Touring the state: Daines talks wildfire, more during Belgrade stop
While Congress is in recess, Sen. Steve Daines is traveling the state discussing topics from wildfires to the Endangered Species Act to gun violence. At Bridger Aerospace in Belgrade on Tuesday, Daines, a Bozeman Republican, spoke about a bill he plans to introduce this fall aimed at reducing wildfire risk. The legislation, which he will cosponsor with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, will include efforts like more aggressively thinning trees near roads and trails because he said most human-caused wildfires start within a half mile of roads or trails. “Either we need to better manage our forests or our
Daines defends environmental record; supports LWCF, opposes land transfers
Sen. Steve Daines this week defended his environmental voting record by expressing support for funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund at its full amount while opposing the transfer of federal lands back to the states. But he remained noncommittal on the appointment of William Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Pendley has advocated for transferring or selling public lands and is viewed by some as an ideological extremist on the issue. “You have a director in Interior Secretary David Bernhardt who has been adamant in his opposition to the transfer of federal lands to the states,” Daines
Sen. Daines in Missoula: ‘If you can’t pass a balanced budget, you shouldn’t get paid’
Montana’s Republican lawmaker in the U.S. Senate touted Monday his bipartisan work to a crowd in one of the state’s most Democrat-voting cities. Sen. Steve Daines spoke at City Club Missoula’s monthly luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel about everything from gun control to public land ownership to the federal deficit to Mexican meth during a question-and-answer session. He was met with protesters outside the building who want him to work toward funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund fully with $900 million instead of just $600 million, and he was asked by a local high school student who endured a
Daines Continues 56 County Tour
MONTANA —This week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines continued his 56-county tour of the Treasure State for the 116th Congress, with eight stops across Montana. Every Congress, Daines visits all 56 counties. This week, Daines visited Red Lodge, Clancy, Toston, Deer Lodge, Baker, Miles City, Plentywood and Scobey. Red Lodge: On Monday, Daines met with the folks of Red Lodge to discuss everything from lowering the national debt to ensuring folks have access to care in our rural communities. Clancy: On Wednesday, Daines visited Marks-Miller Post&Pole in Clancy to discuss the forest management practices and the great work they are doing to
Daines Applauds EPA’s Proposal That Will Lead to More High Paying Montana Jobs
U.S. SENATE– Today, U.S. Senator Steve applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal regarding the water quality certification process. The proposal would reform implementation of the water quality certification process under section 401 of the Clean Water Act. “This is great news for Montana’s energy economy,” Daines said. “Today’s announcement will help stop activist bureaucrats from abusing the law to limit the potential of Montana’s booming energy economy. Common sense regulation will lead to more high paying jobs for Montanans and strengthen our nation’s energy independence.” EPA’s issuance of proposed regulations is the agency’s next step to implement President Trump’s
Daines Announces $86 Thousand Grant to Strengthen Fish Habitation and River Flow in French Creek
U.S. SENATE– U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $86,610 will be directed towards the Big Hole Watershed Committee based in Divide, Montana to complete the Lower French Creek Sediment Reduction Project. “This is great news for the folks in Silver Bow County,” Daines said. “This funding is about preserving our great outdoor heritage and will ensure better flow to the French Creek for all Montanans to enjoy.” The project will reroute a 4,000 linear foot reach of French Creek that is currently pinned between an eroding bank and linear gravel piles, leading to an annual deposition of an estimated 800
Daines Leads U.S. Senate Field Hearing on National Parks at Grant-Kohrs
DEER LODGE, Mont. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today brought together members of the community and leaders from the National Park Service for an official U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources field hearing at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Serving as the Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, Daines held the hearing to examine opportunities of expanding visitation at lesser-known National Park System Units. Daines said, “We know that over 5.5 million people visited national parks in Montana last year. Those guests spent approximately $633 million in local gateway regions supporting over 9,500 jobs and generating over $880 million
Daines promotes wildfire protection bill on tour of Helena fire that led to 500 homes evacuated
NORTH HILLS — Standing yards above the makeshift range where a person shooting exploding targets sparked a wildfire last month, Tri-Lakes Fire Chief Bob Drake grabbed the top of one of the 3 ½-foot tall Ponderosa pine saplings populating the area that he said presented a huge problem when trying to fight the fire. “It was a really difficult initial attack,” Drake said. “ … (Firefighters were) doing everything they can, and this is what they’re dealing with and they can’t even get through that. You can’t stop it in this. I don’t care what you’ve got.” The North Hills fire grew to
Sen. Steve Daines holds Senate subcommittee hearing live at Grant-Kohrs Ranch Thursday
Wanting to highlight Montana’s lesser visited national parks, Sen. Steve Daines will host a National Parks Subcommittee Senate hearing live at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site north of Deer Lodge. The Republican senator has invited a list of officials, from Powell County Commissioner Ralph E. Mannix, Jr., to Toby O’Rourke, president and chief executive officer of Kampgrounds of America Inc., to hold a conversation about how to increase visitation at all of Montana’s national parks. Others who will be there to talk will include Palmer “Chip” Jenkins, Intermountain Region National Park Service acting regional director, and Sarah