Crapo to Join Judiciary Committee in 115th Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, flanked by Senator Jim Risch, today took the oath of office and was sworn into office to begin his next term.  With the convening of the 115th Congress, Crapo announced he will join the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction for nominations such as the Attorney General, Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and judges for appellate and district courts.  It also has oversight of numerous federal departments including the Department of Justice and its agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Specific to Idaho, Crapo will work with the President-elect to nominate and confirm Idaho's next U.S. District Judge.  Additionally, the committee has jurisdiction over immigration and naturalization policy, which Crapo has been active in supporting reforms to ensure the strongest border security possible and not incentivizing or rewarding illegal entry into our country.  The Senate Judiciary Committee also has responsibility for overseeing amendments to the Constitution, which would include efforts to pass an amendment requiring Congress to balance the nation's budget each year.  Crapo has long supported a Balanced Budget Amendment as an essential means to control the nation's exploding debt.  Having worked as lawyer in Idaho Falls before entering public service, Crapo's legal education and experience has prepared him to take an active role on the committee as it considers these important nominations and legal matters.

"The Constitution is clear in the rights it grants to citizens and the powers it bestows upon government.  As part of this influential committee, I will work to ensure that the role of government is properly restrained while protecting individual rights and the access to equal justice to which all American's are entitled," said Crapo.  "When the committee convenes, it will hold hearings and act to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court.  That nominee must follow in the model of Justice Scalia, looking first and foremost to the Constitution for guidance.  I will also work with other panel members to advance to the full Senate a nominee to be Idaho's next U.S. District judge.  I take seriously the oversight responsibilities of this committee and I will be active to prevent any further infringement on the Second Amendment Rights of citizens and to ensure that our agencies operate transparently and within the bounds of our Constitution."

In this new Congress, Crapo will continue to serve as the Chief Deputy Whip among Senate Republicans, a position that assists on legislation and matters before the full Senate.  In addition to joining the Judiciary Committee, Crapo will remain on four other committees that he also served on in the 114th Congress:  Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, with jurisdiction over the nation's financial, insurance and housing sectors; Budget, responsible for crafting Congress' annual budget plan and overseeing the operation of the Congressional Budget Office; Finance, with oversight over federal tax regulation, international trade policy, Social Security and federal health care programs; and Indian Affairs, tasked with addressing the unique challenges of the native peoples of our country.  Crapo will also remain a member of the Joint Committee on Taxation, a bipartisan committee with members of both the House and Senate that works collaboratively on the tax legislative process.

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