IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — United States Speaker of the House Mike Johnson paid a visit to the Melaleuca distribution warehouse in Idaho Falls today. Accompanied by company founder Frank Vandersloot, Speaker Johnson's visit is part of a broader nationwide tour of businesses that have scaled from small startups into major corporations.
"Things that started as small businesses and became large operations like this one are a tremendous testament to the spirit of America and so many happy employees here. I met a few on the way in this morning, and have been with this company for - one lady said 34 years. They take good care of their employees, and they take good care of America," said Johnson.
“We are thrilled that the administration and Congress are deeply interested in American businesses," Vandersloot said in a statement to Local News 8. "We are extremely honored that Speaker Johnson considers Melaleuca an important home-grown American story.”
During the tour, Speaker Johnson spoke with employees and leadership, focusing on how the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill can benefit business owners.
"There are tax incentives for businesses, for people who are investing in their facilities and growing their manufacturing facilities, adding more jobs, adding more employees," Johnson told reporters. "So many benefits in that pro-growth economy, so many benefits in the policies we put in the legislation are going to help companies like Melaleuca grow even more, and it will allow wages to rise all across the country and more opportunities for more people."
Speaker Johnson also acknowledged the challenges Idaho farmers face when Local News 8 asked him how Congress might strike a balance between stronger deportation policies and the need for foreign workers.
"It's a very important question," said Johnson. "I come from a big ag district down in Louisiana myself. I've got one of the biggest ag districts in the country, and we have a lot of cattle as well, and lots of crops. 'Balance' is the right word."
Speaker Johnson also had good news for the Idaho National Lab. He said he is very "bullish on nuclear energy" and Congress is all in."
You can view our entire interview with Speaker Johnson above.
This is a developing story. Local News 8 will continue to update this article throughout the day.