Tag: Energy / Natural Resources

Daines Talks Importance of Made in MT, America Energy in 2 Senate Hearings as Europe Faces Energy Crisis

U.S. SENATE — Today in two different U.S. Senate Committee hearings today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines raised the importance of supporting Made in Montana and Made in America energy to avoid the kinds of energy shortages currently hitting Europe and ensuring Montanans have reliable access to affordable energy. Daines’ questioning and comments come as the Biden administration continues its war on American made energy, including not holding any new oil and gas lease sales and proposing a $3.5 trillion reckless tax and spending spree filled with Green New Deal priorities. Questions to Treasury Secretary Yellen and Federal Reserve Chair Powell: First,

Daines Secures, Advances Critical Montana Wins Including Funding for St. Mary’s Water Project, Forest Management Reforms to Prevent Deadly Wildfires, Pay Raises for Firefighters

U.S. SENATE —After securing the inclusion of major wins for Montana including and funding for the St. Mary’s Milk River Project, bipartisan forest management provisions to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and provide pay raises to wildland firefighters, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to support a bipartisan proposal out of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “After years of work, I’m glad to finally see funding advanced for the St. Mary’s Milk River water project,” Daines said. “ This funding will help repair critical water infrastructure for Montana’s Hi-Line communities and will ensure farmers, landowners and Tribes have access

Daines to Biden Admin: Don’t Re-write Navigable Waters Protection Rule, Support Montana Farmers, Ranchers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the Biden administration to support Montana farmers and ranchers by maintaining the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). In a letter to top officials at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Daines highlighted concerns with the 2015 Waters of the United States rule (WOTUS) and demanded that the Biden administration answer important questions surrounding the vague process of revisiting the NWPR.  “We write to you today greatly dismayed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to remand the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which finally provided certainty and

What They Are Saying: 13 Conservation Groups Endorse Daines’ Bipartisan Conservation Easement Bill

U.S. SENATE – Last week, 13 conservation groups from across the nation expressed their support for Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan “Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act.” Daines’ bill will stop abusive syndicated conservation easements, save taxpayers billions of dollars and promote conservation in the United States. The groups include: Land Trust Alliance, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, American Society of Appraisers, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Appraisal Institute, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, The Conservation Fund, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and The Trust for Public Land. To view the letter text,

Daines Calls for Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Support the St. Mary’s Milk River Project

U.S. SENATE — During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines stressed the importance of passing his bipartisan bill to support the St. Mary’s Milk River Project in north-central Montana. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “Clean and reliable water is fundamental to human life. The Montana delegation has worked for over a decade to adjust the cost-share for the St. Mary’s Milk River project so that much needed reconstruction can take place. Any rural water package must ensure that folks on the Hi-Line get the help they need,” Daines said.  “This water system is over one hundred years old and has

Daines Cosponsors Bill to Speed Critical Mineral Production

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines cosponsored a bill to streamline the permitting process for domestic critical mineral production. Daines’ bill will help create Montana jobs, boost the economy, protect our national security and ensure the United States is competitive against China.  “If we don’t increase domestic critical mineral production we will continue to be reliant on hostile, foreign nations,” Senator Daines said. “This bill ensures we don’t take a backseat to China and other countries who have terrible environmental standards and atrocious human rights violations. We can produce these minerals here in the U.S. and grow jobs, protect the environment and bolster

Daines, Rosendale, Wyoming & Idaho Delegations Urge DOI Secretary to Keep Commitment to Follow Science, Delist the Grizzly

U.S. CONGRESS — Montana’s U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale and the entire Wyoming and Idaho delegations today urged Secretary Deb Haaland to listen to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) study that states the grizzly bear has fully recovered in the Northern Continental Divide (NCDE) and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystems (GYE) proving that it is time to delist the species and requesting more information on the path forward. “The successful recovery of the NCDE and GYE grizzly bear epitomizes what the authors of the Endangered Species Act first envisioned. We are hopeful that future management of the bear will follow the science,

Daines, Feinstein Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Wildland Firefighters

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced a bipartisan bill, the “Wildland Firefighter Recognition Act,” to support wildland firefighters. The bipartisan bill would require the Office of Personnel Management to create a job series for wildland firefighters that would help with recruitment efforts and boost morale. “In recent years Montana’s wildland firefighters have faced more intense challenges,” Daines said. “This bill will strengthen our preparedness for future wildfires and ensure we are recruiting and retaining the folks who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect Montana families and communities.” “Federal wildland firefighters put their

Daines Announces Over $12 Million for Rural Montana Counties

U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $12,197,140 will be allocated to rural counties across Montana through the Secure Rural Schools program to support public schools, roads and specific county programs.  “Montanans are the best stewards of our forests and our resources, so I am glad to see our rural, forested counties receive these critical funds,” Daines said. “I’ll continue working to secure a long-term solution for this funding and to increase timber harvests in Montana to promote healthier landscapes and rural economies.” For full information on the grants, click HERE. To see the county-by-county breakdown of these grants, click HERE.

Daines Urges Biden to Listen to Montana Leaders, Stakeholders Before Enacting Ambiguous Land Grabbing Program

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today demanded clarification from President Biden on his vague Executive Order establishing a mandate to put restrictions on 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and urged him to include Montana stakeholders in future conversations. “Conservation remains a top priority for Western congressional members, and our constituents’ lives and livelihoods rely upon a healthy, actively-managed landscape. However, the 30 by 30 initiative displays a dangerous thoughtlessness and far too many of our questions have been left unanswered. It is also our understanding that key constituencies have yet to be engaged on this initiative. As