Boise – Citing the economic stress on Idahoans and all Americans, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is calling for a vote on comprehensive energy reform as soon as Congress returns to work September 8th. Crapo joined with a coalition of local energy interests urging Idahoans to tell Congress to immediately consider wide-ranging legislation that will feature more domestic production, conservation and alternative energy using what Crapo calls a “use less, produce more” model.

“I am calling on Idahoans to make it loud and clear, not just to our delegation, but to their friends and neighbors in other states: tell the Congress we need to vote now on a comprehensive energy bill,” Crapo said alongside representatives from Idaho gas stations, energy researchers and a local electric car distributor.

“We’ve been dependent on petroleum as our primary source of energy for far too long, and we are too dependent on foreign sources of that oil,” Crapo said. “Any bill should not focus on just one energy source. We need to act now, and we need to do so in a way that explores all those energy options.”

“We do need a comprehensive policy,” agreed Dr. John Gardner, Associate Vice President at Boise State University, who coordinates wind and geothermal research. Gardner says Idaho can play an even larger role in the research and development of alternative energy given more federal resources to do so. “Idaho is in a good spot to do that,” Gardner said. “We have the wind resources, solar resources. We’re sitting on top of a great geothermal resource here in Boise that heats most of the downtown. We have great universities that are ready to take on that challenge.”

Electric cars are beginning to get more attention in Idaho, according to Sand Hollow resident Clint Marchbanks, who converts the Zap Truck made in China to run on fuel in addition to batteries. While demonstrating the operations of the electric truck, Marchbanks said federal legislation could spur plans underway for public plug-in charging stations from Caldwell to Boise. “I can charge this vehicle up for eight hours for 25 cents,” Marchbanks said. “It has a running distance of about 40 miles. This is the cheapest form of transportation there is,” he said, adding electric cars are popular in other Northwest states and foreign countries and will catch on in Idaho “if we can promote it with the Senator’s help.”

John Jackson, who owns and operates convenience stores and gasoline stations throughout Idaho, agreed that Congress has been ineffective in passing legislation that spurs additional American energy production while the nation transitions to alternative energy. “It makes me sick to see the hundreds of millions of dollars that are going overseas, paying for the excessive price of fuels,” Jackson said. “It’s down to supply and demand. We need to reduce demand with alternative fuels and change our habits. Eighty-five percent of our shorelines are off-limits right now—it’s not realistic.”

Boise – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will hold a news conference Tuesday to discuss the critical need for Congress to approve comprehensive legislation in the U.S. Senate that will address alternative energy, research and rising energy prices. An energy expert from Boise State University and the local owner of an all-electric vehicle will join Crapo at the event to discuss their perspectives on energy.

Earlier Tuesday, Crapo will join Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter to co-chair a summit meeting on the costs of transportation in Idaho. Today, Crapo will honor former astronaut Barbara Morgan with a Congressional Record Statement tribute during an event hosted by her new employer, Boise State University.

Monday, August 25

12:30 p.m. Boise Join Boise State University President Robert Kustra and others in a tribute to Barbara Morgan. At the Interactive Learning Center on the BSU campus.


Tuesday, August 26

9:30 a.m. Boise Co-host Idaho Transportation Funding Summit with Governor Otter. At the Boise Centre on the Grove.

2:45 p.m. Boise News conference on Congressional actions on energy legislation and the need to emphasis conservation, additional domestic production and development of alternative and renewable energy resources. At the northeast corner of 5th and Front Streets, in front of the Boise Chamber of Commerce and alongside alternative energy vehicles in the parking lot.

Plummer - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today joined Plummer Mayor Tim Clark and Coeur d’Alene Tribal Chairman Chief Allan to announce acquisition of funding to end water and wastewater problems that have caused a building moratorium in the Plummer area. Idaho Senator Joyce Broadsword (R-Sagle) and Representatives Mary Lou Shepherd (D-Wallace) and Dick Harwood (R-St. Maries) joined Crapo, Clark, Allan and Jeff Beeman of USDA Rural Development to comment on the plan to end wastewater treatment issues in the Benewah County city. The $7.2 million is a combination of federal loan and grant funding through the USDA Rural Development program.

