Facebook-f Youtube

Tag: Tribes

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

May 9, 2016

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

April 27, 2016

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

April 26, 2016

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

March 24, 2016

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

Daines Works to Improve Federal Cooperation with Indian Country

March 9, 2016

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today fought to improve Montana’s tribes’ sovereignty, pressing the Obama administration to work more collaboratively and efficiently with Montana’s tribes relating to health care and management of tribal forests.  During two different Senate Committee hearings today, Daines called on witnesses to improve stewardship of federal funds while working to alleviate some of the challenges associated with wildfires in Indian Country. U.S. Indian Health Service Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request: Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks.  During this morning’s Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing on the Indian Health

Daines Slams Interior Secretary for Failing to Listen to States and Tribes in Moratorium on Coal Leasing

March 2, 2016

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today took the Obama administration to task for failing to properly take into account states’ and tribes’ voices in placing a misguided moratorium on coal leasing.  During this morning’s Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing on the Department of Interior’s (DOI) Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, Daines pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to better incorporate Montanans voices in unilateral bureaucratic decisions that have the potential to severely cripple Montana’s coal industry.  “Several tribal members and others who rely on coal jobs to provide for their families expressed strong concern regarding potential administration actions during a

Daines Marks Beginning of National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week

February 8, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today marked the beginning of “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week” by recognizing the critical role these institutions hold in providing access to high-quality postsecondary educational opportunities for Montana tribal members.  Montana is home to seven Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Daines is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week” resolution that unanimously passed the Senate last week. On Wednesday, Daines will be meeting with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) to discuss issues pertinent to the success of American Indian education.  “I’m pleased to see the Senate recognize the importance

Daines: Systemic Failures at Indian Health Service are Unacceptable

February 3, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today pushed Indian Health Service (IHS) officials on the agency’s persistent shortcomings in providing quality reliable access to health care services for tribal members across the nation and called on IHS to urgently implement much-needed reforms to address the deficiencies plaguing the agency.  During a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on the substandard quality of Indian health care in the Great Plains, Daines condemned the systemic failures at IHS that have led to inadequate care for tribal members across Montana. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. “Problems like this have been happening for

Daines Announces over $700,000 in Funding for Tribal Transportation

December 9, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced more than $700,000 in funding for tribal public transit services for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Crow Tribe. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides approximately $5 million competitive grant funding through the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program) for FY14/15 to support planning, capital, and, in limited circumstances, operating assistance for tribal public transit services.  Three Montana tribes were selected for these competitive grants, totaling:  $300,000 for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes  $220,000 for the Fort Belknap Indian Community  $193,731 for

Daines Works to Provide Tax Relief for Montana Farmers, Small Businesses, Families and Tribes

December 1, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On “Tax Relief Tuesday,” Senator Steve Daines spoke out on the need to pass bipartisan, comprehensive solutions that permanently protect Montana families, famers and ranchers, small businesses and tribes from burdensome and uncertain tax hikes. Daines emphasized his continued commitment to working toward reforms that end Washington’s habit of passing last-minute extensions of critical tax provisions and instead provide the long-term certainty needed to generate new economic investment and innovation in Montana. “Our tax code is nearly five times as long as the Bible, but with none of the good news,” Daines stated. “Congress needs to provide hardworking small businesses,