By Sen. Mike Crapo
Idaho’s farmers, rural communities, Tribes, seniors and families need policies that strengthen local economies, protect private enterprise and preserve Idaho’s way of life. Recent work in the Senate has focused on advancing those priorities by addressing unfair trade practices, improving public lands management, supporting water certainty and delivering tax relief.
Protecting Idaho Sugar Producers from Unfair Trade Practices
Idaho sugar beet growers contribute significantly to Idaho’s diverse agriculture production and support rural economies across the Gem State. Unfair foreign trade practices undercut American producers and threaten the long-term viability of domestic sugar production. I joined fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch, Idaho’s U.S. Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging the U.S. Trade Representative to launch a Section 301 investigation into discriminatory foreign sugar practices.
Idaho farmers, processors and workers deserve a level playing field. Read the full letter on my website HERE.
Cutting Taxes for Idaho Seniors and Working Families
Many Idaho seniors live on fixed incomes or work longer than expected. They deserve tax relief that helps them keep more of what they earned.
The Working Families Tax Cuts created a new deduction of up to $6,000 for qualifying seniors, in addition to the standard deduction and existing senior deduction. These reforms help Idahoans stretch their income further, cover basic needs and invest in their families.
Read more on my website HERE.
Protecting Idahoans from Cryptocurrency Scams
Cryptocurrency scams accounted for roughly half of all cybercrime losses in the United States last year. Criminals are increasingly using digital assets to defraud Americans. Idahoans need strong protections against these evolving scams.
I joined bipartisan legislation to establish a federal task force focused on improving coordination among law enforcement, financial regulators and private-sector experts to identify and disrupt cryptocurrency fraud. The SAFE Crypto Act would strengthen consumer education, improve enforcement coordination and help protect Idahoans’ hard-earned savings.
Read more about the bill HERE.
Strengthening Idaho’s Wildfire Readiness
Idaho’s forests, rangelands and public lands are central to our way of life. They require responsible management, reliable funding and local input.
As wildfire suppression costs continue to rise, Congress must prevent a return to “fire borrowing,” the harmful practice of diverting funding away from forest management and other critical priorities to cover emergency wildfire suppression costs. The 2018 legislation I led with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), which was signed into law, helped put an end to this costly practice. The current framework expires next year.
At a recent Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz estimated my wildfire funding fix saved over $12 billion of federal funds as of May 2026.
I will continue working to ensure federal land agencies have the tools needed to improve forest health, reduce hazardous fuels, support rural communities and keep Idaho’s public lands accessible for future generations.
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.
