Simpson, Mike RSS Articles

Rep. Simpson Cosponsors Resolution to Recognize National Small Business Week

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored a resolution to designate May 3rd to May 9th, 2026, as National Small Business Week. This resolution is sponsored by Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN).

“Idaho’s small businesses are the backbone of our state and economy,” said Rep. Simpson. “In my district alone, there are 24,142 small businesses with employees. I will always advocate for policies that invest in our small businesses and deliver tax certainty, like the Working Families Tax Cuts. As National Small Business Week comes to an end, I join Idahoans in expressing my gratitude to the small business owners and employees throughout our great state.”

The full text of this resolution is available here.

Rep. Simpson Cosponsors FAIR Labels Act

Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored H.R. 8596, the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels (FAIR Labels) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at preventing misleading labels on alternative protein products. This legislation is sponsored by Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO).

“Beef is one of Idaho’s most important agricultural commodities,” said Rep. Simpson, an original cosponsor. “Falsely labeling a plant-based or lab-grown protein hurts farmers, ranchers, and consumers. It's basic common sense to ensure that the products Americans put in their grocery carts are accurately labeled. I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation and advocate for Idaho’s cattle industry.”

The full text of the bill is available here.

The Senate companion of the FAIR Labels Act is led by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and John Fetterman (D-PA).

Rep. Simpson Cosponsors Resolution to Designate May 5th as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored a resolution to designate May 5th, 2026, as the “National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.” May 5th is the date of remembrance selected each year in honor of the birth date of Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, who was murdered after being reported missing in Lame Deer, Montana. This bipartisan resolution is sponsored by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA).

“The number of Indigenous women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing every year is staggering,” said Rep. Simpson. “I have been raising awareness about this disproportionate rate, and will continue to use my role as Chairman of the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to support the federal agencies working to address this crisis. This is an important resolution, and I'm proud to sign on as a cosponsor.”

The full text of this resolution is available here.

Rep. Simpson Cosponsors DAIRY PRIDE Act

Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored H.R. 8414, the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday or DAIRY PRIDE Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at ensuring the accurate labeling of dairy products and protecting consumers from misleading marketing. This legislation is sponsored by Reps. John Joyce (R-PA) and Josh Riley (D-NY).

“Milk comes from a cow—not an almond or coconut or anything plant-based,” said Rep. Simpson. “As we strive to Make America Healthy Again, consumers must be provided with honest nutritional labeling. I represent one of the most dairy-productive districts in the nation, and I remain committed to being a voice for dairy in Congress. I’m proud to cosponsor this common sense measure once again.”

Congressman Simpson has long supported the DAIRY PRIDE Act and efforts to prevent milk alternatives or plant-based products from being marketed or misbranded using terms commonly associated with dairy products.

The full text of the bill is available here.

Rep. Simpson Celebrates Passage of Farm Bill

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted in favor of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, a bill that reauthorizes, modernizes, and improves key United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs through 2031, providing certainty to farmers and stakeholders.

“I regularly hear from farmers, ranchers, and producers in Idaho, and their main concern over the years has been when Congress will reauthorize the Farm Bill,” said Rep. Simpson. “Thanks to a Republican White House, Senate, and House, we have officially delivered on our promise to provide certainty to those who feed our nation. While this legislation supports and invests in our rural communities, it also strengthens our national security by protecting our domestic food supply. I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law.”

Highlights of the Farm Bill include:

Expands access to credit and risk management tools for producers who are facing some of the toughest times in the farm economy since the crisis of the 1980s.
Is the most pro-specialty crop farm bill in history, prioritizing domestic production of healthy fruits and vegetables.
Protects interstate commerce for livestock producers and provides regulatory certainty for farmers who need access to critical crop protection tools.
Increases funding for further export market development, critical for Idaho commodities and producers.
Modernizes rural development and energy programs, prioritizes cutting-edge research, expands access to meat processing, and codifies key initiatives related to national security and foreign ownership of farmland.

The measure was approved with a vote of 224-200.

