Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following statement after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army announced they will be sending a proposed ‘Step 2” rule that would define ‘waters of the United States (WOTUS) to the Office of Management and Budget for interagency review. “I applaud this Administration for permanently rescinding the hastily developed Obama Administration rule on ‘waters of the United States’,” said Simpson. “I look forward to working ... Read more

The Truth about the Omnibus By Congressman Mike Simpson Washington, D.C. – “You may have seen an article authored by a DC lobbyist recently that criticized my vote on the FY18 Omnibus bill. I’d like to respond to Mr. Riggs’ claims. “First, the FY18 Omnibus bill was good for Idaho. It will directly benefit Idahoans through reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools, full funding for PILT, reining in the EPA, and funding for the A-10 Thunderbolt II based at Gowen Field. It included my fix to fire fun... Read more

Simpson’s Energy and Water Legislation Passes the House House approves legislation including Energy and Water, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch Appropriations bill Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson praised the passage of H.R. 5895, which included the Fiscal Year 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the legislation with a final vote count of 235-179. H.R. 5895 provides funding for the Idaho ... Read more

Simpson Includes Important Idaho Provisions in Committee Passed Bill Watch the Congressman discuss Sage Grouse and Science Transparency at the EPA during the House Interior Appropriations Markup Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill by a vote of 25-20. Included in the bill are critical provisions for Idaho that provide relief from burdensome regulations, funding to prevent and sup... Read more

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Simpson today applauded the passage of H.R. 5515, the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Simpson supported the legislation which fulfills the constitutional responsibility of Congress to provide for the common defense by funding the Department of Defense. “The annual NDAA bill is one of the most important votes I take each year, and FY 2019 is no different,” said Simpson. “The United States continues to face evolving threats, and H.R. 5515 d... Read more

"The certainty a farm bill provides to Idaho's farmers and rural communities is critical," said Simpson. "I am disappointed by today's developments and hope that Congress can take steps toward passing a farm bill sooner rather than later. I am pleased H.R. 2 protected the no cost sugar program, which is vital for sugar beet growers in Idaho. I stand ready to work with my colleagues to find a path forward to assembling a final Farm Bill that works for rural America.” Read more

Washington, DC – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson announced that the Fiscal Year 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill protects funding for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, and cleanup activities in Idaho. Simpson is Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which passed the bill through the full House Appropriations Committee this week, and had the lead role in deciding funding for a... Read more

“I’ve always been opposed to the Iran deal that the Obama Administration put forward,” said Congressman Simpson. “I voted against it when it came before the House because of its deficiencies, and Iran’s behavior since the deal’s signing in 2013 has continued to cause great concern. Now that President Trump has announced the United States’ withdrawal from the deal, I believe we need to work hand in hand with our allies to develop a more effective and comprehensive response to the threat of a nucl... Read more

On Monday, the U.S. Forest Service announced Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payment distributions, which is critically important for Idaho’s rural counties. SRS funding fulfills the federal government’s responsibility to counties with tax-exempt federal lands, specifically counties with high percentages of national forests. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which passed in March and was signed into law by President Trump, included two years of funding for SRS. Idaho received approximately... Read more

Statement on the Passing of Former First Lady Barbara Bush Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson issued the following statement: “Kathy and I send our love and prayers to the Bush family. Barbara Bush was a leader, a grandmother, a mother, a wife, and one of the most important figures in modern American history. Her strong presence inspired a family of public servants, and her own service to this country will live on through her legacy of advancing family literacy. She was a role mod... Read more