U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to improve the health of both Indian and federal forest land recently passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
This action follows a June 8, 2016 legislative hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
“The status quo on federal lands is unacceptable and costing Montanans good paying jobs,” Daines stated. “We must pursue every tool available to make our forested lands healthier and get more Montana logs to our mills.”
Click here to watch Daines’ remarks.
Click here to download Daines’ remarks.
Daines’ bill, the Tribal Forestry Participation and Protection Act keeps both Indian forest land and federal forest land healthy by fostering greater cooperation between tribes and the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior. This legislation will empower Montana tribes and federal agencies with a new tool to expedite critical restoration projects on certain federal lands, thereby increasing active management and improving forest health.
Daines’ bill is supported by the Blackfeet Tribe, the Crow Tribe, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Montana Wood Products Association, the Intertribal Timber Council, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Boone and Crockett Club.
Just yesterday, Weyerhaeuser announced it is closing two mills in Columbia Falls.
Later today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will be holding a legislative hearing on forest management reform legislation where Daines will press on the need to get more logs to Montana’s mills.
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