Daines Announces Red Lodge, Montana’s Calahan Barker Offer of Appointment to the United States Military Academy
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced academy nominee Calahan Barker of Red Lodge, Montana has been offered an appointment to the United States Military Academy. “Calahan is a great young man who will represent Montana well. He has excelled in high school sports and has served his fellow classmates as Student Body president,” Daines said. “Good luck and congratulations on your offer of appointment to the United States Military Academy.” Calahan attends Red Lodge High School and will graduate in May. He currently serves as Student Body President and competes on the wrestling and soccer teams. Calahan is also a varsity football
Mont. lawmakers urge Biden to keep Trump species rule
Montana lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to adopt a rule change — filed in the days before the White House changed hands last month — that aims to eliminate a potential hurdle for forest management projects when endangered species might be affected. Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale, both Republicans, outlined their support in a letter yesterday to top officials at the Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commerce Department’s NOAA Fisheries. “The proposed rule will allow land managers and wildlife biologists to follow the best-available science for consultation. It will remove an ambiguity in current
Thune, Rounds among senators urging Biden Administration to withdraw sheep import rule
A Senator from North Dakota wants the Biden administration to withdraw a final rule on the importation of sheep and goats. Republican Kevin Cramer made the request in a letter to the Department of Agriculture this week, asking the rule be withdrawn until its impact on current market conditions can be fully evaluated. The rule, finalized on January 14, would remove brain disorder-related import restrictions on sheep, goats, and most of their products. Cramer says the existing import restrictions function as a necessary protection against the introduction of other brain disorders, such as scrapie or mad cow disease. Republican Senators
Daines Demands Action, Change in Policies Following the Release of a Criminal Alien in Whitefish
U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security urging them to work with Canadian law enforcement to enhance systems that allow expedited access to criminal records. “While it is clear there has been significant collaboration with the Canadian government, as the incident from January 23 shows, there still appear to be significant flaws either in the agreement itself, or in the implementation of the agreement. That a fugitive wanted for such egregious crimes was in custody and released without his identity being verified is both inconceivable and unacceptable.
Bipartisan bill to permit interstate sale of inspected meats, poultry introduced by Rounds
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) recently reintroduced a bipartisan bill to allow the interstate sale of state-inspected meats and poultry. “Our bill would allow these high-quality products that pass state inspection standards to be sold across state lines,” Sen. Rounds said, “opening up new markets for our producers and giving consumers greater choice at the grocery store.” Sen. Rounds on Jan. 28 sponsored the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, S. 107, with 10 cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Joe Manchin III (D-WV), and Angus King (I-ME). Sen. Rounds and several of his colleagues previously introduced
GOP senators promise to oppose attacks on pro-life measures
Nearly all of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate have united to warn the Democratic leadership they will oppose any effort to overturn long-standing bans on federal funding of abortion. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and 47 other GOP senators promised Majority Leader Charles Schumer in a Feb. 5 letter that they will vote to block attempts to eradicate or diminish the Hyde Amendment and other pro-life protections. The Hyde Amendment, first adopted in 1976, bars federal funds in the Medicaid program from paying for abortions. The 48-member commitment is a promising development in efforts to maintain federal pro-life policies. As
Daines ‘deeply concerned’ with nomination of Haaland for Interior Secretary
After speaking with Rep. Deb Haaland, Sen. Steve Daines on Friday said in a statement that he is “deeply concerned with the Congresswoman’s support on several radical issues” and threatened to “block her confirmation.” If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Haaland will be the first Native American to hold the position. A Democratic representative from New Mexico, Haaland is a member of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe. When Biden announced her nomination on Dec. 17 tribal members in Montana celebrated the historic pick. Daines cited Haaland’s support of the Green New Deal and President Joe Biden’s oil and gas moratorium as
Daines threatens to hold up Haaland confirmation
Rep. Deb Haaland’s confirmation hearing has yet to even be scheduled, but already at least one Senate Republican is pledging to block her nomination to serve as secretary of the Interior. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced Friday he would take steps to prevent Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, from leading the agency with jurisdiction over activities on public lands — one direct result of the backlash against President Biden’s executive orders to halt construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and pause new federal oil and gas leasing. “After our conversation, I’m deeply concerned with the Congresswoman’s support on several radical
Barrasso may oppose Haaland over Biden agenda
The top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is prepared to oppose Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to serve as President Biden’s nominee to lead the Interior Department, the latest in an ongoing confrontation between oil-friendly lawmakers and the new White House over its climate priorities on federal lands. “Representative Haaland’s radical views are squarely at odds with the responsible management of our nation’s energy resources,” Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming said in a statement to E&E News today. “Her vocal opposition to oil and gas production on federal lands will only encourage President Biden along the illegal