Crapo To Meet With Local Leaders, Workers On Ineel Contract, Update Amber Alert Plans, Join Awards Ceremonies In Eastern Idaho

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will meet with Idaho Falls and surrounding area residents, officials including Mayor Linda Milam, as well as workers and management from the INEEL site Friday morning to discuss the announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy that it plans to rebid management contracts at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. Crapo is holding the meeting to hear comments from local residents he can take back to DOE officials. He will discuss them with media afterward.While in Idaho Falls, Crapo will also meet with Idaho Falls Police Chief Kent Livsey to update new plans for utilizing federal money in local programs to locate missing children under the new AMBER Alert program. Citizen groups and others following the AMBER bill will also be in attendance. The AMBER Alert grants are part of a $30 million dollar package of child protection provisions included in the new PROTECT Act signed yesterday by President Bush.Crapo will also receive a local award from the Southeast Idaho Council of Governments (SICOG) for his work in saving jobs and operations at the Blackfoot Cheese Factory. He will announce Spirit of Idaho Awards at two locations for work on a new family assistance website and for personal efforts to combat cancer. Crapo will also preview his upcoming trade talks as co-chair of a House-Senate panel meeting with Canadian counterparts in Niagara Falls, NY on May 14th. Highlights of the Senatorâ??s Friday and Saturday schedule in Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, and Pocatello are as follows: Friday, May 2nd:Idaho Falls9:30 a.m. Crapo meets with INEEL workers and managers, Mayor Linda Milam and other area elected and business leaders, regarding DOE plans to rebid operations contracts at the INEEL. Meeting planned at the Idaho Falls City Council Chambers, upstairs in the Unity Building, 140 South Capitol, Idaho Falls. Crapo will take questions afterward.11:30 a.m. Crapo and Chief Kent Livsey of the Idaho Falls Police Department update plans to expand AMBER Alert programs to aid missing children in Idaho following presidential signing of the AMBER Alert bill. At the Emergency Operations Center, 605 North Capitol.Blackfoot12:30 p.m. Crapo receives award from SICOG officials for his economic development work in keeping operations and jobs at the Blackfoot Cheese Factory. Crapo will also present his â??Spirit of Idahoâ?? Award to Bingham County Prosecutor Scott Andrew for his volunteer work in establishing a family law website. Both events will be held at the Blackfoot Cheese Factory, 295 South Ash Street in Blackfoot. Pocatello1:30 p.m. Crapo meets with local railroad officials and workers to discuss rail safety issues. Meeting set for Pocatello City Hall.Saturday, May 3rd:Blackfoot 10:30 a.m. Crapo meets with farm leaders and members of the business community to discuss farm trade issues in advance of his May 14th meeting with members of the Canadian Parliament as co-chair of a trade task force established by leadership of the U.S. SenateThe meeting will take place at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds, meeting room near the main entrance. 11:45 a.m. Crapo will visit with area scouts and view displays as part of the Boy Scout Jamboree at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds.Pocatello3:00 p.m. Crapo presents his â??Spirit of Idahoâ?? Award to Taylor & Alyssa Jensen. The four and five-year old sisters donated 10 inches of their hair to the Locks for Love Program. The program makes wigs for patients who have lost hair in battling cancer. They will meet on the steps of the Federal Courthouse in Pocatello, 801 E. Sherman. # # #