Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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158 rows where chamber = "Senate", state = "ID" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending
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| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-vote-against-further-unrestrained-federal-spending | Crapo Statement on Vote Against Further Unrestrained Federal Spending | 2022-12-22 | 2022 | 2022-12 | 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 his vote against the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations package. “Instead of moving forward with individual spending bills to allow members of Congress to separate good policy from bad, we are once again having to vote on a single bill that will unfortunately add to our unsustainable debt crisis. The omnibus appropriations package contains some good policies I have supported and championed, like robust support for our servicemembers and their missions, and support for homeless veterans. It also includes legislation I authored as the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, including important legislation to strengthen retirement savings and improve federal health programs. “Unfortunately, these bipartisan provisions were combined with dozens of other provisions that likely would not have passed on their own, from Green New Deal style handouts to wasteful pet projects. Other broadly bipartisan items were woefully omitted, including widely-supported trade priorities and critical business tax incentives, particularly R&D tax credits that incentivize innovation and growth. “Unrestrained federal spending over the past two years has led to one of the most expensive holiday seasons in history. Idahoans are paying an estimated additional $819 per month--an increase of 16.5 percent--compared to two years ago. This behemoth funding package will only add fuel to the current inflationary fire. It is past time to rein in reckless, unnecessary government spending and get our fiscal house in order.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-republican-senate-colleagues-urge-pentagon-to-freeze-covid-19-vaccine-related-discharges-reinstate-discharged-soldiers-with-back-pay | Crapo, Republican Senate Colleagues Urge Pentagon to Freeze COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Discharges, Reinstate Discharged Soldiers with Back Pay | 2022-12-16 | 2022 | 2022-12 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Following the Senate’s approval of the National Defense Authorization act (NDAA), U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined ten colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The Senators urged Secretary Austin to freeze all COVID-19 vaccine-related discharges, and to establish a quick and thorough process so all members who were discharged because they refused the COVID-19 vaccine can be reinstated with back pay and full benefits. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Florida), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) all co-signed the letter. Read the full letter below. December 16, 2022 The Honorable Lloyd Austin Secretary U.S. Department of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20301 Dear Secretary Austin, Now that the Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the legislation heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. This year’s NDAA, which provides essential funding and sets defense and national security policy for the United States, also contains a key provision we fought for which eliminates the requirement for service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While we are proud to see this needed change included, simply reversing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is insufficient to right the wrongs done to our service members. We write today to urge immediate action from the Pentagon to protect our service members and provide much-needed direction and stability for America’s brave heroes and their families. On December 7th, NBC News cited senior military and defense officials in its reporting that discussions about allowing the reinstatement of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine are underway at the Pentagon.[1] This is welcome news. The Pentagon must take every action necessary to undo the harm American service members an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-support-armed-forces-with-ndaa-passage | Crapo, Risch Support Armed Forces with NDAA Passage | 2022-12-15 | 2022 | 2022-12 | 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) voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fulfilling Congress’ constitutional duty to “provide for the common defense.” The FY 2023 NDAA provides U.S. troops with a needed pay raise and increases authorized defense funding. Republican lawmakers successfully prevented progressive lawmakers from using the military funding bill to advance far-left priorities, such as DC statehood, and created a briefing requirement for all military support deployed to the southern border. “The provisions included in the FY2023 NDAA are critical for boosting America’s national security at home and abroad,” said Crapo. “This year’s NDAA supports Idaho’s military personnel and industries by advocating for the Idaho Air National Guard, funding military technologies developed in Idaho and protecting our servicemembers from draconian COVID vaccine mandates. Supporting our Armed Forces also means providing for them as they exit active military service. By permanently authorizing the DOD SkillBridge program, servicemembers in their initial stages of separation gain experience in a field of their interest and support the transition of these selfless men and women back to civilian life.” “The FY 2023 NDAA ensures our military is equipped with the necessary resources to defend our country,” said Risch. “This legislation includes wins for Idaho like ensuring Idaho’s Air National Guard can continue its A-10 mission, repealing the vaccine mandate for active military, and preventing a Democrat-led effort to include women in the draft. While more remains to be done to protect service members who were discharged from their military service because of their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, this bill will ultimately help strengthen our military and America’s defenses.” Senators Crapo and Risch secured a number of provisions important to the state of Idaho in final passage of the NDAA, including: Ensuring the Idaho Air Nati… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-demand-amends-for-servicemembers-and-federal-employees-affected-by-bidens-covid-vaccine-mandates | Crapo, Risch Demand Amends for Servicemembers and Federal Employees Affected by Biden’s COVID Vaccine Mandates | 2022-12-14 | 2022 | 2022-12 | 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 Jim Risch (R-Idaho) joined Republican Senate colleagues in successfully securing a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to protect servicemembers from the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccine mandate. However, the provision does not address the penalties and discharges previously incurred, so the Idaho Senators sent a letter to President Biden requesting that reparations be made. “Servicemembers who were reprimanded or unfairly discharged based solely on COVID-19 vaccination status under the Department of Defense’s (DOD) current policy should immediately have their records cleared and be reinstated. The DOD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is responsible for the discharge of approximately 3,400 troops who have made a decision for themselves in line with their personal values. At a time when our military is facing its greatest recruitment challenges in decades, bringing thousands of troops back into duty is not only the right thing to do, but it is necessary,” Senators Crapo and Risch wrote in the letter. Servicemembers have faced challenges in complying with the DOD’s onerous COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This includes members who made the personal decision not to receive the vaccine. As a result, in addition to those who have been discharged, many were grounded, issued letters of reprimand, had clearances rescinded and have been removed from training opportunities due to sincerely-held beliefs. The letter requests that after the passage of the NDAA, any penalties incurred from a servicemember’s refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine be expunged from their records, and any servicemember or federal employee who was unfairly discharged or terminated due to these mandates be reinstated. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-protect-servicemembers-from-bidens-covid-vaccine-mandate | Crapo, Risch Protect Servicemembers from Biden’s COVID Vaccine Mandate | 2022-12-08 | 2022 | 2022-12 | 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 Jim Risch (R-Idaho) joined Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Joni Ernst (R- Iowa), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) in successfully securing a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to protect servicemembers from the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccine mandate. “In the United States, the number of new servicemembers joining the military is reaching a near record low. The United States needs a strong military to protect our country against the growing threats facing our nation. We are pleased that the final conferenced bill includes language mirroring our amendments’ efforts to protect troops from being fired due to Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate without fair appeal and to the harm of service readiness,” said Senators Crapo, Risch, Blackburn, Marshall, Hyde-Smith, Braun, Fischer, Ernst, Tuberville, Daines and Hoeven. BACKGROUND | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-shaheen-introduce-bill-to-help-bring-home-missing-servicemembers | Crapo, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Help Bring Home Missing Servicemembers | 2022-12-07 | 2022 | 2022-12 | 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 Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) re-introduced the Bring Our Heroes Home Act (BOHHA), which would eliminate obstacles preventing families and caseworkers from accessing the records needed for recovering America’s prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA). According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 81,500 Americans--including 360 Idahoans--remain unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars and other conflicts. “This commonsense legislation tells every family and survivor that their loved ones are not forgotten,” said Crapo. “America’s servicemembers, past and present, have shown incredible sacrifice and dedication to defending our freedom. We owe it to our nation’s heroes and their families to cut the bureaucratic red tape and continue the effort to identify and recover those who have not yet made it home.” “Families of service members who have been prisoners of war or missing in action bear an incredible emotional and psychological burden directly related to their loved ones’ service to our nation. Far too many families have to wait years, sometimes even decades, for information about their lost loved ones to emerge,” said Shaheen. “That’s why I’m reintroducing the bipartisan Bring Our Heroes Home Act to ensure that the records of service members are properly collected, declassified when appropriate, and made public, helping honor their legacy and heal their families. I’ll continue working to pass this vital legislation to bring our heroes home.” The Senate bill, which has six bipartisan co-sponsors, would consolidate all records related to missing personnel within a newly instituted Missing Armed Forces Personnel Records Collection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and require all government agencies to transmit any missing servicemember records to NARA. The measure would also establish an independent government office, the Missing Armed Forces Personnel Records Rev… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-colleagues-call-for-expanded-high-speed-internet-access-in-rural-communities | Crapo, Risch, Colleagues Call for Expanded High-Speed Internet Access in Rural Communities | 2022-12-02 | 2022 | 2022-12 | 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 Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) in a letter to the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Interior, Agriculture and Commerce about the need to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities. Internet providers are required to obtain permits from the federal government when installing telecommunications infrastructure on federal lands or for projects using federal funding. Currently, they face extensive delays in the permitting process. In their letter, the Senators encourage the Biden Administration to streamline the permitting process, close the digital divide and expand high-speed internet in rural areas across the country. “According to the most recent Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Broadband Deployment report, approximately 14.5 million Americans in rural areas lack access to basic broadband service,” the Senators wrote. “Many of our communities rely on rights of way and service corridors through federal lands for transportation and essential utilities.” “It is crucial we close the digital divide by expanding access to high-speed internet—a top priority for our rural areas—and we cannot accomplish that without improving the permitting process,” the Senators continued. “We urge you to build upon recent actions taken by Congress and various federal agencies to streamline permitting on federal land.” Additional signatories of the letter include U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nevada), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). The full text of the letter can be found below. Dear Secretary Haaland, Secretary Vilsack, and Secretary Raimondo, We w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-wyden-and-bipartisan-senate-finance-committee-members-raise-concerns-about-process-to-approve-and-implement-indo-pacific-trade-pact-and-other-trade-agreements | Crapo, Wyden and Bipartisan Senate Finance Committee Members Raise Concerns about Process to Approve and Implement Indo-Pacific Trade Pact and Other Trade Agreements | 2022-12-01 | 2022 | 2022-12 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman Ron Wyden, (D-Oregon) and 19 bipartisan members raised Constitutional concerns about the process to approve and implement the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), as well as the need for the administration to increase consultation and transparency. In a letter to President Biden, the members noted that they support efforts to strengthen ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific and address issues like strengthening supply chains, growing American jobs and expanding digital trade. However, they reminded the administration that Congress holds ultimate responsibility for approving trade pacts, regardless of whether they include tariff reduction or market access provisions. “There is no question that comprehensive free trade agreements that include reciprocal tariff reductions and dispute resolution mechanisms must be approved and implemented by Congress,” the members wrote. “However, there appears to be a misunderstanding as to whether an agreement like IPEF, which aims to regulate foreign commerce and reshape international trade flows, requires similar approval. It does.” While neither the administration nor Congress has announced a process to approve and implement IPEF, Finance Committee leaders urged the president to engage in robust consultation with Congress, transparency of negotiations and collaboration with Congress on how the agreement should be approved and implemented. The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Tom Carper (D-Delaware), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Ben Sasse (R-Nebrask… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-wyden-bennet-burr-release-mental-health-parity-discussion-draft | Crapo, Wyden, Bennet, Burr Release Mental Health Parity Discussion Draft | 2022-12-01 | 2022 | 2022-12 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), and Senate Finance Committee Members Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), today released a discussion draft including policies aimed at improving mental health parity in Medicare and Medicaid and helping to put access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services on par with physical health care. Mental health parity includes a set of laws aimed at ensuring mental and physical health care are covered equally by health insurance. “These proposals will help us gather additional data and increase transparency to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have access to affordable mental health services, on par with their access to physical health services,” said Crapo. “I thank Senators Bennet and Burr for their work on this discussion draft, and look forward to receiving feedback on each mental health discussion draft from our colleagues and stakeholders.” “Too often the notion of mental health parity falls short of reality,” said Wyden. “These policies represent the first step towards addressing the mental health parity and ghost network challenges that I intend to build on in the coming months -- especially the challenges I hear about consistently from families at home who aren’t able to find available mental health professionals covered in their insurance networks. I’m proud that the committee has been able to come together throughout the year to release a whole host of policies aimed at improving mental health care for Americans, some of which have already become law. I will keep working to enact these policies and ensure all Americans can get mental health care when they need it.” “As I travel across Colorado, I consistently hear about the mental and behavioral health challenges Coloradans and their children experience and the difficulties they face finding affordable, high-quality care. We need to change our approach to ensure our health care system equita… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:32:05Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-colleagues-call-out-interior-usda-failure-to-produce-mineral-permitting-report | Crapo, Risch, Colleagues Call Out Interior, USDA Failure to Produce Mineral Permitting Report | 2022-11-17 | 2022 | 2022-11 | 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 and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) this week in a letter to the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA), questioning whether they would produce a report outlining options to improve the federal mineral permitting process on the timeframe required by federal law. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law on November 15, 2021, required the Departments to complete the report within one year of enactment. However, both have failed to adhere to that statutory deadline. The Senators noted the law details nine methods for permitting improvement and “…establishes a deadline of one year from enactment for your Departments to issue a new report that identifies additional regulatory and legislative measures that would increase the timeliness of permitting, ensure adequate staffing for the timely consideration of authorizations on federal land, and quantify the period of time required to complete each step of the permitting process.” “These are serious and substantial requirements that represent a first step to address serious deficiencies in the federal permitting process,” the Senators continued. “Yet DOI and USDA have outwardly paid little attention to them, and internally appear to have devoted critical resources to discretionary projects that trace back to Executive Orders, rather than legally binding federal statutes…” “As our mineral security and foreign mineral dependence become more important at a time of rising global demand, Congress remains focused on a variety of means to encourage new domestic production,” the Senators wrote. U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) also signed the letter. To read the full letter, click here. Background: Section 40206 of the bipartisan infrastructure law is drawn from Senator Murkowski's American Mineral Security Act, which Senators Risch and Crapo co-sponsored. Rather than focusing on the statutory requirement to … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:24:37Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-unveils-mental-health-care-integration-discussion-draft | Finance Committee Unveils Mental Health Care Integration Discussion Draft | 2022-11-10 | 2022 | 2022-11 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) today released a discussion draft of legislation aimed at creating better care integration of mental and physical health care services and expanding access to crisis care and follow up services to get Americans the longer-term care they need. “Especially for rural Americans and communities facing health care provider shortages, integrating behavioral health into the primary care setting can expand access while strengthening the doctor-patient relationship,” said Crapo. “The reforms included in this discussion draft would take important steps toward improving care quality and generating cost savings for patients and taxpayers alike. I thank my colleagues for their vital work on these proposals, and I look forward to hearing feedback from stakeholders on how we can further enhance these policies.” “For too long, mental health and physical health have been deeply separated in this country,” said Wyden. “These policies will begin to allow health care providers to work together more than ever before to connect their patients with the mental health care they need. I am very pleased that the draft contains robust improvements for crisis response and stabilization, which is critical to safeguarding Americans struggling with their mental health. I want to thank Ranking Member Crapo and Senators Cortez Masto and Cornyn for all of their hard work crafting this discussion draft. The Finance Committee will continue working to bring these and other mental health care improvements to Americans in need.” “I’ve worked to promote Nevadans’ mental and physical health, and this bipartisan legislation will make sure that Nevadans have greater access to critical mental health resources, particularly during a mental health crisis,” said Cortez Masto. “This is a critical step in creating a true continuum of crisis care for mental and behavioral … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:24:37Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-delegation-presses-defense-health-agency-on-cancelled-prescription-contracts-hindering-veterans-and-servicemembers-pharmacy-access | Idaho Delegation Presses Defense Health Agency on Cancelled Prescription Contracts Hindering Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ Pharmacy Access | 2022-11-07 | 2022 | 2022-11 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Boise, Idaho--Upon learning that the pharmacy benefit management organization that administers the TRICARE Pharmacy Program instituted changes that impact roughly 400,000 beneficiaries and cut out almost 15,000 pharmacies mostly in small communities, the Idaho Congressional Delegation pressed the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Health Agency (DHA) to ensure adequate patient access for servicemembers and covered veterans. “While Express Scripts claims most patients will have access to pharmacies in their area, significant concerns remain that beneficiaries in rural areas, including Idaho, will encounter less availability that could undermine their quality of care,” the Delegation wrote. “. . . reducing payments to community pharmacies hurts not just choice, but could be seen as a move to monopolize,” the letter continues. “Additionally, this could impact pediatric healthcare needs for families enrolled in TRICARE, because these children must go to independent pharmacies for specialized compounding services due to traditionally manufactured drugs not being able to meet their needs.” “I have asked repeatedly for a stand-alone contract with Sandpoint Super Drug and ESI-Tricare as if my contracting agency never existed. I am losing customers daily because of this agreement with Tricare-ESI and larger corporate pharmacies. This is preventing me from meeting the prescription needs of many Tricare recipients in my community,” said Scott Porter, Pharmacist and owner of Sandpoint Super Drug, which serves the rural community of Sandpoint, Idaho, with a clientele base comprised of roughly 30 percent TRICARE patients, and whose contract to provide TRICARE benefits was abruptly cancelled. Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI), the pharmacy benefit manager for TRICARE, has implemented pharmacy network changes that disproportionally harm small community pharmacies by cutting the reimbursement rate for prescriptions dispensed in-network. As a result, a number of pharmacies will no longer be able to afford to participate in the TRI… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:24:37Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-to-honor-mountain-home-woman-with-spirit-of-freedom-award | Crapo to Honor Mountain Home Woman With Spirit of Freedom Award | 2022-10-28 | 2022 | 2022-10 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Boise, Idaho--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) will present the Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veterans Service Award to Hayley Slaughter on Monday, October 31, 2022, at 2:00 PM in Carl Miller Park, Mountain Home, Idaho. Donor Outreach for Veterans (DOVE) nominated Hayley for donating her kidney earlier this year to Candice Martin, an active member of the U.S. Army. Candice is now back to full duty status, as Hayley continues to volunteer with DOVE to save more lives. “Hayley embodies the Spirit of Freedom through her outstanding example of selflessness and empathy,” said Crapo. “Not only has Hayley dedicated considerable time to supporting those who have served our country, she has given a most precious gift to a servicemember in need.” Hayley is recognized as a compassionate person who has chosen career paths and volunteer work that support the vulnerable and underserved. She has been a military spouse to veteran Travis Slaughter, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, and she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for several years and cared for patients in hospice and memory care facilities. Since the birth of the first of their three children, Hayley has been a stay-at-home mom. She is also an active church member, now serving as head of missions for her local church. Hayley has mentored other donors and started a program to stay connected with veterans as they await transplants to help ensure they do not feel alone. “Hayley has boundless energy and a warm, embracing personality that makes all in the DOVE community feel good,” said DOVE Executive Director Sharyn Kreitzer. “How Hayley can do all of this and balance being a mom to three young and active children is remarkable!” Veterans’ service organizations across Idaho nominate Spirit of Freedom awardees for their service to fellow veterans and the nation. The award, established by Crapo in 2002, is a small way to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of Idaho’s veterans and volunteers who support Idaho veterans. Each Spirit of Freedom Award … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:20:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-announces-new-hires-staff-changes | Crapo Announces New Hires, Staff Changes | 2022-10-26 | 2022 | 2022-10 | 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) today announced the hiring of two new staff members and a promotion in his Washington, D.C., office. Andrew Gleaton has been promoted to Legislative Aide. Andrew joined the Crapo office as a Staff Assistant in January 2020 and was promoted to Legislative Correspondent in February 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boise State University and a master’s in political management from George Washington University. As a Legislative Aide, Andrew is responsible for Second Amendment, intellectual property, data privacy and bankruptcy issues, as well as still handling constituent letters for his wider portfolio of issues. Kyle Chance has joined the Crapo office as Deputy Press Secretary. Kyle earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science at Miami University. He previously worked as the Communications Manager at The Ripon Society in Washington, D.C. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:20:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-to-honor-lewiston-animal-rescue-with-spirit-of-idaho-award | Crapo To Honor Lewiston Animal Rescue with Spirit of Idaho Award | 2022-10-24 | 2022 | 2022-10 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Lewiston, Idaho--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) will present the Spirit of Idaho Award to the Idaho Animal Rescue Network (IARN) at Fur Family Cinema, 3323 10th Street, Lewiston, Idaho, at 1:00 PM PT on Thursday, October 27, 2022. IARN is a 501(c) (3) non-profit in Idaho that works to curb animal cruelty in Idaho. “I applaud the continuing efforts of the Idaho Animal Rescue Network to provide safe and happy homes for Idaho pets across the Lewis Clark Valley,” said Crapo. “It is thanks to their efforts that hundreds of animals a year are given a new lease on life.” Over the summer, 25 Great Danes were rescued from an animal hoarding situation in Lewiston. The Idaho Animal Rescue Network facilitated veterinary care and placement in shelters throughout Idaho. "The Idaho Animal Rescue Network is a community organization,” said IARN Director Jenna Redheart. “It takes many people to make it work, and I couldn't be more thankful for the LC Valley. The Great Danes case is a great example of teamwork. The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, Lewiston Police Department, Lewiston Fire Department, Fur Family Cinema, Southway Animal Clinic, Riverview Animal Clinic, Lewis Clark Animal Shelter, multiple other animal rescues and community volunteers worked together and made this case a success. We received donations from local community members and from around the nation. Because of the community, the Great Danes will have a better life.” The Spirit of Idaho Award was created by Crapo in 2000 to honor the acts of service by Idahoans for their commitment to improving their community and serving their fellow citizens. Crapo has presented more than 600 Spirit of Idaho Awards since the award’s inception | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:34:28Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-to-attend-public-events-in-twin-falls-hagerman | Crapo to Attend Public Events in Twin Falls, Hagerman | 2022-10-20 | 2022 | 2022-10 | 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) will participate in two events open to the public on Friday, October 21, 2022. In the morning, Senator Crapo will attend a Constituent Coffee meeting in Hagerman. Later, he will join Twin Falls County Commissioners and other Magic Valley residents to honor the sacrifices of three Idaho veterans and one spouse. Additional details regarding each event are outlined below. 10:00 AM – Bullets n’ Brew Coffee Shop – 111 S. State Street, Hagerman This event is an opportunity for Crapo to talk with Idaho constituents at a local coffee shop to mingle, answer questions and receive input on federal issues. Local elected officials and members of the Hagerman Chamber of Commerce local business owners will be in attendance. “Bullets ' N Brew is excited to provide an opportunity for civic engagement with Senator Crapo for citizens in our community and surrounding communities,” said Gary Mode, Brews n’ Bullets owner. 1:00 PM – Snake River Canyon Cemetery – 1585 E. Elm St., Buhl As a longtime supporter of our nation’s veterans, Senator Crapo will join the Missing in America Project (MIAP) and Twin Falls County Commissioners to honor three recovered veterans, as well as one spouse, at the Snake River National Cemetery for Final Military Honors and Interment. The four individuals passed away in other parts of the United States and were recently identified and returned to Idaho. The celebration of life will honor the life and sacrifices of: Richard J. Zebert, former U.S. Marine and Purple Heart recipient who fought in the Vietnam War; Richard. E. Wagner, U.S. Army veteran who also fought in Vietnam; Thomas W. Mitchell, Jr., U.S. Army veteran who fought in Vietnam; and Ruth H. Sipes Wall, Wife of World War II and Korean War veteran William F. Wall. “It is a pleasure to work with Idahoans on these ‘Missing In America Project’ missions,” said Coleen Florke, Idaho State Coordinator, Missing in Action Project. “The collaboration and support from our local officials here in Twi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:34:28Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/risch-crapo-join-daines-to-call-on-biden-admin-to-collaborate-with-states-on-forest-management | Crapo, Risch Join Daines to Call on Biden Admin to Collaborate with States on Forest Management | 2022-10-13 | 2022 | 2022-10 | 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) joined Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) to send a letter to the Biden Administration urging the development and implementation of a transparent and swift process to allocate funds promised to States for implementing effective forest management projects under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). “We write to ask that you do all in your power to follow through on your commitment to working with state and local governments to improve our forest health and address the wildfire crisis. By mid-summer, your Department was in receipt of $160 million to award grants to States and Tribes for implementing projects under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), a time-tested mechanism for achieving this very outcome, but had not yet acted to allocate all of these funds. We urge you to establish a transparent process for distributing GNA funds directly to States and Tribes expeditiously and in a manner that maximizes taxpayers’ return on investment,” the Senators wrote. “The delayed distribution of GNA funds has not come without consequences—states have now missed the window of opportunity to utilize these GNA funds to mitigate the risk and severity of the wildfires currently burning across the West. We cannot afford to miss the next window of opportunity,” the Senators continued. Read the full letter the Senators sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack HERE. Senators John Barasso (R-Wyoming) and Diane Feinstein (D-California) joined in sending the letter. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:20:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-colleagues-call-out-amalgamated-bank-for-weaponizing-financial-system-to-infringe-on-americans-second-amendment-rights | Crapo, Risch, Colleagues Call Out Amalgamated Bank for Weaponizing Financial System to Infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment Rights | 2022-10-06 | 2022 | 2022-10 | 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) joined 24 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Amalgamated Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Priscilla Sims Brown, criticizing the bank’s manipulation of an international standard-setting organization to force U.S. financial services firms to categorize gun purchases--an indefensible attempt to target law-abiding Americans exercising their right to purchase firearms and to enact far-left political goals. “Your bank is attempting to restrict the Second Amendment rights of Americans by going around the democratic process. You should expect Congressional oversight of your actions,” the Senators wrote. The Senators pointed to Amalgamated Bank’s website, where its anti-firearm agenda is made alarmingly clear. “It is clear from Amalgamated Bank’s website that it has fully embraced an anti-firearm agenda. Whether it is choosing to debank firearms manufacturers, forcing all commercial clients to adopt anti-gun control codes, or divesting customer assets from lawful businesses, these decisions demonstrate your attempt to force your political views on law-abiding Americans. If you want to change gun policy, you should run for office and make yourself accountable to voters. What’s worse, these actions weren’t enough for you, so you set your sights on forcing these radical and discriminatory policies on the entire financial system,” the Senators continued. Prior to the International Standards Organization (ISO)’s recent creation of a merchant category code (MCC) that will target, surveil and discourage gun and ammunition sellers earlier this month, Amalgamated Bank submitted three applications for its anti-firearm policies--each of which were rejected. “Let us be clear: weaponizing the financial system to enact far-left political goals is inexcusable. . . . You should consider this notice to retain all communications involving your role in ISO’s categorization scheme, and you should anticipate testifying before Congress in the near futu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:20:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/senate-republicans-demand-administration-end-its-war-on-us-oil-and-gas | Senate Republicans Demand Administration End Its War on U.S. Oil & Gas | 2022-10-05 | 2022 | 2022-10 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--In response to the U.S. Department of Interior’s (DOI) draft proposal for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Idaho’s U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-Louisiana) and a group of their Republican colleagues in sending a letter rebuking the Biden Administration for its assault on domestic oil and gas production. In the draft proposal, the DOI hinted that it might cancel future lease sales for the next five years. “American families are struggling to keep up with rising costs due to inflation, high energy prices, and persistent supply chain issues,” wrote the Senators. “It is our obligation to do everything within our power to help ease these burdens and remove this uncertainty for both Americans and our allies.” “One of the most effective ways we can do this is to increase future domestic oil and natural gas production through long-term leasing certainty,” continued the Senators. “The Department can help domestic energy production and put American energy consumers first.” Additional signatories of the letter include Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Read the full letter here or below: Dear Secretary Haaland: We are writing regarding your July 1, 2022, release of the “Proposed Program” for the Interior Department’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. While the release of a “Proposed Program,” after months of delay, is a step in the right direction, we are concerned by the Department’s suggestion that a no lease option is a possibility for the final progr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:20:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-back-bill-to-protect-parental-rights | Crapo, Risch Back Bill to Protect Parental Rights | 2022-10-03 | 2022 | 2022-10 | 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) joined in co-sponsoring S. 4892, the Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their (PROTECT) Kids Act, which would protect parental rights by preventing schools from concealing information about students’ gender from their parents. “Parents have the right to be actively involved in their children’s lives,” said Crapo. “Children deserve an education free from harmful social ideologies, and the federal government should not provide any funding to schools that deny parents the right to access crucial information about their child’s wellbeing.” “Open and transparent communication between schools and parents is critical for the development, education, and wellbeing of our children,” said Risch. “Educational environments that withhold critical information from parents can and will do more harm than good.” The PROTECT Kids Act would restrict federal funding for any elementary or middle school that allows students to change their pronouns, gender markers, or sex-based accommodations (including locker rooms and bathrooms) without the consent of their parents. The bill is supported by Parents Defending Education Action and Independent Women’s Voice. Read full text of the bill here. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:20:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-welcomes-boise-interns-for-fall-2022-term | Crapo Welcomes Boise Interns for Fall 2022 Term | 2022-10-03 | 2022 | 2022-10 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Boise, Idaho--Two interns have joined U.S. Senator Mike Crapo’s (R-Idaho) Boise, Idaho, office for the fall 2022 term. “Interns in my Boise office gain real-world experience in communications, constituent services and the federal legislative process,” Crapo said. “I encourage college students with an interest in government to submit an application for upcoming internship opportunities.” Jordan Montovino is a junior at Boise State University. She is studying political science with an emphasis in international relations and comparative governments and a minor in criminal justice. Cyrus Vore is a Post Falls, Idaho, native and attends Boise State University. He is majoring in political science with a minor in film and a certification in business. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:20:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-further-spending-will-worsen-and-prolong-inflationary-pressures | Crapo: Further Spending Will Worsen and Prolong Inflationary Pressures | 2022-09-29 | 2022 | 2022-09 | 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 regarding his vote on the Continuing Resolution (CR): “Widespread inflation is not under control, and Americans are struggling to make ends meet as everyday essentials are becoming less affordable. This Continuing Resolution does not extend into the next Congress, and creates a pathway for lame-duck, progressive wish-list spending. Further spending will only worsen and prolong inflationary pressures on the American people.” Senator Crapo recently signed a letter to his Senate colleagues urging the adoption of a “clean” CR free of additional spending and extraneous policy riders. The letter also called for the CR to carry over into the 118th Congress. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-colleagues-stand-with-sportsmen-introduce-bill-to-stop-the-ban-of-traditional-ammo-and-tackle | Crapo, Risch, Colleagues Stand with Sportsmen, Introduce Bill to Stop the Ban of Traditional Ammo & Tackle | 2022-09-26 | 2022 | 2022-09 | 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 (both R-Idaho) joined Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) and 20 additional colleagues to introduce legislation to prohibit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science and state wildlife and fish agencies “Hunting and fishing are integral to the conservation and management of wildlife and part of the cultural fabric that binds Idahoans to the land and environment they love,” said Crapo. “Limiting access to hunting and fishing for food or recreation by implementing a blanket-ban on traditional ammo and tackle needlessly alienates many sportsmen who cannot access or afford lead alternatives.” “Hunters and anglers are some of Idaho’s greatest supporters of conservation,” said Risch. “Banning traditional lead ammunition and tackle on public lands would significantly limit sportsmen’s access to recreation and directly reduce critical conservation tools and state revenues. As an avid outdoorsman, I am proud to support Idaho’s long-held traditions and preserve Second Amendment rights for responsible, law-abiding sportsmen and women.” Last spring, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entered into settlement negotiations with activist organizations over a lawsuit regarding the use of traditional lead ammunition on more than 3 million acres of federal land. Crapo and Risch joined their colleagues in urging FWS Director Martha Williams not to cave in to activists’ calls to restrict the use of lead ammo and tackle on public lands earlier this year. This bill also comes one week after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a rule that, while expanding access to hunting and fishing at certain wildlife refuges, prohibited the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle. Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-menendez-celebrate-senate-passage-of-resolution-recognizing-september-as-national-prostate-cancer-awareness-month | Crapo, Menendez Celebrate Senate Passage of Resolution Recognizing September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month | 2022-09-23 | 2022 | 2022-09 | 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 Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) applaud the unanimous passage of Senate Resolution 645 in recognition of September 2022 as “National Prostate Awareness Month.” Crapo and Menendez authored the bipartisan resolution aimed at increasing awareness of prostate cancer, which is the second-most common cancer in American men next to skin cancer. By recognizing this month as “National Prostate Awareness Month,” the Senate also encouraged all Americans to take part in efforts to increase early detection, improve treatment and discover a cure for the disease. Representative Donald Payne, Jr. (D-New Jersey) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) sponsored the resolution in the House of Representatives. “Checkups and testing for prostate cancer can save lives if found early,” said Crapo. “Early screenings and warnings are vitally important to detecting and treating many other types of cancer as well. Congress must use every avenue available to continue raising awareness about the risks and early screenings to combat prostate cancer.” “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, yet it’s a highly preventable disease,” said Menendez. “Congress has a responsibility to promote awareness and encourage men across America to increase early detection and find better treatment, thereby increasing the survival rates of American men. Early detection is key to prostate cancer survival, and no one should think it’s too early to discuss testing options with their healthcare provider." “I am proud to introduce this resolution because prostate cancer is a major health problem and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for African-American men nationwide,” said Payne. “In addition, prostate cancer will account for more than one-third of all new cancers in African-American men this year alone. If we can raise awareness, we can encourage more Americans, especially African Americans, to get screened and get early treatments. