Williston Herald: Ag pick appears to win over delegation in confirmation hearings
The state’s U.S. Senate delegation had a laundry list of concerns for former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, who was in the nation’s Capitol Thursday for confirmation hearings before the Senate Agriculture Committee. Three of Montana and North Dakota’s senators are members on the committee, Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D, Steve Daines, R-Mont. and John Hoeven, R-N.D., who is also chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. is not on the committee, but has been a vocal ag advocate, and did not let that stop him from pressing Perdue as well on topics of importance to the area.
Daines to Perdue: Protect & Strengthen Montana Agriculture
Invites Perdue to Montana Ag Summit 2017 in Great Falls U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with Governor Sonny Perdue, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) during his nomination hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture. Daines invited Perdue to visit Montana and attend the Montana Ag Summit in Great Falls. “Ag production across our nation is diverse and Montana ag presents some unique and especially specific challenges, but great opportunities,” Daines stated. “With that in mind, I would like to extend an invitation to you Governor Perdue to come
Daines, Tester Introduce Bill to Improve Montana’s Rural Water Infrastructure
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced a bipartisan bill to provide much-needed authorization for Montana rural water infrastructure. The Clean Water for Rural Communities Act, authorizes two Bureau of Reclamation rural water projects—Dry-Redwater Rural Water System (DRWA) and Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System (CMRWA). The bill will collectively facilitate water treatment and delivery to 22,500 residents in Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, Richland, Judith Basin, Wheatland, Golden Valley, Fergus, Yellowstone, and Musselshell Counties in Montana and McKenzie County, North Dakota. “If I told you that 22,500 Montanans lacked steady safe drinking water you would be
CFTC Acting Chairman to Give Keynote Address at Montana Ag Summit
J. Christopher Giancarlo of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission will be a keynote speaker at Montana Ag Summit 2017 U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Acting Chairman, J. Christopher Giancarlo of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will deliver a keynote address at Montana Ag Summit 2017. “I look forward to hearing Acting Chairman Giancarlo speak at the Montana Ag Summit about his vision for the CFTC and its role in reducing regulatory hurdles to expand opportunities for Montana farmers and ranchers,” Daines stated. “During my time at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, I have made good
Daines Announces Montanan of the Week Completed With All 56 Counties Represented
Honors Rocky Erickson of McCone County as Montanan of the Week BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Rocky Erickson of McCone County for his long run as the voice of Montana sports. McCone County is the 56th county Daines has recognized as part of his Montanan of the Week program. On April 30, 2015, Daines announced a new effort to recognize Montanans who exemplify the Treasure State’s strong legacy of community spirit and leadership. In this effort, Daines has stopped across the state to recognize Montanans in all of the 56 counties. Daines recorded a video earlier today announcing the wrap up of all 56
Billings Gazette: Trump proposes gutting rural flight program in Montana
The Trump administration proposed Thursday that as part of its new budget it would eliminate federal subsidies for flights from Billings to five rural communities in Eastern Montana. The cuts would target the 39-year-old Essential Air Service, which subsidizes Cape Air flights from Billings to Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Wolf Point and Sidney. Without the program, Cape Air would unlikely be able to afford to continue operating the service, which peaked during the Bakken boom earlier this decade. The program has bipartisan support from Montana’s two senators. In 2016, at least 37,106 passengers boarded subsidized Cape Air flights in Montana, down 15 percent
Billings Gazette: Tribes get White House pitch for Gorsuch
Western American Indian tribes got the hard sell from the White House on Wednesday to back Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Representatives from Montana’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes met as delegates of the National Congress of American Indians with Trump staff and Western lawmakers to discuss Gorsuch. The Supreme Court nominee’s Senate hearing is set to begin Monday. Ryan Rusche and Rhonda Swaney were there for CSKT. Rusche didn’t return calls afterward, but CSKT spokesman Rob McDonald said the western Montana tribes decided in February to endorse Gorsuch. “Judge Gorsuch’s record demonstrates respect for Tribal sovereignty and understanding of the
Washington Times: Lawmakers say tribal support will help Grouch nomination
Republican lawmakers from western states said Thursday that Judge Neil Gorsuch’s record of supporting the sovereignty of tribal nations could play a big role in winning Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court. Emerging from a meeting at the White House with tribal leaders, Sens. Steve Daines of Montana and Cory Gardner of Colorado, and Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, praised Judge Gorsuch as a nominee who understands the importance of Indian-country issues. Mr. Gardner said the judge’s record in Native American cases while serving on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver will have an impact with “not only within Indian
Daines: Coats Confirmed for DNI
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, former U.S. Senator Dan Coats. “The threats facing our nation are great and I know Dan Coats will continue to prioritize the safety and security of our nation as Director of National Intelligence,” Daines stated. On February 2, Daines met with Coats in his Washington, D.C. office. During the meeting, Daines hand delivered a letter to Coats inviting him to Montana to deliver a keynote address at the Montana High Tech Jobs