“Economic development begins with a solid infrastructure, and Plummer, like many rural cities, has struggled with issues surrounding the decline of its wastewater treatment system,” Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said. “In a part of Idaho that has seen improvements with rural medicine and broadband service, the wastewater capacity issues stood out in need of attention. Today, these issues are being resolved thanks to local problem-solving and assistance with funding through USDA Rural Development, tribal funds and money in the Farm Bill. Now, we can bring new housing on-line and ensure the future development and expansion for facilities like Berg Integrated Systems, which supplies our military needs, and for future development of industry and housing in the area.”

“The reconstruction of Plummer’s sanitary sewer system is a vital step towards the long term health, safety and economic revitalization of Plummer.” said Mike Field, State Director for USDA Rural Development. "The leadership demonstrated by City and Tribal leaders, as well as the dedication of our USDA Rural Development staff to find workable solutions has helped move this project forward, which should bring greater economic stability to the City of Plummer."

The USDA Rural Development funding breaks down as follows: $5 million in loans, $1.295 million in rural development grants and $1 million from the Native American Set-Aside Fund. A State of Idaho Community Development Block Grant will also add an additional $500,000 for the project.

The lack of wastewater capacity had limited operations for both the City of Plummer and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. On August 10, 2006, the city declared a moratorium on sewer connections for the city system due to the lack of sufficient capacity in the water treatment system. The two-tiered project consists of upgrading sewer pipe, service connections and manholes followed by the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant.

Moscow – Calling it a positive sign of Idaho’s commitment to global competitiveness, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today announced the first recipient of the Mike Crapo Math and Science Scholarship Fund. Crapo, who has been recognized for leadership in education issues, announced the scholarship effort in 2004 as a way to encourage Idaho’s best students to seek math, science and other technical education at Idaho’s universities.

Crapo was joined by University of Idaho President Steven Daley-Laursen and Hilarie Engle of the Idaho Community Foundation (ICF) for the announcement. ICF, led by President and CEO Cathy Silak, administers the scholarship fund, which was started with Crapo’s honoraria donations and has since grown through many contributors through the ICF.

Karen Christian, a Moscow resident planning to study pharmacology and microbiology at the University of Idaho, was selected through a competitive process at ICF to be the first recipient of the Crapo scholarship. She begins classes at the University of Idaho on August 25th. Karen was joined by her parents, Ed and Kathy Christian, for the announcement.

“It is critical for Idaho’s, and America’s, future to remain competitive in the world economy, and the best way to do that is offer our best and brightest students a top-notch technical education and the math and science basics,” Crapo said. “Our future efforts in technology and research rely heavily on the math and science education provided by Idaho’s universities, and I am proud to stand on the University of Idaho campus today and see Karen Christian begin what I hope will be a long-running scholarship program.”

“We are delighted that Karen has chosen to pursue her passion for science at the University of Idaho,” said President Daley-Laursen. “Senator Crapo’s foresight and generosity and the Idaho Community Foundation’s excellent stewardship will foster many future Idaho students’ passion for science and mathematics. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is critical to preparing our young people for success in college and success in career, and we are very grateful for the support of the Mike Crapo Math and Science Scholarship Fund.”

“We are so pleased to begin making awards from the fund,” said CEO Silak. “Providing students with higher education aid is one of the best possible ways to help students as individuals and the state as a whole, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with Senator Crapo on this worthy project.”

“Being selected for the Mike Crapo Scholarship for Math and Science will help me throughout my first year at the University of Idaho,” said Karen Christian. “It is an honor to be chosen for this scholarship.”

Students interested in applying for the scholarships should go to the scholarship section of the ICF Web site at www.idcomfdn.org.

