“Earlier this year, the USDA issued the proposed rule, “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.” This proposed rule would have forced schools to limit servings of potatoes, corn, green peas and lima beans. This drastic change to the school meal programs would have incurred significant costs to all school districts. Due to the radical changes and extreme costs that would have been associated with the proposed rule, it is likely that considerable number of schools would have chosen not to participate in the meal programs, especially school breakfast. As a ... Read More »
“On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the American flag as an emblem of freedom and independence. John Adams proclaimed that, “the flag of the thirteen United States represents a new constellation.” Over 220 years after it was first embraced, Old Glory remains a symbol of the pride of our nation. “Recognizing the importance of this American treasure, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 that established a National Flag Day. Following this act, in 1949, Congress by joint resolution designated June 14 of each year as a day to commemorate the adoption of th... Read More »
“After seeing that House Republicans and Chairman Paul Ryan are responding to the call of the American people to get spending under control, President Obama has come late to the game and put forth a proposal that still doesn’t pass muster. Unlike Chairman Ryan’s plan, which reduces the deficit by $4.4 trillion and reduces taxes, President Obama proposes to raise taxes on job creators while punting on the real drivers of the debt: our expensive mandatory programs which make up 60% of the federal budget. After putting out a federal budget that did absolutely nothing to address the deficit crisis... Read More »
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, today issued the following statement on language he has inserted into H.R. 1, the House Continuing Resolution, that prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using taxpayer dollars to implement laws or regulations expanding federal jurisdiction over state waters. The provision would block any attempt by the Obama Administration to remove the term “navigable waters” from the definition of waters subject to EPA regulation under the Clean Water Act. Currently non-navigable water... Read More »
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson put out the following statement regarding language included in the continuing resolution to reinstate the 2009 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the gray wolf in Idaho and Montana. “It makes no sense to call wolves in Idaho and Montana an endangered species. Not only do wolf populations far exceed recovery goals, but without proper management those populations have grown to the point where they are adversely impacting other wildlife populations in the region and wreaking havoc for ranchers, hunters, and public land users in Idaho. The Fish ... Read More »
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, who chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement after putting language into H.R. 1, the FY2011 Continuing Resolution, prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using funds to implement climate change regulations scheduled to go into effect later this year. “It has become clear to me in talking to the job creators in this country that allowing these regulations to go into effect would prevent job creation and inhibit economic growth at a time when our economy is still struggling. It should... Read More »
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, issued the following statement about language included in H.R. 1, the FY11 Continuing Resolution, to prohibit the use of funding for the Department of Interior’s new “Wild Lands” policy: “I have a long list of concerns about the Department of Interior’s ‘Wild Lands’ initiative, not the least of which is the fact that it was rolled out without giving the public an opportunity to comment on it and without the opportunity for congressional oversight. I’m concerned that this initiativ... Read More »
Republicans eye block of Interior Dept. wilderness policy By Ben Geman - 02/09/11 05:43 AM ET By Ben Geman - 02/09/11 05:43 AM ET A senior Republican said Tuesday that Interior Department spending legislation could prevent the department from carrying out a new wilderness policy that has drawn widespread opposition from Western GOP members. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who leads the Appropriations Committee subpanel that crafts Interior’s budget, said lawmakers could include language that prevents federal funding from being used to implement the program. He said spending legislation “might” c... Read More »
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today issued the following statement in response to U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruling H.R. 3590, the Patient, Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional: “I strongly believe Obama’s health care law is the wrong direction for our nation and is unconstitutional,” said Congressman Mike Simpson. “I am pleased to see this court ruling, and I believe the House acted appropriately earlier this month by repealing the bill in its entirety so we can start over by passing smaller bills that enjoy bipartisan support and focus on bringing down costs for Amer... Read More »
I am writing to respond to the comments of former Governor Cecil Andrus and the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board regarding the recent agreement between the State of Idaho and the Department of Energy (DOE) over future shipments of very small quantities of spent nuclear fuel for research purposes. While I have a great deal of respect for the former Governor, I am disappointed in his opposition to this sensible agreement and even more disappointed that he is using outdated and unfounded arguments to oppose it. The former Governor’s distrust of the Department of Energy is well earned, but is in ... Read More »