Rep. Simpson Advances Funding for Aberdeen Research and Extension Center

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson highlighted the inclusion of $5,000,000 in funding for the USDA-ARS University of Idaho Aberdeen Research and Extension Center Potato Breeding Facilities Project in Aberdeen, Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill.

“Potatoes are one of Idaho’s most important crops, and our state leads the nation in production,” said Rep. Simpson. “The University of Idaho has conducted phenomenal research on various crops and provided valuable information to producers about these key agricultural products. As the University continues to expand its research to meet industry needs, it is crucial that funding keeps pace with the research efforts. I am proud to support this project, and as we continue to support the potato industry, we should strive for the goal that ten out of ten Americans associate potatoes with Idaho, rather than just nine out of ten!”

“We are thankful for Congressman Simpson’s continued support and advocacy for Idaho agriculture,” said Leslie D. Edgar, J.R. Simplot Endowed Dean of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. “Funds secured by Congressman Simpson will allow us to make critical updates to potato storage and greenhouse facilities at our Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, advancing the essential research we conduct in partnership with USDA-ARS. These updates will allow us to better support Idaho’s $8.5 billion potato industry and ensure the U.S. has resilient potato varieties for the future.”

“Congressman Simpson’s support for the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center represents a meaningful investment in the future of Idaho agriculture. Advances in potato breeding and research are vital to improving productivity, sustainability, and resilience for our growers, and this funding helps ensure they remain competitive in a rapidly changing environment,” said Matt Dorsey, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation President.

“On behalf of Idaho's potato industry, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Congressman Simpson and the House Appropriations Committee for advancing the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill that includes critical funding for the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center. This investment ensures Idaho will continue to lead the nation—and the world—in cutting-edge potato research, supporting our growers, strengthening our Nation’s food security, and driving innovation for years to come,” said Jamey Higham, Idaho Potato Commission President.

This funding will be used to update federally owned storage and greenhouse facilities at the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center to ensure it can continue conducting the necessary research needed by the potato industry. The Aberdeen Research and Extension Center is home to several potato research projects investigating potato-related diseases and disease management techniques; potato pests; potato cropping systems and weed biology, control, and herbicide resistance; and potato variety development. The center plays a crucial role in the development of potato varietals that are higher-yielding, more disease-resistant, and have better end-use qualities than past varieties.

As Idaho’s only appropriator, Rep. Simpson has a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho’s priorities and ensure Idahoans’ hard-earned tax dollars return to Idaho.

The University of Idaho’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center Potato Breeding Facilities Project is a part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill. This measure has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Simpson Statement on Passing of Dirk Kempthorne

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following statement mourning the passing of former Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne.

“Dirk Kempthorne was one of Idaho's most distinguished public servants and my dear friend of over 40 years," said Rep. Simpson. "Dirk's career was a testament to selfless dedication, from the halls of local government as Mayor and Governor to national service as Senator and Secretary. I join Idahoans today in mourning the loss of Dirk, but also feel immense gratitude for his decades of service, loyalty, and the lasting impact he has had on Idaho and America. I am grateful for Dirk's service to our state and nation, as well as his friendship all these years. To Patricia, his wife, and their children, Kathy and I extend our deepest condolences. May he rest in peace.”

America’s New Nuclear Era Starts in Idaho

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

America has finally decided to get serious about nuclear energy again.

President Donald Trump’s executive orders launching a nuclear energy emergency and directing federal agencies to dramatically accelerate advanced reactor deployment signal a turning point. After decades of hesitation, America is once again treating nuclear power as the strategic asset it has always been — essential to energy security, economic strength and global leadership. We are at the beginning of a new nuclear era, and Idaho is at its center.

This moment has not emerged from executive orders alone. It is built on years of investment and legislative action that created the foundation for what we are now able to do. As a former chairman and current senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, I have had direct responsibility for funding the Department of Energy’s nuclear programs. Year after year, that meant fighting to protect and grow investments in nuclear research, development, and demonstration at a time when support was far from guaranteed.

