Recently in Washington

Last week the House passed S.J.Res. 24 by a vote of 242-180. This resolution disapproves of a recently published EPA rule which established guidelines to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants.  The House also passed S.J.Res. 23 by a vote of 235-188. This resolution disapproves of a recently published EPA final rule which establishes CO2 emissions standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants.  On Wednesday, the House passed S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act (Conference Report), by a vote of 359-64. S. 1177 revises and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the primary federal law governing K-12 education, for fiscal years 2017 through 2020. S. 1177 restricts the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Education to impose requirements on states and schools through waivers and executive action. Additionally, it eliminates 49 ineffective or duplicative federal education programs and restores local and state control over educational decisions affecting accountability and school improvement. 

On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015, by a vote of 249-174. H.R. 8 will advance energy infrastructure development, modernization, and protection, enhance domestic energy security; and promote energy efficiency and government accountability. Also on Thursday, the House passed H.R. 22, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Conference Report), by a vote of 359-65. H.R. 22 authorizes surface transportation programs through fiscal year 2020 and makes reforms to laws governing highway project funding and construction, transit, highway safety, the operations of motor carriers, transportation research, and hazardous materials transportation.  Congressman Simpson supported all five bills.

Simpson Supports Long-Term Overhaul of Education, Transportation Programs

House passes bills to provide state and local governments with tools for economic growth

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported the conference report to reauthorize highway programs for five years, providing long-term certainty to state and local governments to carry out much needed maintenance and repair projects for our roads, bridges, and transit systems.  The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act passed the House by a vote of 359-65. 

“Funding for highways is some of the most important money appropriated on the federal level,” said Simpson.  “Idaho’s economy depends on an efficient and affordable transportation system to move people and products across the country.  After years of doing short term extensions and patches that make long term planning and investment impossible, this bill will provide critical economic development, job creation, and safety improvements on our Federal Highway System.  I was also pleased to see this bill make good on the promise to reverse the recent $3 billion cut to crop insurance payments.”

Earlier in the week, Congressman Simpson supported passage of the conference report to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act, passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 359-64.  It has been more than seven years since the last long term education bill No Child Left Behind expired.

“Passing a final version of ESEA reauthorization is a victory for education in our country,” said Simpson. “This bill represents positive reforms to the education system, returns important decisions back to states and localities, and empowers the most integral people in the education system – educators, parents, and of course students.  It makes improvements based on what we learned from No Child Left Behind and will no longer allow the president to unilaterally impose his agenda through conditional waivers.”

Specifically, the Every Student Succeeds Act reduces the federal role in education by removing ineffective policies such as the adequately yearly progress federal criteria, and returns accountability responsibilities back to the states. The bill also reauthorizes Impact Aid, a program on which rural counties and schools in Idaho depend. 

“Each of these two bills makes crucial investments in our economy,” said Simpson.  “Congress has for too long failed in its duty to reauthorize long-expired transportation and education programs.  This week we have made important reforms and improvements to these programs that eliminate unsuccessful and inefficient measures previously in place.  We’ve also provided needed certainty to state and local governments who are trying to maintain and improve our transportation infrastructure and advance our education programs.  As is always the case in a divided government, this is a compromise.  But it would be irresponsible to reject forward progress in favor of a failed status quo just because we did not get everything we wanted.”

Simpson Opposes Egregious EPA Water Takeover Plan

Signs Amicus Brief supporting states’ authority over water

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson signed onto an amicus brief regarding the recent decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in the American Farm Bureau Federation v. United States Environmental Protection Agency.  The brief outlines concerns about the EPA’s overreach in the Chesapeake Bay blueprint, in which the EPA has issued an ultimatum to states that if they don’t follow the federal blueprint, they risk the EPA taking over their water quality plans under the Clean Water Act.

“We’ve seen a lot of examples of EPA overreach throughout the Obama Administration,” said Simpson, “but this is one of the most egregious.  The Third Circuit Court has basically handed the EPA the right to usurp states’ authority over their own water, as long as the law doesn’t expressly prohibit them doing so.  This is totally backwards—agencies should only act when Congress expressly authorizes them to do so, and the idea that Congress should have to pass laws to prohibit each and every activity that an agency could do is ludicrous.  If this can happen in the Chesapeake Bay area, it can happen in Idaho, and I am extremely concerned about the implications of this decision.”

