Daines’ Bipartisan Pipeline Safety Bill Passes Senate
U.S. SENATE — This evening, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Daines’ bipartisan legislation to help ensure the safety of America’s pipeline network. The Securing America’s Future Energy: Protecting Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (SAFE PIPES) Act, would reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) through 2019. The SAFE PIPES Act is also sponsored by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). “A safe, secure and efficient pipeline infrastructure is critical to our nation and essential to Montana – for energy security, jobs and environment protection,” Daines stated. “Today’s passage of
Daines Presses FDA Commissioner on Importance of Biotechnology to Food Supply
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines worked to ensure that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upholds its duty to ensure that the U.S. has a safe food supply and abstains from marketing or labeling mandates that it determines have no bearing on food safety. During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration FDA and Related Agencies hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 funding request for the Food and Drug Administration, Daines pressed FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf on allowing sound science and the free market to continue driving innovation and rejecting harmful regulations
Daines Hails Recovery of Yellowstone Grizzly Bear
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today hailed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) announcement concerning the recovery of the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear: “It’s great news that the Fish and Wildlife Service is taking the important step forward in working to delist the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear after their population has significantly rebounded. I hope this announcement helps clear the way for responsible management of the species and more responsible management of our natural resources, including our National Forests. I will continue to encourage the Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider the listing of the other populations of grizzly bears across
KGVO: Montana Senator Daines Questions FCC, Advocates For Rural Areas and Small Businesses
On March 2, all five FCC Commissioners testified before the Commerce Committee. During the hearing, Montana Senator Steve Daines asked the commissioners to ensure an equal distribution of Universal Service funds to help close the gap in broadband access between urban and rural areas. “I see the commission awarding money to entities and areas that already have access to fiber, consistently upgrading speed in urban areas while certainly for many of us who are looking and repressing rural areas, we are undeserved,” said Daines. “Can you really say that is an efficient use for Universal Service funds and should the
Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Feds recommend delisting Yellowstone grizzlies
Federal wildlife officials recommended lifting protections for the Yellowstone region grizzly bears Thursday, saying the species is recovered and no longer threatened. The long-awaited decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would remove the more than 700 Yellowstone-area grizzlies from the Endangered Species list and could pave the way for state-managed trophy hunting in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. USFWS director Dan Ashe called it a “proud moment” and said that it was the result of three decades of collaboration between state and federal agencies. “This is a triumph for partnership-driven conservation,” Ashe said. The proposal will be open for
Newsmax: Sen. Steve Daines: I’m Worried Obama Will Return Gitmo to Cuba
President Barack Obama could easily return the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay to Cuba when he visits the country later this month, Sen. Steve Daines told Newsmax TV on Thursday. “With this president, you remain worried on every front in terms of his executive overreach,” the Montana Republican told “Newsmax Prime” host J.D. Hayworth. “His abuse of power, his complete disregard of the Constitution and the Article II powers that are clearly, clearly laid out in our Constitution are something this president continues to violate. Obama will visit Cuba on March 21-22 as part of his efforts to normalize relations with Havana.
Daines Works to Connect Rural Montana
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today worked to increase broadband service and improve reliable connectivity for rural Montanans. During two Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearings this week, Daines emphasized the need for reliable broadband service throughout rural America and successfully moved forward bipartisan solutions and ensure that rural communities are not left behind. On Wednesday, all five Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioners testified before the Commerce Committee. During the hearing, Daines called on the commissioners to ensure an equitable distribution of Universal Service funds to help close the connectivity gap between urban and rural areas, including tribal communities.
KGVO:Senator Daines Visits Guantanamo Bay, Advocates Againsts Transferring Prisoners
On February 29th, Senator Steve Daines went to Cuba to visit the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Upon Daines’ return, he took to the Senate floor to state the importance of maintaining the detention center and not bringing detainees to American communities. “Guantanamo Bay was a humble reminder of the services our military provides overseas to get these terrorists off the battle field and ensure that they don’t end up in American’s backyards,” said Daines. “President Obama has signed multiple pieces of legislation into law the explicitly prohibit the transfer of enemy combatants.” During the speech, Daines highlighted the threat
The Hill: GOP pushes Interior head on agency rules
Republicans on a Senate appropriations panel challenged the head of the Interior Department Wednesday on a host of rules and energy assessments the agency is undertaking. During a hearing on the agency’s 2017 budget request, members were most concerned about regional issues, including regulations for offshore drilling in the Gulf and a pause in the federal coal leasing program. “The stakes are a lot higher today than they may have been in the past,” Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said, arguing the pause on new coal leases on federal land would hurt the economy in parts of his state, where coal