Last week the House passed H.R. 4628, the Interest Rate Reduction Act, which prevents for one year a scheduled interest rate increase of federally subsidized student loans.  Congressman Simpson supported this bill.  The House also passed a number of cybersecurity bills, including H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.  Congressman Simpson opposed the bill.  The House also passed H.R. 2050, the Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act, which was sponsored by Congressman Simpson.

Simpson’s Water Diversions Bill Passes House
H.R. 2050 would authorize and permit existing historical water diversions in Idaho wilderness
The House of Representatives last week passed legislation authored by Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson to address water issues in existing Idaho wilderness areas.  H.R. 2050, the Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act, authorizes and permits historical water diversions in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area that existed before the wilderness designation.

“Like a lot of good legislation, H.R. 2050 arose from conversations with an Idahoan who needed help with an issue that was out of his control,” said Simpson.  “The Acts that created the wilderness areas in Idaho overlooked these water diversions, which are primarily used to support irrigation and minor hydropower generation, leaving private landowners without the ability to maintain or fix them.  I’m pleased that H.R. 2050 not only addresses this one specific diversion, but it provides the tools needed to authorize and repair all of these diversions in the future.”

H.R. 2050 would authorize the Forest Service to issue special use permits for all qualifying historic water systems in the wilderness areas.  Such authority will ensure that existing water diversions can be properly maintained and repaired when necessary and preserve beneficial use for private property owners who hold water rights under state law.

“At some point in the future, all 25 of these existing diversions will need maintenance or repair work done to ensure their integrity,” said Simpson.  “H.R. 2050 is intended as a simple, reasonable solution to a problem that I think we can all agree should be solved as quickly as possible.”

To view Congressman Simpson’s floor speech supporting the bill visit his YouTube website at www.youtube.com/CongMikeSimpson.

H.R. 2050 passed the House. It is now under consideration by the U.S. Senate.

Farmers and Ranchers Successful in Pushing Obama Administration to Drop Youth Labor Rule
By Congressman Mike Simpson, April 27, 2012
“Last week the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) withdrew its proposed regulation that would have prohibited young people under age 16 from working on farms. I am relieved that common sense prevailed. The proposed rule would have transformed the way of life for thousands of family farms and ranches across the country, including many in Idaho. 

“The overreaching and misguided rule would also have threatened the ability of America’s youth to contribute to their family’s farm and restricted families from passing on the generational knowledge and the hands-on learning that is so critical to the survival of the agricultural industry.

“I grew up moving pipe and breaking ground for new crops.  It was a time in my life that I consider very significant, and working on farms taught me the value of hard work and persistence. I want to make sure today’s youth have the same opportunities that I had growing up, part of which is being able to work, save money, and go to college.  Jobs in agriculture provide these opportunities and need to be preserved.

“Earlier this year I signed a letter to Secretary Solis expressing my disapproval of the proposed rule. I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 4157, the Preserving America’s Family Farms Act, that would have blocked the DOL from finalizing the proposed regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act that relate to on-farm youth labor. Members of the Idaho agricultural community that contacted my office and the Department of Labor to voice their strong opposition to this rule should be commended for their efforts to ensure that Idaho’s way of life is preserved.”