Idaho Congressman Simpson is the Republican lead on a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack expressing disapproval of the USDA decision to continue the exclusion of potatoes in the final WIC rule. Today 67 bipartisan members of Congress signed Simpson’s letter expressing disappointment with the Obama Administration’s disregard for the very clear direction from Congress to include fresh, white potatoes in the WIC program. The members of Congress ask Secretary Vilsack to revisit his decis... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported legislation passed by the House of Representatives to protect water rights against overreach by the federal government. Simpson is a cosponsor of H.R. 3189, the Water Rights Protection Act, which prohibits agencies from requiring the transfer of privately-held water rights to the federal government in order to obtain a permit to use federal land. The House passed the bill by a vote of 238-174. In a number of recent cases, the U.S. Forest Service has... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today cosponsored legislation to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from releasing personal data on livestock producers to the public. The bill responds to an incident last year in which EPA released personal data, including names, telephone numbers, and email addresses, on a number of agricultural operations when responding to a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). H.R. 4157, the Farmer Identity Protection Act, would prohibit the EP... Read more

Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4138, the “Executive Needs to Faithfully Oversee and Respect Congressional Enactments,” known as the ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014. This legislation authorizes the House or Senate to sue the administration for failing to enforce federal law. Idaho Congressman Simpson supported this legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 233-181. “The Obama Administration has a habit of ignoring the will of Congress, defying the Constitution, and unilaterally... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported legislation to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations. H.R. 3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act, would provide guidance to the EPA on its proposed GHG emissions regulations to ensure that any new regulations are reasonably achievable and economically viable. Simpson, who chairs the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, joined a majority of the... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported H.R. 4118, the SIMPLE Fairness Act, which would eliminate the Obamacare individual mandate penalty tax for 2014. The Obama Administration has already unilaterally delayed the employee mandate, so it is only fair to extend relief to all Americans. The bill passed the House this week 250 to 160, with 27 Democrats joining the majority. “We need to give some breathing room from this burdensome law to American families by delaying the individual mandate. Estim... Read more

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson issued the following statement today regarding the President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request. “It should come as no surprise to anyone that President Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget completely ignores hard fought spending caps he agreed to just months ago. Our nation is on a path for financial ruin, and this budget does not take the problem seriously,” said Congressman Mike Simpson. “House Republicans have lead the fight to reduce the discretionary budget for fou... Read more

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its final rule today excluding fresh, white potatoes from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson plans to use every available tool in order to reverse the ban of potatoes in the program. “I am deeply disappointed in the USDA’s decision to ignore legislation that directed the agency to include fresh potatoes in the WIC Program,” said Simpson. “Congress’ support of potatoes in WIC is crysta... 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 received the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Policymaker of the 113th Congress Award. The Policymaker Award was initiated by 27 members of the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Summit Coordinating Committee to recognize leaders serving the nation in public office who have demonstrated exceptional support for research and development in nuclear energy technology. Simpson chairs the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. Jeffrey Crater, Vice President for Gov... Read more