Crapo Applauds Bipartisan Finance Committee Priorities in Government Funding Bill

Crapo Applauds Bipartisan Finance Committee Priorities in Government Funding Bill

Washington, D.C.-U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) funding package, which included many priorities within the Finance Committee's jurisdiction that reflected bipartisan, bicameral negotiations.

"The policies within the Finance Committee's jurisdiction reflect our members' priorities on both sides of the aisle that were negotiated over many months-in some cases years," said Crapo. "We successfully included significant reforms from the Committee's pharmacy benefit manager package that will increase transparency in the Medicare Part D program and lower seniors' costs at the pharmacy counter. Medicare will cover multi-cancer early detection screening, providing access to lifesaving, preventative care. Funding for telehealth flexibilities is being extended, and relief for rural hospitals is being boosted. These bipartisan policies will improve health care access and affordability for all Americans."

The FY26 funding agreement contains five bipartisan appropriations bills as well as a short-term continuing resolution for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and related agencies-and avoids a government shutdown. Congress and the Trump Administration continue to finalize a bipartisan funding agreement that would provide for federal emergency management services, the U.S. Secret Service, enhanced border security and targeted immigration enforcement.

As Chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Crapo championed the following priorities, among others:

• Reformed pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices that will increase transparency and help to lower drug prices, drawn from the Crapo/Wyden Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Price Transparency and Accountability Act.
• Improved preventative care for cancer in the form of Crapo's bipartisan Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act.
• Increased funding for rural health, on top of the historic investment previously made through the Rural Health Transformation Program in the Working Families Tax Cuts.
• Extended and boosted telehealth flexibilities, ensuring continued access to care critical for Idahoans, especially in remote areas.
• Extended the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, helping patients receive quality care in their own homes.
• Required Medicare advantage plans to maintain accurate, public provider directories so enrollees can make informed decisions when choosing between plans.
• Renewed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Haiti HOPE/HELP trade programs, which will bolster America's national security and promote U.S. economic interests at home and abroad.

Other notable provisions important for Idahoans in the funding bill:

• Preserved education programs that support school choice and impact rural education, including many programs in Idaho.
• Continuation of the Community Development Financial Institution Fund, which supports investment and spurs economic activity in rural and underserved areas.
• Funding for apprenticeships as a viable career pathway.
• Funding for state responses to the opioid epidemic, and specifically those in rural communities.
• Support for specific Idaho projects.
• Reduced non-defense spending.

The Senate Finance Committee has the largest jurisdiction of any congressional committee, overseeing over 50 percent of the nation's budget, including America's entitlement programs, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, all tax policy, international trade, several welfare programs and the nation's debt.

Click HERE for a full section-by-section summary of the provisions within the Finance Committee's jurisdiction.