Author: Payton Fuller

Daines Calls on Biden Admin to Address Housing Issues for Wildland Firefighters

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a group of bipartisan senators calling on the Biden administration to provide information on the availability and cost of federal firefighter housing. In many states, including Montana, housing issues are a key barrier to firefighter recruitment and retention. “On November 17, 2022, the Government Accountability Office published a report on the barriers to wildland firefighter recruitment and retention, and one of the primary barriers identified by the report was the cost associated with a remote duty station, including the costs for federal housing. This finding confirms the anecdotes we have heard from

Daines Statement on Northwestern Announcement on Colstrip Power Plants

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement applauding Northwestern Energy’s announcement that it will acquire Avista’s share inColstrip’s units 3 and 4 which will help support Montana energy jobs. “The Colstrip power plant supports reliable, high-paying jobs while also contributing to Montana’s all-of-the-above energy portfolio,” Daines said.“This is great news for made in Montana energy, Montana jobs, American energy dominance and our national security.” Daines shared a video highlighting the important work Colstrip does to power Montana in honor of the announcement. Daines has been a strong supporter of Colstrip and Montana energy production. To see more of his work, click HERE.

Daines eyes passage of forest collaboration bill

Source: Daily Inter Lake Montana Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines expects a piece of forest management legislation he worked on with California Democrat U.S. Sen. Dianne Fienstein will pass through Congress later this year. The Root and Stem Authorization Act codifies the authority of the secretaries of the Agriculture and Interior departments to conduct forest restoration projects alongside private landowners and companies – with the goal of facilitating more efficient forest management efforts. “This act is really going to promote this collaboration effort,” said Tim McEntire, the northwest region representative for the Montana Logging Association, which is based in Kalispell.