Recently in Washington

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported a continuing resolution that extends government operations through the end of the fiscal year with a provision specifying that cuts under sequestration must be enacted for all non-security accounts as required by current law.  Simpson, who chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, was instrumental in ensuring that the CR included adequate funding for fire suppression shortfalls in FY13. 

“Idaho and the West faced an intense fire season in 2013, requiring more funding than initially budgeted to protect communities and manage resources,” said Simpson. “While we do our best to predict a fire season and budget accordingly, some years are worse than expected, and it’s not until all is said and done that we can take stock of the costs and respond appropriately.”

H.R. 933 provides $570 million to address shortfalls in fire accounts. This includes $97 million for the Department of the Interior and $473 million for the Forest Service. With carry-over and reserve wildfire funds exhausted through budget cuts in recent years, the Forest Service had to borrow roughly $600 million from non-fire accounts to meet fire suppression needs in FY13, the largest transfer in recent history.  With the entire fire season accounted for, the continuing resolution fully restores these accounts.

“If we continue to rob land management accounts to pay for fire suppression, we are going to see fires that are bigger, more catastrophic, and much, much more expensive,” said Simpson. “This funding makes those accounts whole so that the agencies can do the work necessary to improve the health of our forests and rangelands.  More work needs to be done to remove hazardous fuels buildup and prevent catastrophic fires, and so in addition to this funding we need to review or existing fire policy and continue to look at management reforms.”

H.R. 933 passed the House by a vote of 267-151. The current funding resolution expires on March 27, and the bill will now be considered by the U.S. Senate.  
  

Congressman Simpson Recognizes Idaho’s Sesquicentennial

Washington, D.C. – Today Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson recognized Idaho’s Sesquicentennial by having the following floor speech placed in the Official Record of the U.S. House of Representatives. The statement is as follows:

Idaho’s Territorial Sesquicentennial
----------------
SPEECH OF
          HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON
OF IDAHO
   IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
   March 4, 2013

Mr. Speaker: On this day in 1863, 150 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln signed a congressional act creating the Idaho Territory.  Twenty-seven years later, part of that territory would become the 43rd State, the State of Idaho. 

The Idaho Territory was initially much larger than the borders of Idaho today; it included most of what would later become Montana and Wyoming.  The territory, to be governed by William H. Wallace, an old friend of Lincoln’s, was previously part of the Washington Territory. 

Western Washington politicians moved to discard large tracts of land in eastern Washington Territory partly because the population in those areas was increasing rapidly and they wanted to assure Olympia would remain the capital of the region.  That population increase was mostly gold miners seeking out their fortunes in the Clearwater region, now Idaho’s panhandle. This goes to show you, Mr. Speaker, gerrymandering is not a new phenomenon, it is in fact one of the reasons the Idaho Territory was created in the first place.

However, the land mass for the Idaho Territory was so expansive that within a year Montana broke away, and four years later Wyoming did the same, leaving the Idaho Territory looking very much like the state does today.

In 1890, after 27 years as a territory, Idaho became the 43rd State.  However, much of what distinguishes Idaho today came about during its territorial years; including the creation of its main highways, many of its public schools, its tax system, its tribal laws, its universities, its water laws, and indeed, its eventual Constitution, written in the summer of 1889 in Boise.  Idaho’s Constitution remains today almost exactly how it was written, and it still forms the basis for all Idaho laws to this day.

The citizens of Idaho have always demonstrated a unity and sense of pride in their traditions and history, and this rich history is what makes them who they are today.  From the Canadian border to Yellowstone, from Craters of the Moon to Coeur d’Alene Lake, Idahoans celebrate today.  It is my privilege today to commemorate Idaho’s territorial sesquicentennial.

Committee Schedule

Wednesday
At 9:30 a.m., Chairman Simpson will hold a House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee hearing titled Water Infrastructure Financing Oversight.

At 10:00 a.m., the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations is scheduled to hold a public witness testimony hearing.

At 2:00 p.m., the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled Hurricane Sandy Supplemental Implementation.

Wednesday
At 10:00 a.m., the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations will hold an oversight hearing regarding the Social Security Administration.

At 10:00 a.m., the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled Applied Energy Funding (EERE, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy).  Witnesses will include Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Peter Lyons, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson, and Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Christopher Smith.

