On Wednesday, the Department of the Interior announced fiscal year 2018 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments, which compensate local governments for the inability to collect property taxes on federal land. Idaho is slated to receive $36.1 million in fiscal year 2018, along with the $26 million from Secure Rural Schools Payments (SRS) the Forest Service announced in May. PILT funding was made p... Read more »
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act (the “Farm Bill”). The Farm Bill reauthorizes many important farm and nutrition programs for five years. H.R. 2 passed by a vote of 213-211. “We need to show rural America we have their back, and the Farm Bill is the perfect vehicle to demonstrate our support,” said Simpson. “In Idaho, this bill will provide c... Read more »
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 Ob... 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 t... 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 ap... 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 criti... 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... 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 ... 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 throug... 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... Read more »
