Crapo Announces Committee Posts for 114th Congress

Washington, D.C. - After wrapping up work with incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) on the Senate Republican Committee on Committees, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today announced his committee assignments for the 114 ^th Congress.  Crapo will retain his committee posts from the previous Congress, serving on the following committees: Senate Finance Committee, Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Senate Budget Committee, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and the SenateCommittee on Indian Affairs.  The 114 ^th Congress will also mark a move in seniority for the Idaho Senator, who will now be ranked 22 ^nd in overall seniority-the highest seniority an Idaho Senator has attained since Senator McClure was ranked 17 ^th in the 101 ^st Congress.

Crapo, who has long been a strong advocate of reforming our nation's broken tax code, is looking forward to returning as the third ranking Republican on the powerful Finance Committee, which oversees many issues of daily importance to all Idahoans, including taxes, Social Security, trade policy and certain health care programs (Medicare, Medicaid), among others. "Our tax code is far too big, complex and anti-competitive to serve as the foundation for the economic growth our country needs," said Crapo.  "The more than $1.5 trillion in tax increases placed on middle class families in recent years have made the burden of our current code worse and have hindered, rather than fueled, economic growth."

The Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, on which Craposerved as Ranking Member in the 113 ^th Congress,maintains jurisdiction over efforts to promote the stability of the financial system, promote responsible lending to families and businesses, preserve homeownership and authorize federal transit spending. Crapo will now serve as the second rankingRepublican on the Committee. "In our current economic climate, my continued focus on the Committee will be to protect taxpayers and stop irresponsible taxpayer funded bailouts, as well as modernize our financial regulatory structure and its goals," Crapo continued.

Crapo will reprise his role on the Indian Affairs Committee in the new Congress, where he expects to advocate directly for the substantial Native American population in Idaho.  "Serving on the Committee on Indian Affairs gives me the opportunity to work closely with the Tribes in Idaho to ensure that needed changes in critical areas such as education, economic development, land management, health care and others are met."

The Idaho senator, who previously served on the President's Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and was a part of the Senate's "Gang of Six", seeking bipartisan answers on debt reduction, will also return to the Senate Budget Committee for the 114 ^th Congress.  The Committee remains responsible for drafting and monitoring Congress' annual budget.  "With our nation's debt now exceeding a staggering $18 trillion, it is imperative that Congress put forth an annual budget-something that has gone by the wayside in recent years.  Strong budget controls to curb the explosive level of federal spending are needed, and I look forward to working with my colleagues this coming Congress to find meaningful ways to develop balanced budgets that will lead us to begin paying down our debt."

Finally, Crapo will continue service on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee with jurisdiction over environmental laws, water issues, fisheries, highway funding, wildlife and other issues.  Among other federal agencies, the Committee is charged with overseeing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  "Without question, EPW deals with some of the most important natural resource issues facing Idaho.  From stopping EPA's aggressive overreach into the lives of Idahoans to ensuring that rural areas are fairly considered for highway funding, it is clear Congress is confronted with significant challenges.  I am encouraged by the opportunity in this new Congress to advance the interests of Idahoans and promote sensible and effective environmental policies that don't jeopardize the economy and small businesses," Crapo concluded.