U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his committee assignments for the 116th U.S. Congress. Senate Republican leadership has asked Daines to serve on the U.S. Senate Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), and Indian Affairs Committees.
“It is an honor to represent the people of Montana in the United States Senate and I will continue working on their behalf in the new Congress,” Daines stated. “I will continue fighting for balanced budgets, responsible government spending, less taxes, active management of our public lands and resources, and upholding our responsibility to Montana’s tribes. I look forward to working on these four committees to put forward real solutions that help Montana families.”
Daines is the first Senator to serve on both Finance and Appropriations simultaneously since 1944.
Daines previously served on the Energy and Natural Resources, Appropriations, and Indian Affairs Committees in the 115th Congress. He will join the Finance Committee for the first time in 2019.
All of Daines’ committee assignments include jurisdiction over areas that have a major impact on Montanans, including management of public lands and resources, oversight of national parks, government spending and the federal debt, as well as federal relations with Indian tribes.
More background on Daines’ committee assignments is below:
U.S. Senate Committee on Finance: The committee has jurisdiction over matters related to taxation and revenue collection, bonding, and federal debt instruments. It also has significant oversight of health programs under the Social Security Act including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund. For more information click HERE.
U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: The Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. Appropriations are generally limited to the levels set by a Budget Resolution drafted by the Senate Budget Committee. For more information click HERE.
U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: The Committee has jurisdiction over energy resources and development, including regulation, conservation, strategic petroleum reserves and appliance standards; nuclear energy; public lands and their renewable resources; surface mining, Federal coal, oil, and gas, other mineral leasing; territories and insular possessions; and water resources. For more information click HERE.
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs: The Committee has jurisdiction to study the unique problems of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples and to propose legislation to alleviate these difficulties. These issues include, but are not limited to, Indian education, economic development, land management, trust responsibilities, health care, and claims against the United States. Additionally, all legislation proposed by Members of the Senate that specifically pertains to American Indians, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives is under the jurisdiction of the Committee. For more information click HERE.
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