Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Simpson participated in a subcommittee hearing today to review the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to manage its budget.  This is the second in a series of hearings intended to provide oversight for agencies whose funding falls under the jurisdiction of the subcommittee.  “I have always believed that Congress has an important—and… Read more »

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and all four members of Idaho’s congressional delegation joined today in praising Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s affirmation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to remove gray wolves from the list of threatened and endangered species in Idaho and other areas. “Wolves are a fully recovered species that is thriving in Idaho. That’s a fact, and it… Read more »

Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman requesting an oversight hearing to explore the affects of certain mandates of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPISA) of 2008. Simpson is specifically concerned that the implementation of the bill has now banned the sales of children’s off-highway vehicles… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, who is the Ranking Member of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, participated in a hearing where the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Department of Interior Inspector General (IG) testified regarding oversight of the Department of Interior.   Congressman Simpson raised several concerns during the committee, highlighting the… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson introduced a House Resolution today congratulating the American Dental Association (ADA) for its 150th year of working to improve Americans public’s oral health and promoting dentistry.  “For 150 years, the ADA has been supporting initiatives to improve access to oral health care services for all Americans,” said Simpson. “Dentists in Idaho and across the… Read more »

In a letter sent to the House Judiciary Committee, Congressmen Mike Simpson (R-ID), Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Walt Minnick (D-ID) requested an oversight hearing on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), its amendments of July 2000, and the possibility of expanding the legislation to cover individuals exposed to radioactive fallout that are not currently covered. The letter was… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today announced the inclusion of substantial increases in funding for the Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Cleanup Project as part of final legislation funding the Department of Energy in Fiscal Year 2009.  “The funding increases in this bill represent a complete… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following statement today after the final vote in the U.S. House on the $800 billion Economic Stimulus package. Simpson voted no on the final passage. "While I support a number of programs and ideas that are reflected in the package we voted on today, I can not support the astronomical amount of money that is being thrown at this problem… Read more »

Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and James E. Risch and Congressmen Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick today introduced the Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2009, legislation that calls for portions of Idaho’s interstate roadways to be included in an existing freight transport pilot project in the State. The State pilot project, created in 2003 by the Idaho State Legislature, allows… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson will attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.  The Ceremony will be held at 2 pm MST at the Idaho Center in Nampa, Idaho. “Athletes, welcome to our home and thank you for touching our hearts. Idahoans are providing a first-class venue for these events and we are all lucky to have this happening in our home state,”… Read more »