operation Rising Lion with strikes against the Iranian nuclear program, key Iranian military leaders and other strategic targets; and\n\nWhereas, on June 21, 2025, the United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer, conducting targeted strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, which significantly degraded Iran\u2019s nuclear program;\n\nWhereas Iran has developed advanced ballistic missile systems, including the Shahab-3, Ghadr and Khorramshahr missiles, with ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers and payloads capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which poses a significant threat as delivery systems for nuclear weapons to targets in the Middle East and parts of Europe;\n\nWhereas Iran, currently the world\u2019s leading state sponsor of terrorism, is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of United States citizens, including more than 600 United States servicemembers in Iraq through Iranian-backed militias, and other terrorist activities: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\nsupports the United States\u2019 decisive military strikes under Operation Midnight Hammer to degrade Iran\u2019s nuclear program;\n\naffirms that the Islamic Republic of Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapons capability, which would threaten the security of the United States and its allies and partners;\n\ncommends the Trump administration for taking resolute military action and praises the bravery of United States servicemembers who participated in Operation Midnight Hammer;\n\nconcurs that President Trump\u2019s efforts to reestablish deterrence are aimed at achieving lasting peace in the Middle East and worthy of consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize;\n\nreaffirms the right of the United States Government to take any necessary measures to prevent the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons;\n\ncommends Israel for its targeted strikes under Operation Rising Lion against Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile infrastructure and regime targets, including the Natanz enrichment facility and missile launchers, and recognizes these actions are critical to neutralizing existential threats to Israel and its allies; and\n\ncondemns the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for launching missiles at United States forces in Qatar and Iraq, and for launching 21 missile attacks that indiscriminately target Israeli civilians.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/new-analysis-senate-tax-bill-drives-deficit-reduction-by-igniting-economic-growth", "New Analysis: Senate Tax Bill Drives Deficit Reduction by Igniting Economic Growth", "2025-06-25", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on a new analysis from the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) showing the Senate tax legislation will create more than $2 trillion in deficit reduction thanks to permanent provisions that power economic growth and incentivize investment.\n\n\u201cMaking the successful Trump tax cuts permanent will provide certainty for American job creators to spur domestic economic activity and invest in workers. With incentives for businesses to research, build and innovate in America, these tax provisions will grow our economy the right way.\u201d\n\nRead the report HERE.\n\nThe CEA estimates that the tax provisions will result in the following economic effects in the first four years of implementation:\n\n7.3 to 10.2 percent higher real investment;\n\n4.6 to 4.9 percent higher real GDP;\n\n$4,000 to $7,200 increased real wages per worker;\n\n$7,600 to $10,900 higher annual take-home pay for a typical family with two children;\n\n6.9 to 7.2 million full-time equivalent jobs protected and created.\n\nThe CEA finds the following additional economic and fiscal impacts over the ten-year budget window:\n\n$100+ billion of investment, 1+ million jobs, and hundreds of thousands of new homes to support workforce growth in Opportunity Zone communities, especially in rural areas;\n\n$2.1 to $2.3 trillion in deficit reduction due to higher growth from the OBBB tax provisions;\n\n$1.3 to $3.7 trillion in additional offsetting deficit reduction from higher growth unleashed by OBBB-enhanced deregulation and energy policies;\n\n$8.5 to $11.1 trillion in total offsetting deficit reduction from Trump economic policies anchored by the OBBB, including discretionary spending reductions and tariff revenue;\n\nDebt falls as a share of GDP to 94 percent in 2034 under Trump economic policies anchored by the OBBB instead of rising to 117 percent if the TCJA expires.\n\nREAD: CEA: The One Big Beautiful Bill: Legislation for Historic Prosperity and Deficit Reduction\n\nClick HERE to view the Finance Committee\u2019s 2025 Tax Reform landing page.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/republicans-reconciliation-bill-delivers-permanent-tax-relief-to-idaho", "Republicans\u2019 Reconciliation Bill Delivers Permanent Tax Relief to Idaho", "2025-06-25", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the powerful U.S. Senate Finance Committee, is leading legislation to prevent the largest tax hike in history that would primarily fall on families and businesses making less than $400,000 per year. The Senate Finance Committee introduced legislation that not only prevents this tax increase, but also makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent and delivers additional tax relief to Idaho\u2019s families, seniors, workers and small businesses.\n\nAllowing the 2017 Trump tax cuts to expire would be financially disastrous for Idahoans. In Idaho, expiration would mean:\n\n$2,646 tax hike on average family of four.\n\n151,710 small businesses would lose their 20 percent small business deduction.\n\n220,720 families would see their child tax credit cut in half.\n\n781,210 Idahoans would see their standard deduction cut in half.\n\n33,000 jobs, $3 billion in wages, and $6 billion would be at risk.\n\nNot only does this legislation prevent that outcome, but it provides additional tax relief to Idaho\u2019s families, seniors, workers and businesses:\n\nTax relief for Idaho\u2019s families and seniors:\n\nPermanent low Trump tax rates.\n\nChild tax credit increased and made permanent.\n\nNew $6,000 bonus exemption for seniors.\n\nPermanent and enhanced standard deduction.\n\nChild and dependent care tax credit increased and made permanent.\n\nNew savings accounts for newborns.\n\nIncrease in the employer-provided child care credit.\n\nNo tax on car loan interest.\n\nCouncil of Economic Advisers predicts an over-$7,000 increase in take-home pay for average Idaho family.\n\nTax breaks for Idaho workers and businesses:\n\nNo taxes on tips.\n\nNo taxes on overtime.\n\nPermanent small-business deduction.\n\nRepeal of onerous IRS reporting requirements on gig workers.\n\nBoosts for nuclear energy and critical technologies.\n\nFull expensing for domestic R&D.\n\nFull expensing for new capital investments, like machinery and equipment.\n\nOpportunity Zone program enhanced and made permanent.\n\nClick HERE to view text of the Finance reconciliation bill.\n\nClick HERE for a section-by-section.\n\nClick HERE for a bill overview.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 264, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "ID", "p2": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ID&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 264, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ID&year=2025&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ID&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 264, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ID&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ID&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "ID", "label": "ID", "count": 264, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ID&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 264, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ID", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-06-25,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecrapo~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fnewsreleases~2Frepublicans-reconciliation-bill-delivers-permanent-tax-relief-to-idaho", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ID&year=2025&_next=2025-06-25%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecrapo~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fnewsreleases~2Frepublicans-reconciliation-bill-delivers-permanent-tax-relief-to-idaho&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 131.61487178876996, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}