Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson this week supported legislation to improve hiring practices at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and to protect the Second Amendment Rights of veterans. H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act, gives the VA Secretary increased flexibility to remove, demote, or suspend VA employees for performance or misconduct. This bill was introduced to streamline administrative action against underperforming employees at VA facilities. The bill also ensures protections ... Read more

Washington, D.C. - Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported H.J.Res. 40, a resolution disapproving an 11th hour Obama Administration rule requiring the Social Security Administration (SSA) to submit the names of certain beneficiaries to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, denying them of their Second Amendment rights. On December 19, 2016, the SSA published the final rule for the criteria to report certain Social Security recipients to the National Instant Criminal Background ... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported the House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill for FY17 during the House Appropriations Committee consideration. Included in the legislation are policies important to western states and critical funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), a vital program in the west that ensures communities are adequately compensated for the lack of tax revenue due to the presence of federal land. “Every county in Idaho depends on the federal government mee... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported legislation protecting Americans’ access to hunting, fishing and shooting on public lands. H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, would ensure federal land managers continue to allow reliable access to public lands and protect Second Amendment rights. H.R. 2406 passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 242-161. “In Idaho, we love to hunt, fish, and enjoy other forms of recreation on our public... Read more

Idaho Congressman Simpson supported H.R. 766, the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act, to curtail the Obama Administration’s regulatory enforcement program known as “Operation Choke Point.” “Operation Choke Point” is a Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative in which federal banking regulators investigate banks’ business with merchants deemed to be at high risk for fraud and money laundering and “choke off” businesses alleged to have committed fraud from access to financial services. In... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following statement after President Obama unveiled a set of new gun control proposals. “I am disappointed but not surprised that President Obama is once again using executive orders to unilaterally push forward his personal agenda,” said Simpson. “This Administration pushes constitutional boundaries by implementing policies that should be considered, debated, and voted on by Congress. Limiting the ability of law abiding citizens to exercise their const... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today applauded the passage of H.R. 2029, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations bill that included many important provisions for Idaho and Western States. The House passed H.R. 2029 by a vote of 316-113, and it will be considered by the U.S. Senate today. Links to the bill text and reports can be found here: https://rules.house.gov/bill/114/hr-2029-sa. “I applaud Chairman Rogers and Speaker Ryan for their hard work in assembli... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today introduced legislation to prevent the U.S. Attorney General from arbitrarily blocking the importation of commonly owned and used firearms by American citizens. The “Firearm Importation Fairness Act of 2014” clarifies the standard required for the importation of sporting arms into the United States. “For years Americans have been barred from importing ‘non-sporting purposes’ firearms—these firearms are already legal in the United States” Simpson said. “The Oba... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson recently joined 180 Members of Congress by sending a letter to President Obama opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The Obama administration recently signed the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) concerning the trade of conventional weapons. While the treaty is intended to rein in unregulated weapons around the world, Simpson is concerned that such a treaty may put Second Amendment rights at risk. “I oppose any effort by the administration to im... Read more

“This bill is essentially a preemptive strike at any attempt to ban hunting on federal lands,” said Simpson. “We have to be proactive to protect our rights, and I hope Democrats and Republicans in Congress can act to do so.” Read more