This week in Philadelphia, President Biden proudly lauded his budget proposal to cut the federal deficit by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade.  What he failed to acknowledge was just how much he and his Democrat colleagues in Congress have contributed to that deficit with reckless, inflationary spending, and that interest payments on the debt alone are expected to surpass $10 trillion in that same period.

Make no mistake—President Biden remains completely out of touch with what will truly help American families, businesses, and the economy at large.  The answers will not be found in more taxes and budget gimmicks, but in a comprehensive plan that addresses the true drivers of our debt.  As Chairman of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, I remain committed to crafting a responsible budget that successfully meets America’s needs and contributes to the long-term health of our economy.

The reintroduction of the DAIRY PRIDE Act follows recently released draft guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that allows plant-based products the freedom to use dairy terms despite having none of the nutritional value of milk products. The DAIRY PRIDE Act would require the FDA to take enforcement action against manufacturers labeling dairy imitators as milk.

Milk comes from a cow—not an almond or coconut or any other fruit or vegetable. As the co-chair of the Congressional Dairy Caucus and representing the state with the third-largest production of dairy, I am fully committed to supporting the dairy producers across the country and empowering consumers to make informed nutritional decisions. I am proud to cosponsor the DAIRY PRIDE Act that would require FDA enforcement action to provide honest nutritional labelling for consumers.

“Idaho’s dairy producers and consumers alike suffer when non-dairy products are labeled and treated as dairy products. The fact is that nondairy products do not have the same nutritional benefits as real dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese. FDA permitting dairy imitators’ use of dairy terms for product packaging and labelling is misleading and must be corrected,” said Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association.

“The National Milk Producers Federation applauds the bipartisan members of the House of Representatives who today reintroduced the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which adds momentum to legislation that saw Senate reintroduction last week and needs to pass Congress this year,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “With proposed FDA guidance that acknowledges the problem of consumer confusion over the nutritional content of plant-based beverages, but doesn’t go far enough to solve the problem by enforcing its own standards of identity and limiting dairy terms used in food labeling to dairy products, DAIRY PRIDE is necessary for FDA to fulfill its own responsibilities. To eliminate consumer confusion over their nutritional content, plant-based drinks or beverages shouldn’t be allowed to use dairy terms in their labeling. That’s common sense, and DAIRY PRIDE is a common-sense solution. We thank the House sponsors of the legislation – Reps. John Joyce, R-PA; Ann Kuster, D-NH; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Joe Courtney, D-CT; Derrick Van Orden, R-WI; and Angie Craig, D-MN – for being champions for consumers in this important nutrition and health issue.”

The $750,000 in funding is designated to develop indoor/outdoor labs and learning stations in Ada County that will be utilized to educate water and wastewater operators across Idaho, including its most rural communities. The funding would specifically be used to provide site improvements, including the construction of curbs, a parking lot, a loading dock, and storage facilities, to provide safer access to these education facilities. Additional resources will be designated to purchase and install the equipment necessary for indoor/outdoor labs to conduct real-world hands-on experience and training.

I am proud to support the Idaho Rural Water Association (IRWA) in its efforts to advance educational opportunities for water and wastewater operators. We face a growing demand for qualified operators, and this project will help meet that demand and provide stable, good paying jobs close to home in the region.

“On behalf of Idaho’s drinking water and wastewater utility operators, I would like to express our thanks to Congressman Simpson for his support to enhance our educational training facility and benefit all Idaho communities as they strive to provide safe drinking water and sanitary services to its citizens. This project will play a crucial role in educating new operators and retaining current operators in Idaho, including those in our rural communities. IRWA has introduced a new apprenticeship program targeted to this critical sector that is growing in popularity as well. Training is delivered both in-person, hands-on and virtually to most efficiently reach every corner of our state.  We are excited to put these funds to good use!” -Shelley Roberts, CEO, Idaho Rural Water Association

Remembering Governor Phil Batt

Kathy and I were very sad to hear of the passing of Governor Phil Batt.

He has long been a mentor to many of us in politics. His ability to maintain his principles while working with others to achieve what was best for the people of Idaho is something we can all learn from today.

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