WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines’ fight to protect Montana from the Obama administration’s efforts to unilaterally designate new national monuments without local support today gained majority support on the Senate floor.
Under a vote of 50-47, a majority of U.S. Senators today support Daines’ amendment expressing the sense of Congress that that all future National Monument designations should be subject to consultation with local governance and the approval of the Governor and legislature of states in which designation would occur.
“I am encouraged that a majority of the Senate shares Montanans’ strong belief that the hardworking Americans most affected by land management decisions deserve to be at the table and have their voices heard – and not ignored by Washington bureaucrats,” Daines stated. “I will continue fighting tirelessly to protect Montanans from President Obama’s overreach and ensure that our state’s interests are represented in Washington.”
While Daines’ amendment did not receive the 60 votes required under Senate rules to be added to legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, today’s vote sent a strong message that any bill or designation that has a potential to impact land management must be locally driven, not spearheaded in Washington.
Last week, Senator Daines took to the Senate floor to discuss the importance of protecting Montanans’ role in land management decisions.
“As a fifth generation Montanan and avid sportsman, I know firsthand how important Montana’s lands and resources are to our economy and our way of life. I also know how important it is for Montanans to play a strong role in the management of these precious parts of our state,” Daines stated.
Video of Daines’ remarks may be viewed here.
Daines has long worked to protect Montana from administrative abuses of the Antiquities Act. In the House, Daines introduced the Montana Land Sovereignty Act to prohibit the establishment of new national monuments in Montana without Congressional review and approval. Daines also co-sponsored the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act, which requires that the President secure public participation and local support before any new monuments are declared.
Click here to see the roll call vote on S. 132.
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