“Quite frankly, it is very frustrating to me that the Fish and Wildlife Service continues to cause great concern among my constituents and the people of Idaho by leaving open the possibility of ending recreational uses on Lake Lowell,” said Simpson following the hearing. “That is why it was important to put this issue on the table with the Deputy Director and Acting Director and let him know what I am hearing from the people of Idaho on this matter. Idahoans are upset, and rightly so, that an inflexible federal government would even consider banning recreational uses on any lake, much less one that is man made.” Read more »

“I recognize the value of providing opportunities for people to connect with our forests, National Parks, and amazing natural resources, but it doesn’t make sense to me that we would dramatically increase land acquisition instead of focusing our limited resources on desperately needed efforts to improve forest health,” said Simpson. “At a time when our forests are significantly overstocked and unhealthy, the Forest Service proposes reducing spending on hazardous fuels, forest health, grazing, and fire suppression. Many of these programs support private jobs in rural communities—from ranching and forestry to recreation and wilderness management—and should be a priority.” Read more »

One of Simpson’s biggest criticisms of the budget request is the fact that it diverts funding from land management accounts in order to fully fund land acquisition accounts. “With the current budget crisis facing our country, I find it puzzling that the BLM requests $50 million for land acquisition and $1 billion for the new America’s Great Outdoors initiative when it has difficulty managing the land it already holds,” said Chairman Simpson. “I’m deeply concerned that this proposal will exacerbate an already out-of-control problem facing the BLM, and that is the increasing cost of litigation. When you shift resources from land management to acquisitions, you are unable to provide the land managers in your field offices with the resources they need to make environmentally sound decisions, leaving the door wide open to groups looking for any opportunity to sue.” Read more »

Simpson again expressed deep concern about the Obama Administration’s Wild Lands initiative. “It’s no secret that Western Members of both parties—including myself—have very strong objections to your Wild Lands Secretarial Order granting the BLM the authority to identify and manage lands in the West as wilderness,” said Chairman Simpson. “Only Congress has the authority to designate wilderness, and I can guarantee you that any subcommittee bill this year will include a funding prohibition relating to the Wild Lands policy, whether it is included in the underlying bill or added on the floor with an amendment.” Read more »

“This continuing resolution is the largest spending reduction in our nation’s history,” said Simpson. “These cuts and the open process under which they were considered represent a turning point for our nation, as Congress begins to respond to the concerns of the American people about the size of government and the growing national deficit. Cutting spending by over $100 billion is a huge step in the right direction, but it is only the first step, and Republicans are committed to doing what it takes to reduce federal spending, balance our budget, and get our economy growing again.” Read more »

“I have a long list of concerns about the Department of Interior’s ‘Wild Lands’ initiative, not the least of which is the fact that it was rolled out without giving the public an opportunity to comment on it and without the opportunity for congressional oversight. I’m concerned that this initiative will make it more difficult to make good land management decisions and result in increased litigation. The responsibility for making land management designations belongs to Congress, not the agency, and by including language in the CR to defund this initiative, I hope to force the Department to work with Congress on this issue.” Read more »

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who leads the Appropriations Committee subpanel that crafts Interior’s budget, said lawmakers could include language that prevents federal funding from being used to implement the program. Read more »

As Chairman, Congressman Simpson will be tasked with reducing spending levels that have grown out of control in recent years under Democrat control. In particular, he has his eyes set on the EPA, which has seen exponential growth in its budget since President Obama came into office. “The EPA is the scariest agency in the federal government, an agency run amok,” Simpson said. “Its bloated budget has allowed it to drastically expand its regulatory authority in a way that is hurting our economy and pushing an unwelcomed government further into the lives of Idahoans. As Chairman of this subcommittee, I look forward to bringing some common sense to the EPA and some certainty for our nation’s job creators.” Read more »

“In Idaho, we know firsthand the value that public lands bring to our way of life,” said Simpson. “Hunting, fishing, and backpacking are activities that promote a healthy and active lifestyle and provide opportunities for families to spend time together. What is more, those who live and recreate on public lands are great stewards of the land, and I believe ensuring that people continue to have the opportunity to recreate in our national forests benefits both communities and our forests.” Read more »

“I am frustrated that folks at the EPA continue to feel as though they need to regulate something simply because they can measure it,” said Simpson. “Rural western communities are already struggling to meet the existing air quality standards, and now the EPA wants to implement a standard that is twice as stringent, even though the science supports the current standard. As usual, the EPA has failed to recognize the real-world impacts of their regulations.” Read more »