WASHINGTON—This week, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson wrote an op-ed in the Washington Reporter regarding his upcoming priorities as Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.

“I spent the last four years fighting against the Biden administration’s job-killing regulatory overreach and disastrous policies. Now, instead of simply pushing back, the Interior subcommittee is focused on strengthening and promoting domestic energy production, investing in Indian Country, reining in the EPA, expanding access to critical minerals, and ensuring that land management agencies have the tools to manage our lands effectively and efficiently—just to name a few.”

The full op-ed is available here and below.

Laying Out My Priorities as Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee

By Rep. Mike Simpson

After the decisive mandate from the American people last November, it should come as no surprise that Republicans are hitting the ground running. As the 119th Congress gets underway, we are laying out our priorities, building on past successes, and advancing the policies that matter most to our constituents.

Returning as Chairman of the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee is a true honor. While I take great pride in the work our subcommittee accomplished last Congress, we’ve got our work cut out for us. The House Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2025 process prioritized cuts to wasteful spending and refocused the government on its core responsibilities.

I spent the last four years fighting against the Biden administration’s job-killing regulatory overreach and disastrous policies. Now, instead of simply pushing back, the Interior subcommittee is focused on strengthening and promoting domestic energy production, investing in Indian Country, reining in the EPA, expanding access to critical minerals, and ensuring that land management agencies have the tools to manage our lands effectively and efficiently—just to name a few.

The Interior subcommittee oversees funding for public land agencies important to my home state of Idaho and other Western states, such as the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Parks Service, among others.

As Chairman, I am in a position to directly influence federal policies that directly impact Idaho and the West. I look forward to bringing Idaho’s perspective to issues like the Endangered Species Act, continued access to our public lands, and forest management. 

Nearly two-thirds of Idaho is federal land, which means our public land management policies directly impact our state’s economy and the lives of Idahoans who live, work, and recreate on or near federal land. This is why I will continue to use my position to ensure the federal land management agencies are good neighbors.

I also plan to work directly with the Trump administration to protect critical programs vital to states and local communities, such as fully funding Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)—a lifeline for our rural communities.

Additionally, while the Fiscal Year 2025 House Interior Bill permanently increased pay for our brave federal wildland firefighters, we still need to get this across the finish line. The provisions included in the bill will improve firefighter recruitment and retention and provide financial certainty to the men and women protecting our communities from catastrophic wildfire. I look forward to working with the administration to make this a reality.

Another critical area where we will make significant strides is energy policy. Our mandate from the American people is clear: We must unleash American-made energy and return to energy independence.

Under President Trump, the United States achieved energy independence for the first time in 70 years—an accomplishment we are determined to restore. By securing our energy supply chain and ending reliance on foreign adversaries, we will not only strengthen our national security but also help lower costs for American families.

President Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Interior and America’s ‘energy czar’ Doug Burgum, has made it clear that he intends to achieve domestic energy dominance, making life affordable for American families nationwide, and driving down inflation. I look forward to working with Secretary Burgum as we slash burdensome regulations, strengthen national security, and promote American values through President Trump’s agenda. American energy leadership is back.

As Congress and the White House align to revive the conservative values that the American people voted for, I remain committed to working with my colleagues and the Trump administration to rein in unnecessary spending and restore fiscal responsibility to get our economy back on track. We have a lot of work to do, but this is the time to hit the ground running and deliver results for all Americans. Together, we can restore American strength, safeguard our natural resources, and ensure that our communities remain resilient for generations to come.