Tag: Regulation

Daines, Zinke Introduce Legislation to Give States & Tribes Say in Energy Development

U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today introduced bicameral legislation to protect Montana coal jobs from the Obama administration’s recent moratorium on new federal coal leases and ensure that states and tribes have a significant voice in any changes to federal coal, oil, gas royalties or leasing policy. The Certainty for States and Tribes Act, S.2938 and H.R. 5259, provides critical flexibility needed to keep Montana mines open, protect thousands of good-paying jobs and provide needed support for government and community services.  “The Obama administration has completely ignored the will and well-being of Montanans and

Daines Calls on Interior Secretary Jewell to Visit Colstrip, Crow Reservation During Upcoming Travel to Montana

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today called on Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to tour Colstrip and the Crow Reservation during her upcoming travel to Montana. “Secretary Jewell needs to hear directly from the people impacted by Interior’s actions and come to communities like Colstrip and the Crow Reservation to see what it means for Montana families,” Daines stated. “We’ve already seen layoffs in coal communities across our state as a result of the Obama administration’s war on coal. I encourage Secretary Jewell to meet with folks in Colstrip and the Crow tribe to hear directly from them about the impact of

USDA Secretary: Biotech Foods are Safe

U.S. SENATE — Under Senator Steve Daines’ questioning, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today stated that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) pose no risk to food safety or threat to plant pest risk.     During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 funding request for the USDA, Daines pressed Vilsack to allow sound science to be preeminent in its rule-making process and to reject harmful regulations that are not backed by evidence. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. During the hearing, Daines specifically

Daines Calls on FCC to Clarify Broadband Definition

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today led five of his Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify their inconsistent and arbitrary definitions of broadband, which could detrimentally impact rural Montanans. The letter is also signed by Roger Wicker (MS), Roy Blunt (MO), Deb Fischer (NE), Ron Johnson (WI) and Cory Gardner (CO). The senators expressed their concerns that: The FCC’s arbitrary 25/3 Mbps benchmark speed does not reflect what most Americans consider broadband The use of this benchmark discourages providers from offering speeds at or above the benchmark The definition contradicts the broadband definition used in

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 to Welcome Jason Small, Boilermaker Leader & Northern Cheyenne Tribal Member, as Guest for State of the Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced that Jason Small, President of Boilermakers Local 11, small business owner and Northern Cheyenne tribal member, will serve as Daines’ guest of honor for the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. tomorrow night. “It’s my honor to welcome Jason Small as my guest for the upcoming State of the Union address,” Daines stated. “As President of Boilermakers Local 11 and an experienced labor advocate, Jason is a proven leader in standing up against the Obama administration’s devastating anti-coal, anti-energy agenda that threatens hardworking Montana families, union workers and tribal members.

Daines Slams FCC Rebuff of Montana Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines slammed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for failing to permanently protect Montana small businesses from burdensome regulations found in the FCC’s 317-page “net neutrality” rules. Earlier today, the FCC rebuffed Daines’ request to provide small Internet service providers with a permanent exemption from their new so-called “enhanced transparency requirements,” which requires Internet service providers to disclose an excess of information about their network performance.  The FCC offered a one-year extension of the exemption, which disregards numerous Congressional requests and the recommendation of the Obama administration’s Small Business Administration to provide a permanent exemption of the

Daines’ Bill to Protect Pilots Passes Senate Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today hailed the bipartisan passage of his measure to protect and expand protections for Montana pilots. Daines’ bill, S. 571 the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR 2) passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today on a large bipartisan vote. It increases protections for recreational and volunteer pilots by expanding the 3rd class medical exemption for recreational pilots and broadening the protections provided in the original Pilot’s Bill of Rights signed into law in 2012.  “I am proud to see the Committee rally around bipartisan legislation that prioritizes our robust aviation industry and

Daines to Lead Montana Energy 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines announced that he will be spearheading Montana Energy 2016 in Billings this upcoming spring. The summit, sponsored by Daines, the Montana Contractors’ Association, the Montana Coal Council, the Montana Petroleum Association, the Montana Chamber Foundation and KLJ, will take place in Billings, Montana on March 30 and 31, 2016.  “Montana holds a vital role in securing our nation’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and it’s vital that we work together to ensure our state remains an energy leader for years to come,” Daines stated. “Montana Energy 2016 will bring together key stakeholders to help increase innovation and move Montana’s energy opportunities to

Daines Applauds House Rebuke of President Obama’s Unaffordable Energy Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the House of Representative’s bipartisan vote to fully nullify President Obama’s anti-coal regulations that threaten more than 7,000 Montana jobs. “Today Congress sent a clear message to President Obama that the American people don’t want and can’t afford his job-killing, anti-energy agenda. The United States should be on the cutting edge of technological advances in energy development – not actively working against American entrepreneurs who can help our country power the world,” Daines stated. “While it would be no surprise to see President Obama once against reject the will of the American people, I urge