The Idaho Community Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization composed of more than 370 individual funds, pooled together for efficient management. Total assets are more than $70 million. Since it began making grants in 1991, ICF has made charitable distributions totaling more than $37 million. To learn more about the Foundation or join as a member, visit ICF’s Web site at
www.idcomfdn.org., or call 1-800-657-5357.

Washington, DC –Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a Congressional leader in annual efforts to fully fund domestic violence awareness and prevention and victims’ assistance programs, is honoring 19 Idaho teens who served on the Idaho Teen Advisory Council during the 2007-2008 school year. These teens have taken a lead role in Idaho’s efforts to prevent violence in dating relationships by speaking out against teen dating violence, which includes emotional abuse.

The teens are part of a program started by the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence in 2005, as part of its “No Means Know” teen dating violence prevention campaign. The campaign is developing a statewide education and prevention strategy on teen dating violence in Idaho, partnering with medical providers, educators and counselors, faith-based groups, legal services, and others. Crapo was successful in efforts between 2000 and 2004 in adding dating violence and abuse as part of the definition of domestic violence under federal law. Since 2004, he has continued his efforts to support domestic violence intervention and prevention funding at the federal level and has helped secure federal dollars for family justice centers and domestic and sexual violence intervention and prevention programs across Idaho. He extended federal assistance to victims of dating violence for the first time under a federal version of Idaho’s “Cassie’s Law.”

“It might shock parents to know that one in five teens from 13 to 14 years old say their friends are victims of dating violence,” Crapo said. “More than 60 percent of those in the 11 to 14 age group know of someone who has been verbally demeaned or abused by a dating partner. And these are just the pre- and early teens—dating violence continues on into college and beyond. Awareness programs like the ‘No Means Know’ campaign reinforce the need to speak out against physical and emotional abuse in relationships. I am proud that Idaho’s teens, both young women and young men, have and continue to lead this effort in promoting the characteristics of healthy relationships and recognizing abuse when it occurs.”

Since 2006, Crapo has authored the annual Senate declaration designating the first full week of February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. The week, established by Congress in 2006, stemmed from a 2004 effort, also by teens from all over the nation who came together in Washington, D.C., to talk about putting an end to teen dating violence. They approached Crapo in 2005, and asked for his assistance in establishing a recognition week. For the past three years, the “No Means Know” campaign has been at the forefront of that effort in Idaho and more information is available on the project’s website, http://www.nomeansknow.com.

"The Idaho Teen Dating Violence Advisory Council members have been an extraordinary resource to the project, providing valuable feedback on the curriculums as well as innovative and effective ways to reach out to Idaho teens in promoting respect in teen dating relationships," said Kelly Miller, Project Director. "In the last two years, we have conducted more than 300 presentations in Idaho's secondary schools and youth groups, reaching more than 14,000 youth on this critical issue." The Project has also educated more than 4,000 parents and adults working with youth on recognizing the warning signs of teen dating violence.

Crapo will present Idaho teens and their family members with Congressional recognition during August:

Wednesday, August 13
1:00 p.m. Lewiston Presents Congressional Record Statements noting the efforts of Benjamin Allen, Kyle Conger, Tiffany Delphous and James Walker in promoting the prevention of teen dating violence. At Crapo’s Regional Office, 313 D Street.

Saturday, August 16
8:00 a.m. Kellogg Presents Congressional Record Statements noting the efforts of Sarah Grigg and Katie Kilbourne in promoting the prevention of teen dating violence. At Kellogg City Hall, 1007 McKinley Avenue. Following the presentation, Crapo will tour levees in the Kellogg and Pinehurst area.

Boise - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will join with Plummer Mayor Tom Clark, Coeur d’Alene Tribal Chairman Chief Allan, Senator Joyce Broadsword (R-Sagle) and Representatives Mary Lou Shepherd (D-Wallace) and Dick Harwood (R-St. Maries) to announce a multi-million dollar loan and grant combination that may end water and wastewater problems that have caused a building moratorium in the Plummer area.

The announcement is scheduled on Friday, August 15th:

9:30 a.m. Plummer City Hall, 880 C Street