Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today applauded the release of H.R. 83, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations bill that included many important provisions for Idaho and Western States.  “This bill represents an important step for Congress toward fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to fund government operations through the regular… Read more »

 Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today opposed H.R. 3979, The National Defense Authorization Act because of the authority it extends to the Administration to train and equip the Syrian rebels. “There are many essential provisions included in H.R. 3979 that I support.  However, I opposed the bill because I cannot in good conscience vote to extend additional authority to the Obama… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell expressing his strong concern about the Service’s Proposed Rules for Commercial Filming in Wilderness Areas. Simpson’s primary concern is that the Administration’s final rule will place an undue burden on journalists, television programs, outfitters and guides and other media-related activities… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson this week supported a series of bills to bring greater transparency and accountability to actions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  H.R. 1422, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013, H.R. 4012, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013, and H.R. 4795, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, were all passed by the House of… Read more »

The following statement was issued by Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson following the President’s Address to the Nation on his plans for immigration:  “Let me be clear, the President's actions tonight are illegal, unconstitutional, and contrary to the way in which the American people expect the President and Congress to interact. They have the potential to throw us into a… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Simpson today supported H.R. 5682, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would put an end to years of bureaucratic delays and allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline project.  The Keystone XL pipeline would transport crude oil from the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the United States. Because the pipeline would connect the… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today released a statement on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) completion of a key volume of the Safety Evaluation Report for the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Storage Project. Simpson is Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and has the lead role in deciding funding for all Department of Energy… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined a number of western colleagues in urging House leadership to secure full funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) programs for fiscal year 2015.  In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Simpson and others urged that the federal government… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today expressed continued opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to expand federal jurisdiction over water.  This week the Small Business Administration expressed “deep concern” in a letter to the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the impact of the rule on agriculture and other small businesses.  The… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported passage of H.R. 3522, the Employee Health Care Protection Act.  This bill would allow employees to keep their work sponsored health plans by ensuring that existing group health plans can continue to be sold through 2019.  It passed the House 247 to 167. Last year, millions of plans in the individual insurance market were cancelled… Read more »