By Congressman Russ Fulcher
Over the past month, the House has been hard at work delivering major policy wins for Idaho and the American people.
From repealing harmful Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on traditional vehicles which threatened consumer choice, to passing a bipartisan bill to protect customer privacy from smart devices, these legislative measures will restore freedom and accountability.
We’ve also sent a reconciliation package to the Senate that delivers meaningful tax relief for hardworking Americans while reducing federal spending, passed legislation to streamline water management in the West, and secured key policy reforms to allow counties and Tribes to participate in revenue sharing with the federal government on local forest projects.
On border security, thanks to President Trump’s leadership, illegal border crossings have dropped to record lows—and the Idaho delegation is making sure our border patrol agents continue to have the resources they need to keep it that way. These victories are a testament to what we can achieve when we prioritize the American worker, uphold our constitutional values, and bring common sense back to Washington, D.C.
As always, it’s an honor to serve the people of Idaho’s First Congressional District. Thank you for staying engaged, and I hope this e-newsletter provides a beneficial update on what my team and I have been working on as of late.
Legislation That Directly Impacts Idaho
Rural communities across the West continue to struggle with access to reliable connectivity.
My bill, the Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act, H.R. 2298, seeks to address this and ensure that no Idaho community is left behind in today’s digital age.
Click HERE for more information.
There is excellent news for Idaho counties and Tribes!
As part of the EXPLORE Act, which was recently signed into law in conjunction with my bill, the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) program was expanded to allow counties and Tribes to participate in revenue sharing with the federal government on local forest projects, something only available to states until now.
This is a legislative measure I have been fighting hard for and is key to how Idahoans—on the local level—will help improve forest health and mitigate wildfires.
I am pleased to share that my legislation addressing one of the most pressing issues facing the West–water security–has passed the House.
States, local governments, and Tribes with existing authorizations should not have to go through redundant federal bureaucratic hurdles to recharge their community’s aquifer water supply. H.R. 331 not only speeds up the water replenishment process, but it also reduces costs for projects using established infrastructure in Idaho.
To read more about this practical, no-cost solution that cuts red tape, empowers local decision-making, and helps us protect our most valuable resource, click the photo below.
In case you missed it, I hosted a telephone town hall to answer questions and hear directly from Idahoans on pressing national and local issues.
I am grateful for the thousands who joined throughout the Gem State! To read the key excerpts from this event, click HERE.
Legislation With National Impact
During the Biden administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed a series of stringent, environmentally charged regulations on vehicles that would effectively overhaul the marketplace and manipulate consumers toward purchasing electric vehicles.
I was honored to join my colleagues in introducing a legislative package to repeal these overreaching federal mandates and preserve consumer freedom and choice in the automotive and heavy-duty truck markets.
To read more about this bill which passed the House, click HERE.
As a northern border state, Idaho sees firsthand the benefits of a secure port of entry.
Due to the swift work of President Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, illegal border crossings are at record LOWS.
The Idaho delegation remains committed to ensuring they have the resources necessary to protect our communities. To read our letter, click the photo below.
Consumers should not have to worry about whether a smart appliance in their home is recording them unknowingly.
My bill, H.R. 859, the Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act, addresses this by requiring manufacturers of internet-connected smart appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, and dryers to disclose to consumers when their product is equipped with a camera or microphone that is not otherwise self-evident.
I am very pleased to see this bipartisan legislation head to the Senate, and I look forward to delivering it to President Trump’s desk.
By passing H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the House took a monumental step to secure America’s economic future.
This legislation reduces federal spending by a historic net deficit reduction of $1.5 trillion, including more than $110 billion in the first year, and provides meaningful financial relief for Idahoans. It cuts taxes on seniors’ social security benefits, prevents a 22 percent tax increase by extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and eliminates taxes on tips and overtime—a measure I introduced and have fought hard for.
There’s more work to be done, but this legislation delivers major policy wins for the American people and sends a bold, transformative package to the Senate—one that advances President Trump’s agenda and helps usher in a new era of American prosperity. To read my full statement following this vote and for more information, click the photo below or HERE.
Meetings & Media
It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with a fellow Idahoan and discuss what Idaho heritage means to me and how that impacts the work I do in D.C.
Click HERE to watch the interview.
Recently, my team and I had the chance to meet with several Idaho-based companies that work around the clock to provide the Gem State’s famous spuds to Americans across the country.
Meetings in Washington, D.C., don’t get better than that! I am grateful for the insightful discussion and time.
Tending to Idaho’s beautiful forests through timber harvesting requires a highly trained, skilled workforce.
In Orofino, my team and I had the opportunity to tour and test out the University of Idaho’s state of the art logging simulator.
This equipment provides Idaho forestry students with hands-on training to learn logging techniques and how to operate industry equipment. It was a terrific visit, thank you for having us!
Speaking of forests, Idaho’s forests and the forestry industry are deeply rooted in Idaho’s way of life.
It was a pleasure to meet with the Associated Logging Contractor Inc. to discuss how we can help make the industry more accessible to Idaho loggers and mitigate wildfire risk by promoting active forest management.
Casework Reminder
Since arriving in Congress, I am pleased to share that my terrific casework team has successfully returned over $20 million to hardworking Idahoans. This is money that was owed to constituents but was held up in a federal agency.
If you are a resident of Idaho’s First Congressional District and are unable to get a timely response from a federal agency, or if you feel you have been mistreated, please contact my office. We are here to serve you!
Your opinions, encouragement, and feedback are so important, and they do not go unheard. Each call, email, and letter are considered as I represent you and make decisions on important pieces of legislation.
I will send another update soon. In the meantime, I encourage you to keep in touch by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Sincerely,
Russ Fulcher
Member of Congress
About Russ Fulcher
Russ Fulcher is a fourth-generation Idahoan, grew up on a dairy farm in Meridian, Idaho. He was elected to Congress to represent Idaho's first congressional district in 2019 after serving in the Idaho State Senate for ten years. Visit https://fulcher.house.gov/ for more information or to find contact info.
