In Montana, our public lands are a way of life. As your United States Senator, I will continue to fight for expanded access to our public lands. This includes permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the proper management of our forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Access to Montana’s many public lands must be properly managed in a collaborative effort. This includes by private citizens, Native American tribes, and federal and state governments. It is imperative that the federal government be good neighbors with private landowners, and I will fervently work to protect private property rights against improper government encroachment. Simply stated, I will fight to sustain our way of life in Montana for future generations.
Daines’ Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing National Park Week Passes U.S. Senate
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan Senate resolution marking April 16, 2022 through April 24, 2022 as National Park Week passed the U.S. Senate yesterday. Daines is the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. “Our national parks help set us apart from the rest of the world, and in Montana we have some of the best,” Daines said. “Enjoying Montana’s great outdoors isn’t just a favorite pastime, it’s part of our way of life. This National Park week, I encourage folks to get outside and find their park!” This resolution encourages people around the country to spend
Daines, Rosendale Urge Biden Admin to Extend Protest Period for Bison Grazing Proposal
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale today are urging the Biden administration to extend the protest period on the proposed decision affecting grazing allotments on the American Prairie Reserve in Phillips County, Montana. “As you are aware, BLM received over 2,700 comments on the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) from Montana state government agencies, businesses, associations, and thousands of concerned individuals. These comments raise serious questions about how American Prairie’s proposed change of use will affect the local community and the state of Montana,” they wrote. “Due to the broad interest in the proposed change of use, which would
Daines, Rosendale Push Biden Admin to Respond to Gianforte’s Petition to Delisting Grizzly Bears in the NCDE
U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale today are pushing the Biden administration to respond to Governor Greg Gianforte’s petition to delist the grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. “On December 17, 2021 on behalf of the State of Montana, Governor Gianforte and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks submitted a formal petition to identify and delist the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) Distinct Population Segment of the grizzly bear. It has come to our attention that the 90-day statutory timeframe for the agency to respond to the petition elapsed today. We urge
Daines, Tester Introduce Senate Resolution to Celebrate 150th Anniversary of Yellowstone National Park
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park. Daines serves as the top Republican on the Senate’s National Parks Subcommittee. “150 years ago, Yellowstone became our very first national park, and ever since, it has been inspiring folks from across the world to come see the great outdoors and what Montana and the West have to offer,” Daines said. “Our parks set us apart from the rest of the world, and they are an essential part of our Montana way of life. I’m glad to join
Daines Slams Haaland for Politicizing Gray Wolf Management
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines slammed Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland for continuing to ignore the science and politicize gray wolf management during a Senate Energy Subcommittee hearing this week. Despite available science and data showing that the gray wolf populations are strong and healthy, the current law and the State of Montana’s proven track record of gray wolf management, Haaland wrote an opinion piece earlier this week threatening to circumvent Montana’s authority to manage the species. Daines called on the Department’s Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Shannon Estenoz, to listen to the law
Daines Leads Hearing on Implementation of Great American Outdoors Act
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, the top Republican on the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, today led a hearing on the implementation of the historic conservation bill, “Great American Outdoors Act” or “GAOA,” which Daines championed in 2020. To watch Daines’ full opening remarks, click HERE. “This bill was one of the greatest conservation victories in the last 50 years. Republicans and Democrats came together to pass a historic bill that would invest in our parks, public lands, and outdoor recreation economies and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation program. As a fifth generation Montanan and avid outdoorsman and sportsman,
Daines, King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Increased Visitation on Public Lands and Support Partnerships with Montana Gateway Communities
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Angus King (I-Maine), top Republican and Democrat on the Senate’s National Parks Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan “Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act” to support gateway communities and address challenges facing national parks and public lands like increased visitation and housing shortages. The bipartisan bill also aims to help boost visitation at lesser known parks and recreation areas. “Our national parks and public lands set us apart from the rest of the world, and Montana’s gateway communities know firsthand the benefits and challenges they bring. While increased recreation on our public lands and
Daines’ Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Public Lands Discussed at Senate Hearing
U.S. SENATE — Today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill that will streamline the permitting process for outfitters and guides to help increase access to public lands and support small businesses. Watch and download the remarks HERE. “Because of Montana’s checkerboard land ownership patterns, a guided hunt often will cross into multiple land jurisdictions sometimes in just one day. Since each federal land agency has a separate permitting process, this means that guides and outfitters often have to go through multiple departments and permitting processes all for one trip. This is duplicative
Two of Daines’ Bipartisan Bills to Support Public Access to Public Lands, Outdoor Recreation Advance out of Committee
U.S. SENATE — Today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced two of Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bills that will improve Montanans’ access to public lands and support outdoor recreation. “I’m glad to see my two commonsense, bipartisan bills that increase access to public lands, support outdoor recreation, and ensure ski revenues are invested back in Montana forests come one step closer to Senate passage,” Daines said. The bipartisan “Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act” (MAPLAND Act) will facilitate public access and raise awareness of outdoor opportunities on Montana public lands, while protecting private property rights. Daines’ MAPLAND Act is supported by several Montana sportsmen groups including Theodore Roosevelt