Tag: Regulations

Daines Introduces Legislation to Roll Back Red Tape for Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to protect Montana small businesses from burdensome regulations found in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 317-page “net neutrality” rules. The Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2015 would make permanent a temporary exemption from the FCC’s new so-called “enhanced transparency requirements,” which would require Internet service providers to disclose an excess of information about their network performance, some of which may require hiring an engineer. Daines’ bill makes the temporary exemption permanent so that small businesses don’t have to comply with unnecessary and burdensome regulations that would cost small businesses time and money.   “Burdensome

Daines Slams Senate Democrats’ Failure to Protect Americans from Obama Administration WOTUS Power Grab

Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats after all but four members of the Democrat caucus blocked legislation that would have directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “Today the Senate came just a few votes shy of passing legislation to protect our farmers, ranchers and small business owners from major new costs and regulatory burdens. I appreciate the bipartisan support demonstrated today by four key Senate Democrats and am disappointed that others chose instead to put President Obama’s agenda ahead of doing what’s right. Montanans know that this power

Daines Fights to Protect Montana Coal Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today went to bat for Montana coal jobs by formally introducing measures to block implementation of new rules on coal-fired power plants and calling the Obama administration’s myriad of anti-coal regulations a direct attack on Montana energy. This afternoon, Daines and 48 other Senators introduced two bipartisan resolutions disapproving of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan regulations on new and existing power sources.  The Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval will block the Obama administration’s regulations on new and existing coal-fired power plants. Daines joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues including, Majority

Daines Helps Introduce Bill to Rein in Regulatory Authority

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines has introduced legislation to rein in out of control executive agencies that interpret laws inappropriately to grant themselves more regulatory authority than Congress intended. The Regulatory Authority Clarification Act would allow Congress to provide additional clarification on what regulatory authority has or hasn’t been granted by passing concurrent resolutions.  “Montanans know far too well the cost of Washington’s top-down, unchecked ability to issue broad and burdensome regulations,” Daines stated. “This legislation is a good step towards reducing the costly red-tape that hinders the growth and stability of hardworking Montana businesses. It’s far past time

Daines Fights to Block Obama Administration’s Misguided Anti-Coal Regulations

HELENA, Mont. — Following publication of the Obama administration’s new anti-coal regulations in the Federal Register, Senator Steve Daines today announced several efforts to block President Obama’s anti-coal regulations and any future regulations on coal-fired plants.   Daines joined Montana Attorney General Tim Fox in Helena this morning to announce that Montana, along with 23 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to halt the Obama administration’s so-called Clean Power Plan. Daines also announced that he has signed onto two Senate measures to block the Obama administration’s job-killing regulations on new and existing coal-fired power plans.  “America can and

Daines: Nationwide WOTUS Stay is a Victory for States’ Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision to issue a nationwide stay on Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) misguided Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “The Sixth Circuit Court’s nationwide stay on the EPA’s misguided WOTUS rule is a victory for states’ rights, local governments, farmers, ranchers and landowners. This ruling pushes back on the extreme overreach of the Obama administration, which threatened Montana agriculture and natural resources, Montana jobs and Montanans’ property rights. While this is welcome news, it is not the end of the Obama administration’s egregious power grabs. I will continue

Daines Hails Passage of Legislation to Protect Small Businesses from Costly Obamacare Mandates

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines hailed the unanimous passage of bipartisan legislation to protect small businesses from costly and burdensome Obamacare mandates. H.R. 1624, the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act sponsored by Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY) would alter the definition of the state based small group markets under Obamacare. The Act allows states to change their definition of “small employers” from businesses with 50 or fewer employees to businesses with up to 100 employees.  “I am pleased that the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to ensure that our small businesses and mid-size businesses that provide health care coverage

Daines, Coons Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Open Science and Innovation in Government

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage and increase the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science within the federal government to advance and accelerate scientific research, literacy, and diplomacy. This is the first ever legislation to grant explicit authority to the government to use these methods. “In the private sector, I’ve seen firsthand how empowering Americans to innovate can yield cost savings, greater efficiencies and better results,” Daines stated. “The federal government should encourage the same by enlisting tools like crowdsourcing and citizen science in many of its projects. The best solutions to the challenges

Daines Statement on Double-Digit Obamacare Rate Increases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the double-digit Obamacare rate increases for approximately 41,000 Montanans:  “Despite President Obama’s promises, health care premiums are not as affordable for many Americans as he claimed they would be. These steep premium increases make it harder to have access to affordable healthcare and create severe hardships for thousands of Montanans. It’s money that’s no longer in the pockets of Montanans. We need to ensure health care is affordable and accessible for all Montanans, and that starts with repealing Obamacare and its costly mandates, burdensome taxes and senseless regulations.” The average rate

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