Daines Applauds Senate Passage of Federal Grain Inspection Reforms
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today applauded the Senate passage of the United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, which contains key reforms secured by Daines to ensure Montana farmers are protected from disruptions in federally mandated grain inspections, like what occurred last summer at the Port of Vancouver. Daines’ provisions maintain continuous required grain inspection for farmers, ranchers and producers. The legislation was passed by the Senate today without opposition. The House is expected to take up the legislation in coming days. “Today’s passage of the U.S. Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act is good news for Montana
Daines Leads Montana, North Dakota Congressional Delegations in Urging Army Corps of Engineers to Prioritize the Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today led the Montana and North Dakota congressional delegations in urging the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to prioritize concerns at the Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam. In a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy and BOR Commissioner Estevan Lopez, the bipartisan delegations emphasized the economic benefit that the dam provides to both Montana and North Dakota. On September 8, a federal judge blocked construction of the planned dam along the Yellowstone River near the Montana-North Dakota border due to environmental concerns. “We urge ACE and BOR to address the
Daines Investigates Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Reauthorization at Montana Field Hearing
BILLINGS, Mont. — Senator Steve Daines today held a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation field hearing in Billings, Montana to discuss the upcoming reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The hearing examined current issues and challenges relating to the inspection and safe management of the nation’s pipeline network, as well as the importance of safely transporting our natural resources through pipelines, highways and rail lines. Daines and witnesses also examined the upcoming reauthorization of PHMSA and its efficacy in overseeing and enforcing federal regulations in light of recent pipeline ruptures in eastern Montana. “I’m thankful that we were
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Principal Jacob Francom of Troy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines honored Jacob Francom as the Montanan of the Week today at Daines’ office in Washington, D.C. Jacob Francom was recently named 2015 Montana Principal of the Year. Click here to download a high-resolution photo of Daines and Francom. 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’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program
Daines, Zinke Work to Protect Montana Sawmills
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today worked to provide much needed certainty for Montana sawmills, which are facing the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) on October 12, 2015. In a letter to US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, Daines and Zinke highlighted the economic benefits that sawmills provide Montana and called on Tidwell to provide mills with needed relief and flexibility as they face concerns surrounding the impact of foreign demand and exchange rates on the timber industry. “We are writing to request that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) provide appropriate relief and flexibility
Daines, 46 Additional Senators Introduce Resolution to Nullify Expanded WOTUS Definition
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines, along with 46 Senate cosponsors, today introduced a joint resolution disapproving the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which directly threatens Montana agriculture and energy production, Montanans’ property rights and Montana jobs. The resolution would nullify the EPA’s WOTUS rule, which greatly expands the scope of federal authority over land and waterways in the United States under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. “The EPA’s latest power grab is a direct threat to Montanans’ livelihoods and must be stopped,” Daines stated. “This ill-conceived rule provides the EPA
Daines, Zinke Stand With Montanans In Opposition to President Obama’s Iran Deal
Daines, Zinke Stand With Montanans In Opposition to President Obama’s Iran Deal WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today stood with Montanans in opposition to President Obama’s bad deal with Iran. A recent poll showed that 60 percent of Montanans are opposed to President Obama’s deal with Iran. Click here to watch Daines’ and Zinke’s remarks. Click here to download Daines’ and Zinke’s remarks. “Ryan Zinke and I stand opposed to President Obama’s Iran deal,” Daines stated. “This deal provides billions of dollars to the world’s leading state sponsor of terror. This deal paves the way for a nuclear Iran – that’s why Ryan and I
Daines Works to Expand Access to Public Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today sought to improve and expand access to public lands in Montana and throughout the country for sportsmen, outfitters and guides. During an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the reauthorization of the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), Daines sought answers on how to streamline and improve access by cutting down red tape on public access to public lands. Additionally, Daines emphasized his work to end fire borrowing and reform federal forest management in light of one of the worst fire seasons for Montana and other western states in recent memory. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download
Daines: We need to be Proactive in Preventing Future Cyber Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to underscore the gaping holes in the cybersecurity of the United States, while also reflecting on his first biannual Montana High Tech Jobs Summit, which took place in Bozeman earlier this week. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor: “Mr. President, this generation is at the forefront of technological advances. In fact it’s making the United States and this generation that lives here one of the best networked in history – not only here, but around the world. “The need