Park Service Plan Would Fund Maintenance During Government Shutdown
An unprecedented move by the National Park Service could free up millions of dollars for staffing and cleaning-up trash and restrooms at Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks during the partial federal government shutdown. Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says many of the burdens facing the two iconic parks in Montana as a result of the shutdown should be addressed within the coming days. The agency says it will tap into the entrance fees park visitors pay to cover staffing during the shutdown. On Saturday Republican Senator Steve Daines wrote Burnhardt requesting to restart lapsed work in national parks, including the
Interior Department approves emergency aid for cleaning national parks in Montana
The National Park Service, faced with overflowing garbage and toilets as the government shutdown enters its third week, plans to tap entrance fees to pay for expanded operations at its most popular sites, the Washington Post reported Sunday. The move came as Sen. Steve Daines urged the Park Service to find a way to ease pressure on communities surrounding the parks, which have pitched in with volunteers at popular places like Yellowstone National Park. Daines wrote acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt on Saturday, advising him to allow some federal spending to supplement volunteer maintenance efforts. President Donald Trump shut down
Daines Will Withhold Pay During Government Shutdown
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter requesting that the Secretary of the U.S. Senate withhold his pay during the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government. “I believe all sides need to come together to enhance border security and reopen the government.” Daines wrote. “Until that occurs and Border Patrol agents and other federal personnel again receive their paychecks, I think it would be inappropriate for me to receive my pay.” Click HERE to read the full letter. Background: -Senator Daines introduced a bill that would keep the government running and end shutdowns that disrupt critical government services and cost taxpayers billions. -Senator Daines also
Daines Secures Funding to Keep Critical National Parks Services Open During Government Shutdown
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured funding to keep critical National Parks services open during the government shutdown. In a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, Daines urged him to fund critical National Parks services during the government shutdown. After receiving Daines’ letter, Bernhardt ordered the Park Service to use funds for critical those services. “Our communities should not be in danger as a result of the political games going on in Washington, DC,” Daines said. “I’m glad to see the Department of Interior will fund these critical programs while the government is shut down, supporting
Daines Announces Committee Assignments for 116th US Congress
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
President signs Farm Bill
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., released the following statement after President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill on Thursday. Daines secured critical priorities for Montana farmers and ranchers and strong forestry provisions to help prevent catastrophic wildfire. “As Montana’s lone voice on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, I fought hard to ensure Montana ag priorities and forest management reforms were included in the 2018 Farm Bill,” Daines said. “I’m pleased President Trump signed this critical bill into law today — which will give certainty to Montana farmers and ranchers, and help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.” The 2018
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Mary Lincoln of Liberty County
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognize Mary Lincoln of Liberty County for her 107 years of service to her community. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE. The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record: Mr. DAINES, Mr. President,
Mineral withdrawal, LWCF miss Senate spending bill; senators say vote will come in January
Despite its failure Wednesday night, Montana’s two U.S. senators and conservationists are optimistic about pushing a public lands package through Congress in early January that includes a ban on new public land mining claims north of Yellowstone National Park and renewal of a popular conservation fund. Republican Sen. Steve Daines and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester were part of a group of western lawmakers trying to attach a suite of public lands legislation to the spending bill the Senate passed Wednesday night. The package included the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act and permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Daines
Daines vows to get Land and Water Conservation Act before Congress in early 2019
BILLINGS- Two pieces of key legislation in a massive lands package will not be addressed in Congress before 2018 is up. The bipartisan Land and Water Conservation Fund will not be reauthorized for funding this year and neither will the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, two bills near and dear to Montanans. According to Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines’ office, Congress refused to bring the lands issue to the Senate floor Wednesday night. Daines is a leader on the lands package along with other senators from western states . Also failing to advance was Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester’s Yellowstone Gateway