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, MARCH 11TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. in pro forma session. No votes are expected.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 pm.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 749 - Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act (Sponsored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer / Financial Services Committee)

2) H.R. 1035 - To require a study of voluntary community-based flood insurance options and how such options could be incorporated into the national flood insurance program, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Gwen Moore / Financial Services Committee)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 890 - Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act of 2013, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp / Ways and Means Committee / Education and the Workforce Committee)

THURSDAY, MARCH 14TH, AND FRIDAY, MARCH 15TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

H.R. 803 - Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Virginia Foxx / Education and the Workforce Committee / Judiciary Committee / Agriculture Committee / Veterans’ Affairs Committee / Energy and Commerce Committee / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

In the News

Lawmakers Gripe After White House Cancels Tours Because of Sequester
By Daniel Newhauser, CQ Roll Call

The sequester cuts began to hit home for members Tuesday, as House leaders announced budget cutbacks around the Capitol complex and the White House said it would cancel tours starting this weekend.

Stopping White House tours particularly affects lawmakers because constituents go through their members to arrange them and it’s up to congressional offices, not the White House, to call constituents to inform them of the cancellation.

“Basically it creates a constituent relations nightmare,” said one House staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and is not authorized to speak with the press.

“It’s incumbent on the members’ offices, not the White House, to call them and tell them one by one,” the aide added. “It’s probably like if you’re a high-end car dealer and you have a recall on your cars and you have to call all these people who paid 80 grand for their sports car and tell them there’s a fatal flaw.”

Congressional offices made similar calls last year, when an expiring continuing resolution had the White House threatening to stop tours, although it did not act on that threat at the time.

Come Saturday, staffers answering telephones around Capitol Hill will be fielding calls from frustrated constituents who endured lengthy background checks, booked tickets months in advance and, in some cases, planned their visit to Washington, D.C., solely around a trip to the White House.

That had some members wondering whether President Barack Obama’s administration was playing hardball with the tour cancellation.

Rep. Mike Simpson , R-Idaho, said he suspects the White House is engaging in an age-old political trick called the Washington Monument strategy — threatening to shut down popular services, such as the monument, unless budget cuts are reversed.

“It’s the old, ‘If you don’t [approve] this bond levy for the school district, we’re going to eliminate football,’” Simpson said. “I understand the strategy of the administration: They’re trying to make it as ugly as possible to put as much pressure as possible on Republicans to change their position. It’s just not going to happen.”

Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., issued a press release asking whether the White House would still allow celebrities, such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, Katy Perry and Swizz Beatz, to visit the building in exchange for donations.

“Canceling all self-guided White House tours is the latest shameless political stunt by the president, who is twisting basic government efficiency into an extreme consequence,” Graves said. “As the White House doors are slammed in the face of average Americans, I want to know if they will still swing wide open for Hollywood and the liberal elite.”

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, decided to register his opposition legislatively. He introduced an amendment to the continuing resolution scheduled to be voted on Wednesday that would prohibit any funds in the bill from being used to transport the president to a golf course until White House tours resume.

House Budget ranking member Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., defended the decision as part of necessary cutbacks in the face of the sequester.

“This is what happens when you cut the budget so deeply and so quickly, as opposed to how we’ve done it,” he said. “You’re going to see disruptions increasing.”

Members found out about the cancellations Tuesday afternoon in an email sent from the White House Visitors Office.

“Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House Tours will be canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013 until further notice.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours,” the notice read. “We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular Spring touring season.”

The same message can be heard on the visitors office’s automated hotline.

The House Administration Committee tried to make the best of the situation, tweeting just after the announcement: “White House cancels tours over sequestration; House Admin welcomes Americans visiting D.C. to tour Capitol instead.”

The committee announced that it will hold a briefing Friday to educate congressional offices about alternative tour destinations near the Capitol, such as the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress.

Chatter in the halls of the Capitol was glib. It has become almost commonplace in recent years, but security staff and tour guides again wondered aloud whether their jobs would be compromised because Republicans and Democrats cannot settle their disputes.

On Tuesday morning, House Administration Chairwoman Candice S. Miller, R-Mich., briefed a closed-door Republican Conference meeting, detailing cuts to member and committee office budgets as well as potential security cutbacks that will have to be put in place, according to sources in the room.

The security concerns could include allowing fewer overtime hours for the Capitol Police and closing certain entrances to the Capitol complex to relieve the guards stationed there.