Tag: Sportsmen

Daines Helps Move Forward Key Legislation to Reauthorize LWCF, Expand Access to Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today helped move forward critical bipartisan solutions to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and protect and preserve Montana’s outdoors heritage. The Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this morning on a large bipartisan vote. This bill promotes and protects access to Montana’s public lands and increases recreational opportunities for hunters and anglers. Additionally, the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 would shine a light on how the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) payments are empowering obstructionists who frequently litigate forest management projects in Montana and the

Tester, Daines urge Senate to permanently reauthorize and fully fund LWCF

Senators: LWCF is “one of the country’s best conservation programs” (U.S. Senate) – Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are urging Senate leaders to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to protect more of Montana’s best outdoor places. LWCF, which expired October 1, funds conservation projects in all 50 states using offshore oil and gas receipts. Tester and Daines, in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), called LWCF “one of the country’s best conservation programs,” pointing out that the fund has supported over 41,000 state and

Daines Helps Introduce Bipartisan Public Lands Bill

Legislation Would Reauthorize The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce legislation reauthorizing the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA).  Before it expired in 2011, FLTFA allowed the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service in the western United States to use the proceeds from sales of certain federally designated areas to protect lands of exceptional conservation value. “As an avid hunter and fisherman, I know the importance of having the tools necessary to protect and

Daines Works to Expand Access to Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today sought to improve and expand access to public lands in Montana and throughout the country for sportsmen, outfitters and guides.  During an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the reauthorization of the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), Daines sought answers on how to streamline and improve access by cutting down red tape on public access to public lands. Additionally, Daines emphasized his work to end fire borrowing and reform federal forest management in light of one of the worst fire seasons for Montana and other western states in recent memory. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download

Daines, Alexander Introduce Legislation to Halt Over-Regulation of Legal Ivory

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today introduced legislation to halt the Obama administration’s over-regulation of lawfully owned ivory found in antique firearms, musical instruments and other family heirlooms and antiques often sought by collectors. The African Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act of 2015 ends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s unilateral moratorium on the importation, exportation, and sale of lawfully possessed ivory, while also making significant efforts to assist anti-poaching efforts in countries with elephant populations. “It’s senseless that the Obama administration wants to retroactively penalize Montanans who have legally owned ivory-containing antique firearms, musical

Montana’s Senators Work to Improve Access to Montana’s Outdoors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In honor of the upcoming National Trails Day, Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are working to improve maintenance of Montana’s National Forest trails. Daines and Tester have signed onto S.1110, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2015, which would ensure existing Forest Service resources are better used to maintain National Forest trails. It would also significantly increase the role of volunteers and local partners in maintaining the usability and sustainability of the National Forest trail system. “Montana has a rich outdoor heritage that is critical to our state’s economy and our way of

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Jim Weber of Helena

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today recognized Jim Weber, a welding and machining teacher at Capital High School in Helena, Montana. Under Mr. Weber’s leadership his class recently made 15 machined fly rods to donate to the Big Hearts Under the Big Sky program. Big Hearts Under the Big Sky allows service members, children with life-threatening illnesses and women battling breast cancer, opportunities to enjoy the outdoors at no cost. 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

Helena Independent Record: Capital High seniors build custom fly rods for charity

Glancing back over his shoulder at 15 gleaming fly rods, Capital High senior Kreston Stevens told the crowd assembled in the machining shop Tuesday evening that he and the five other rod builders had learned more than just job skills. “We’ve been part of some really great, amazing projects, but by far this project has outdone anything we’ve ever done both in complexity and meaning,” he said. The fly rods built by the Capital High machining program will go to Big Hearts Under the Big Sky, a charity dedicated to taking veterans, children with life threatening illnesses and women recovering

Daines Calls for Local Support in Monument Designations, Refutes Democrat Leader Reid’s Remarks

“Protecting the voice of the people should not offend members of this body— it should be our abiding commitment – it should be our priority.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Daines today took to the Senate floor to reaffirm the need for local support in monument designations, refuting Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s recent misleading remarks on Daines’ efforts. Earlier this morning, Minority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to a Daines amendment that would work to ensure local and state support for all future  National Monument designations. “The Senator from Nevada is saying that Washington, D.C. should

Daines Outlines Priorities for American Prosperity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today delivered his maiden speech on the Senate floor and outlined his priorities as Montana’s new United States Senator. During his speech, Daines discussed the need for state-based solutions to restore economic growth that keeps America safe and secure. Key excerpts from Daines’ speech are below: We are blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth. And it is the solemn responsibility of the United States Senate to do everything in its power to keep it that way.  Washington is more concerned with its own self-interest and self-gain than the well being of the