Ensuring Financial Security for Rural Counties

This month, I joined a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues to introduce legislationthat would reauthorize the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for ten years.  The PILT program provides critical resources to nearly 1,900 counties across 49 states.  Counties have used these payments for more than 40 essential county services such as law enforcement, emergency response, public health and critical transportation infrastructure.

The federal government does not pay local property taxes, which makes rural counties containing large swaths of federally-owned land face tough financial decisions.  Our legislation would provide much-needed stability to these counties so they can budget appropriately according to expected revenue and provide these essential services to local citizens and taxpayers.  I look forward to continue working in a bipartisan manner to end the financial uncertainty thousands of rural counties face nationwide.

Preventing Obnoxious Robocalls

In response to Idahoans contacting my office with concerns regarding robocalls, I am getting to the root of the problem by introducing S. 2204, the Data Analytics Robocall Technology (DART) Act.  This bipartisan legislation, which I introduced with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), would establish a pilot program at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand its efforts to combat robocalls by blocking calls that fail authentication technology and procedures used to prevent caller ID spoofing, while allowing emergency service alert calls to remain uninterrupted and not expanding the capabilities of voice service providers to collect or share data.  S. 2204 would also provide a pathway for appeals for calls unintentionally blocked that might be otherwise allowable under law. 

In a wave of robocalls, spoofers have adopted a ‘neighborhood’ tactic in which electronic robocallers use fake local numbers as cover to reach unsuspecting recipients, even if the robocall is sent from outside the United States.  Our bipartisan billwould empower voice service providers to identify and block suspected illegal calls before they ever reach a consumer’s device.

Hearing From Idahoans

Being back in Idaho always recharges the energy I need while in Washington, D.C.  While on the August state work period, I had the chance to meet with many Idahoans.  I held 29unincorporated town meetings.  Topics discussed during these meetings ranged from investigating the personal data of Americans being gathered against their wishes to new privacy and financial concerns driven by the actions of corporations such as Facebook.  Other topics that came up were the legislation I just introduced to limit robocall phone calls, the country’s new job creation, the economy and tax reform and the record number of federal judges being approved by the U.S. Senate.  During my time in Idaho, I had the privilege of honoring Latah County Sheriff Richard Skiles with the Spirit of Idaho Awardfor helping residents of a mobile home park amid a local disaster event.  I also presented the City of Carey with a Congressional Record Statement in honor of its Centennial Celebration.

Secretary Carson’s Visit to Idaho

During the August state work period, HUD Secretary Carsonjoined me in Boise for several meetings to discuss affordable housing, which is a critical issue in Idaho and all across the country.  We toured nationally-recognized models of affordable housing innovation, and discussed the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling housing affordability.  Secretary Carson’s visit helped to shed light on the challenges and solutions at our local level, and further the discussion on how we can make housing more accessible and homeownership more attainable.  Read more about my thoughts on Secretary Carson’s visit here.

Photos 

Senator Crapo at Gooding Town Meeting

 

Senator Crapo Celebrating Carey, Idaho, Centennial

 

Senator Crapo with Students of Cavendish Elementary School

 

Senator Crapo with Sheriff Richard Skiles, winner of the Spirit of Idaho Award

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