Jim Risch

On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to reauthorize the Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program through Fiscal Year 2026.  The votes was celebrated by Idaho’s Republican senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, as well as Oregon Democrats Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden; the four worked together to get the legislation across the finish line.   The Secure R... R

Congratulations to outgoing University of Idaho College of Agricultural Life Sciences dean Michael Parrella.  He was recently honored by the Idaho congressional delegation as he prepares to retire from the College.  The letter said in part: "Your tenure as dean has left an indelible mark on our state’s agricultural landscape.  For nearly a decade, yo...

On Thursday, Idaho senator Mike Crapo and Oregon’s Jeff Merkley announced the introduction of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program Reauthorization Act of 2025.  They say this bipartisan legislation would reauthorize and expand the CFLR program, which helps fund collaborative and community-based forest management.  The lawmakers said...

On Friday Idaho senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo introduced legislation aimed at supporting aquifer recharge and water infrastructure in the Gem state.  In 2020, Risch’s Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act was signed into law to improve the ability of states to conduct aquifer recharge across federal lands and utilize federal facilities.  The original ...

Under a recently proposed bill, the federal government would prioritize use of mass timber in construction.  Senators from Oregon and Idaho are leading the bipartisan effort to pass the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act.  The bill would make it a preference to use mass timber in federal construction projects.   Mass timbe...

Idaho senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo joined Nebraska’s Pete Ricketts Thursday in introducing the Securing American Agriculture Act.  They say the bill would secure critical agricultural supply chains and reduce America’s reliance on foreign adversaries like China.   “Allowing Communist China to seize control...

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday the selection of Idaho’s Tom Schultz to serve as the 21st chief of the Forest Service.  Upon being sworn in, Schultz will replace Chief Randy Moore, who recently announced his retirement after serving the agency for over four decades.   “Tom i...

Last week, Idaho senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune and 44 additional Senate colleagues in reintroducing legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax...

On Tuesday, Idaho senator Jim Risch and Maine senator Angus King introduced the Future Logging Careers Act, in an effort to support America’s family-run timber industry.  This legislation would allow teenage members of logging families to gain hands-on experience in the trade so they may carry on the family business. The Future Logging Caree...

Senators from Oregon and Idaho are pushing for Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Act before funding runs out.  States with timber on federal land depend on the program for funding schools and other projects that would have been paid for by timber harvests, which aren’t allowed on federal land.   “The S...