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Men’s Health C… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-applauds-nomination-of-travis-hill-to-fdic | Crapo Applauds Nomination of Travis Hill to FDIC | 2022-09-20 | 2022 | 2022-09 | 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), member and former Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement on the White House's intention to nominate Travis Hill to serve as a Member and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). “Travis is a highly talented, respected individual who is exceptionally qualified to serve as Vice Chair and a Member of the Board at the FDIC. Throughout his time at the Senate Banking Committee and the FDIC, he demonstrated an understanding of the need to tailor regulation to risk in order to promote economic lending, and safety and soundness. He also helped to pass legislation making it easier for consumers to get mortgages and obtain credit, while also increasing important protections for veterans, senior citizens, victims of fraud and those who fall on hard financial times. I congratulate him on this well-deserved nomination.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-join-call-condemning-credit-card-ceos-for-infringing-on-americans-second-amendment-rights | Crapo, Risch Join Call Condemning Credit Card CEOs For Infringing On Americans’ Second Amendment Rights | 2022-09-20 | 2022 | 2022-09 | 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 (both R- Idaho) joined 10 Senate Republican colleagues on a letter to the CEOs of Visa, Mastercard and American Express expressing concern over the decision to remove gun sales from being categorized as “general merchandise” and instead placing gun sales into a separate, unique category. The recommendation came from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which has no authority over the affairs of American businesses. The Second Amendment is a fundamental right of law-abiding American citizens. The letter reads, in part, “This decision, which is already being hailed by radical anti-gun activists, is the first step toward backdoor gun control on law-abiding Americans… Creating a new merchant code for gun transactions is a choice being made by each of your companies. You are choosing the side of gun control advocates over the privacy and Second Amendment rights of millions of law-abiding Americans… Your companies are the facilitators of the vast majority of daily financial transactions in America, and that gives you incredible influence over everyday commerce, and thus every American’s very way of life. If you are intent on abusing that influence you will leave Congress no choice but to intercede on behalf of our constituents and all of the law abiding Americans who will not stand by as large banks and the payment networks that serve them do an end run around their constitutional Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms…” The Senators concluded their letter by requesting answers from the CEOs related to what factors influenced each company to settle on this new policy, how the recategorization of gun sales backs up claims that the action would reduce gun violence and if customers would be able to continue to use these companies’ services without discrimination, among other issues. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-lead-resolution-acknowledging-forensics-vital-role-in-justice-system | Crapo, Risch Lead Resolution Acknowledging Forensics Vital Role In Justice System | 2022-09-20 | 2022 | 2022-09 | 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 agreed to a Senate Resolution designating September 18-24, 2022, as National Forensic Science Week. The Resolution, introduced by U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), recognizes the role forensic science plays in the investigation, prosecution and conviction of crimes, as well as exoneration of the innocent. “Forensic science plays a critical role in the proper function of our justice system,” said Crapo. “The Senate’s unanimous support of this Resolution acknowledges these specially-trained scientists’ essential contributions to bringing justice for victims and exonerating the falsely accused.” “As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen firsthand key findings of forensic science exonerate the innocent, identify criminals, and provide closure for victims,” said Risch. “I am proud to honor and recognize the important work forensic scientists do for our justice system.” “National Forensic Science Week is an opportunity to honor the outstanding work of forensic science professionals that work hard each day to identify perpetrators of crime, exonerate the innocent, and bring resolution to cases for the criminal justice system and victims of crime,” said Matthew Gamette, Idaho State Police Forensic Services Laboratory System Director. “We appreciate the support and recognition from Congress and especially our Idaho Senators and their staff for the hard work these scientists and doctors put in every day in Idaho and all over the United States. National Forensic Science Week is a great time to focus on the growing financial and workforce needs of the forensic science community, talking about continuing to advance the science and technology, and rewarding those performing this critical work. Read the full text of the resolution HERE and below. Whereas the Senate is committed to the use of forensic science in the investigation of crimes, the prosecution and conviction of the correct perpetrators of crimes, and the exoneration of… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-welcomes-interns-for-fall-2022-term | Crapo Welcomes Interns for Fall 2022 Term | 2022-09-16 | 2022 | 2022-09 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Two interns have joined U.S. Senator Mike Crapo’s (R-Idaho) Washington, D.C., office for the fall 2022 term. “An internship in the D.C. office provides firsthand experience in the federal legislative process,” Crapo said. “It is exciting to continue our internship program each term as new interns have the chance to grow and prosper as they assist in the service to Idahoans.” Alonso Aguayo currently attends Brigham Young University, Idaho, where he is studying political science and finance. After graduation, Aguayo plans to continue to pursue his passion for public diplomacy and international affairs. Jace DeMond is a Meridian, Idaho, native and recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in accounting. DeMond’s time in his university’s Tax Policy Club has sparked his interest in tax and public policy, which he plans to learn more about during his internship. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-mortgage-rates-reaching-6-percenthighest-levels-since-2008-financial-crisis | Crapo Statement on Mortgage Rates Reaching 6 Percent—Highest Levels Since 2008 Financial Crisis | 2022-09-15 | 2022 | 2022-09 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Mortgage rates hit six percent today, more than double just one year ago, and the highest rates since the 2008 financial crisis, 14 years ago. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on the news: “Mortgage rates have more than doubled from last year and are at the highest point since the 2008 financial crisis. As the Fed continues to consider higher interest rates to tamp down inflationary pressures, mortgage rates are poised to go even higher, making it all the more challenging for many Idahoans and other Americans to buy homes. Instead of taking actions to address root causes of inflation, the Administration pursued more reckless spending that will further fuel inflation and add to our national debt. We should be getting inflation under control by unleashing American energy; cutting the red tape of burdensome regulations; and stopping unrestrained government spending.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-delegation-applauds-micron-announcement | Idaho Delegation Applauds Micron Announcement | 2022-09-02 | 2022 | 2022-09 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | BOISE, Idaho – Today, the Idaho Congressional Delegation applauded Micron Technology on its announcement that it will construct a new memory chip plant in Boise, the first new memory semiconductor manufacturing fab built in the U.S. in the last 20 years. “Micron expanding its home in Boise ensures the semiconductor industry will continue to innovate and develop new technologies that keep Idaho on the leading edge for research and development,” Senator Mike Crapo said. “This expansion is valuable to our state, workforce and economy.” “Idaho and Micron have been partners since Day One of the company’s founding right here in the Treasure Valley. Micron’s announcement of a new fab coming to Boise deepens that partnership,” said Senator Jim Risch. “This newest plant will strengthen American memory chip manufacturing and help ensure the U.S. is self-reliant for this key technology. Congratulations to all the employees at Micron on this announcement as Idaho continues to lead the way in semiconductor innovation and success.” “I am thrilled to hear the news that Micron will be building such a critical facility for U.S. national and economic security here in Idaho,” said Congressman Mike Simpson. “Micron has always been a technological leader in the field and I am so pleased they will continue their cutting-edge work right where they started.” “As an early employee of Micron, it has been remarkable to see their lasting impact on Idaho’s success,” said Congressman Russ Fulcher. “This new investment will not only build on this success, but will also improve America’s position in the semiconductor industry.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T03:08:33Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-inflation-impacting-idahos-agriculture-industry-is-out-of-control | Crapo: Inflation Impacting Idaho’s Agriculture Industry is Out of Control | 2022-08-26 | 2022 | 2022-08 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Twin Falls, Idaho--Thursday, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) led Idaho agricultural producers in a news conference on the inflationary pressure impacting Idaho’s agriculture industry. “Sustained high inflation impacting Idaho’s agriculture industry is out of control,” Crapo said. “The party-line budget reconciliation bills Congressional Democrats pursued the past two years only added fuel to the inflation fire with unwarranted increases in federal spending. Further, the tax increases in the ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ will only make matters worse by increasing burdens on businesses that continue to deal with supply-chain disruptions and the added costs of delivering goods to the marketplace.” Crapo was joined at the conference by Idaho Farm Bureau CEO Zak Miller and Twin Falls County Farm Bureau President Larry Hollifield. Miller and Hollifield added to the Senator’s concerns regarding sustained high inflation and its impacts on Idaho’s producers. “As a farmer, we are used to good and bad years; that is normal,” Hollifield said. “However, there is a great concern about inflated farm inputs. We don’t know how long they are going to last.” As the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over international trade, Crapo continues to put pressure on the Biden Administration to pursue more trade agreements. “Sound trade policies that open more international markets to Idaho-produced agricultural goods are also another critical area we can fight inflation and increase economic opportunities for our Gem State agricultural producers,” Crapo said. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-biden-300-billion-student-loan-plan | Crapo Statement on Biden $300 Billion Student Loan Plan | 2022-08-25 | 2022 | 2022-08 | 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) issued the following statement in response to President Joe Biden's $300 billion student loan plan: “The current higher education system warrants careful review as rising tuition costs and the amount of loans disbursed for education continue to saddle students and graduates with financial difficulties. But placing the burden of our nation’s outstanding student loan debt on taxpayers is both irresponsible and unaffordable as we continue to grapple with already record-high inflation. The Penn-Wharton Budget Model estimates this cancellation will cost taxpayers $300 billion, and those in the top 60 percent income bracket will see the largest share of the benefit. Broad student loan debt cancellation does nothing to address the underlying issue of the exorbitant costs of tuition, which will only balloon even further.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-to-honor-idaho-falls-team-with-spirit-of-idaho | Crapo to Honor Idaho Falls Team With Spirit of Idaho | 2022-08-23 | 2022 | 2022-08 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Idaho Falls, Idaho--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) will present the Spirit of Idaho Award to the Idaho Falls Bandits at 7:05 PM at Melaleuca Field on Wednesday, August 24, prior to the Idaho Falls Chukars v. Boise Hawks game. The back-to-back American Legion World Series Champions became the second team in the history of American Legion Baseball to play for a third consecutive title last week, and lost a hard-fought championship game to Troy, Alabama. They earned their trip to the World Series after becoming the Northwest Regional Champions by defeating Cheyenne, Wyoming, 6-5, in the Northwest regional championship game. “The heart and dedication it takes to return to the American Legion Baseball World Series Championship game for the third year in a row is to be commended,” Crapo said. “I applaud The Bandits for embodying the Spirit of Idaho through their talent, determination and upstanding examples as ambassadors for the city of Idaho Falls and state of Idaho on the national stage.” “Since 2012, the Idaho Falls Post 56 Bandits have been building teams with the discipline and commitment it takes to be champions,” Bandits Coach Ryan Alexander said. “Our players apply this to everything they do in life. Every new team embraces the history of the last team. Our success passes on from year to year, team to team, and player to player. Every Bandits team is different, but the dedication to hard work and sacrifice of each player only grows, creating a legacy, representing our Post 56 heroes and the great state of Idaho. It is an honor that Senator Crapo recognizes this legacy as well.” The Spirit of Idaho Award was created by Crapo in 2000 to honor the acts of service by Idahoans for their commitment to improving their community and serving their fellow citizens. Crapo has presented more than 600 Spirit of Idaho Awards since the award’s inception. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-to-honor-magic-valley-resident-with-spirit-of-idaho-award | Crapo To Honor Magic Valley Resident with Spirit of Idaho Award | 2022-08-23 | 2022 | 2022-08 | 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) will present the Spirit of Idaho Award to Forrest Andersen of Murtaugh at Stricker Elementary School in Kimberly at 8:45 AM on Thursday, August 25. Andersen raised $15,000 to outfit Magic Valley school resource officers (SRO) with new rifle-rated body armor. “I applaud Forrest for seeing a need in his community and taking the initiative to fill that need,” Crapo said. “He embodies the Spirit of Idaho with his selfless and enterprising example.” Prior to Andersen’s endeavor, SROs had rifle-rated body armor, but it was too heavy to wear throughout the school day. New, modern body armor is thinner and weighs little more than 1lb. As the school year kicks off, SROs throughout the Magic Valley will be better protected as they perform their primary duty--protecting our children and teachers. “The Magic Valley is very fortunate to have community-minded individuals such as Mr. Andersen,” Kimberly School District Superintendent Luke Schroder said. “Kimberly School District is very grateful for his generosity." “What a wonderful community we live and work in, where citizens and law enforcement work together to meet the needs and solve the issues that arise in our community,” Kimberly Police Chief Jeff Perry said. The Spirit of Idaho Award was created by Crapo in 2000 to honor the acts of service by Idahoans for their commitment to improving their community and serving their fellow citizens. Crapo has presented more than 600 Spirit of Idaho Awards since the award’s inception. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-to-lead-news-conference-on-inflation-impacting-idahos-agriculture-industry | Crapo to Lead News Conference On Inflation Impacting Idaho’s Agriculture Industry | 2022-08-22 | 2022 | 2022-08 | 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) will lead Idaho agricultural producers in a news conference on the inflationary pressure impacting Idaho’s agriculture industry. “Sustained high inflation is out of control,” Crapo said. “Idahoans continue to feel the pain of record high inflation and broad-based, rapid price increases. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the agriculture industry where Idaho farmers are experiencing increases across their operations--from seed, chemical and fertilizer to the diesel used in harvest equipment and shipping, all of which culminate in higher costs for the consumer.” DETAILS: WHAT: News conference on the inflationary pressure impacting Idaho’s agriculture industry. WHO: U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) Zak Miller, Idaho Farm Bureau CEO Larry Hollifield, Twin Falls County Farm Bureau President WHEN: Thursday, August 25, 2022 2:00 PM (MDT) | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-protecting-taxpayers-earning-under-400000-from-increased-irs-scrutiny | Crapo Statement on Protecting Taxpayers Earning Under $400,000 from Increased IRS Scrutiny | 2022-08-11 | 2022 | 2022-08 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on increased funding for the IRS included in the “Inflation Reduction Act,” and his amendment to protect small businesses and middle-class taxpayers from increased audits. “It’s clear that the President, the IRS, and the Secretary of Treasury are scrambling to protest that they are not going to increase audits on people making less than $400,000. However, when given the opportunity to vote on the Senate floor and put into binding statute that increased funds could not be used to increase audits on those making less than $400,000 per year, every single Democratic senator voted no. When I offered my amendment to simply make it clear that the $80 billion being given to the IRS--six times its current annual budget--could not be utilized to audit people making less than $400,000, the most they would agree to was to say they did not ‘intend’ to audit them. That’s because they know from the analysis of the Joint Committee on Taxation that most underreported income occurs among taxpayers earning less than $200,000 per year, and from the Congressional Budget Office that they cannot collect the $200 billion they are claiming without auditing people making less than $400,000. If they truly do not intend to audit anyone making less than $400,000, then they would have supported my amendment, turning ‘intent’ into binding statute.” On August 7, Senator Crapo offered an amendment during consideration of the “Inflation Reduction Act” to prevent the IRS from using any of the $80 billion of funding for audits on individuals and small businesses with taxable incomes below $400,000. Senate Democrats rejected the amendment along party lines, 50-50. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-offers-amendment-to-protect-middle-class-small-businesses-from-supersized-irs | Crapo Offers Amendment to Protect Middle Class, Small Businesses from Supersized IRS | 2022-08-07 | 2022 | 2022-08 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) filed an amendment to the Democrats’ misleadingly-named “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” to prevent the IRS from using its massive, $80 billion cash infusion on enforcement actions designed to squeeze more revenue out of American taxpayers who earn less than $400,000 per year. “My colleagues claim this massive funding boost will allow the IRS to go after millionaires, billionaires and so-called rich ‘tax cheats,’ but the reality is a significant portion raised from their IRS funding bloat would come from taxpayers with income below $400,000,” said Crapo. “Otherwise, why would the legislative text say the funding isn’t intended to target taxpayers below that threshold? My colleagues and Americans know the real answer: small business owners, cash-heavy businesses and those who can’t afford legal teams are easy targets for the new IRS agents and their audits. My amendment would ensure the Democrats’ supersized-IRS proposal cannot violate the President’s pledge to not raise taxes on those making less than $400,000.” Senator Crapo’s amendment would prevent the IRS from using any of the supersized $80 billion of funding for audits on hard-working American taxpayers, including individuals and small businesses, with taxable incomes below $400.000. The amendment has teeth, in contrast to the Democrats’ bill containing merely an unenforceable statement of intention to not squeeze more revenue out of the middle class. Senate Democrats voted the amendment down along party lines, 50-50. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-votes-against-democrats-damaging-tax-and-spend-bill | Crapo Votes Against Democrats’ Damaging Tax-and-Spend Bill | 2022-08-07 | 2022 | 2022-08 | 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), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today voted against the Democrats’ mislabeled “Inflation Reduction Act,” a partisan, filibuster-proof budget proposal that does nothing to bring the economy out of stagnation and recession, and instead gives Americans higher taxes, more spending, higher prices and an army of IRS agents. “At the beginning of this Congress, my Democrat colleagues used this same process to ram through the ‘American Rescue Plan’ along party lines, with promises that $1.9 trillion of debt-financed spending was going to save the country and fix everyone’s concerns,” said Crapo. “Where are we today? Inflation at 9.1 percent, which we told them was coming. Gas prices have doubled. Economic stagnation. Semantic arguments about what defines a recession, like the one Democrats are making, miss the point. Sixty-five percent of Americans already think we are in a recession, and more than eighty percent of the country say our economy is on the wrong track. We should be working together on policies to bring us out of this economic quagmire, but the bill we voted on today doubles down on a tried-and-failed tax-and-spend strategy. This bill does nothing to address the significant inflation we are facing, or to ease burdens born today by low- and middle-income Americans. Rather, it promises higher taxes, more reckless spending, higher prices, a supersized IRS and prolonged stagflation. “Before the pandemic, we were experiencing one of the strongest economies in a lifetime. Employment was up, wages were up, capital formation came back to the United States, and the inflation rate hovered around 1.5 percent. We know pro-growth policies work, and I will continue to fight for them.” As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Crapo spoke on the Senate Floor against the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree, outlining concerns with proposals to increase taxes on Americans across all incomes. You can read those remarks here. Senate… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-democrats-are-proposing-more-taxes-more-spending-higher-prices-and-an-army-of-irs-agents | Crapo: Democrats are Proposing More Taxes, More Spending, Higher Prices, and an Army of IRS Agents | 2022-08-06 | 2022 | 2022-08 | 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), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, delivered remarks on the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending bill, outlining what Americans can expect from the mislabeled Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: more taxes, more spending, higher prices, and an army of IRS auditors. “It’s too many taxes, too much spending, too big of a burden on American people across all income categories.” To watch Crapo’s full remarks, click HERE or the image above. On the state of the economy: The nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model says the “Inflation Reduction Act” will, if anything, raise inflation in the first few years, with a small and insignificant negative effect later in this decade. That same model concludes that there is “low confidence that the legislation will have any impact on inflation.” But it does have an impact on all of us and our economy. The bill does nothing to bring the economy out of stagnation and recession. Rather, the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” gives us higher taxes, more spending, higher prices, and an army of IRS agents. On tax hikes: Hundreds of billions of dollars raised through taxes–around $350 to $400 billion. There’s a new book minimum tax on corporations; a new tax on stock buybacks… There’s—believe it or not—a new tax on gasoline, on oil and gas and refineries at the very time when our President has shut down production of oil and gas on our interior and offshore, and has stopped the Keystone XL pipeline, basically freezing America’s production and driving us from a state of energy independence to a state of energy dependence, where we have to ask our friends and often our enemies across the globe to increase their gas production to help us deal with our prices at the pump. Everyone in America knows that corporations don’t bear the burden of the taxes we put on them. Who does? Workers, consumers and owners. My colleagues are quick to say this is just rich people and rich companies who are “tax cheats.” But the owners of the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/jct-confirms-tax-costs-exponentially-outweigh-benefits | JCT Confirms: Tax Costs Exponentially Outweigh Benefits | 2022-08-05 | 2022 | 2022-08 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) has issued an analysis of effects of the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spend bill on taxpayers in each income category. The new analysis shows that the burden of the bill’s tax increases on lower- and middle-income Americans is so great, any supposed benefits from the temporary premium credits only outweigh the tax hits for a small sliver of the population. Even for the small number of people who would receive a slight benefit, significantly larger portions of American taxpayers in each income category would still face the burden of a tax increase. “The Administration has been very careful to say that the ‘individual income tax rate’ would not change for anyone making less than $400,000 per year, yet everyone knows that the corporate tax burden falls on workers and consumers, as well as owners,” said Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who requested the analysis. “This analysis shows that burdens of the proposed tax increases in the Democrats’ reckless bill would be so substantial and so widespread throughout all income categories that no amount of temporary health credits, or subsidies for $80,000 luxury SUVs, will overcome the tax increase burdens that would be overwhelmingly felt by lower- and middle-income Americans.” The analysis of the tax title of the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” includes the corporate book minimum tax increase and all energy tax provisions that JCT is able to estimate. It does not include the Superfund tax, the formerly-proposed changes to taxation of carried interest, or a potential excise tax on stock buybacks which would, if included, show potentially even larger burdens on Americans of all income categories. According to JCT, given the tax hikes and most of the “Green New Deal” tax credits in the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spend bill: In 2023: 24.6 percent of taxpayers earning between $10,000 and $20,000 would see a tax increase. 61.7 percent of taxpayers earning between $40,000 an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-reckless-tax-and-spend-dangerous-for-america | Crapo: Reckless Tax-and-Spend Dangerous for America | 2022-08-03 | 2022 | 2022-08 | 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), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, led a news conference with Finance Committee Republicans to highlight the tax hike proposals in the mislabeled “Inflation Reduction Act.” Analyses from nonpartisan experts have shown the legislation would increase the tax burden on low- and middle-income Americans; slam the manufacturing industry; and do nothing to lower inflation. “The bottom line—this tax is dangerous for America.” To watch Crapo’s full remarks, click HERE or the image above. On who bears the burden of a tax hike: “The Administration has been very careful to say ‘we aren’t raising the tax rates of anyone under $400,000.’ But everyone in America knows that when taxes are charged, people end up carrying the burden of those taxes. “That burden comes because the incidence of the corporate tax is passed on to workers; to capital, or those who own the stock, people trying to invest in their retirement in a pension plan or 401K; and in price increases in the economy. “The [Joint Committee on Taxation] found that in 2023, the tax burden would increase by $16.7 billion on Americans earning less than $200,000 per year. Another $14.1 billion would be borne by taxpayers earning between $200,000 and $500,000 per year. During the ten-year period, the average tax burden increases for nearly every single income category. When you get to the point at the end of the ten-year period, half to two-thirds of the burden would fall on those earning less than $400,000. That is the reality, regardless of the games that are being played in terms of describing who the taxes fall on.” On which industries will be hit hardest by tax hikes: “49.7 percent of those taxes will fall on manufacturers, and as you can see from the chart that it goes across various other aspects of our economy…This bill will slam manufacturers. “The National Association of Manufacturers has indicated that because half of the impact of this will be on that industry, that this would be a reduct… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-and-warner-unveil-new-bipartisan-caucus-to-fuel-investment-in-rural_low-income-communities | Crapo & Warner Unveil New Bipartisan Caucus To Fuel Investment In Rural & Low-income Communities | 2022-08-01 | 2022 | 2022-08 | 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-ID) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced the creation of the Senate Community Development Finance Caucus (CDFC), a bipartisan caucus dedicated to supporting the missions of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) to scale their activities and fuel more lending in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. The 14-member caucus is bipartisan and evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans including Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). CDFIs play a critical role in providing responsible and affordable credit to underserved communities. During the pandemic, CDFIs demonstrated their ability to deliver billions of dollars to underserved businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), totaling approximately $34 billion. On a bipartisan basis, Sen. Warner worked with Sen. Crapo, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and other colleagues to introduce the Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act, which passed as part of the December 2020 COVID relief package. The bill made a historic $12 billion investment in CDFIs and MDIs, which included $3 billion for grant funding and $9 billion for tier-one capital investments in CDFIs and MDIs, which could be leveraged 10 to 1. “CDFIs and MDIs play an essential role in providing access to capital in underserved communities. While Congress took significant steps to support community-based lenders over the last two years on a bipartisan basis, CDFIs continue to need more long-term patient capital, operating capital, and resources to modernize their systems and compete in an era of rapid financial innovation. I am happy to announce the creation of this caucus with Sen. Crapo to improve communication between industry and policymake… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-damaging-tax-hikes-would-lead-to-higher-inflation-economic-stagnation | Crapo: Damaging Tax Hikes Would Lead to Higher Inflation, Economic Stagnation | 2022-08-01 | 2022 | 2022-08 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--In an interview with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) discussed the Democrats’ reckless proposals to raise taxes amid high inflation and economic stagnation under the mislabeled “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” Crapo touted the success of Republicans’ 2017 tax reform bill, cautioning that Democrats’ current proposals would undo much of the progress made from those reforms, and highlighted analyses from nonpartisan experts showing the new tax-and-spend bill would raise taxes on low- and middle-income Americans during a period of declining GDP and high inflation; raise taxes on manufacturers, exacerbating supply-chain disruptions, and costing U.S. jobs and investment; and do little to nothing to lower inflation. 2017 tax reform encouraged investment in domestic manufacturing: “This is exactly what we intended to happen with the 2017 tax act. Recall that back then, we were facing capital fleeing from the United States and we saw a really weak economy. When we incentivized capital to come back to the United States, over a trillion dollars in capital that was being held offshores came back, and we started seeing investment growth in many areas--particularly manufacturing--that is so critical to making our economy stronger again. . . . These taxes will slam that very dynamic.” Nonpartisan experts confirm tax increases will fall on manufacturing and low- to middle-income taxpayers: “We just got two analyses from the Joint Tax Committee, a bipartisan committee, that analyzes these dynamics. One of them said where this will fall and the other said who will pay the burden of these taxes. “The first one said, the burden will fall mostly--49 percent--on manufacturing in the United States, and will still hit all other segments of the economy. The second one said this will fall through to the lower- and middle-income classes primarily. “Just a couple more statistics: It said in the first year of these new taxes, $17 billion will be paid b… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/myth-vs-fact-tax-title-of-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022 | MYTH vs FACT: Tax Title of the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” | 2022-08-01 | 2022 | 2022-08 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Democrats claim the latest version of their tax-and-spend bill, the mislabeled “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” will ensure the wealthiest Americans and corporations pay their “fair share” by closing tax loopholes and boosting IRS funding, all without raising taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 per year. However, analyses from nonpartisan experts show the legislation would raise taxes on low- and middle-income Americans during a period of declining GDP and high inflation; raise taxes on manufacturers, exacerbating supply-chain disruptions, and costing U.S. jobs and investment; and do little to nothing to lower inflation. “The more this bill is analyzed by impartial experts, the more we can see Democrats are trying to sell the American people a bill of goods,” said U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo. “Non-partisan analysts are confirming this bill raises taxes on the middle class, raises taxes on manufacturers, and produces no meaningful deficit reduction when gimmicks are removed and the full cost is accounted for.” Access this document here. IRS FUNDING MYTH: Increasing IRS funding by $80 billion will provide the agency with the resources it needs to go after wealthy tax cheats and corporations who don’t pay their fair share in taxes, generating more than $124 billion in additional revenue to go toward deficit reduction. FACT: According to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), the brunt of any new revenue from hiring an army of IRS auditors will overwhelming hit low- and middle-income earners, people already struggling with high gas prices and 9.1 percent inflation. CBO scores the $80 billion for mandatory IRS funding as spending only, and gives phantom credit for potential enforcement revenue that might be generated in “future baselines.” Background: IRS funding breakdown—$80 billion in mandatory appropriations to the IRS: $45.6 billion for enforcement purposes $25.3 billion for operations support $4.8 billion for business systems modernization $3.2 billion f… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:59:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/jct-democrats-proposals-increase-taxes-on-millions-of-americans | JCT: Democrats’ Proposals Increase Taxes on Millions of Americans | 2022-07-30 | 2022 | 2022-07 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT)estimates the Democrats’ latest reckless tax-and-spend proposal will increase taxes on millions of Americans across every income bracket, with more than half of the tax increases on Americans making less than $400,000 per year. “While Republicans’ pro-growth tax reform in 2017 reduced tax rates for all Americans in a way that increased the progressivity of the tax code and produced historic gains in job and wage growth, the Democrats’ approach to tax reform means increasing taxes on low- and middle-income Americans to fund their partisan Green New Deal,” said U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who requested the analysis. “Americans are already experiencing the consequences of Democrats’ reckless economic policies. The mislabeled ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ will do nothing to bring the economy out of stagnation and recession, but it will raise billions of dollars in taxes on Americans making less than $400,000.” According to JCT: In 2023, taxes will increase by $16.7 billion on American taxpayers earning less than $200,000—a nearly $17 billion tax targeted solidly at low- and middle-income earners next year, amidst stagflation. The $17 billion hit alone is confirmation that the Biden pledge to not raise taxes on anyone earning less than $400,000 is shattered by the latest tax-and-spend bill. The proposal would raise another $14.1 billion from taxpayers earning between $200,000 and $500,000. According to JCT data, 98 percent of all tax returns filed by those in the $200,000 to $500,000 category are filed by those earning between $200,000 and $400,000, with at least three-fourths of the income in the $200,000 to $500,000 category also coming from those below $400,000, meaning it is likely that at least half of all new tax revenue raised next year would come from those earning under $400,000. Throughout the ten-year window, the average tax rate for nearly every single income category would increase. By 2031, when … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/inflation-soars-gdp-declines-economy-needs-pro-growth-policies | Inflation Soars, GDP Declines: Economy Needs Pro-Growth Policies | 2022-07-29 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the below statement following the release of the personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE), which jumped to 6.8 percent in June, up from 6.3 percent in May. “Two consecutive quarters of negative GDP, continued high inflation, declining consumer and business confidence—it’s clear that Democrats’ economic policies have not worked. Americans’ perception of the economy continue to crater as they see the wreckage of Democrats’ reckless economic policies. Instead of pursuing more of the same tax-and-spend policies that contributed to this economic disaster in Democrats’ partisan objective of ‘changing America,’ lawmakers should focus on policies that helped to create one of the strongest economies in a generation and build on the successful 2017 tax reform law to promote U.S. global economic leadership and Americans’ livelihoods through competitive corporate tax policies.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-democrats-want-to-raise-taxes-kill-jobs-amid-shrinking-economy | Crapo: Democrats Want to Raise Taxes, Kill Jobs Amid Shrinking Economy | 2022-07-28 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.9 percent for the period, following a 1.6 percent decline in the first quarter. “GDP has declined for two consecutive quarters as inflation continues to rage. Democrats’ economic policies took an economy rapidly recovering from pandemic shutdowns—a recovery fueled by the underlying pro-growth Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax policies—and turned it into an economy suffering from painful stagflation. Splitting hairs on technical definitions about what is or is not a ‘recession’ is a distraction from the pain Americans continue to feel at the pump, in the grocery aisles and, now, from threats of a declining economy. “Whatever label Democrats want to debate, we know Americans and small businesses are hurting, as consumer and business confidence and outlooks continue to crater. Democrats’ ongoing attempts to raise taxes and increase spending would be yet another policy mistake that would further weaken the economy and the wellbeing of all Americans.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-ustr-nomination-hearing | Crapo Statement at USTR Nomination Hearing | 2022-07-28 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, delivered the following remarks at hearing to consider the nomination of Douglas J. McKalip, for U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator. The text of Ranking Member Crapo’s remarks, as prepared, is below. “Thank you, Senator Wyden. “Welcome, Mr. McKalip, and congratulations on your nomination. I took the opportunity to listen to your band Box Cartel. You’re hitting the right notes there. With your trade policy experience, I hope that—if confirmed—you’ll also the right hit notes on improving opportunities for our farmers and ranchers. “America’s farmers continue to prove their resilience and productivity every day, and will keep doing so. But’s it not easy. Americans are painfully aware that gas prices are up 42 percent from a year ago. What fewer people may know is that the price for diesel rose by an even greater margin—68 percent. This hits our farmers hard. “Back in March, a fourth generation farmer in Meridian, Idaho explained that the cost of filling up his tractor had doubled in a year to $800. However, one bright factor for America’s farmers right now is exports with sales of agricultural products overseas reaching $177 billion in 2021. America’s farmers sell more high quality products to consumers around the world than ever before. “In Idaho, if we kept what our 24,000 farms produced within the state, each Idahoan would have to eat 209 slices of bread, 40 potatoes, 3 pounds of sugar, 2 pounds of cheese, 2 pounds of beef and a cup of beans—every single day. Fortunately, Idaho’s agricultural products also feed the nation and the world, exporting one of every six rows of Idaho potatoes and 50 percent of Idaho’s wheat. “Nationally, one in three acres planted in the United States will be exported. But we can sell even more. What is holding us back is, again, a misplaced Biden Administration policy: a moratorium on new trade agreements, and limited enforcement of existing agreements. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-named-a-hero-of-main-street | Crapo Named A Hero Of Main Street | 2022-07-27 | 2022 | 2022-07 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C. - A national group representing the U.S. retail industry today named Idaho Senator Mike Crapo a "Hero of Main Street" for his legislative priorities and voting record. The National Retail Federation (NRF) notes retail jobs make up the nation's largest private sector of employment. The NRF's 2013 Annual Report noted Idaho had 148,029 direct retail jobs last year and an employment impact of 206,741 jobs. The Idaho statistics and awards are listed on the Federation's website: http://retailmeansjobs.com/data/id NRF says Crapo's and the other Congressional awards were recognized "for their consistent support of the retail industry's top public policies." The awards come during National Small Business Week. "Small businesses drive the U.S. economy," noted Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee with jurisdiction over tax and health care issues. "A key step to create new jobs in the private sector and reduce our debt will be to reform our unfair and outdated federal tax code." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-hearing-on-housing-affordability | Crapo Statement at Hearing on Housing Affordability | 2022-07-20 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, delivered the following remarks at hearing entitled, “The Role of Tax Incentives in Affordable Housing.” The text of Ranking Member Crapo’s remarks, as prepared, is below. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Last week we learned that consumer price inflation spiked to 9.1 percent, the highest in more than 40 years. The shelter component of the consumer price index was up 5.6 percent in June relative to a year earlier, and rents were up by nearly 6.0 percent. “To continue battling inflation, which was fueled by last year’s partisan American Rescue Plan, the Federal Reserve must aggressively raise interest rates, and may raise rates later this month by as much as a full percent. “Inflation must be contained, or we run a risk of the Fed having to repeat what it did in late 1980 to combat runaway inflation. Painfully, then, overnight interest rates were driven to nearly 20 percent, which crushed economic activity, including housing markets, and helped lead to a deep and long recession. “With higher interest rates set by the Fed, higher mortgage rates follow, making it all the more challenging for Americans to buy homes. “Housing affordability is a critical issue in Idaho and all across the country. “Nationwide, there is a shortage of about 7 million affordable rental homes available to lower income Americans and the gap between demand and supply increases each year. To provide more affordable housing, there are existing tools in the tax toolbox that provide incentives for builders to create more affordable homes. “The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit—or LIHTC—for example, is responsible for generating a majority of all affordable rental housing created in the U.S. today and generally enjoys bipartisan support in Congress. “In Idaho, there are currently 284 LIHTC projects located across the state providing 12,000 plus units. These projects vary in size and are split roughly between urban and rural, with about 72 per… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idahos-congressional-delegation-comments-on-delayed-boise-va-electronic-health-record-transition | Idaho’s Congressional Delegation Comments On Delayed Boise VA Electronic Health Record Transition | 2022-07-20 | 2022 | 2022-07 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Boise, Idaho -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and U.S. Representative Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) remain concerned about the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) rollout of the new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system at the Boise VA Medical Center (VAMC), which has been postponed indefinitely from the original go-live date of June 25, 2022 and the delayed go-live date of July 23, 2022. “As the VA works to determine a viable path forward for the new EHR system, we once again call on VA and Oracle Cerner leadership to put veterans first by fixing the long-identified issues with the program that pose a threat to patient care,” said Idaho’s Congressional Delegation. “Before the system is rolled out at any additional sites, it must be made safe, reliable and user-friendly.” While initially intended to improve care coordination and increase efficiency, over the past year, the VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released multiple reports detailing deficiencies with the new EHR system, which was first deployed at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC in Spokane, Washington. These deficiencies have led to delays in patient care, refilling prescriptions and managing referrals, among other things. In April, the Idaho Congressional Delegation raised concerns to the VA regarding these OIG reports and requested information on steps being taken to ensure these issues do not further impede veteran care during the planned rollout at the Boise VAMC. Though a few of these deficiencies have been addressed, numerous outstanding issues remain. In addition to Delegation staffs’ numerous meetings with Veterans Health Administration stakeholders, staff members from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs recently visited the Boise VAMC to meet with hospital leadership and providers at the request of the Delegation. “As VA reassesses the Cerner implementation at the Boise VAMC, Members and staff of the Idaho Congressional Delegation remain committed to working… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-republicans-small-business-surcharge-would-crush-main-street-businesses | Finance Republicans: Small Business Surcharge would Crush Main Street Businesses | 2022-07-19 | 2022 | 2022-07 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Republican members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, led by Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), sent a letter to Senate colleagues highlighting concerns with a proposal to impose a tax on small- and medium-sized businesses— businesses already reeling from the pandemic, massive inflation and worker shortages. A proposal to expand the so-called Net Investment Income Tax, or NIIT, on small businesses would put many small businesses at risk of paying a higher tax rate. This small business surcharge would: Put 75 percent of businesses organized as S corporations, partnerships, or limited liabilities companies (LLCs) at risk of tax hikes; Add $252 billion in new taxes on America’s small businesses, according to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation; Penalize small businesses who are able to achieve even moderate success, and crush incentives to strive to build a successful small business; and Double down on penalizing marriage by treating business owners with joint filing spouses more harshly than those who are not married. From the letter: “[I]n the face of increasingly troubling economic conditions, Democrats are advocating using partisan budget tools to raise taxes. Those taxes will hit the middle class and small- and medium-sized businesses at a time of rising interest rates, high risks of recession, and a rising stealth inflation tax that has hit every American since the middle of last year. “One of the job-killing tax increases under consideration for the resurrected version of the Build Back Better scheme is an expanded Net Investment Income Tax, or NIIT, on so called ‘pass-through businesses,’ which are businesses whose income passes-through to an owner’s tax return. “This small business tax surcharge would be in addition to the income taxes of up to 37 percent that owners already pay on their net earnings—a tax they pay regardless of whether they distribute the money to themselves or leave it in the business for future needs. An expanded NIIT would mean an up to 40.8 perce… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-seven-consecutive-months-of-double-digit-wholesale-price-inflation | Crapo: Seven Consecutive Months of Double Digit Wholesale Price Inflation | 2022-07-14 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after inflation in the Producer Price Index (PPI) increased to 11.3 percent--seven consecutive months of double-digit rates--well above the 1.8 percent average during the four years prior to Biden taking office. “Data on producer prices released this morning show another double-digit rise in wholesale prices, signaling more inflation pressures for consumers down the road. This is the seventh consecutive month with wholesale price inflation above 10 percent. Now would be the worst time to subject businesses to another round of Democrat tax increases, which would serve only to put more pressure on costs to producers, including the vast number of small businesses struggling to stay afloat in the high-inflation, shortage-ridden environment that has unfortunately been engineered by the Biden Administration’s economic policies.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-lower-snake-river-white-house-report | Crapo Statement on Lower Snake River White House Report | 2022-07-14 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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) released the following statement regarding the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) draft report advocating for breaching at least one of the Lower Snake River dams to improve salmon populations. “In light of the secretive reports conducted with little to no input from Idahoans, I must oppose the Biden Administration’s efforts to breach the four Lower Snake Dams. The collaboration needed to form a consensus on a recovery plan has not happened. Absent that consensus, I oppose dam breaching. Over the past few decades, we have learned that politicians alone can’t improve salmon populations. Leadership and cooperation is required by all--private, public and advocates--to build a path toward solution.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-republicans-on-democrats-plans-to-hike-taxes-kill-jobs-and-fuel-inflation | Finance Committee Republicans on Democrats’ Plans to Hike Taxes, Kill Jobs and Fuel Inflation | 2022-07-14 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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 Republicans, led by Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), held a news conference to emphasize why combining massive tax hikes with sky-high inflation is a terrible combination for American workers and the economy. To watch the news conference in its entirety, click here. Highlights: Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho): “Tax increases would make inflation worse by further suppressing the supply side of the economy, including by depressing investment and productivity growth as well as labor supply when labor force participation remains below pre-pandemic levels.” Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa): “Iowans are paying $670 more per month on living expenses since President Biden took office. They're pleading for a reprieve from the Democrats’ terrible economic policies. . . . More government spending and higher taxes are exactly the opposite of what Iowans need right now. Reckless government spending fueled inflation in the first place--more spending will make it even worse.” Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas): “It’s the pain, the silent tax you heard about, that hits people most directly. You would think that the Biden Administration would understand the basic laws of supply and demand. The one reason why prices are high is because demand is high, but when demand is high if you want to lower the price you increase the supply. . . . We could create more good jobs across America and bring down the price of gasoline at the pump and provide some real relief to American consumers if we would just produce more energy here at home.” Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma): “[H]istory is repeating itself. Literally, the weekend before I’m watching Joe Biden travel to Saudi Arabia to go meet with them about increasing oil production and to try to bring down prices in America, I’m reading a story of Jimmy Carter doing the exact same thing in the 1970s. This is the Biden economy. This economy that we have right now of 9.1 percent inflation is directly tied to the Democrats’ policies and the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/republicans-introduce-legislation-to-recover-unchecked-unemployment-fraud | Republicans Introduce Legislation to Recover Unchecked Unemployment Fraud | 2022-07-14 | 2022 | 2022-07 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--With unemployment fraud leaving taxpayers on the hook for roughly $163 billion, and only slightly more than $4 billion recovered, Senate Republicans, led by Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-Ohio) are introducing legislation to recover funds from unchecked unemployment fraud and provide incentives for States to recover fraudulent payments. The “Chase COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2022” would jumpstart efforts to claw back federal funds and pursue recovery of fraudulent payments by ensuring aggressive identification, investigation and prosecution of criminal fraud in pandemic unemployment programs. Republican Leaders in the House, led by House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas), introduced identical legislation on June 9, 2022. “The Administration needs to step up and join us in detecting and preventing the massive fraud in federal unemployment insurance programs that we have seen, including systemic fraud, internationally organized criminal fraud rings, and other threats to our systems, programs and the federal budget,” said Ranking Member Crapo. “The fraud associated with pandemic unemployment programs reached staggering levels,” Ranking Member Portman said. “Billions of hard-working Americans’ taxpayer dollars that were meant to help out-of-work Americans instead went to criminals and cheats. This legislation will give the states the incentives and tools necessary to recover this stolen money.” In addition to Senators Crapo and Portman, the bill is co-sponsored by Senators: Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) Mike Braun (R-Indiana) Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) Susan Collins (R-Maine) Steve Daines (R-Montana) Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) Jim Risch (R-Idaho) Mitt Romney (R-Utah) John Thune (R-South Dakota) Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) Background: The White House estima… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-raising-taxes-and-killing-jobs-no-cure-for-inflation | Crapo: Raising Taxes and Killing Jobs No Cure for Inflation | 2022-07-13 | 2022 | 2022-07 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Amid consumer price inflation surging to 9.1 percent in June and an economy facing rising odds of a recession and stagflation, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, led a news conference with Finance Committee Republicans to emphasize why this is the worst time to consider raising taxes on all Americans. To watch Crapo’s full remarks, click HERE or the image above. To download the video, click HERE. On tax hikes worsening inflation: “Today’s new data shows the Consumer Price Index remaining at painful 40-year highs, jumping to 9.1 percent for June from 8.6 percent in May. . . . Nonetheless, in the face of a recession, Democrats want to raise taxes, including on the middle class and taxpayers earning far less than $400,000. “Tax increases would make inflation worse by further suppressing the supply side of the economy, including by depressing investment and productivity growth as well as labor supply when labor force participation remains below pre-pandemic levels. On small business tax hikes: “One of the tax increases being considered in the resurrected Build Back Better Bill is an expanded Net Investment Income Tax—or NIIT—on so-called ‘flow-through businesses,’ which are businesses whose owners’ incomes flow through to their personal tax forms. Small business groups estimate up to one million small and family-owned businesses would be at risk of having their rates increased under this policy, which will negatively impact their growth prospects and their employees. “An expanded NIIT will drive down small business investment; drive down employment and reduce small business hiring; lower wages in small business jobs; and increase prices, which are passed on to consumers. “Small businesses are struggling in the Biden economy. It is not the time to levy a $252 billion new tax, especially on small- and medium-sized businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, massive inflation and worker shortages. On tax hikes hitting taxpayers in every in… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-to-lead-news-conference-on-the-988-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline-launch | Crapo to Lead News Conference on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Launch | 2022-07-13 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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) will lead Idaho state officials and mental health advocates in a news conference to celebrate the launch of the National Crisis & Suicide Hotline 988 number on Saturday, July 16, 2022. “Ensuring everyone knows where to turn for help to prevent suicide and receive crisis intervention has been one of my top priorities,” Crapo said. “On July 16, all Americans will have access to this easy-to-remember, 3-digit phone number, and we will be able to better connect people in crisis with life-saving resources.” In 2020, Crapo co-sponsored legislation to require the Federal Communications Commission’s designation of 988 as the universal national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. President Donald Trump signed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 on October 17 of that year. Idaho’s Legislature passed HCR11, recognizing 988 as the universal mental health and suicide prevention crisis phone number, during the 2021 Legislative Session. DETAILS: WHAT: News conference on 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline WHO: U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) State Senator Fred Martin (R-Boise) State Representative Laurie Lickley (R-Jerome) Stewart Wilder (Idaho Suicide Prevention Action Collective) Lee Flinn (Idaho Crisis & Suicide Hotline) WHEN: Saturday, July 16, 2022 1:30 PM MT | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-brady-risch-on-treasurys-desperate-attempt-to-force-global-tax-agreement | Crapo, Brady, Risch on Treasury’s Desperate Attempt to Force Global Tax Agreement | 2022-07-11 | 2022 | 2022-07 | 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), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), U.S. House Ways and Means Republican Leader, and U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Treasury Department’s announcement that it intends to withdraw from the U.S.-Hungary tax treaty in an attempt to compel Hungary to implement the global minimum tax deal being pursued by the Biden Administration. The Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee have jurisdiction over tax matters, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has jurisdiction over treaties. “Treasury’s latest tactic to force implementation of the OECD agreement is to withdraw from a longstanding bilateral tax treaty approved by Congress. This is a transparent attempt to bully Hungary into hasty action on a global minimum tax and interfere in an internal European Union policy-making process. The move stands in stark contrast to the Biden Administration’s rhetoric about improving multilateral tax cooperation. We are very concerned that Treasury’s go-it-alone approach to the global tax negotiations will lead to more uncertainty, more disputes among countries, and fewer jobs and opportunities for Americans. “To achieve a sustainable result at the OECD, Treasury must abandon its unilateral approach and engage in bipartisan consultation with Congress and the interagency that includes protecting our own jobs and economy.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:20:25Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/jct-confirms-democrats-proposals-increase-taxes-on-all-americans | JCT Confirms Democrats’ Proposals Increase Taxes on All Americans | 2022-07-11 | 2022 | 2022-07 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.-- A new pair of analyses by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) shows that the Democrats’ latest tax-and-spend provisions under discussion will increase taxes on millions of Americans making less than $400,000 per year, and the average tax rate for every single income category would increase. The JCT previously confirmed that the House-passed “Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) would result in meaningful tax increases for taxpayers at every income level. News reports suggest Democrats are prepared to move forward with the full slate of tax increases in the House-passed legislation, without any tax cuts for lower- or middle-income households. JCT estimates that legislation retaining those tax increases, while removing the social policy tax cuts that had been contained in Subtitle G, would provide zero tax relief for the middle class, with the vast majority of Americans seeing tax increases at a time when they can least afford it. “While Republican tax reform in 2017 cut taxes for all Americans, and increased the progressivity of the tax code, the Democrats’ approach to tax reform does not cut taxes for anyone, but it would raise taxes on millions of lower-and middle-income Americans at a time when they can least afford it,” said U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). “The economy is already reeling from Democrats’ bad policies and people are struggling to make ends meet. The last thing they need are higher taxes, especially in light of rising odds of a recession and stagflation.” The first analysis projects the distributional effect of the House-passed tax increases without temporary social policy tax relief. The analysis confirms: In 2023, when we are facing the dual threat of inflation and recession, the Democrats would raise $33 billion from Americans earning less than $400,000 per year, while providing a net tax cut of about $1.5 billion for Americans earning more than $400,000 per year. Over the course of the 10-year budget window, roughly 30 perc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:49:02Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-inflation-continues-to-climb-eating-into-workers-paychecks | Crapo: Inflation Continues to Climb, Eating into Workers’ Paychecks | 2022-06-30 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) released the below statement following the release of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for May, which remained at 6.3 percent from April. “Today’s data on inflation in the personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed’s preferred measure of consumer prices, confirms prices continue to climb and eat away at workers’ paychecks. The runaway inflation that began after the partisan American Rescue Plan was jammed through Congress is bad enough. The economic mismanagement of the past year and a half threatens to compound the problem through recession and stagflation, which will harm American families even more. Now is not the time to bring back failed tax-and-spending schemes.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization-ruling | Crapo Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Ruling | 2022-06-24 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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) issued the following statement upon the Supreme Court’s final ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: “My strong commitment to supporting measures that protect the rights of the unborn remains unchanged. I believe abortion is wrong and should be limited to cases where the mother’s life is in imminent danger. The Court’s decision upholds states’ ability to protect the right to life. ” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-senate-passage-of-the-bipartisan-safer-communities-act | Crapo Statement on Senate Passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act | 2022-06-24 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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 for Idaho Mike Crapo issued the following statement after voting against the U.S. Senate’s passage of S. 2938, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. “We need to address the driving factors behind heinous acts of gun violence, which often come down to shortcomings in our mental health system. As Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, I have been working with Committee members on policies to improve our mental health system, several of which were incorporated into the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. These policies, which expand access to essential care by supporting telehealth options and creating more sites of service, are the types of bipartisan, targeted solutions that address root causes of gun violence. “However, I have serious concerns with federal funds being used to help states establish ‘red flag laws.’ The Idaho Legislature already pushed back on federal overreach through ‘red flag laws’ and other regulatory efforts by passing the ‘Idaho Firearm and Firearm Accessories and Components Protection Act’ in 2021, which prevents all Idaho government entities from enforcing executive orders, federal laws, treaties, agency orders and rules of the U.S. government involving firearms, firearm components and accessories, or ammunition that conflict with the Idaho Constitution. I support Idaho’s leadership in upholding the Second Amendment, as I commend those working to address violence in our communities to keep students safe.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-approves-crapo-wyden-bill-to-strengthen-retirement-savings | Finance Committee Approves Crapo, Wyden Bill to Strengthen Retirement Savings | 2022-06-23 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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, under the leadership of Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), passed the Enhancing Americans Retirement Now (EARN) Act, expanding opportunities for Americans to increase their retirement savings and improving workers’ long-term financial well-being. The legislation builds on the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 and is based in part on the Retirement Security and Savings Act of 2021, legislation championed by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland). The bill was approved unanimously by the Committee, 28-0. “The EARN Act is the product of months of bipartisan work that resulted in a bill that will increase participation in retirement plans, strengthen and encourage private retirement savings, and make it easier for employers to offer retirement plans,” said Crapo. “Every member of the Finance Committee had a hand in drafting this legislation, and the broad range of ideas incorporated into the final bill is a testament to the power of bipartisanship. When we work together, we can create lasting and impactful work.” The EARN Act strengthens retirement savings in a fiscally-responsible way by: Encouraging small businesses to adopt retirement plans; Making it easier for part-time workers to participate in retirement plans; and Providing workers and retirees the ability to save more and save longer. The bill also makes important changes that allow flexibility for emergencies, like penalty-free withdrawals for terminally-ill patients, domestic abuse survivors and those affected by federally declared disasters. Click here for Crapo’s opening remarks at the markup. Click here for a bill section-by-section. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:39:01Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-retirement-legislation-markup | Crapo Statement at Retirement Legislation Markup | 2022-06-22 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, delivered the following remarks at an open executive session to consider The Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act. The text of Ranking Member Crapo’s remarks, as prepared, is below. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Nearly one year ago, we held a policy hearing on how we could strengthen private retirement savings by building on the success of the original SECURE Act. At the time, I noted retirement has a history of bipartisan cooperation and I expected this process—SECURE 2.0—to be no different. “My expectation turned out to be true. Mr. Chairman, thank you for making this legislation a priority and for working to construct a retirement package that will garner widespread bipartisan support in this Committee and in the entire Senate. “Reaching today’s markup on the Enhancing Americans Retirement Now, or EARN, Act is the product of months of bipartisan work that resulted in a bill that will increase participation in retirement plans, strengthen and encourage private retirement savings, and make it easier for employers to offer retirement plans. “Every member of the Finance Committee had a hand in drafting this bill, and it reflects priorities and input from every Committee member. “Two colleagues in particular have played a central, years-long role in laying the foundation for what we will consider today: Senator Portman and Senator Cardin. “They are leaders on retirement security issues and deserve a great deal of credit for advancing many of the policies reflected in this legislation. “Incentivizing automatic enrollment in plans, increasing the required minimum distribution age and catch-up contribution limit, and making it easier for part time workers to participate in retirement plans are just a few of their policies that have built the foundation for this bill and the entire ‘SECURE 2.0’ process. “Senator Portman and Senator Cardin, thank you for your commitment to this issue. “Senators Grassl… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:39:01Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-brady-president-biden-set-americas-interests-back-at-wto_--no-dispute-reform-surrendered-crucial-medical-patents-failed-to-protect-us-e-commerce-fishing-interests | Crapo, Brady: President Biden Set America's Interests Back at WTO -- No Dispute Reform, Surrendered Crucial Medical Patents, Failed to Protect U.S. e-Commerce, Fishing Interests | 2022-06-17 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. House Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-Texas) issued a statement condemning the Biden Administration’s decision to capitulate to the demands of some of the United States’ most disruptive trading partners at this week’s World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference. Specifically, the Biden Administration accepted a deal that will weaken longstanding rules protecting intellectual property rights and proposed rules in new agreements. This deal will undermine U.S. trade interests and cost American jobs. “The WTO is a vital forum for addressing the United States’ trade challenges—which include countries increasingly resorting to injurious subsidies, undermining our leadership in digital trade, and stealing our intellectual property. Instead of strengthening WTO rules in these areas, the Biden Administration set America’s interests back by failing to achieve any real reforms of the broken WTO dispute system, surrendering America's crucial medical patents and failing to protect both U.S. fishing interests and long-term protections against higher costs of e-commerce." “America’s innovators, workers, and farmers deserve a trade policy that increases opportunity in foreign markets and ensures our competitors play by the rules. Now more than ever, we need new rules to take on challenges such as distortive subsidies and intellectual property theft. From the start, the Biden Administration has made it clear that it is not interested in negotiating any rules that facilitate such market access opportunities for Americans. Indeed, the Administration has shown indifference on trade, including by failing to articulate any priorities for the WTO Ministerial Conference. Even on the day the negotiations were concluding, the Biden Administration refused to share its views on key text proposals tabled at the ministerial with Congress. As a result, a handful of countries achieved sweeping outcomes t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:39:01Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-colleagues-biden-must-correct-flawed-and-incoherent-venezuela-policy | Crapo, Risch, Colleagues: Biden Must Correct Flawed and Incoherent Venezuela Policy | 2022-06-16 | 2022 | 2022-06 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | WASHINGTON --U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to protect U.S. national security interests and reinforce the democratic forces in Venezuela by immediately increasing U.S. and international pressure on the Maduro regime. “The March 2022 meeting between senior Biden Administration officials and Nicolas Maduro sidelined Interim President Juan Guaido and put the United States at the center of Venezuelan political disputes,” the senators wrote. “Rationalizing this diplomatic fiasco in the name of energy security trivialized Nicolas Maduro’s taking of American hostages and signals interest in deepening American dependence on a foreign adversary’s energy resources to the detriment of American energy security.” “You must change course in Venezuela and increase pressure on the Maduro regime until all political prisoners are released and conditions are right to conduct free and fair elections,” the senators concluded. “We urge you to prioritize American energy production and North American energy infrastructure, persuade our European allies to promptly match U.S. and Canadian sanctions on the Maduro regime, conduct robust freedom-of-navigation and counternarcotic operations targeting the Maduro regime’s transnational criminal activities, and enhance the capacity of democratic countries in the region to confront the humanitarian and security crises his regime is generating.” A copy of the letter can be found here and below. Dear Mr. President: We write to express our grave concern about your administration’s flawed and incoherent policy on Venezuela. We urge you to protect U.S. national security interests and reinforce the democratic forces in Venezuela by immediately increasing U.S. and international pressure on the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:39:01Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-wyden-cassidy-carper-unveil-youth-mental-health-discussion-draft | Crapo, Wyden, Cassidy, Carper Unveil Youth Mental Health Discussion Draft | 2022-06-15 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware) today released a discussion draft for youth mental health care policies as a part of the committee’s ongoing work to improve mental health care across the nation, which has included a public call for comments and four hearings to help develop these initiatives. “Although the pandemic is subsiding and our return to normalcy may be imminent, we cannot ignore the lasting effects of the past two years on the social and emotional well-being of children, whose needs require carefully tailored solutions,” Crapo said. “ We should do all that we can, within the committee’s jurisdiction, to increase access to high-quality mental health services, and reduce the causes of delayed and forgone treatment.” “Young people across the country are facing unprecedented challenges, and it’s taking a devastating toll on their mental health,” Wyden said. “By strengthening access to mental health care through Medicaid — which covers half of all children in this country — the Finance Committee can make a real difference in helping kids get the care they need, whether that’s at home, in the doctor’s office, or at school. I’m proud that the committee was able to come together on a bipartisan basis to craft these policies, and I look forward to continuing that work in the coming weeks and months.” “There has been a massive rise in youth mental health issues in the wake of the pandemic,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This bill ensures children and teens have access to quality care to have their needs addressed.” “After two years of a life-altering pandemic and worsening youth mental health crisis, it’s more important than ever to come together and ease the burden for kids across the country,” said Carper. “Our draft will make it easier for schools to provide vital mental health services to students on campus and more manageable for states to face head on an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:39:01Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-sustained-high-inflation-out-of-control | Crapo: Sustained High Inflation Out of Control | 2022-06-14 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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 for Idaho Mike Crapo, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after the Producer Price Index (PPI), or wholesale price inflation, showed persistent double-digit rates at 10.8 percent. “Sustained high inflation is out of control. Wholesale prices have been rising at double digit rates for six consecutive months, hammering manufacturers, small businesses and consumers. As Americans continue to face sticker shock at the gas station and grocery stores, tax hikes, which are eventually passed on to consumers, are not the answer.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:39:01Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-inhofe-introduce-bill-to-close-catch-and-release-loophole | Crapo, Risch, Inhofe Introduce Bill to Close "Catch and Release" Loophole | 2022-06-13 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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 Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) in introducing the Keep Our Communities Safe Act, legislation that would close the legal loophole that requires immigration authorities to release back into the United States illegal aliens who have not been accepted for deportation to other countries after being detained for six months – a practice also referred to as "catch and release." “The historic number of encounters at the southern border can in part be attributed to the dangerous ‘catch and release’ loophole that enables violent criminals who are here illegally to disappear into our communities,” said Risch. “Our inability to detain criminal aliens and failure to protect the American people is unacceptable. I’m proud to join my colleague from Oklahoma in introducing this common sense legislation.” “The fact that this year is on pace to far exceed the record-breaking number of illegal border crossings from last year is alarming and intolerable,” Crapo said. “We must close this loophole and protect national security by enforcing all immigration laws to ensure the safety of American citizens.” “Our immigration system is broken and President Biden won’t acknowledge the crisis we are facing at the southern border,” Inhofe said. “That’s why my colleagues and I introduced the Keep Our Communities Safe Act this week. This legislation would close the ‘catch-and-release’ loophole, which puts law abiding citizens, local law enforcement officials and communities at risk. Our bill will ensure that illegal aliens who have been found guilty of violent crimes and aggravated felonies are not able to remain in our communities. As the current law stands, an illegal alien with a criminal record is released back into the United States after six months if no other country accepts them for deportation. This bill is a commonsense solution and it’s time for it to become law.” The Keep Our Communities Safe Act closes the loophole that prevents DHS from detaining non-re… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-oppose-sec-overreach-unworkable-disclosure-regulations-on-agriculture-products | Crapo, Risch Oppose SEC Overreach, Unworkable Disclosure Regulations on Agriculture Products | 2022-06-13 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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 Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and 29 of their colleagues to push back on a proposed rule from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that would place unworkable climate disclosure regulations on farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers. The senators signed a letter calling on the SEC to rescind the overreaching proposal, which would require publicly-traded companies to include certain climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and periodic reports. The rule would impose extensive new, complex, and burdensome greenhouse gas reporting requirements on all entities within a company’s value chain, including farmers and ranchers who fall outside of the SEC’s Congressionally-provided authority. “We have serious concerns regarding the SEC’s regulatory overreach, as well as the impact that this proposed rule will have on the agricultural industry,” wrote the senators. “This substantial reporting requirement would significantly burden small, family-owned farms with a new, complex, and unreasonable compliance requirement, resulting in costly additional compliance expenses, reduced access to new business opportunities, and potential consolidation in the agriculture industry… This proposed rule moves well beyond the SEC’s traditional regulatory authority by mandating climate change reporting requirements that will not only regulate publicly traded companies, but will impact every company in the value chain.” Additional signatories of the letter include Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), , Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Mike R… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-welcomes-six-interns-for-summer-2022-term | Crapo Welcomes Six Interns for Summer 2022 Term | 2022-06-13 | 2022 | 2022-06 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C. — Six interns have joined U.S. Senator Mike Crapo’s (R-Idaho) Washington, D.C., and Boise offices for the summer 2022 term. “Internships in my offices provide the next generation of public servants an opportunity to serve the people of Idaho while gaining firsthand experience in the federal legislative process,” Crapo said. “I look forward to their hard work and success.” Four interns will serve in the Washington, D.C., office: Matthew Favero currently attends Brigham Young University where he is seeking a degree in American studies. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in public policy. Prescott Lieberg graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2020 with a degree in global studies. Following his internship, Lieberg will attend Marquette University Law School to pursue a dual degree, a Juris Doctor and a Master of Arts in Political Science. Will Lukken attends Boston College and, with interests in banking and financial policy, is majoring in finance. Lukken is a Washington, D.C., native. Makena Rauch was raised in Moscow, Idaho. Rauch attends Marshall University, where she is a member of the women’s golf team. She is working on a dual degree in criminal justice and political science. Two interns will serve in the Boise office: Jackson Dingel grew up in Boise, Idaho, and graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in business finance and marketing. After his internship, Dingel plans to attend graduate school in Barcelona, Spain, to study international business. Thomas Morrison recently graduated from Boise State University with degrees in political science and history. Morrison has aspirations to work in international relations and trade and is considering attending law school. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-applauds-radiation-exposure-compensation-act-reca-extension | Crapo Applauds Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Extension | 2022-06-09 | 2022 | 2022-06 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C. — Legislation championed by U.S. Senator Mike Crapo to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program for two years has been signed into law. The extension allows individuals more time to apply for the compensation they deserve. Crapo, a longtime Senate lead on RECA expansion efforts and original co-sponsor of this legislation, applauded the extension and reiterated the need for additional efforts to expand the program to include coverage for all of those who lived downwind of above-ground atomic weapons tests in the 1950s and 1960s. “Extending the RECA program for two years is critical to providing compensation downwinders rightfully deserve,” said Crapo. “Many Idahoans have suffered the health consequences of exposure to fallout from nuclear weapons testing, and I will continue to work for the passage of important legislation that ensures their reparation.” Crapo will continue pushing for passage of his bipartisan legislation, S. 2798, which would extend and expand eligibility under the RECA program. S. 2798 would expand the coverage area to allow more potential victims, known as “downwinders,” to file for compensation under RECA. While the original RECA program only covered individuals who lived in parts of Utah, Nevada and Arizona, this legislation would expand the geographic downwinder eligibility to include then-residents of Idaho, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Guam. In March 2022, Crapo and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) led a bipartisan letter urging Congressional Leadership to extend RECA. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the RECA extension legislation in May 2022. Crapo chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the RECA program in June 2018. Tona Henderson, of Emmett, Idaho, and head of the Idaho Downwinders organization, provided testimony in the hearing and paid tribute to those in her community who have passed away due to radiation-related illnesses. Her birthplace of Gem County, Idaho, received the third-highest amount of fallout in the nation a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-inflation-is-hurting-americans-and-eroding-wages | Crapo: Inflation is Hurting Americans and Eroding Wages | 2022-06-07 | 2022 | 2022-06 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--At a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing with U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the top Republican of the Committee, highlighted how inflation is hurting American families, and pressed Secretary Yellen on economic policies that could potentially worsen the inflation crisis. To view Senator Crapo’s remarks, click HERE or the image above. On inflation: “Inflation is hurting American families and eroding wages. People are adjusting spending, even on basic necessities, to make ends meet. They are being hammered at the gas pump and in the grocery aisles and across the economy. As wages rise to keep up with inflation, odds of an inflationary wage-price spiral rise. “Inflation became broad-based and accelerated last year following the untargeted American Rescue Plan Act. That Act poured $1.9 trillion of inflation fuel into an economy with growing supply-chain disruptions and households with elevated disposable incomes and liquid savings. “Following that, Democrats pushed for trillions more in reckless spending. The result, which many predicted, has been inflation at highs not seen in 40 years. As prospects of recession and stagflation rise, this is no time to consider raising taxes or resurrecting reckless spending proposals from the House-passed Build Back Better bill.” On whether raising taxes or engaging in stimulus spending is sound fiscal policy: “Secretary Yellen, you heard from me in my opening statement about the significant pain that Americans are suffering from because of inflation that accelerated and became broad based following enactment of the American Rescue Plan last year. Democrats are claiming that Republicans are trying to raise taxes. