Tag: Tribes

Daines Touts Bipartisan Fort Belknap Water Rights Settlement as a Win-Win-Win for Montana at Senate Hearing

Highlights importance of finalizing last Indian water rights settlement, benefits to Tribe, State  U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing highlighted the importance of finalizing Montana’s last Indian water rights settlement with his bipartisan “Fort Belknap Water Rights Settlement Act.” Watch HERE. Daines: Today is historic, it really is. I sometimes wondered if we’d ever get to this point, to have this kind of hearing. When I was first elected to the House 2012 over a decade ago, this is one of the first issues I heard about. I heard about it from the Tribe. I heard about it from the county commissioners, Phillips County, Blaine County.

Daines Slams Biden Administration for Anti-Energy Regulations Devastating American Economy

Recent rules will rob the Navajo Nation of hundreds of millions of dollars, force Colstrip to shutdown To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered the following remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference slamming the Biden administration for continued attacks on made-in-America energy production. Earlier this month, President Biden’s Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland quietly issued a mineral withdrawal and prohibition of oil and gas development affecting Navajo tribal members. Daines also called attention to the recent rule from President Biden’s EPA that would shut down coal powered plants like Colstrip costing Montana hundreds of good-paying jobs and raising prices for families. 

What They Are Saying: Montana Leaders Praise Montana Water Rights Protection Act Being Signed into Law

U.S. SENATE – On Sunday, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester celebrated their bipartisan bill, the “Montana Water Rights Protection Act,” being signed into law by President Trump. The bill permanently settles the century long CSKT water dispute, supports Montana jobs, saves taxpayer dollars, modernizes rural infrastructure and protects the water rights of all Montanans. Several Montana leaders issued statements in support following the President’s signing of this critical legislation.  “After years of effort, our bipartisan bill that settles the century long CSKT water dispute is now law. This is a huge win for all Montanans. Our bill protects

Daines, Tester Bipartisan Bill Settling Century Long Montana Water Dispute Signed Into Law

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today celebrated their bipartisan bill, the “Montana Water Rights Protection Act,” being signed into law by President Trump. The bill permanently settles the century long CSKT water dispute, supports Montana jobs, modernizes rural infrastructure and protects the water rights of all Montanans. “After years of a lot of effort, our bipartisan bill that settles the century long CSKT water dispute is now law,” Daines said. “This is a huge win for all Montanans. Our bill protects the water rights of all Montanans, saves taxpayer dollars, creates jobs, modernizes rural infrastructure, protects Montana

Daines Moves Forward Investments in Montana Infrastructure

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured important investments in Montana air, rail and surface transportation. The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan FY2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act to fund the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and related agencies in fiscal year 2017.  “Infrastructure is an important part of our everyday lives, from our roads to the skies to our railways,” Daines stated. “I’m proud to secure investments to increase safety and create more good-paying jobs.” Daines’ moved forward the following provisions to

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 Slams Unprecedented U.S. Army Corps Decision on Gateway Pacific Terminal

U.S. SENATE— U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) released their unprecedented de minimis determination halting the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) infrastructure project based on the Lummi Tribe’s assertion that the project will impact their usual and accustomed fishing rights.  This is the first time ACE has given a single tribe veto-authority of a project of this scale under their purview without a full environmental review with alternatives and mitigations formally explored.  “Today the U.S. Army Corps chose one tribe’s treaty rights over another harming good-paying union and tribal jobs,” Daines stated. “The Gateway Pacific

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

Daines Announces over $1 Million in Funding for Tribal Transportation Safety Projects

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana tribes will receive more than $1 million in funding for tribal transportation safety projects.  “These grants will provide Montana tribes with critical resources to improve transportation safety in their communities,” Daines states. “I look forward to seeing the tribes utilize these grants to improve highway safety for tribal members. Congratulations to these tribes on their success in this competitive grant process.”  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided approximately $450 million for the Tribal Transportation Program, with two percent (approximately $9 million) available through a competitive, discretionary program to address safety issues.   Montana

Daines Blasts Obama Administration for Excluding Montanans’ Voices in Moratorium on Coal Leasing

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today slammed the Obama administration for excluding Montanans during the proposed review of their moratorium on coal leasing.  “It’s unconscionable that the Obama administration refuses to sit down with hardworking Montanans—including union and tribal members who will be most impacted by these decisions,” Daines stated. “Yet again, the Obama administration would rather raise costs for those who can afford it the least instead of prioritizing a dependable, reliable source of energy. This is a war on good-paying Montana jobs and made-in-Montana energy.”  According to an announcement from the Department of Interior (DOI), public meetings are currently planned to be held