WASHINGTON— Today, the Department of the Interior announced its decision to cancel the right-of-way for the Lava Ridge wind project. This decision follows language authored by Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson to the fiscal year 2024 enacted spending bill to require the agency to re-evaluate the decision by the Biden administration to grant a right-of-way approval for the project,… Read more »

WASHINGTON— This week, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson–Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee–authored language that secures complete funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program.   “PILT… Read more »

WASHINGTON—This week, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson–Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee–authored language to prohibit any funds to approve construction activities related to the out-of-touch Lava Ridge Wind… Read more »

WASHINGTON— Last week, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson – Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee – secured funding for the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation program.   “Idaho has thousands of abandoned… Read more »

WASHINGTON— Today, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson – Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee – secured a provision related to onshore wind projects in Idaho requiring the Comptroller General to produce a report… Read more »

Simpson Cosponsors Bill to Protect Multiple-Use on BLM Land  Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored H.R. 3397, legislation that would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw its “Conservation and Landscape Health” proposed rule.  The proposed rule would significantly impact how Idahoans interact with and enjoy the 12 million… Read more »

Idaho Delegation Presses BLM Director on Change to Multiple-Use Approach for Public Lands WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and U.S. Congressmen Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher (all R-Idaho) wrote the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tracy Stone-Manning regarding her department’s efforts to change the multiple-use approach of federal land… Read more »

Simpson Questions BLM Director Stone-Manning on Lava Ridge Proposal During FY24 Budget Hearing Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, last week questioned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning in a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget requests for the BLM, U.S. Fish and… Read more »

Idaho Congressional Delegation Introduce Wildfire Fighting Fix  Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressmen Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher with Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) yesterday cosponsored the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023. The legislation was introduced in both chambers of… Read more »

Simpson Speaks Out on WOTUS Congressional Review Act Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today voted in favor of H.J. Res 27, the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval, that would nullify the recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (Corps) WOTUS rule that is set to take effect on March 20,… Read more »