By Congressman Mike Simpson
Dear Friend,
It’s that time of year! The Congressional Art Competition is one of my favorite competitions for Idaho’s student artists to showcase their talents and be recognized alongside hundreds of other students and members of Congress from across the country. Many thanks to all the students, parents, and teachers who attended the 2026 Congressional Art Competition reception earlier this week.
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO INL! DOME, located at the Idaho National Laboratory, is a first-of-its-kind microreactor test bed that will enable rapid development, testing and demonstration of privately developed advanced nuclear reactors. This week marked the grand opening of this test bed!
In case you missed it: I recently joined KTVB’s Justin Corr on Viewpoint to discuss some of the top issues here in DC. You can watch clips of our interview or the full interview below.
Congressional Art Competition
I was pleased to host a reception this week to congratulate the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition and recognize some of the other talented participants.
Mayleigh Carter, a junior at Snake River High School, won this year’s competition. Her piece, Tied Down at the War Bonnet Round Up, will be showcased in the Capitol for millions of Americans to see!
Congratulations, INL!
It was a great week for INL! DOME gives American developers the ability to take new reactor concepts from design to demonstration at the pace the new nuclear era demands.
As Idaho’s only appropriator, I was proud to secure funding to support this test bed. You can read more about DOME here.
Discussing What’s Happening in Washington
While in the district, I sat down with KTVB’s Justin Corr to discuss some critical issues happening in DC:
- Passing the SAVE America Act.
- Ensuring Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
- My thoughts on the DHS shutdown.
- Working families are benefiting from Republican Tax Cuts.
- How we are investing in future generations.
Thanks again to KTVB for having me! You can watch the clips above or the full interview here.
About Mike Simpson
An Idaho native, Mike Simpson was born in Burley and raised in Blackfoot. His political career began in 1980, when he was elected to the Blackfoot City Council. In 1984, he was elected to the Idaho Legislature where he served until 1998, the last six years serving as Speaker. Mike is currently serving his fourteenth term in the House of Representatives for Idaho’s second congressional district. Visit https://simpson.house.gov/ to learn more or find contact info.
