From the Desk of the Governor

Idaho Office of the Governor sent this bulletin at 10/13/2023 03:00 PM MDT

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From the Desk of the Governor

October 13, 2023

Snake River Quagga Mussel Treatment Ends, Monitoring Continues

This week, I toured the Snake River to learn more about our collaborative approach to addressing the presence of quagga mussel in Idaho waters.

I am proud of the incredible work by our state agencies and partners to eradicate invasive quagga mussels from the Snake River. Our rapid response and continued attack will protect Idaho's water supply and hydropower infrastructure, and support our way of life.

The following statements are a few examples of the widespread support for ISDA’s quagga mussel treatment in the Snake River:

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
"The Idaho State Department of Agriculture and partnering agencies worked swiftly and decisively to protect Idaho’s rivers and streams from this invasive species. Their efforts support the health and longevity of native river species, as well as protecting the integrity of Idaho’s extensive irrigation systems and our agriculture, aquaculture and recreation industries. I am grateful for the broad stakeholder engagement to eradicate this invasive species and will continue to support efforts to address the threat that quagga mussels present to our state."

U.S. Representative Mike Simpson
“We must work together to protect our water here in Idaho. Thank you to Governor Little, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and Idaho Fish and Game for their decisive work in treatment and rapid response plan to eradicate this aggressive species. As Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to advocate for funding of efforts to prevent further spread.”

U.S. Representative Mike Simpson

“We must work together to protect our water here in Idaho, said Rep. Simpson. Thank you to Governor Little, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and Idaho Fish and Game for their decisive work in treatment and rapid response plan to eradicate this aggressive species. As Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to advocate for funding of efforts to prevent further spread.”

U.S. Representative Russ Fulcher

“I am closely monitoring the Quagga mussel containment efforts by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. I am thankful for the ISDA responding so quickly to quell this outbreak. I ask all Idahoans to continue to be vigilant in response to the Quagga mussel.”

Click the button below to read all the statements of support for our treatment action.

QUAGGA MUSSELS

Idaho LAUNCH - Up to $8,000 Grants For Graduating Idaho High School Seniors

The Idaho LAUNCH grant program is a GROUNDBREAKING initiative providing graduating Idaho high school seniors up to $8,000 toward becoming the trained and trusted workforce Idaho needs.

APPLY TODAY at NextSteps.Idaho.Gov/LAUNCH or by clicking the button below!

Idaho Launch a game-changer, governor says

"Gov. Brad Little is encouraging businesses to support Idaho Launch, a new program to prepare students to meet the state’s workforce needs.

The program will provide high school seniors or GED equivalent students seeking in-demand careers with grants of up to $8,000, or 80% of tuition or fees. It aims to connect students within-demand careers by helping cover the cost of any Idaho university, community college, career technical, or workforce training program.

Businesses across the state are in dire need of skilled workers, and Idaho Launch will send a message to the community college sector, private trade industry or other training segment to build capacity because they’re going to have students, he said during a webinar on Oct. 5.

The program offers training for about 240 in-demand careers, with several in the agricultural arena.

“I really think it’s going to be a game-changer,” he said.

Idaho Launch and workforce development is all about helping people have the skills to make Idaho businesses profitable, he said.

Idaho businesses want to build a pipeline for their workforce, and they can do that by getting involved to support the students who will be their workers and fostering success moving forward, he said.

“I think it will take the current trajectory of the state of Idaho and even accelerate it more, and it will be our Idaho kids. We want our Idaho kids to stay in Idaho, and I can’t think of anything that will be more conducive going forward,” he said."

IDAHO LAUNCH

Republican Governors Demand Biden Provide Honest, Accurate Information on Impact of Border Crisis

A few weeks ago, I joined 24 of my fellow Republican Governors in sending a letter to President Joe Biden demanding he provide more comprehensive information about how the crisis at the southern border is impacting every state.

The caller calls on the Biden Administration to immediately relay accurate, detailed, and thorough data to the states about who is crossing the Southern border illegally, where they are relocating, how the federal government is processing their asylum applications, and whether they are being adopted.

Signatures on the letter include:

Governor Greg Gianforte (MT)
Governor Kay Ivey (AL)
Governor Sarah Sanders (AR)
Governor Ron DeSantis (FL)
Governor Brian Kemp (GA)
Governor Kim Reynolds (IA)
Governor Kevin Stitt (OK)
Governor Kristi Noem (SD)
Governor Bill Lee (TN)
Governor Greg Abbott (TX)
Governor Spencer Cox (UT)
Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA)
Governor Mark Gordon (WY)

Click the button bellow to read the full letter.

BORDER CRISIS LETTER

Republican Governors Raise Concerns on Biden’s Phase II NEPA Rule

Last month, I joined 16 of my fellow Republican governors in sending a letter to the Biden Administration criticizing efforts to make the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) less efficient, less effective, invite litigation, and fail to fully consider state-specific information in the NEPA process.

Biden’s proposed rule expands the size and scope of government agencies that will open future energy, infrastructure, and other building projects to new litigation and excessive delays.

The proposed rule fails to streamline the permitting process and ignores the will of Congress, expressed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, of clear deadlines, page limits, and directives regarding environmental reviews.

Signatures on the letter include: