Congressman Fulcher’s Legislative Update: August 20, 2026

August 20, 2026

Recently, the Department of the Interior announced Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2025, with Idaho receiving $43 million.

Although modest in its funding level, PILT is a critically important program that rural communities across the Gem State depend on. It was designed to be an ‘offset’ revenue mechanism to replace the absence of local property tax revenue. This is because 62% of the land within Idaho’s borders is managed by the federal government. Like Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding, PILT has become increasingly difficult to garner support for in Congress because it is a subsidy from other states whose representatives are increasingly reluctant to approve. It is also important to note that the average funding total per acre of federal land in Idaho is just $1.26, far lower than what local management would likely yield, but still extremely important to our rural communities. In short, until a longer-term solution is implemented, rural Idahoans desperately need it.

While I am pleased to see these needed payments released, I will continue advocating for solutions that ensure Idahoans are in the driver’s seat of our economic prosperity and have a stronger voice in the management of our cherished public lands.

As always, 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

Law-abiding Idahoans should never have to worry that their firearm or ammunition purchases are being tracked by financial institutions.

H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, protects the privacy and Second Amendment rights of gun owners by prohibiting payment card networks and processors from assigning merchant category codes that specifically identify firearm retailers.

I am glad to share that this legislation has passed the House with my support.

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Water security is one of the most pressing issues facing the West today. This Congress, I co-sponsored the Every Drop Counts Act, H.R. 338, and authored H.R. 331, which has passed the House and is awaiting consideration in the Senate.

These measures would expand opportunities for Bureau of Reclamation small storage projects to improve drought resilience, give states and local governments greater flexibility to recharge aquifers, and help communities develop the water infrastructure they need to thrive.

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I asked Idahoans for their feedback, and the message was clear: make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent and end the twice-yearly clock changes. I voted yes on H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, to do just that.

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Another important measure that has passed the House is H. Con. Res. 113, kickstarting reconciliation 3.0.

We should not have to use the reconciliation process to pass priorities important to the American people. Nevertheless, the House majority got the job done. This resolution will advance common-sense election integrity measures in the SAVE America Act, support American farmers, and strengthen our national defense.

Legislation With National Impact

I voted in favor of H.R. 9770 to keep the federal government open and working for the American people.

The House has already advanced all 12 Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills out of committee, yet the Senate has failed to act on a single one.

This legislation prevents a costly government shutdown from being used as a partisan political tool and allows the appropriations process to be completed uninterrupted through regular order, without increasing spending.

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The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is Congress’s primary authorization bill for national defense.

The Fiscal Year 2027 package reinforces America’s readiness to counter new and emerging threats by accelerating U.S. capabilities in quantum computing and hypersonic systems, bolstering domestic supply chains for critical materials, and prioritizing the maintenance of fully stocked warfighting reserves. I voted yes.

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The House has also passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act with my support.

This legislation cracks down on transnational criminal networks, redefines foreign assistance to promote self-sufficiency, strengthens program oversight to protect taxpayer dollars, and cuts $2.6 billion in spending. America first. Fiscal discipline. Greater accountability.

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It is a national security threat for the United States’ electric grid to be reliant on technology from adversarial nations. I am proud to have joined my Republican Study Committee colleagues in urging the Trump administration to halt imports of Chinese-made power inverters used in grid infrastructure.

A short time ago, that warning was heeded—a major win for American manufacturing, energy independence, and national security.

To read our letter from last year, click the link here.

Meetings

I joined my Idaho colleagues to meet with Secretaries Brooke Rollins and Doug Burgum, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy, and leaders from the National Interagency Fire Center to discuss the wildfires devastating the West and how we can better fight and prevent them.

I’m grateful to each of them for their leadership, partnership, and commitment to supporting Idaho and western communities as we work to protect lives, property, and our beautiful forests.

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It was a pleasure to meet with Jaden Kwak of Meridian, whose piece, Wings of a New Dawn, was selected to represent Idaho’s First Congressional District in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition!

Jaden’s artwork will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for the next year and showcases the remarkable talent, creativity, and vision found throughout ID-01. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement!

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I appreciate AARP Idaho for inviting me to join their telephone town hall and for providing Idahoans another venue to share their counsel, ask questions, and hear directly from me about the work being done in Washington, D.C., and what’s ahead in Congress.

We had an engaging discussion about safeguarding the future of Social Security, measures to counter financial exploitation of seniors, mitigating the devastation of wildfires through active land management, and the issues that are top of mind for Idaho families.

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I had a terrific visit with the Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District touring the Ridenbaugh Canal—originally built in the 1800s—and hearing about the latest developments in the headworks modernization project.

The updates underway to this vital system will improve the canal’s efficiency, reduce water loss, and help ensure reliable water delivery to communities across the Treasure Valley!

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I also had a great time meeting the young leaders who make up the Mountain West Council’s National Jamboree contingent during their stop in Washington, D.C.

We had a great conversation about the issues most important to Idaho before they headed off to join thousands of Scouts from across the country at this year’s National Jamboree. I’m grateful they took the time to visit and share their perspectives with me!

Casework Reminder

Since arriving in Congress, I am pleased to share that my terrific casework team has successfully returned over $25 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!

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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