Daines Secures Forest Management Reforms, Priorities for Montana Agriculture and Rural Communities in Farm Bill
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured forest management reforms and priorities for Montana farmers, ranchers and rural communities in the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Farm Bill that passed out of Committee today. Daines is the only representative of Montana on the Committee. Some of the highlights of the bill include funding for agriculture research critical to Montana farmers and ranchers, crop insurance to help mitigate risks for the agriculture community, programs to support the Montana timber industry and provisions that will prioritize broadband for unserved communities. The Farm Bill will now head to the U.S. Senate
Montana Standard: Guest view: Senate Agricultural Committee releases Farm Bill that protects SNAP
The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee released its version of the 2018 Farm Bill on June 8, presenting an opportunity for the Senate to reaffirm our national commitment to reducing hunger. Montana Food Bank Network applauds Montana’s U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and the rest of the Senate Agriculture Committee for developing a bipartisan bill that recognizes the importance and effectiveness of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Unlike the House Farm Bill, which made harsh and indiscriminate cuts to SNAP, the Senate Agriculture Committee’s bill protects access to vital food benefits for children and their parents, seniors, people with disabilities and
Montana Delegation Demands EPA Resolve $4 Million Fine Against Powell County
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte are working to protect Powell County from having to pay a $4 million fine to the U.S. Treasury Department. The government sent Powell County the bill to cover the costs of an oil spill cleanup from 2011, initially totaling $3,172,982.89. At that time, Powell County made clear to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Coast Guard that it was unable to foot a multi-million dollar fine and sought alternate methods of cleaning up the site. The county’s concerns were ignored and now after the additional costs of
Daines Presses Utility Regulators to Preserve Colstrip
Colstrip critical to U.S. energy security and reliability U.S. SENATE — Today, during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines pressed Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Commissioner Neil Chatterjee on the importance of the Colstrip Power Plant to Montana and grid reliability. FERC is an independent agency that regulates the movement of natural gas, oil, and electricity between states. FERC also oversees regulation for natural gas and hydropower projects. Colstrip is critical to ensuring Montanans have access to reliable, affordable energy. It generates enough power for 1.5 million homes. The power plant is a major
Missoulian: Daines adds slate of forest amendments to Farm Bill
The new version of the 2018 Farm Bill may have a lot of Montana-based timber policy changes, including restrictions on court challenges to logging projects and simplified forest management rules. Much of that will come from Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, who filed 20 amendments to the bill on Monday evening. Those additions will be discussed in mark-up sessions over this week. “Chairman Roberts asked me to take the lead on the forestry side,” Daines said on Tuesday, referring to Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas. “I’m using that as another vehicle to work on forest management reform.” Daines said a
Great Falls Tribune: Montana’s Blackfeet Tribe, Zinke put water deal into effect
BILLINGS — Leaders of the Blackfeet Nation and U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday put into effect a $471 million settlement of water rights claims that was decades in the making for the northwestern Montana American Indian tribe. Tribal Chairman Harry Barnes and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed documents in Washington, D.C., that set the stage for the government to begin paying for drinking water and irrigation projects envisioned in the agreement. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock signed the documents last week. The settlement gives the tribe control over 95 percent of the water on its 2,340-square mile reservation, Barnes told The
Daines Attends Historic Ceremony to Sign Documents Implementing the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement and Compact
U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined Secretary Ryan Zinke and Blackfeet Nation Chairman Harry Barnes for the historic signing of documents implementing legislation Daines fought for since arriving in Congress: the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act. The Blackfeet water compact will resolve all claims to water rights on the Blackfeet Reservation and ensure access to reliable and clean water for the communities within the Reservation, as well as farms, ranches, and businesses in the surrounding area. Today’s signing brings the settlement closer to becoming final and enforceable. Photo Credit: U.S. Department of the Interior “The Blackfeet Tribe has been waiting
Missoula Current: Forest Service chief approves salvage project for Sunrise fire on Lolo
The U.S. Forest Service is reviewing 14 recent wildfires to conduct post-fire salvage operations in western Montana, including five on the Lolo National Forest, one of which was approved by the agency’s interim chief earlier this month. Acting chief Vicki Christiansen used the emergency situation determination to begin work on the Sunrise fire near Superior, which burned in 2017. The work was initially reported as salvage work resulting from the Lolo Peak fire, though that was incorrect. “Lolo Peak did not rank out, given the impact on the community,” Tim Stauffer with the post-fire emergency management team said Friday. “There wasn’t
Daines, Senators Call on Administration to Restore More Choice for Americans in Health Insurance Markets
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and 34 other senators today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Labor Secretary R. Alexander Acosta, and HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar urging the administration to restore 12-month terms for short-term, limited duration insurance plans, which were available for two decades before being prohibited by Obama administration rules in 2016. The senators also urged the administration to clarify that issuers can offer renewal guarantees for STLD plans as a consumer option. “Allowing STLD plans to offer terms of up to 12 months along with renewal guarantees, consistent with the October 12,