Billings Gazette: Montana senators reintroduce East Rosebud Creek protection bill
Montana’s two U.S. senators again introduced legislation that would protect East Rosebud Creek in the Beartooth Mountains. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, and Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, on Thursday reintroduced bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill S. 501, to permanently protect East Rosebud Creek under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, said spokesmen for the senators. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Leslie Ziegler, president of Friends of East Rosebud, said the organization “greatly appreciates” the senators’ bipartisan work to protect the creek. “This area is a special place where many Montanans have
Hirono, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Expiration of Asia-Pacific Expedited Travel Program
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the bipartisan APEC Business Travel Card Reauthorization Act to make permanent the APEC Business Travel Card Program, which grants U.S. citizens access to fast-track processing lanes at airports across the Asia-Pacific. Without reauthorization, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cannot issue cards to U.S. citizens after September 30, 2018. Over 200 Hawaii residents are active holders of the APEC Business Travel Card which saves 43 minutes on average in airport wait times. “The APEC Business Travel Card has helped hundreds of Hawaii residents travel and conduct business with ease
Great Falls Tribune: Trump budget isn’t great for agencies with big Montana footprint
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
Zinke Heeds Daines’ Call: Reverses Obama Directive Restricting Hunting and Fishing
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the first actions taken by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to return power back to the people. “I’m pretty certain the bureaucrat that put this regulation in place has never hunted elk in Montana,” Daines stated. “Secretary Zinke is off to a strong start protecting Montana’s and our country’s hunting and fishing heritage.” “Secretary Zinke’s first actions in office also help unlock access to our nation’s public lands. In Montana we know that nearly 2 million acres of our public lands are inaccessible and I am hopeful this action will
The Hill: Interior secretary repeals ban on lead bullets
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed an order Thursday overturning a ban on using lead ammunition on wildlife refuges. Zinke signed the order on his first day in office, overturning a policy implemented by former Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe on Jan. 19, the Obama administration’s last full day in office. Ashe’s policy banned the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on all FWS wildlife refuges that allow hunting or fishing, as well as in all other hunting or fishing regulated by the agency elsewhere. It was meant to help prevent plants and animals from being poisoned by lead left on
Daines: Perry Confirmed as Energy Secretary
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 Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, former Texas Governor Rick Perry. “Secretary Perry will work to make our nation energy secure and I’m excited to partner with him to restore the balance between fossil fuel and renewable energy investments to create more good-paying jobs,” Daines stated. Immediately following Perry’s confirmation, Daines wrote to Perry: “Mr. Perry, I cannot think of a more important place to witness firsthand the need for investments in clean coal technology and grid security
Daines: Carson Confirmed as HUD Secretary
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. voted to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Dr. Ben Carson. “Secretary Carson knows what it is like to grow up in poverty and will use that experience along with his deep devotion to the country to best serve Americans,” Daines stated. “It is only fitting that his career marked by consistent compassion would lead him to this position.” Carson was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development on January 24,
Tester and Daines Reintroduce Bill to Preserve East Rosebud Creek
(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to permanently preserve the East Rosebud Creek in south central Montana. Tester and Daines are introducing the legislation at the request of local Montana residents. Their bill will designate 20 miles of East Rosebud Creek as wild and scenic under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which will preserve the free-flowing condition of the creek located south of Roscoe, Montana. “East Rosebud Creek is one of Montana’s most hidden treasures with world-class fisheries and breathtaking views,” Tester said. “This is another made-in-Montana solution that was built through
Daines, Tester Introduce Two Bills to Complete Montana Hydro Projects
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced legislation to ensure the completion of two hydroelectric facilities in Montana. The bills will provide for the reinstatement and three-year extension of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for Clark Canyon Dam Hydro Project in Dillon, Montana and a six-year extension of the FERC license for the Gibson Dam Hydro Project near Augusta, Montana. “The Gibson Dam and Clark Canyon Dam are critical for tax revenue and jobs in Montana communities,” Daines stated. “These bills will help create more Montana made energy projects that provide a reliable source of energy and will create good-paying