“This week, I will submit a list of Idaho-based projects to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration in Fiscal Year 2010. I am keenly aware that these project, or earmark, requests are seen by some as an example of wasteful federal spending and I understand fully that too many federal projects are indeed wasteful.  “I decided to write and publish this column in an effort to… Read more »

The methamphetamine epidemic has led to a growing need for costly dental care. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined House colleagues in introducing bi-partisan legislation, H.R. 1671, the Meth Mouth Prevention and Community Recovery Act, that will aid providers in combating this pandemic. "The only chance we have to combat meth is through education," said Simpson. "This bill will… Read more »

When the House of Representatives passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, Congressman Mike Simpson’s bill to rename the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area was included. Also in the bill is Simpson’s legislation that transfers four federally-owned parcels of land in the Auger Falls area for the creation of a community park and recreation… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today voted in favor of H.R. 1404, the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act (FLAME Act). Simpson, who is Ranking Member of the House Interior and Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, is an original cosponsor to the legislation that boosts funding for catastrophic wildfires.  H.R. 1404 also would create a designated source of funding for… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined fellow members of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus in sending letters to Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and to House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt and Ranking Member Paul Ryan requesting that funding for the Environmental Management (EM) Program be included in their FY10 Budget request. To Secretary Chu the Caucus wrote, “The Bush… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson shares the widespread public outrage about the bonuses AIG issued to its employees and strongly believes that these bonuses need to be paid back to the taxpayer through effective, legal means.  Simpson is a cosponsor of legislation that would remove the provision of the economic stimulus bill that exempted these bonuses from being subject to the executive… Read more »

The United States House of Representatives designated the United States Postal Service located at 103 W. Main Street in McLain, Mississippi, as the ‘Major Ed W. Freeman Post Office.’ This is the home town to the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Freeman was a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on… Read more »

In order to encourage responsible homeownership, Congressman Mike Simpson has cosponsored H.R. 1317, legislation that would provide a tax credit to homeowners who have paid and continued to pay their mortgages. “It is clear that the mortgage crisis is at the root of the financial turmoil facing our nation, and I recognize the need to stem the growing tide of foreclosures and plummeting… Read more »

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 »