Tag: Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Daines, Feinstein Secure Hearing for Bipartisan Forest Management Bill, Urge Quick Passage

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Dianne Feinstein today announced that their bipartisan forest management reform bill has been given a hearing date in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee next week. This announcement follows Daines’ and Feinstein’s direct request to the committee for a hearing. Daines serves as Montana’s voice on the Committee. “As deadly wildfires continue to spread across Montana and the West, it is important now more than ever that we advance this bipartisan forest management reform bill,” Daines said. “This hearing will demonstrate how our legislation will help protect at-risk communities, create jobs and

Daines Calls for Hearing on Bipartisan Forest Management Reform Bill

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee calling for a hearing as soon as possible on his bipartisan forest management reform legislation. This comes on the heels of a meeting in Kalispell where stakeholders voiced their strong support for seeing this bill signed into law. “Our states are currently experiencing severe wildfires, which have only been exacerbated by the challenges of fighting these natural disasters during COVID-19,” Daines wrote. “Given that the National Wildfire Preparedness Level has increased to Level 4, and California and Montana are in the midst

Daines’ Montana Water Bills Move to Senate Floor for a Vote

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured passage of two critical bills with direct impacts to Montana communities, the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act and a bill (S.1882) to allow Sidney Water Users Irrigation District and Kinsey Irrigation Company to continue receiving Pick-Sloan power out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. As a member of the Committee, Daines was instrumental in moving them through the legislative process.   To download the full video, click HERE. “Clean, reliable drinking water is one of the most basic needs of life yet many of our rural communities

Daines Leads U.S. Senate Field Hearing on National Parks at Grant-Kohrs

DEER LODGE, Mont. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today brought together members of the community and leaders from the National Park Service for an official U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources field hearing at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Serving as the Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, Daines held the hearing to examine opportunities of expanding visitation at lesser-known National Park System Units.   Daines said, “We know that over 5.5 million people visited national parks in Montana last year. Those guests spent approximately $633 million in local gateway regions supporting over 9,500 jobs and generating over $880 million

Daines, Feinstein Developing Major, Bipartisan Forestry Legislation

U.S. SENATE— U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following joint statement on bipartisan legislation they are developing to protect public safety by expediting and expanding the removal of dead, dying and hazardous trees in national forests: “The 2017 and 2018 fire seasons brought unspeakable loss and grief to California and Montana communities. Unfortunately, millions of acres of forests in our states and across the West remain at high risk of catastrophic wildfires, and there is strong consensus that fire seasons will only get worse. We believe additional resources are urgently needed to protect our communities

Daines Pushes for B-47 Ridge Naming in Honor of Fallen Servicemen

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged lawmakers for swift passage of the B-47 Ridge Designation Act in a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. Daines introduced the bipartisan bill that names the ridge after four servicemen who lost their lives in February.   Click HERE to download video “That is why I introduced the bipartisan B-47 Ridge Designation Act to tell the story of these brave men and to make sure the sacrifice is not forgotten,” Daines said. “So their families, friends and visitors to this ridge will see what happened that day. After over half a

Daines Celebrates Bernhardt’s Confirmation as Victory for Montana and the West

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to confirm David Bernhardt as the 53rd U.S. Secretary of the Department of the Interior. “David Bernhardt understands the importance of protecting access to our public lands, our commitment to tribal nations, and responsible energy development,” Daines said. “As a fellow westerner, I have complete confidence in David’s ability to lead the Department of the Interior and was glad to cast my vote for him this afternoon along with a bipartisan majority on the floor of the United States Senate. I look forward to continuing to work together to advance Montana priorities.”

Daines Fights for Mandatory Funding of LWCF

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). “The historic bipartisan lands package which permanently maintained our commitment to LWCF was a big win for Montana, but now we must come together again to ensure the program is fully funded,” Daines said. “Expanding access to public lands and preserving the rich outdoor heritage of Montana is one of my highest priorities in the U.S. Senate. I will not stop fighting until we get full funding of LWCF.” Daines is a member of the U.S. Senate

Daines: Bernhardt Good for Montana to Lead DOI

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to advance Department of the Interior (DOI) Acting Secretary David Bernhardt to being one step closer to leading the Department of the Interior. “Bernhardt has a proven record of excellence on issues important to Montana such as his work to implement the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act and his firm commitment to the Land and Water Conservation Program,” Daines said. “I have full confidence that together we will continue to work on important Montana priorities including increasing access to public lands and fixing the maintenance backlog at our national parks.” In a hearing last week, Daines pressed Bernhardt on his

Daines: We Need to Finalize Cleanup at Montana Superfund Sites, Protect Communities from Asbestos

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today pressed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler at a U.S. Senate Hearing on the need to finalize restoration and cleanup at Montana’s Butte-Silver Bow and Anaconda Smelter Co. Superfund Sites. Daines specifically stressed the need for a natural stream in Butte and for a firm commitment from Wheeler that the Anaconda site will be secure into perpetuity. Download video HERE At the hearing, Daines also pressed Wheeler on the status of EPA’s current risk evaluation of asbestos. “My communities in Montana are eager for progress… we’ve known for a while the dangers