As we enter what I refer to as a nuclear renaissance, largely thanks to support from the Trump administration, I’ve been able to secure several priorities for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) during the past fiscal year. These priorities will enhance the Lab’s infrastructure and operations, provide funding for advanced reactor construction and demonstrations and support the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) Test Bed, which I discuss further below. Securing these priorities would not have been possible without the appropriations process.

The appropriations I fought for throughout the years restored critical federal investment in advanced reactor programs. Sustained funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy kept the science alive during the lean years. These victories required continuous effort, coalition building and an unwavering conviction that nuclear energy’s best days were still ahead. I believe they are.

Nowhere is that more evident than at Idaho National Laboratory, America’s one-of-a-kind nuclear energy laboratory. For more than 70 years, INL has been the heart of nuclear innovation. The Laboratory conducted the world’s first usable nuclear-generated electricity in 1951. It developed the reactors that power our Navy. It established the safety standards and testing protocols that underpin the entire commercial nuclear industry. Fifty-two reactors have operated on the desert plain east of Idaho Falls.

INL’s mission has never been more urgent. The Laboratory is now home to the most advanced nuclear research capabilities in the world, and it is deploying them in service of the national interest. One of the most significant examples is the DOME reactor test bed. DOME is the original containment structure from EBR-II, the Experimental Breeder Reactor that operated at INL for more than 30 years and pioneered the liquid metal fast reactor technology that influenced advanced reactor concepts still being developed today.

Not long ago, DOME was slated for demolition as part of INL’s legacy cleanup work. In a visionary decision, Department of Energy leadership made the call to save it. Repurposed as a modern microreactor test bed, DOME gives American developers the ability to take new reactor concepts from design to demonstration at the pace the new nuclear era demands. Retrofitting DOME for its new use completed just at the beginning of this month, and now this structure that nearly disappeared is one of the most strategically valuable test facilities in the world.

The stakes are high. China and Russia are aggressively exporting their reactor technology, financing nuclear plants across the developing world, and positioning themselves as the partners of choice for nations seeking to grow their energy capacity. The United States cannot cede that ground. The nations that build the world’s reactors write the rules for how nuclear technology is governed, operated, and safeguarded for generations.

America has the science, engineering talent, safety culture and institutions it takes to lead the nuclear energy sector. What we needed was the will and the investment to act. That investment has been made. Now, with the right policy environment and the full capabilities of Idaho National Laboratory engaged, America is ready to reclaim its place as the world’s premier nuclear energy nation.

The new nuclear era is here. And it starts in Idaho.

Rep. Simpson Votes to Fully Fund Veterans Health Care and Benefits

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— Today, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported this advancement. This bill champions America’s veterans by fully funding veterans’ health care programs and benefits. This legislation also supports military families, strengthens America’s defense, and supports the Trump administration’s policy initiatives.

“One of my top priorities in Congress is supporting our troops and veterans,” said Rep. Simpson. “By fully funding veterans’ health care programs and benefits, investing in mental health services, prioritizing funding for military family housing, and so much more, this legislation fulfills our promises to those who have sacrificed so greatly for our country. This is a must-pass bill each year to honor the brave men and women who have courageously served. I look forward to seeing this bill cross the finish line.”

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.
Supporting the Trump Administration’s efforts in improving mental health and suicide prevention among veterans.

The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 58 to 0.

This funding package will now go to the full floor of the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Rep. Simpson Expresses Support for Tax Policies that Support Working Families

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—This week, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted in favor of H.Res. 1156, a congressional resolution expressing support for tax policies that support working families. This resolution was introduced by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA).

“Working families in Idaho and throughout the country are keeping more of their hard-earned money thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts. Because of a promise kept by President Trump and Republicans, these tax policies are why Americans are getting larger tax refunds this tax filing season. Voting for policies that support working families was one of the easiest decisions I've made during my time in Congress. It would be difficult for me to explain to families back home why I would vote against policies that benefit low-to middle-class families, American workers, and small businesses, which is something every Democrat has to address,” said Rep. Simpson.

Rep. Simpson is a cosponsor of this resolution. The resolution passed with a vote of 219-207.