Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Ray Hageman of Garfield County
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Ray Hageman of Garfield County for the bravery and leadership he demonstrated while fighting the Lodgepole Complex Fire this past wildfire season. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’
Senate Western Caucus Urges Prompt Confirmation of Interior Nominees
U.S. SENATE —Chairman of the Senate Western Caucus, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (MT), was joined by 15 Senators in leading members of the Senate Western Caucus in urging U.S. Senate leadership to prioritize confirmation of nominees important to the West. In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, the Senate Western Caucus drew attention to the languishing nominations of Joseph Balash to be Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Susan Combs to be Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, Ryan Nelson to be Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Brenda Burman to be Commissioner
Daines Introduces Legislation to Accelerate Forest Management
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the Protect Collaboration for Healthier Forests Act to accelerate badly needed and locally supported forest management projects that will improve the health of National Forests and get loggers back to work. Daines’ bill establishes a pilot arbitration program authorizing the U.S. Forest Service to use binding arbitration in Region 1 (Montana, parts of Idaho, North Dakota) as an alternative dispute resolution process for certain forest restoration projects. Litigation against forest management projects frequently take many years to resolve. Pilot arbitration authority would bring swifter resolution to disputed projects. In doing so, hazardous fuels reduction projects developed through a collaborative process that are
Montana Ag: Risk management important in new farm bill
Members of Montana’s largest agriculture organization met this week in Billings to hear updates and set policies on issues impacting Montana farmers and ranchers. “We are such a small percentage of the farm bill that we know we have to play nice with others” Cyndi Johnson, vice president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation from Conrad, said. The farm bill is essentially agriculture’s play book for five years and work is already underway to ensure Montana farmers and ranchers are well-represented in the 2018 bill. “The farm bill is currently being discussed at the national level and even our local members have
KMMS: Daines demands our National Parks Must Remain Accessible to All Americans
Senator Steve Daines is upset because the National Park Service announced it is considering raising the entrance fees during peak season for 17 National Parks, including Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park in Montana. The proposal, would change the fee from $30 to $70 per vehicle. The price per person would go from $15 to $30. The current public comment period will end on November 23, 2017. “Glacier and Yellowstone National Park – are national treasures that belong to Montanans and Americans across the country” said Daines. “Fee increases of this magnitude could prohibit families from enjoying the great
Char-Koosta News: Daines introduces legislation to build veteran homes
U.S. SENATE — Just ahead of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced legislation to ensure that underserved veterans get the care they need. Daines’ bill, “Veteran State Home Grant Backlog Reduction Act” will create a new prioritization system that will separate out upgrades and needed rehabilitation to existing VA facilities and much-needed new construction. It requires the VA to separately designate construction specific budget resources and have a plan to clear up the state home construction backlog by the end of Fiscal Year 2023. “Montana is home to one of the highest populations of veterans per capita
Daines: National Parks Must Be Accessible to All
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to the Acting Director of the National Park Service, Mike Reynolds, asking for an extension of the public comment period for fee increases at 17 National Parks. On October 24, 2017, the National Park Service announced it is considering raising the entrance fees during peak season for 17 National Parks, including Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park in Montana. Under the proposal, the price per vehicle will be raised from $30 to $70; the price per person from $15 to $30; and the park specific annual pass from $50 (Glacier) and
Daines Votes for Energy Dominance and American Jobs
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to empower Alaskans to develop a job-creating oil and gas program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. “Conservation and job creation are not mutually exclusive,” said Daines. “Alaskans, like Montanans understand the needs of their communities better than radical extreme environmentalists who are determined to block good-paying American jobs.” Earlier this month at a Committee hearing, Sen. Daines spoke about the importance of blending the protection of our environment and responsibly developing our natural resources. ###
Daines Supports Repeal of Individual Mandate in Tax Bill
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate after the Senate acted on his urging to include a repeal of Obamacare’s poverty tax in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Watch video HERE. Download video HERE. Last week, Senator Daines sent a letter to Committee on Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch, urging him to include a repeal of the poverty tax in the tax legislation. Read the letter HERE. Remarks as prepared: Mr. President – As we cut taxes, there’s one goal I hold center: We need more good paying jobs and bigger paychecks for hardworking Montanans.