Senator Daines has moved up in seniority on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. As an avid hunter and outdoorsman, Senator Daines is committed to increasing public access to public lands for all Montanans, fostering locally driven common-sense conservation and advocating for high paying wages in Montana’s energy, mining, and forestry sectors. Senator Daines prioritizes strengthening Montana’s rich and balanced energy portfolio that includes coal, hydro-electric, natural gas, wind, solar and biomass. Daines also pushes for sustainable, science based active forest management legislative reforms and policies to prevent catastrophic wildfires, restore active management, create healthy forests, protect wood product careers, and protect wildlife habitats and watersheds jobs in Montana.
Daines, Feinstein, LaMalfa, Panetta Urge Passage of Bipartisan Forest Management Bill
U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Dianne Feinstein and Congressmen Doug LaMalfa and Jimmy Panetta led a bipartisan group of Members in urging Congressional Leadership to pass their bipartisan wildfire prevention and forest management legislation by the end of the year. The bipartisan bill will protect Western communities from deadly wildfires, promote public safety and create good paying timber jobs. “We write to you near the end of another catastrophic wildfire year. Over 8.7 million acres have burned in the West, 2.2 million acres more than the ten-year average. Experts predict that this trend will continue, as rising temperatures
Daines Introduces Senate Resolution Honoring Bravery, Sacrifice of Montana Wildland Firefighters & First Responders
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a Senate resolution to recognize the bravery, sacrifice, and heroism of wildland firefighters and first responders across Montana and the nation. The resolution honors those who have lost their lives this fire season, including Montanans Tom Duffy and Sara Madsen. “This wildfire season has brought horrific loss of lives and property, and it would have been even worse if it weren’t for our brave firefighters and first responders on the front lines. It’s an honor to recognize our Montana heroes who risk their lives every day to protect our communities from wildfires,”
Daines, Feinstein Secure Hearing for Bipartisan Forest Management Bill, Urge Quick Passage
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Dianne Feinstein today announced that their bipartisan forest management reform bill has been given a hearing date in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee next week. This announcement follows Daines’ and Feinstein’s direct request to the committee for a hearing. Daines serves as Montana’s voice on the Committee. “As deadly wildfires continue to spread across Montana and the West, it is important now more than ever that we advance this bipartisan forest management reform bill,” Daines said. “This hearing will demonstrate how our legislation will help protect at-risk communities, create jobs and
Daines Calls for Hearing on Bipartisan Forest Management Reform Bill
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee calling for a hearing as soon as possible on his bipartisan forest management reform legislation. This comes on the heels of a meeting in Kalispell where stakeholders voiced their strong support for seeing this bill signed into law. “Our states are currently experiencing severe wildfires, which have only been exacerbated by the challenges of fighting these natural disasters during COVID-19,” Daines wrote. “Given that the National Wildfire Preparedness Level has increased to Level 4, and California and Montana are in the midst
Daines’ Montana Water Bills Move to Senate Floor for a Vote
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured passage of two critical bills with direct impacts to Montana communities, the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act and a bill (S.1882) to allow Sidney Water Users Irrigation District and Kinsey Irrigation Company to continue receiving Pick-Sloan power out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. As a member of the Committee, Daines was instrumental in moving them through the legislative process. To download the full video, click HERE. “Clean, reliable drinking water is one of the most basic needs of life yet many of our rural communities
Daines Leads U.S. Senate Field Hearing on National Parks at Grant-Kohrs
DEER LODGE, Mont. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today brought together members of the community and leaders from the National Park Service for an official U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources field hearing at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Serving as the Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, Daines held the hearing to examine opportunities of expanding visitation at lesser-known National Park System Units. Daines said, “We know that over 5.5 million people visited national parks in Montana last year. Those guests spent approximately $633 million in local gateway regions supporting over 9,500 jobs and generating over $880 million
Daines, Feinstein Developing Major, Bipartisan Forestry Legislation
U.S. SENATE— U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following joint statement on bipartisan legislation they are developing to protect public safety by expediting and expanding the removal of dead, dying and hazardous trees in national forests: “The 2017 and 2018 fire seasons brought unspeakable loss and grief to California and Montana communities. Unfortunately, millions of acres of forests in our states and across the West remain at high risk of catastrophic wildfires, and there is strong consensus that fire seasons will only get worse. We believe additional resources are urgently needed to protect our communities
Daines Pushes for B-47 Ridge Naming in Honor of Fallen Servicemen
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged lawmakers for swift passage of the B-47 Ridge Designation Act in a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. Daines introduced the bipartisan bill that names the ridge after four servicemen who lost their lives in February. Click HERE to download video “That is why I introduced the bipartisan B-47 Ridge Designation Act to tell the story of these brave men and to make sure the sacrifice is not forgotten,” Daines said. “So their families, friends and visitors to this ridge will see what happened that day. After over half a
Daines Celebrates Bernhardt’s Confirmation as Victory for Montana and the West
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to confirm David Bernhardt as the 53rd U.S. Secretary of the Department of the Interior. “David Bernhardt understands the importance of protecting access to our public lands, our commitment to tribal nations, and responsible energy development,” Daines said. “As a fellow westerner, I have complete confidence in David’s ability to lead the Department of the Interior and was glad to cast my vote for him this afternoon along with a bipartisan majority on the floor of the United States Senate. I look forward to continuing to work together to advance Montana priorities.”