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… 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… 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… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Simpson today supported passage of H.R. 3865, the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014.  This legislation prohibits for one year a proposal by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to unilaterally change the regulations, in place for fifty years, which allow certain organizations to engage in political activities. The bill passed 243 to 176. “It… Read more »

Congressman Mike Simpson supported the Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The bill provides important safeguards for taxpayers such as barring the IRS from asking questions regarding religious, political, or social beliefs. Read more details on the bill here: http://www.gop.gov/bill/113/2/hr2531 Read more »

 “If you like your current insurance, you keep that insurance. Period. End of Story.” “It turns out that wasn’t the end of the story. By now we all know this promise made by President Obama, repeated dozens of times in recent years, is not true.  It’s been called “the lie of the year.”  As Obamacare rolls out, Americans are learning it firsthand as cancellation letters… Read more »

 Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported legislation protecting Americans’ access to hunting, fishing and shooting on public lands.  H.R. 3590, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, would ensure that public land managers facilitate access for fishing, sport hunting, and recreational shooting on federal land managed by the BLM and Forest… Read more »

Bill would end ‘fire borrowing’ and ensure resources available for hazardous fuel removal Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported passage of the conference report for H.R. 2642, the Agricultural Act of 2014, known as the Farm Bill.  The conference report, which authorizes agriculture programs for five years, passed the House by a vote of 251-166.  The Agricultural Act of 2014 significantly reduces and reforms farm policy spending and food stamp expenditures,… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today supported H.R. 3362, the Exchange Information Disclosure Act, which passed 259-154. The bill requires the administration to submit to Congress weekly reports that detail a variety of Obamacare statistics that are currently not being released to the public. The report would include the number of visits to the healthcare.gov website, the number of… Read more »