Simpson sits on the subcommittee that oversees the budget for the EPA.  He has long opposed efforts by the Obama Administration to expand the agency’s jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.

Simpson Votes to Block EPA Cap and Trade Rules

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted for two resolutions intended to put the brakes on the Obama Administration’s new cap and trade regulations.  The votes on S.J Res. 23 and S.J. Res. 24 disapprove of two rules recently finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing power plants.  S.J.Res. 23 and S.J.Res. 24 would employ the Congressional Review Act to ensure that the rules do not go into effect.  Simpson has long opposed efforts to impose unworkable regulations on the energy sector that would do little to improve climate conditions but would impose prohibitive costs to consumers.  

“The American people have already rejected the idea of imposing a costly and unrealistic cap and trade system on our economy, yet the Obama Administration continues to be bent on implementing its own climate change regulations, in spite of their unpopularity with the public,” said Simpson.  “Frankly, the President’s lack of regard for the economic impact of his regulatory actions and his willingness to ignore the legislative process make it necessary to use the Congressional Review Act to get the Administration’s regulatory appetite in check.”

The EPA’s new and existing power plant rules were finalized in October.  The new power plant rule depends on technologies, like carbon capture and sequestration, which are still not largely available or viable.  The existing power plant rule would effectively put into place a cap and trade system, even though many economists agree that such a system is not the most effective way to reduce the impacts of climate change.  Without global participation in such a program, including heavy polluters in growing economies like India and China, U.S. industries will be unable to compete on the world stage and American jobs will be forced overseas.

“The Obama Administration’s rules impose a regulatory structure on our nation’s energy sector that is simply not viable, and even worse, it forces the American people to foot the bill,” said Simpson.  “Instead, I support using technology, incentives, and innovation to move our economy to sustainable, independent energy sources.  That means we need to look at all the options and approach them in a common sense, thoughtful way.  Unfortunately, these rules don’t do that.”

S.J.Res. 23 and S.J.Res. 24 passed by a vote of 235-188 and 242-180. 

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) S. 614 - Federal Improper Payments Coordination Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Sen. Tom Carper / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

2) H.R. 1321 - Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone / Energy and Commerce Committee)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 2795 - FRIENDS Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee / Homeland Security Committee)

2) H.R. 3842 - Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reform and Improvement Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Buddy Carter / Homeland Security Committee)

3) H.R. 3859 - HSA Technical Corrections Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Scott Perry / Homeland Security Committee)

4) H.R. 3869 - State and Local Cyber Protection Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Will Hurd / Homeland Security Committee)

5) H.R. 3875 - Department of Homeland Security CBRNE Defense Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Michael McCaul / Homeland Security Committee)

6) H.R. 3578 - DHS Science and Technology Reform and Improvement Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. John Ratcliffe / Homeland Security Committee)

7) H.R. 158 - Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Candice Miller / Judiciary Committee)

8) S. 808 - Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Sen. John Thune / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

9) H.R. 3750 - First Responders Passport Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa / Foreign Affairs Committee)

10) H.R. 3766 - Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Ted Poe / Foreign Affairs Committee)

11) H.R. 2241 - Global Health Innovation Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Albio Sires / Foreign Affairs Committee)

12) Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2297 - Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Ed Royce / Foreign Affairs Committee)

13) H.R. 3831 - Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Brady / Ways and Means Committee)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 2130 - Red River Private Property Protection Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Mac Thornberry / Natural Resources Committee)

Possible Consideration of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 644 - Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015

Possible Consideration of Legislation to Extend Certain Provisions of the Tax Code

Possible Consideration of a Consolidated Appropriations Act

Possible Consideration of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3762 - Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015

In the News

United Dairymen of Idaho Announce Annual Winners

November 29, 2015 2:30 am  •  TIMES-NEWS

BOISE • Last week dairy farmers and industry partners gathered in Boise for the United Dairymen of Idaho’s annual meeting. The group gave out several awards at the event to honor dairy farmers who have achieved excellence in their industry.

Friend of the Industry Award Winner

U.S. Representative Mike Simpson — Raised in Blackfoot, Simpson is serving his ninth term in the House of Representatives for Idaho’s Second Congressional District. He currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and the Congressional Dairy Caucus and chairs the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. Simpson has stood in support of the dairy industry many times, including his stance on immigration reform.