The Idaho Delegation has introduced in both the House and Senate resolutions aimed at commending the efforts of Idahoans to bring to Idaho the largest sporting event in state history during 2009—the Special Olympics World Winter Games.  The resolutions, originally authored in the House by Congressman Bill Sali and proposed by the entire Idaho delegation, salute the athletes and all who… Read more »

Congressman Simpson voted last night to provide needed funding to rural schools in Idaho. H.R. 2207, the Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency Unfinished Business Appropriations Act for 2007, includes $425 million to help counties with large amounts of federal land make up for lost tax revenue. The bill passed the House of Representatives with a final vote of… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson announced today that he has signed on to two important initiatives for rural America.  Simpson is cosponsoring of H.R. 1929, the Save the Family Farm and Ranch Act of 2007 and H.R. 1600, the Eat Healthy America Act.  The Save the Family Farm and Ranch Act (H.R. 1929) would allow farm and ranch families to exempt land assets used in their business from the… Read more »

Congressman Mike Simpson voted against H.R. 1684, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization bill last night. Simpson did not support the bill because a manager’s amendment removed large portions of the legislation.  There were 86 substantive provisions in the bill that passed the committee. Regrettably, 26 sections, or 30% of the bill, were significantly revised, and 16… Read more »

Resolutions honoring Idaho potatoes, growers and the Idaho Potato Commission are being introduced in the U.S. Congress by Idaho’s Congressional Delegation.  The resolutions designate May 2007 as “Idaho Potato Month” and recognize the 70th Anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission. “The Idaho potato ‘brand’ is recognized throughout the world for its high quality and is an identifying… Read more »

Congressman Mike Simpson joined his colleagues last night in opposing the majority’s attempt to co-opt command-and-control authority in Iraq. H.R. 1591, the Iraq Supplemental Funding Conference Report passed the house by a vote of 218-208.  H.R. 1591 includes an inflexible timeline for bringing troops home, regardless of the situation on the ground in Iraq. It also ties the hands of… Read more »

Congressman Mike Simpson voted in favor of H.R. 1332, the Small Business Lending Improvement Act today. The bill allows the Small Business Administration to continue the 7(a) loan program without the use of appropriations. "Small Businesses employ half of all private sector employees, and pay more than 45 percent of the United States payroll, in a sense they are the backbone of our… Read more »

Congressman Mike Simpson demonstrated his strong support for education, teachers and Idaho Schools when he joined colleagues in passing two important pieces of education legislation today. H.R. 362, 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds, Science and Math Scholarship Act and H.R. 363, the Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act, both demonstrate the importance of math and… Read more »

Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and Bill Sali voted in favor of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) last night. H.R. 1495 would streamline the delivery of water transportation projects and permits, increase recreational opportunities in Idaho, and make important repairs to agricultural and flood control infrastructure in Idaho. Navigation improvement is particularly… Read more »

The Idaho Congressional Delegation welcomed today’s announcement by Secretary of Agriculture Johanns that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be providing $10.78 million to help eradicate potato cyst nematode (PCN) in Idaho.   A year ago, PCN was discovered in tare soil originating from some eastern Idaho fields.  Tare soil is the dirt that is attached to the potato when it comes out… Read more »