Crapo to Present Award to Mother of Iraq Vet; Discuss Housing Reform Legislation

Idaho Falls  - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will present his Spirit of Idaho Award Saturday to Theresa Hart of Post Falls.  Hart lost her son, Nick Newby, to an I.E.D. explosion in Iraq in 2007.  Since then, she has established a service program named in her son's honor.  "Newby-Ginnings" assists veterans with everything from new appliances to clothing, even money for gas.  Crapo will present Hart with the award for her volunteer efforts to encourage donations to veterans.  The Spirit of Idaho Award was created to recognize Idahoans who go above and beyond for others.  Crapo will present it during a ceremony at the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Kootenai County Courthouse.

As the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Crapo will also discuss details of the housing finance reform legislation he and Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) have introduced.  The Banking Committee approved the bill with a bipartisan majority on May 15.  Crapo will address members of the Eastern Idaho Mortgage Lenders Association in Idaho Falls and take questions about the legislation.

Crapo will also visit with fifth-grade students at Dora Erickson Elementary School in Idaho Falls as part of their program on leadership.  The school's motto is "Creating leaders that are Proactive, Empowered and Engaged," and Crapo has been invited to discuss with the students the qualities he sees in strong leadership. 

Senator Crapo's schedule for May 30 and 31includes:

Friday, May 30:

Idaho Falls  10:45 AM       Speaks to fifth-grade students at Dora Erickson Elementary as part of their leadership program, 850 Cleveland Street.

Idaho Falls  11:45 AM       Addresses the Eastern Idaho Mortgage Lenders Association concerning his housing reform legislation,  Hampton Inn, 2500 Channing Way.

Saturday, May 31:

Coeur d'Alene  1:30 PM    Presents Spirit of Idaho Award to Theresa Hart for her veterans assistance program "Newby-Ginnings."  At the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Kootenai County Courthouse.