“Not only do the president’s sudden appointments made while Congress was not in session break a long standing precedent, but they fly in the face of the Constitution,” said Congressman Mike Simpson.  “The Constitution clearly states that, ‘Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting,’”
Under the Constitution, presidential appointments must be approved by the U.S. Senate.  While the president has the power to make appointments while Congress is in recess, these particular appointments were made while the Senate was in pro forma session and when the House had not consented to an adjournment.

“I have long been an advocate for and believe in regular order for Congress. I appreciate and respect the rules that our forefathers put forth in order to allow the people to have a voice,” said Simpson. “In that respect, I also believe that the Executive Branch has the same obligation to abide by the rules and procedures lined out by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution.  The Constitution sets out a clear process of checks and balances for presidential appointments that ensures that one branch of government does not become too powerful, and I am deeply concerned that the president seems intent on ignoring constitutional precedent.”

The resolution addresses the so-called recess appointments of the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and three members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).  In particular, Senate Republicans have held up the nomination of the Director for CFPB because of concern that the newly created agency is unaccountable to elected officials and not subject to the appropriations process.

President Obama only indicated his intent to nominate the three members of the NLRB board on December 15, 2011—two days before the Senate adjourned for the holiday.  Thus, the Senate has not had the opportunity to even hold hearings to consider the President’s NLRB appointments.

Simpson Announces New Congressional Fellow
Congressman Mike Simpson announces the addition of a congressional fellow with his Washington, D.C., staff.

Chad Boyer is a nuclear engineer with diverse experience in the electric power industry and is currently serving as a congressional fellow in Simpson’s office. Boyer was the Lead Mechanical Engineer at the Shaw Power Group for the new nuclear power plants located in Jenkinsville, SC.  There Boyer led the design effort for the site specific mechanical systems needed to support the operation of two Generation III+ nuclear power plants. Besides having a strong background in nuclear power, Boyer also worked on energy efficiency projects such as industrial facility energy analysis, commercial buildings energy analysis, plug-in hybrid cars and plug-in hybrid school buses. He has a two bachelor degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Physics and a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering with a thesis on the modeling of non-ideal plasmas in electromagnetic launchers.  Boyer is a licensed professional engineer in North Carolina and South Carolina.

“Chad’s experience in the nuclear industry is extremely impressive, and I’m looking forward to working with him in the upcoming year to advance the interests of nuclear power and the Idaho National Laboratory,” said Simpson. “I'm not only impressed with Chad's skills and education, but I am grateful that he is willing to spend a year in Washington sharing his expertise and helping advance a prudent national energy strategy that includes a strong nuclear component. I am also thrilled that he'll be focusing directly on both the cleanup and research missions in Eastern Idaho and working to promote the outstanding work being done at the Site."

As Simpson’s nuclear energy fellow, Boyer will be handling all nuclear energy research and cleanup issues and working directly with the Idaho National Laboratory, the Idaho Cleanup Project and the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project on issues of concern before the United States Congress. Boyer is the designated Congressional Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and will be working in Simpson's office throughout calendar year 2012.

Simpson Announces Academy Nominations
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is pleased to announce the following men and women as official nominees to the United States military academies.

“It is an honor to nominate Idaho students to the military academies,” said Simpson. “I am always impressed by the quality and character of our youth in Idaho. Each person is a fine example of what our state has to offer. They are bright, articulate, and ready to serve.”
Students were selected on the quality of their application, scholastic achievement, references and extra-curricular activities. While a congressional nomination does not guarantee acceptance to the Service Academies, many of Idaho’s nominees are selected for an appointment.

The following students were nominated to either the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.; the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York; the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; or the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Nominees are:

BOISE
• Tess Branscombe -  Boise, Unites States Naval Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Skyler Means – Boise, United States Naval Academy
• Nick Ryan – Boise, United States Naval Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Nicholas Arnold – Boise, United States Air Force Academy
• Adrianna Lutu – Boise, United States Air Force Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Kevin Weber – Boise, United States Military Academy
• Kristine Westergard – Boise, United States Military Academy
• Konner Moden – Boise, United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Andrew Fletcher – Boise, United States Merchant Marine Academy

Mt. HOME/FAIRFIELD
• Caleb McCullough – Mt. Home, United States Air Force Academy
• Conner McClellan – Mt. Home, Unites States Military Academy
• Mickenize Boggs – Fairfield, United States Military Academy, Unites States Merchant Marine Academy

MAGIC VALLEY
• David Borden – Rupert, United States Naval Academy
• Kaylee Kostka – Heyburn, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy
• Destry Weeks – Rogerson, United States Naval Academy
• Kevin Wilmot – Jermone, Unites States Air Force Academy

POCATELLO/CHUBBUCK/BLACKFOOT
• Gaylen Edmo – Pocatello, United States Naval Academy
• Dempsy Rogers – Pocatello, United States Military Academy
• John Foulger – Chubbuck, United States Air Force Academy
• Layne Harper – Blackfoot, United States Military Academy

IDAHO FALLS
• Ellen Bradford – Idaho Falls, United States Naval Academy
• Kevin Marshall – Idaho Falls, United States Naval Academy
• Nathan Marshall – Idaho Falls, United States Naval Academy
• Dillon Hoy – Idaho Falls, United States Air Force Academy
• Kevin Miller – Idaho Falls, United States Air Force Academy
• Adam Armour – Idaho Falls, United States Military Academy
• Charles Sperry – Idaho Falls, United States Military Academy
• Marcus Poling – Idaho Falls, United States Military Academy

SHELLY/AMMON
• Adam Emfield – Shelley, United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Alex Foster – Ammon, United States Merchant Marine Academy

RIGBY/REXBURG/St. ANTHONY
• Bryan Perry – Rigby, United States Military Academy
• Austin Porter – Rexburg, United States Air Force Academy
• Aaron Tousley – St. Anthony, United States Air Force Academy

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, JANUARY 16TH
On Monday, the House is not in session.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for pro forma business and recess immediately. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Quorum Call - Establishing a quorum in the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the 112th Congress

H.Res. __- Electing the 36th Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, Paul Irving (Privileged Resolution)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

H.J.Res. 98- Relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as submitted under section 3101A of title 31, United States Code, on January 12, 2012 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Reed / Ways and Means Committee)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19TH
On Thursday, the House is not in session.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20TH
On Friday, the House is not in session.