By Sen. Mike Crapo
Honoring American Heroes
This week, the entire nation witnessed President Trump pay tribute to true American heroes–from the 1950s to present–during his State of the Union address. It was an honor to observe these moments in person as the weight of their sacrifices, and courage in the face of danger, filled the hearts of Americans from every background. Each of their stories bear repeating.
- Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover– Awarded the Medal of Honor for uncommon valor demonstrated in Operation Absolute Resolve. Eric is still recovering from his injuries sustained in the January 3, 2026, operation.
- Captain E. Royce Williams – Awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous and heroic actions on November 18, 1952, in which he fought off four Russian military aircraft and likely saved the lives of hundreds of his fellow sailors—and humbly kept the secret of his aerial feat for more than six decades.
- Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe –Awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained when he was shot in the head on November 26, 2025, while patrolling Washington, D.C., as a member of the West Virginia National Guard.
- Specialist Sarah Beckstrom –Posthumously awarded the Purple Heart following her murder on November 26, 2025, while also patrolling Washington, D.C., as a member of the West Virginia National Guard.
- Petty Officer Scott Ruskan– Awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptional conduct earned on his first U.S. Coast Guard recovery mission when he rescued and evacuated 169 Camp Mystic campers during the July 2025 flooding in Texas.
Their experiences demonstrate moments of bravery and skill beyond comprehension. While these stories are now public, they are a reminder of the many stories of heroism that go untold. I am grateful for their service.
The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act Becomes Law
With our country’s heroes in mind, I am especially celebrating the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act becoming law at the end of January. The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act will ensure payments to veterans for service-connected disability will not be counted as income when applying for Community Development Block Grant housing, enabling disabled veterans to participate in federal housing programs for which they would otherwise not qualify.
Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country through their military service. This bill will allow veterans to have more access to affordable housing, which will go a long way toward ending veteran homelessness throughout the country. It also directs the U.S. Government Accountability Office to report to Congress in one year about how beneficiaries of this bill are being impacted and provide recommendations for ways in which the department can improve its services to homeless communities.
Read more on my website here.
Removing Barriers to Life-Saving Overdose Reversal Treatments for Veterans
Approximately 2.8 million, or 14 percent, of all U.S. veterans reported having at least one substance use disorder in 2022. It is a staggering figure, and a stark reminder that our obligation to veterans does not end when their service does.
I joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) in introducing legislation to help battle the ongoing substance use disorder crisis among veterans by removing barriers to life-saving overdose reversal agents. The End Veterans Overdose Act would recognize the unique risks veterans face and ensure life-saving medication is available when it matters most.
The legislation would expand direct access to naloxone, making it available to veterans and their caregivers without a prescription, at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacies.
Read more on my website here.
Securing Funding for Rural Community Services
President Donald Trump signed my Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program reauthorization billinto law in December. This critical program provides payments to county governments in areas where tracts of federally owned forest land are located because those counties do not receive tax revenue from federal land.
I recently joined President Trump in the Oval Office for an event highlighting initiatives vital for rural America. President Trump acknowledged SRS’s importance, and I stressed the need for a permanent solution so counties have more certainty.
In December, I posed the question to the readers of this newsletter: “Do you agree the federal government should pay its share for essential services (law enforcement, roads, schools, etc.) in areas where the community cannot generate tax revenue because of federal land ownership?” Eighty-three percent of respondents said, “Yes.” Results are below:
Read more on my website here, or click the image above.
About Mike Crapo
Senator Mike Crapo has represented Idaho in the Senate since 1999, following three terms in the U.S. House and eight years in the Idaho State Senate. A lifelong Idahoan, he currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