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that as we speak, the Democrats are trying to negotiate a new massive plan that would raise taxes significantly. Do you believe that it would be prudent fiscal policy to increase taxes or engage in more stimulus spending with an economy … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-republicans-demand-oversight-of-state-local-funds-in-american-rescue-plan | Finance Committee Republicans Demand Oversight of State, Local Funds in American Rescue Plan | 2022-06-06 | 2022 | 2022-06 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-Ohio) joined all Finance Committee Republicans in requesting the Government and Accountability Office (GAO) provide a detailed accounting of the $350 billion of COVID relief funds appropriated to governments of states, localities, territories and tribes under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). From the letter to GAO: “Unfortunately, ARPA, unlike the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, has no meaningful built-in nonpartisan oversight mechanism that allows for necessary Congressional oversight and there is lack of transparency on uses of the funds provided to various governments. … “Because of the lack of information and transparency on uses of and accounting for these federal funds, we request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) help to ensure there is proper oversight of at least $350 billion of ARPA funding and necessary accountability to Congress and the American people.” The senators ask a series of oversight questions, including: Whether Treasury is using risk assessments and monitoring components to ensure efficient and transparent use of taxpayer resources, and whether Congress and the American people can verify that such controls meet standards; How Treasury has tracked whether states have satisfied the objectionable requirement that funds not constitute a “tax cut,” and whether the requirement served any useful purpose; Information on reporting errors, and whether the practice of ignoring such errors adheres to principles of sound federal financial management; What controls have been established to ensure that reported expenditures by states and localities abide by the restrictions on uses put in place in ARPA; How has Treasury enforced a legal restriction against a government using state and local funds for deposit into pension funds; and How much of the $350 billion allocated by Treasury… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:13:54Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-republicans-raise-questions-concerns-with-disturbing-irs-document-destruction | Finance Committee Republicans Raise Questions, Concerns with Disturbing IRS Document Destruction | 2022-05-26 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Republicans, led by Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), wrote to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Chuck Rettig raising concerns and questions about the IRS’s destruction of an estimated 30 million paper-filed documents in March 2021 reportedly due to a backlog in processing paper documents. A Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) report brought the IRS’s destruction of the paperwork to light. Despite repeated requests from Congress for the IRS to exercise taxpayer penalty relief due to pandemic-related problems, the agency never disclosed that among the measures taken to reduce the backlog was the decision to destroy 30 million information returns. From the letter: “The information disclosed in the May 4 TIGTA report has surprised many in Congress and in the tax community. The destruction of documents ensuring taxpayers did not underreport income or inflate a deduction is concerning. It also raises questions about the IRS’s ability to administer the tax code and ensure compliance.” The senators ask the IRS to clarify the potential damage to tax administration this destruction will cause, as well as who made the decision, how the IRS will address the consequences this decision will have for taxpayers and the potential harm to tax revenues. Read the full letter, signed by all Senate Finance Committee Republican members, below. ____________________________________ Dear Commissioner Rettig: We are writing you regarding disturbing information that came to light in a report issued by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and has been referenced in several news accounts. TIGTA released the audit report, “A Service-Wide Strategy Is Needed to Address Challenges Limiting Growth in Business Tax Return Electronic Filing” on May 4, 2022. The audit states: This audit was initiated because the IRS’s continued inability to process backlogs of paper-filed tax returns contributed to management’s decision to destroy an estima… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:09:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/wyden-crapo-cardin-thune-release-telehealth-policies-for-mental-health-care-initiative | Wyden, Crapo, Cardin, Thune Release Telehealth Policies for Mental Health Care Initiative | 2022-05-26 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) today released a discussion draft for telehealth policies as a part of the committee’s ongoing work to improve mental health care across the nation, which has included a public call for comments and three hearings to help develop these initiatives. “Whether for rural communities, urban areas or tribes, telehealth has undoubtedly expanded access in underserved areas, improved care coordination and integration, and provided more privacy to patients to combat stigma,” Crapo said. “The Finance Committee took crucial first steps toward modernizing telehealth coverage for mental health services in late 2020, and I look forward to building on those efforts through this bipartisan process.” “The pandemic made clear that telehealth is a game-changer, particularly so Americans can get mental health care when they need it,” Wyden said. “These policies will help strengthen access, awareness and support for telehealth, including by creating a ‘bill of rights’ for information on the availability of telehealth for mental health care. I want to thank Ranking Member Crapo and Senators Cardin and Thune for their hard work to produce this discussion draft on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working with the rest of the committee co-chairs of this initiative who are leading the way to craft the remaining important components of the committee’s legislation.” “South Dakotans have long understood the value of telehealth, and the pandemic put a finer point on its importance,” said Thune. “That’s why I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with Senator Cardin and the committee leaders over the last few months to lay the necessary groundwork to advance policies that strengthen telehealth and expand access to mental health services.” “The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on the health and well-being individuals and communi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:09:24Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-announces-new-press-secretary | Crapo Announces New Press Secretary | 2022-05-25 | 2022 | 2022-05 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | BOISE--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced a new press secretary has joined his staff. Marissa Morrison will be responsible for media relations and will be based in the Boise office. “Marissa’s unique background and experience, and extensive knowledge of the media landscape in Idaho, will be an immediate asset to our team and the people of Idaho,” said Crapo. “We are excited to welcome her on board.” Morrison, a Pocatello native, comes to the Crapo office from serving as Press Secretary for Idaho Governor Brad Little and working for KIVI Six on Your Side in Nampa and KPVI News 6 in Pocatello. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in broadcasting & electronic media studies from Gonzaga University. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/finance-committee-republicans-irs-should-speed-up-paper-returns-process | Finance Committee Republicans: IRS Should Speed Up Paper Returns Process | 2022-05-25 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Republicans, led by Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), wrote to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Chuck Rettig to strongly encourage the agency to implement 2-D barcoding for paper returns in the 2023 tax filing season--technology that would help to efficiently process millions of tax returns and speed up taxpayer refunds. Processing paper returns is a tedious, time-consuming process, and the pandemic led to an unprecedented backlog of paper returns at the IRS. As the senators note in the letter, “For taxpayers due a refund, an IRS backlog means refund delays and possible financial hardship. For others, the backlog means the unavailability of tax transcripts necessary to secure a loan or employment.” In March, the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) recommended the IRS implement 2-D barcoding for paper tax returns, which would concisely encode relevant data and import it in digital form into the IRS’s computer systems, bypassing time-consuming manual data entry and streamlining the process. However, the IRS has signaled it is unlikely to do so. In the letter, the senators make several arguments in favor of implementing 2-D barcoding: Millions of taxpayers need their refunds. 2-D barcoding will help efficiently process millions of tax returns and speed up taxpayer refunds. It is affordable and the IRS has the funds. The American Rescue Plan of 2021 earmarked $1.86 billion toward the IRS to among other things provide taxpayer assistance, including $1 billion specifically for IT modernization. Entering into 2022, only $98.5 million of the $1 billion was spent. In 2017, the IRS estimated the cost for implementing 2-D barcoding technology was $8.3 million. There is an urgent need to address the problem now, not in five years. Stop chasing technological perfection. If we were to wait for the promise of better technology, nothing would ever get implemented. 2-D technology has been tested and is less expensive, and many states currently use it. 2-D barcoding wil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-joins-51-colleagues-in-letter-to-president-biden-championing-taiwans-inclusion-in-proposed-trade-pact-with-indo-pacific-countries | Crapo Joins 51 Colleagues in Letter to President Biden Championing Taiwan’s Inclusion in Proposed Trade Pact with Indo-Pacific Countries | 2022-05-20 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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. Senators Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and 49 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden to urge the Administration’s inclusion of Taiwan as a partner in the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). In addition to recognizing Taiwan’s importance to the United States as a trading partner, the Senators underscored that failing to include Taiwan in IPEF runs counter to U.S. economic interests in the region. “IPEF can be a meaningful first step for the United States to assure its allies and partners that we are economically engaged in the region, which accounts for sixty percent of the world economy and two-thirds of all economic growth over the last five years. For IPEF to be a useful vehicle to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific, however, we must make sure that all of America’s regional allies and partners are included,” the senators wrote. “This is just one necessary aspect to ensuring the framework is competitive in a region already saturated with economic treaties and agendas.” In addition to requesting that the Biden Administration engage with the Committee on the issue and provide a briefing on economic security policy toward Taiwan, the Senators also underscored that excluding Taiwan would significantly distort both regional and global economic architecture. “The more economic engagement U.S. and allies and partners have with Taiwan, the stronger our collective resilience against coercion,” the senators added. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows the value of tangible economic support by the United States and like-minded allies and partners, and the same is true for Taiwan. Including Taiwan in the IPEF would be an invaluable signal of our rock-solid commitment to Taiwan and its prosperity and freedom.” Read the full letter HERE. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-senators-colleagues-defund-bidens-disinformation-board | Idaho Senators, Colleagues: Defund Biden’s Disinformation Board | 2022-05-20 | 2022 | 2022-05 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Idaho’s U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, along with a group of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security expressing opposition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Disinformation Governance Board and urging that any funding for such board be prohibited in Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations. “…While DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified that the board will not be used for political purposes and did his best to explain away serious concerns raised, little remains known as to what the board will actually do, how it will determine what is disinformation, and the scope in which it will take to monitor disinformation from American citizens. It is known, however, that the board’s executive director, Nina Jankowicz, is a hyper-partisan actor whose opinions of free speech and of those she disagrees with are well documented. It is also known that the board currently lacks any guiding policy, mission statement, or charter. Absent of these necessary guardrails to prevent mission creep, there is substantial risk of government overreach and First Amendment infringements. Although recent reports indicate that the board’s operations have been ‘paused’, Ms. Jankowicz has resigned, and its dissolution is being considered by DHS, its future remains as unclear as its mission,” the Senators wrote. “While DHS has promised the board will ‘protect privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties,’ we do not take solace in words alone. A fine line exists between tackling disinformation and government censorship. Exactly where the Disinformation Governance Board falls on this line remains unclear and the potential for abuse is so egregious that we urge any and all funding for the board be prohibited during the Homeland Security appropriations process,” the Senators continued. Read the full letter HERE. Additional signatories of the letter led by Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) include Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Chuck Grassley (R-I… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/senate-commemorates-national-police-week | Senate Commemorates National Police Week | 2022-05-19 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 today unanimously adopted a resolution marking National Police Week and reiterating support for the men and women in law enforcement. Idaho’s U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch co-sponsored the bipartisan resolution led by Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Illinois). It was also co-sponsored by 82 additional Senate colleagues. “We all must recognize the important role police officers have in making our communities safe and show support for police and law enforcement personnel,” said Crapo. “They need our support perhaps now more than ever.” “Our law enforcement and their families deserve our recognition and support for their brave work protecting and serving our communities,” said Risch. “I am deeply grateful to the more than 800,000 law enforcement officers across the country who put their personal safety on the line every day to keep us safe.” The resolution honors the 576 law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2021, including nearly 400 who died from COVID-19, as well as the 92 lost to date in 2022. Last year marked the most intentional killings of police since the September 11, 2001, attacks. In the face of an ongoing pandemic and rise in violent crime, law enforcement personnel continue to answer the call, serving their communities, often at great risk to themselves. The resolution designates the week of May 15 through May 21, 2022, as “National Police Week,” and expresses unwavering support for law enforcement officers across the United States in the pursuit of preserving safe and secure communities. Text the resolution is available HERE. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-senators-introduce-resolution-calling-on-white-house-and-congress-to-combat-crime | Idaho Senators Introduce Resolution Calling on White House and Congress to Combat Crime | 2022-05-17 | 2022 | 2022-05 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Idaho’s U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined 29 Senate colleagues in introducing a Senate Resolution calling on the Biden Administration to work with Congress to develop a plan to combat the rise in crime in the United States, as well as to address the crisis at the southern border. The Resolution was introduced during the annual recognition of National Police Week. “Recent data and news reports have highlighted just a sampling of the significant increase in violent crime across the country,” said Crapo. “The United States reached record-breaking drug overdose deaths in 2021; 16 major U.S. cities set homicide rates in 2021; and illegal border crossings have surged to record-breaking levels. When communities are soft on crime and focused on defunding the police, we are all less safe. We must focus on policies that lay blame squarely on the perpetrators of violent, criminal behavior, not on law-abiding citizens.” “We need solutions to address the rise in violent crime and the continued surge of illegal immigration at the border,” said Risch. “Senate Republicans stand ready to get the work done – the White House should join us in making a plan of action.” Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) led the resolution that is also co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) and Todd Young (R… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-applaud-full-market-access-for-idaho-potatoes-in-mexico | Crapo, Risch Applaud Full Market Access for Idaho Potatoes in Mexico | 2022-05-12 | 2022 | 2022-05 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Idaho Senators U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued the following statements after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Mexico is granting full market access for U.S. fresh potatoes, with the first shipment into Mexico coming from Idaho. “Thanks to commitments made under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, (USMCA), U.S. fresh potatoes now have full market access in Mexico, and a shipment of Idaho potatoes was cleared to enter the country,” said Crapo. “Addressing this decades-long dispute is a significant step forward in improving and strengthening our trade relationship with Mexico. While this is a positive development, we must continue to monitor Mexico’s compliance with USMCA to ensure every aspect is fully enforced and the agreement lives up to its full potential.” “Today’s development has been a long time in the making. I’m glad to see this initial shipment of fresh Idaho potatoes granted access to Mexico, but this needs to be the first step of many,” said Risch. “Potato growers in Idaho and across the country were promised meaningful market access more than 15 years ago, and Mexico has a responsibility to make good on its pledge to our farmers.” To view Senator Crapo’s remarks, click HERE or the image above. While Mexico is the largest market for U.S. potatoes, until now, imports of fresh U.S. potatoes have been limited to a roughly 16 mile area along the U.S.-Mexico border. The U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement late last year to expand market access for U.S. potatoes, something that the United States has actively sought for more than 15 years. The National Potato Council (NPC) estimates full market potential for fresh table potatoes could reach $250 million a year. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-double-digit-producer-price-index | Crapo Statement on Double-Digit Producer Price Index | 2022-05-12 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Producer Price Index (PPI) showed numbers remaining at a troubling double-digit rate and well above the 1.8 percent average during the four years prior to Biden taking office. “Today’s producer price data means more hits from the Biden Administration’s runaway inflation to manufacturers, small businesses and consumers when they can least afford it. Inflation facing producers and consumers continues at historically elevated rates, harming businesses, eroding workers’ paychecks, and hammering Americans’ pocketbooks at the pump and in the grocery aisles.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-runaway-inflation | Crapo Statement on Runaway Inflation | 2022-05-12 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after the Consumer Price Index (CPI) release showed inflation holding high at 8.3 percent year over year in April, and the Producer Price Index, or wholesale price inflation, remaining at a troubling double-digit rate of 11.0 percent. “The Biden Administration’s runaway inflation is not contained and a slight, one-month dip downward in the consumer price index is no cause for celebration, as Idahoans continue to feel the pain of broad-based and rapid price increases. And, today’s 11 percent wholesale price inflation means higher consumer prices down the road. With increasing risks of a recession and rising mortgage rates, this is no time to resurrect failed tax-and-spend proposals that will only cause further economic damage.” To view Senator Crapo’s remarks, click HERE or the image above. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-side-with-sportsmen-urge-biden-administration-against-banning-lead-ammo-and-tackle-on-public-lands | Crapo, Risch Side with Sportsmen, Urge Biden Administration Against Banning Lead Ammo & Tackle on Public Lands | 2022-05-11 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) and additional Senate Republican colleagues in urging the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Martha Williams, not to cave in to activists’ calls to restrict the use of lead ammo and tackle on public lands. “Policies or actions that reduce or limit sportsmen activities necessarily implicate wildlife conservation programs by affecting state agencies’ revenue. Such policies or actions also handcuff wildlife managers by removing a critical conservation tool while needlessly alienating one of our original conservationists, sportsmen. Phasing-out lead ammo and tackle on wildlife refuges would disproportionately affect lower-income households and those that depend on hunting and fishing for their subsistence as lead alternatives are often more expensive. The impact of such a policy would be devastating to the sportsmen heritage in our states,” the Senators wrote. Read the full letter HERE. Additional signatories of the letter include Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas). ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-persistently-high-inflation | Crapo Statement on Persistently High Inflation | 2022-05-11 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Consumer Price Index (CPI) release showed inflation holding high at 8.3 percent year over year in April. “Today’s data on consumer price inflation shows the Biden Administration’s runaway inflation is not contained and a slight, one-month dip downward is no cause for celebration, as Americans continue to feel the pain of broad-based and rapid price increases. With increasing risks of a recession and rising mortgage rates, this is no time to resurrect failed tax-and-spend proposals that will only cause further economic damage.” As Crapo has said, this inflationary environment preceded Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and has outpaced inflation in other developed countries in no small part due to the outsized, unnecessary spending in the American Rescue Plan. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-senators-colleagues-defend-servicemembers-from-vaccine-punishment-with-americans-act | Idaho Senators, Colleagues Defend Servicemembers from Vaccine Punishment with AMERICANS Act | 2022-05-11 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and 11 of their colleagues in introducing the Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots (AMERICANS) Act of 2022. The legislation counters the Biden Administration’s efforts to coerce and punish servicemembers who decline the COVID-19 vaccine, and introduces accountability measures in response to U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) efforts to undermine transparency. “A one-size-fits-all COVID-19 vaccine mandate is no way to thank the women and men of our Armed Forces for their service,” said Crapo. “The DOD should be seeking ways to retain servicemembers, not discharge them for politically-motivated reasons.” “Our service men and women, who serve to defend our democracy and individual liberties, should not be punished for their individual health decisions,” said Risch. “The Department of Defense must recognize the merit and service of our military rather than their vaccination status.” This bill would: Require the Secretary of Defense to make every effort to retain unvaccinated servicemembers; Strengthen language to ensure servicemembers receive discharge classifications commensurate with their record of service; Require the DOD to report the number and type of COVID-19 vaccine religious exemptions that have been denied; and Create an exemption from COVID-19 vaccine requirements for service members with natural immunity. The measure would also protect service academy students and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) members in the same way. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Mike Braun (R-Indiana) and Steve Daines (R-Montana). Last week, Senators Crapo and Risch sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin raising concern… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/bipartisan-senate-finance-committee-members-call-for-improved-transparency-from-us-trade-representative-cite-failure-to-consult-with-congress-on-recent-trade-negotiations | Bipartisan Senate Finance Committee Members Call For Improved Transparency from U.S. Trade Representative; Cite Failure to Consult with Congress on Recent Trade Negotiations | 2022-05-10 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Finance Committee Member Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) today called on the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to dramatically improve transparency and consultation with Congress on pending trade negotiations, in a letter sent today with Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska). The bipartisan senators cited negotiations to waive intellectual property rules at the World Trade Organization--where details became public before Congress was briefed or shown the text of the agreement--as a recent example of the executive branch failing to adequately consult with Congress. “We want to ensure that this failure to consult properly with Congress will not be replicated in other areas, particularly as the Administration seeks to launch new trade negotiations under the auspices of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, pursue multilateral and plurilateral negotiations at the WTO, and engage in bilateral discussions with countries such as the United Kingdom,” the Senators wrote. “As such, we believe that the Administration must follow both the letter and the spirit of the Transparency Principles and Guidelines and consult fully with Members,” they continued. “The mere fact that changes to U.S. law may not be required to implement a final agreement or that ideas are being exchanged in a ‘white paper’ does not excuse USTR from fulfilling its obligation to consult--in detail, including by sharing any and all text and specific proposals--in a timely fashion, throughout a negotiation.” Congress has primary authority to regulate tariffs and commerce with foreign nations under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. It delegates authority to the executive branch, with the requirement that it be consulted about trade policies. Read the letter here. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-thune-boozman-lead-republican-colleagues-in-urging-biden-administration-to-prioritize-market-access-in-us-trade-agenda | Crapo, Thune, Boozman Lead Republican Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Prioritize Market Access in U.S. Trade Agenda | 2022-05-10 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Finance Committee Member John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry John Boozman (R-Arkansas) led a group of Republicans in a letter urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to prioritize market access initiatives as part of America’s trade agenda. From the letter: “Advancing U.S. economic interests--particularly in the Indo-Pacific region--requires meaningful and enforceable market access commitments,” the senators wrote. “We are concerned that the Biden administration is foregoing America’s trade and strategic leadership by failing to pursue such commitments, whether through its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) or through its decision not to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements, which was reflected in the President’s 2022 Trade Policy Agenda. The lack of ambitious market-opening initiatives not only disadvantages U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses today, it jeopardizes America’s competitiveness, resilience, and security in the long-term.” The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Todd Young (R-Indiana). Senator Crapo recently highlighted the importance of free trade agreements to Idaho’s economy, pressing the Administration to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements, not just dialogue and frameworks. Read the full letter he… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-senators-work-to-protect-public-servants-and-their-families-from-threats-at-home | Idaho Senators Work to Protect Public Servants and their Families from Threats at Home | 2022-05-10 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and eight of their Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the Public Servant Protection Act, which would protect all government employees and their families from having their home addresses listed publicly online. “Public servants and their families should not be subjected to protests or acts of violence at their private homes,” said Crapo. “The freedom of speech should not be used as a weapon to intimidate or threaten others, and public officials should have the right to remove their address from the public domain.” “Intimidating Supreme Court justices is a federal crime, yet our justices are being terrorized in their own homes and they and their families subjected to threats of violence,” said Risch. “Permitting public servants to delist their home addresses from online websites in order to protect themselves and their families is common sense.” “Judges and other government officials should not be subjected to angry protests and violent threats at home simply because they serve the public at work. Our bill will protect public servants and their families by allowing them to remove their home addresses from any public website,” said Cotton. Additional co-sponsors of the legislation include U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska) and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-join-effort-to-defund-homeland-securitys-disinformation-board | Crapo, Risch Join Effort to Defund Homeland Security’s “Disinformation Board” | 2022-05-03 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) in introducing legislation to bar federal funds from being used to establish a Disinformation Governance Board at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Text of the legislation may be found here. “Idahoans are rightfully concerned with the Administration’s latest attempts to brazenly establish a federal propaganda panel under the guise of countering disinformation,” said Crapo. “If the Administration truly intended to counter disinformation threats to national security, it would not have established this so-called Disinformation Governance Board under a months-long veil of secrecy. This Orwellian Ministry of Truth effort is an unconstitutional waste of taxpayer dollars and a threat to free speech. The Administration should stop playing games and focus on securing our southern border, addressing skyrocketing inflation and reducing its excessive overreach into the lives of Americans.” “The Administration has created a ‘Disinformation Board’ in the name of protecting the U.S. from threats. However, the real threat to our democracy is giving unelected bureaucrats the power to chill free speech,” said Risch. “I will continue to defend our Constitutional right to freedom of speech and support legislation to defund acts of government overreach that trample our American principles.” “The Biden administration wants a government agency dedicated to cracking down on what its subjects can say, an idea popular with Orwellian governments everywhere. This board is unconstitutional and un-American—my bill puts a stop to it,” said Cotton. Additional co-sponsors of the legislation include: Senators John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Kenn… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-raise-concerns-about-covid-vaccine-military-discharges | Crapo, Risch Raise Concerns about COVID Vaccine Military Discharges | 2022-05-03 | 2022 | 2022-05 | 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), strong opponents of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and Senate colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin raising questions about the number and nature of military discharges for not receiving a COVID vaccine. Reports show more than 1,700 servicemembers have been discharged for their COVID vaccination status and many are being denied retirement or other service benefits, including GI Bill® education benefits, as a result. The letter reads in part, “While we are deeply troubled that the Department of Defense (DOD) is discharging U.S. military personnel as a result of their COVID-19 vaccination status, we are outraged that these brave men and women are potentially being stripped of various benefits, including education benefits afforded to them under the G.I. Bill. Whatever disagreements public officials of varying ideologies and political parties may have, we can and should agree on the importance of ensuring the promises made to members of our Armed Forces are fulfilled.” Additional signatories of the letter include Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). To read the full letter, click HERE. To see a full list of Senator Crapo’s efforts to fight against the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates, click HERE. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/republican-leaders-blast-unprecedented-cms-decision-to-severely-limit-access-to-lifesaving-cures | Republican Leaders Blast Unprecedented CMS Decision to Severely Limit Access to Lifesaving Cures | 2022-05-02 | 2022 | 2022-05 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Washington, D.C.--Republican leaders of the Senate and House Committees with oversight of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are raising concerns with a recent decision to severely restrict coverage of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Alzheimer’s treatment and any similar future treatments, in a disturbing break with precedent. In a letter to CMS, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), House Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and House Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) outline how the decision departs from precedent and creates dire new concerns, and ask for information on how CMS arrived at its decision. From the letter: “On various fronts, the national coverage determination issued by the agency strays from precedent, subordinates the clinical judgment and expertise of the Food and Drug Administration, and suggests a problematic new standard that risks chilling innovation and jeopardizing access to the cutting-edge treatments of the future. We urge CMS to reconsider this approach and to operate within the bounds of its statutory authorities and directives, which this latest decision oversteps.” The members outline a number of problems with the final decision, including that: CMS has never before restricted Medicare access (through CED) to an FDA-approved indication (use) of a drug or biologic. The decision restricts access to an entire class of FDA-approved drugs based on a single drug’s clinical trial results. CMS’s decision inappropriately supplants FDA’s authority and exceeds its own. Under the decision, many beneficiaries will receive a placebo, and some may even need to pay cost-sharing for it. CMS has never before disadvantaged drugs approved via FDA’s accelerated approval pathway, which has led to hundreds of approvals for drugs treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other life-threatening con… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-presents-bronze-star-to-idaho-army-veteran | Crapo Presents Bronze Star to Idaho Army Veteran | 2022-05-01 | 2022 | 2022-05 | Republican | Senate | ID | Mike Crapo | C000880 | www.crapo.senate.gov | crapo | https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases | scraper | Moscow, Idaho--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) presented the Bronze Star to U.S. Army veteran Michael “Mike” S. Wells during a ceremony in Moscow. “The stories of Specialist Mike Wells’ courage and bravery while under active enemy fire during Operation Goldwall are nothing short of awe-inspiring,” said Crapo. “It has been a distinct honor for my staff and me to work with Mr. Wells to ensure his dutiful and heroic service has been properly recognized. I thank him for his service to our country and his continued efforts to support the veteran community in Moscow and throughout Idaho.” Mike Wells received the Bronze Star for his actions specifically on April 20, 2008, in which he demonstrated “courage and superb marksmanship [that] ensured mission accomplishment and protection of his comrades during fierce and intense fighting,” as described by his platoon leader, Captain Millard Stewart. Wells was featured in Senator Crapo’s #MilitaryMonday social media feature on October 11, 2021. At the event, the Crapo office presented Specialist Wells with a surprise video, which included words of congratulations and encouragement from his former commanders. The video can be viewed by clicking here or the image below. The Bronze Star is a U.S. Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial fight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. It is the fourth-highest ranking award a servicemember can receive. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:29:07Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-rising-inflation-shrinking-gdp | Crapo Statement on Rising Inflation, Shrinking GDP | 2022-04-29 | 2022 | 2022-04 | 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 Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after data for the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, a measure of consumer prices, jumped to 6.6 percent. The data follows a Bureau of Economic Analysis report for gross domestic product (GDP) which showed a -1.4 percent growth for January through March of this year. “Yesterday’s unexpected decline in GDP, combined with today’s data on continued high inflation, shows just how fragile our current economy is. There could not be a worse time to consider raising taxes on households and businesses, or to propose more runaway, deficit-financed federal spending.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:19:30Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/senate-extends-reca-program | Senate Extends RECA Program | 2022-04-29 | 2022 | 2022-04 | 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 agreed to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program for two years, allowing individuals more time to apply for the compensation they deserve. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a longtime Senate lead on RECA expansion efforts, applauded the extension, and reiterated the need for additional efforts to expand the program to include coverage for all of those who lived downwind of above-ground atomic weapons tests in the 1950s and 1960s. The legislation is now headed to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. Without reauthorization, the RECA program is scheduled to sunset in July. “The Senate’s action to extend the RECA program for two years is critical to providing compensation downwinders rightfully deserve,” said Crapo. “The House should move quickly on the extension and send the legislation to the President to be signed into law. Far too many innocent victims have been lost to cancer-related deaths from Cold War era above-ground weapons testing. More must be done to assist those still with us not currently covered under the program.” “A heartfelt thank you to the Senate for passing this extension,” said Tona Henderson, Executive Director of Idaho Downwinders. “We still have the task of amending RECA. Expanding to more areas so all the Downwinders who are not covered now, will have the time to apply. We need to compensate all the states that were harmed during testing, which is exactly what Sen. Crapo and Sen. Luján’s bill S 2798 will do. Compensating only a few counties or individual states does nothing to help all the Downwinders throughout the West who have suffered for 70 plus years — many of whom have already lost their lives and many that are still struggling. We applaud Senator Crapo and Senator Luján for leading the charge.” “Preserving and expanding the RECA program to provide long overdue justice to New Mexico downwinders and uranium workers is one of my top priorities in Congress. The Senate took a critical step to extend… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:19:30Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-risch-colleagues-oppose-biden-doj-expanding-firearm-definitions-and-creating-national-gun-registry | Crapo, Risch, Colleagues Oppose Biden DOJ Expanding Firearm Definitions and Creating National Gun Registry | 2022-04-28 | 2022 | 2022-04 | 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 Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and 19 colleagues in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval to prohibit President Biden’s U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) from implementing a new rule to expand firearm definitions. “The Administration is using all of its tools, including circumventing the legislative process, to go after law-abiding gun owners and firearms vendors,” said Crapo. “I will continue to press for policies that address violent crime without compromising law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights.” “The Biden Administration continues to pile on burdensome regulations that impact Idahoan’s Constitutional freedoms,” said Risch. “I will do everything in my power to defend the Second Amendment and oppose any infringement on the right to bear arms.” The Biden Administration wants to institute a final rule redefining a “firearm” under federal law to not only mean a complete product, but also its individual parts. If implemented, this new rule would require gun kits and gun parts to be regulated as if they were fully functional firearms--meaning they would not be able to be sold without a serial number or without the buyer undergoing a background check. The new rule would also require those with Federal Firearms Licenses to retain records permanently, in effect creating a national firearms registry. The current rule, which the Biden Administration seeks to change, allows for the disposal of records after 20 years. According to the Government Accountability Office, “The CRA allows Congress to review ‘major’ rules issued by federal agencies before the rules take effect. Congress may also disapprove new rules, resulting in the rules having no force or effect.” Additional co-sponsors of the resolution include Senators James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), John Thune (R-South Dakot… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:19:30Z |
| https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-leads-idaho-delegation-in-pressing-va-on-electronic-health-record-rollout-in-boise | Crapo Leads Idaho Delegation in Pressing VA on Electronic Health Record Rollout in Boise | 2022-04-27 | 2022 | 2022-04 | 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) led an Idaho Congressional Delegation letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary McDonough expressing concerns with the VA’s prospective Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to be implemented at VA Medical Centers (VAMCs). The letter, signed by Senator Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, details two Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports detailing a number of deficiencies in the EHR rollout at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC in Spokane, Washington, which has already negatively impacted several Idaho veterans. The EHR system is expected to be launched at the Boise VAMC in June. “Although the intended goal of the EHR implementation is to provide a streamlined, seamless process for veterans receiving care, the rollout in the Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center resulted in confusion, frustration and alarming situations for many veterans and their medical providers,” the letter reads in part. “[D]eficiencies included, but were not limited to, providers not being alerted when patients were flagged as high risk for suicide, limited access to suicide prevention and assessment tools, EHR-caused delays in scheduling primary care appointments and lab orders ‘disappearing’ before reaching the facility laboratory. At the time of the OIG report’s release, one-third of these issues remain unresolved,” the letter continues. The letter asks Secretary McDonough a series of questions with regard to the VA considering a delay in the Boise VAMC EHR rollout until issues with the Mann-Grandstaff and Walla Walla VAMC are resolved, as well as questions to ensure veteran care is not further impacted by the system rollout. Read the full letter HERE. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T02:19:30Z |
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