Representative Mike Simpson

The Simpson Standard

June 9th, 2024

Dear [salutation],

It was a busy week back in DC! This week, the House voted on several important bills. One was the passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. As Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I was proud to vote YES on this critical bill on the floor and honor our nation's promise to care for and support those who have courageously defended our freedoms.

In May, the International Criminal Court (ICC) filed applications for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Hamas invading Israel and brutally raping, torturing, and murdering innocent civilians is a war crime. Israel responding and defending itself against barbaric terrorists is not a war crime. The ICC's moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas is baseless and sets a dangerous precedent. That's why the House passed the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, which imposes sanctions on the ICC and any foreign actor supporting these outrageous charges.

It was a sad week for the Magic Valley. The final Environment Impact Statement (EIS) is a slap in the face to Idahoans. The Lava Ridge Project is out-of-touch and has absolutely no place in the Magic Valley. I will continue fighting to ensure that Idahoans' voices are heard. Read my full statement below.

Keeping Our Promise to America's Heroes

The Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill keeps America's promise to its veterans by fully funding veterans' health care programs, benefits, and other critical VA programs. Highlights of the bill include:

✅ Fully funding veterans' health care programs.

✅ Fully funding veterans' benefits and VA programs.

✅ Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans, preventing VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge's consent.

Read my full statement below.

Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act

The ICC has ignored the horrors committed by Iran and Hamas terrorists yet threatens Israel with baseless and outrageous charges for defending itself.

The ICC should know one thing - America's support for Israel is unwavering. I was proud to vote YES on the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, legislation that imposes sanctions against ICC officials who investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute a U.S. person or our allies.

Standing Against Lava Ridge

This final EIS is a slap in the face to Idahoans. Despite widespread opposition at the local, state, and federal levels, the Bureau of Land Management is continuing to recklessly move forward with the Lava Ridge Project.

From the start, I have made it clear that I expect the BLM to listen to and incorporate the concerns of those directly affected by the project. I authored language—passed by Congress and signed into law by the President—directing the Department of the Interior to reengage and seek feedback from the stakeholders on alternative plans before moving forward with Lava Ridge. The Department failed to meet the language requirements of that law.

The Lava Ridge Project is out-of-touch and has absolutely no place in the Magic Valley. I will continue fighting to ensure that Idahoans' voices are heard.