Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson joined fellow members of the Rural Health Care Coalition, co-chaired by Congressmen Greg Walden (R–OR) and Earl Pomeroy (D–ND), in cosponsoring H.R. 2680, the Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2007 (H-CARE). This bipartisan bill would help rural health care providers address obstacles associated with delivering quality care close to home. H-CARE… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, member of the House Appropriations Committee, today applauded the Interior Appropriations FY08 Funding Bill. The legislation includes funding for key Idaho Projects.   The Auger Falls Wastewater Treatment Project in Twin Falls will receive an additional $500,000 in this bill. “The City of Twin Falls and those involved should be commended for realizing a… Read more »

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot from constituents with passport concerns. They need it for upcoming travel and it is still being processed. Passport demand has dramatically increased over the past few months and the time it takes to get a new or renewed passport has stretched far beyond the conventional month and a half that many expected when they applied. In 2004, the 9-11 Commission… Read more »

Congressmen Mike Simpson and Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-GA) today introduced the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, (H.R. 2580) to reduce frivolous medical lawsuits that are raising the cost of healthcare and driving many physicians out of business.  H.R. 2580 is a bipartisan bill, with 57 cosponsors, that will remove financial incentives for filing… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson announced his co-sponsorship of two important pieces of legislation that will provide resources for school improvements and help school districts retain qualified teachers. The America’s Better Classroom Act (H.R. 2470) and the Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007 (H.R. 2287) are both enjoying bipartisan support.   The Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007 would… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today made the following statement after supporting passage of H.R. 2206, the Iraq War Supplemental Funding Bill.   “It is unconscionable that Congress has taken over 100 days to approve funding for the soldiers in Iraq who are in harms way, while the democrats in congress attempt to embarrasses the President.   “I’m disappointed and relieved at the… Read more »

In a news conference Congressman Mike Simpson joined colleague Albert R. Wynn (MD) today, to announce the introduction of the Essential Oral Health Care Act of 2007.  This Act will improve the delivery of dental services in state Medicaid and SCHIP programs, provide grants for Community Dental Health Coordinator training as well as for volunteer missions of mercy dental projects, and… Read more »

In a letter sent to House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) today, Congressmen Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Jim Matheson (D-UT) 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… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today praised his Subcommittee’s passage of the fiscal year 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill which included substantial funding for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Office of Nuclear Energy. Specifically, the legislation provides $96.8 million in increased… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined the bipartisan effort to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 (H.R. 1585) today. The final vote for the legislation was 397-27.   “Nothing is more important than providing funding for National Defense, especially in a time of war,” Simpson said. “We all know that we owe our freedom and way of life to the brave men and women who… Read more »