Tag: Farmers

Daines to Lighthizer: Montana Farmers and Ranchers Need Access to New Markets

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing urged United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to advance and finalize trade agreements with Japan and China to put Montana farmers and ranchers on a level playing field in the global stage.   Click HERE to download “We’re now behind in Japan, because our other allies have signed agreements…and they are going to receive the benefits of the tariff reductions. My malt barley folks were in talking to me yesterday, and they literally showed me the contracts they’ve lost in Japan,” Daines said. Yesterday, Daines met with Montana barley

Daines Fights for Certainty for Montana Ranchers

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act to provide Montana ranchers with certainty in delaying the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate and reforming Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. “Montana’s ranchers and livestock haulers drive Montana’s economy,” Daines said. “We must find a solution that keeps our roads safe and allows Montana’s agricultural commodities to get to market humanely and on time. I’ll continue pushing to provide our ranchers and livestock haulers with certainty and remove undue burdens from their businesses.” The legislation indefinitely delays the ELD mandate for ag haulers and requires the Department

Daines Makes Important Gains for Montana Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured key provisions for Montana farmers and ranchers.  “As a steadfast champion of our state’s number one industry, I work everyday to ensure that our farmers and ranchers are being heard and well represented,” Daines stated. “I was able to secure important provisions to sustain funding for initiatives to help farmers and ranchers with loans, help stop diseases that are encroaching our forests and expand employment opportunities for veterans in agriculture.”  “The Montana Grain Growers Association thanks Sen. Daines’ for protecting the ARS Insect Research Unit in Sidney and for his efforts to secure increased funding for the

Daines Defends Montana Farmers, Ranchers and Land Owners

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today worked to defend Montana farmers, ranchers and land owners from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Senate Democrats once again blocked efforts to stop President Obama’s WOTUS rule that is a direct threat to Montana’s agriculture and natural resources industries, jobs and water rights. “It is shameful that once again Senate Democrats would rather defend President Obama’s overreaching policies than stand up for hardworking farmers, ranchers and land owners,” Daines stated. “Montanans who live and work on the land every day know how to best manage our state’s resources

Daines Applauds Permit Extension of Lower Yellowstone Intake Irrigation Project

U.S. SENATE — Following a request from Senator Steve Daines, the Army Corps of Engineers today announced their plans to extend the permit for the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project. “The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project is critical to irrigate over 50,000 acres of cropland as planting season gets underway,” Daines stated. “Our hardworking farmers and ranchers don’t deserve any undue economic burdens. It’s great to see the government prioritize this essential source of water for our farmers, ranchers and communities throughout northeastern Montana.” In September, Daines led the Montana and North Dakota Congressional delegations in urging the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation to

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Gordon Stoner of Outlook

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today recognized Gordon Stoner, a wheat grower from Outlook on his newly elected position serving as the President of the National Association of Wheat Growers. 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 by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: http://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve

Daines Statement on Vote to Override President Obama’s WOTUS Veto

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to override President Obama’s veto of legislation to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) egregious overreach through newly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:  “Senate Democrats and President Obama have made clear they don’t care about the harmful effects that this overreaching rule will have on our hardworking farmers and ranchers. The EPA’s greatly expanded powers through this new WOTUS rule is a clear effort by the Obama administration to gain control over Montanans’ livelihoods and private property rights. I will continue

Daines Applauds House Action to Stop Obama’s WOTUS Power Grab

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the House of Representatives’ passage of bipartisan legislation nullifying the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.  The House today joined the Senate in passing S.J.Res.22, a joint resolution Daines helped introduced to disapprove of the EPA’s new, overreaching WOTUS rules. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk.  “I’m pleased to see the House join the Senate in passing bipartisan legislation to stop yet another Obama administration power grab that harms our farmers, ranchers and landowners,” Daines stated. “The EPA’s latest overreach is a direct threat to Montanans’ way of

Daines: President Obama Cemented His Failed Legacy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines tonight called out President Obama for his empty rhetoric, noting the President’s final State of the Union address was just “politics as usual.” Daines’ full statement is as follows:  “Rather than fighting for solutions that strengthen our economy, tonight President Obama cemented his failed legacy.   “Rather than presenting concrete solutions that bolster our national security, President Obama chose to lead from behind. “Rather than supporting hardworking farmers and ranchers, President Obama doubled down on his administration’s bureaucratic land grabs that infringe on Montanans’ livelihoods. “Rather than using the largest national stage to fight

Daines Applauds Passage of Multi-Year Highway Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the passage of a multi-year highway bill that provides Montanans much-needed certainty in infrastructure investments:  “The long-overdue passage of a multi-year highway bill is great news for Montana and a critical step forward in providing our state with the certainty needed to make long-term infrastructure investments,” Daines stated. “Our transportation infrastructure is a critical component of our state’s economy and given Montana’s short construction season, it’s imperative that communities and contractors alike have the certainty needed to move forward with badly-needed infrastructure improvement projects.  This bill ends Congress’s irresponsible trend of short-term Band-Aids and temporary extensions