Congressman Mike Simpson announced that he is an original cosponsor of the Charlie Norwood CLEAR Act of 2007 today. This legislation is designed to implement an efficient system of identifying and removing violent criminal illegal immigrants, while denying specific federal funding to American "Sanctuary Cities" that protect them.    The Charlie Norwood CLEAR Act of 2007 (H.R. 3494)… Read more »

In a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today asked his colleagues to approve a variety of disaster assistance measures to assist the State of Idaho and those Idahoans impacted by the devastating drought and catastrophic wildfires. Simpson is seeking the assistance through upcoming disaster supplemental legislation expected before Congress this… Read more »

Congressman Simpson today asked Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter to remove his name from the list of potential replacements for U.S. Senator Larry Craig. His statement follows:   “After careful deliberation, Kathy and I have determined that my reasons for rejecting a run at an open Senate seat remain as strong today as they were three weeks ago, and I have asked Gov. Otter to remove me from his… Read more »

Following is a statement from Congressman Mike Simpson concerning Senator Craig’s announcement to resign today.   “To say today is a sorrowful day is not enough. Idaho has lost a great leader and I will personally miss working with him on a daily basis. Senator Craig and Suzanne deserve our gratitude and I hope that Idahoans and the Nation will allow them the time they need to recover… Read more »

When the Republicans authorized the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 1997, they created a program to provide health insurance to low-income children. In Idaho, this essential program has given thousands of vulnerable children access to healthcare. Shamefully, at the expense of these very children, Democrats’ reauthorization of this critical program has lost sight of… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has secured funding for several Idaho projects in the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. H.R. 3043 passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 276-140.   “It may sound cliché but ‘Education is Our Future’ and we must put the funding and support behind it,” said Simpson. “This bill includes funding for… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined fellow House members in announcing the introduction of H.R. 2946, the State and Local Education Flexibility Act of 2007. Simpson is an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill that is sponsored by Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry.    “No Child Left Behind needs to be flexible. What may work in New York City may not work in Declo, Idaho,” said… Read more »

U.S. Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, announced today that both the House and Senate versions of the Agriculture Appropriations bill include funds to eradicate potato cyst nematode (PCN) in Idaho. PCN was discovered in eastern Idaho in 2006 - the first discovery of the pest in the United States. PCN can result in up to 80 percent loss of a potato crop… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today praised passage of H.R. 2641, the fiscal year 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill which included substantial funding for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Office of Nuclear Energy. Specifically, the legislation provides $96.8 million in increased funding… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson announced that he is upgrading his constituent mail system to better serve constituent needs today. The conversion to the new mail system will begin on Monday, July 16. "Responding to constituent inquires and mail has always been my number one priority," said Simpson. "The sheer volume of emails the office now receives has necessitated an upgrade to a… Read more »