EPA Takes Action on Daines’ Request to Prioritize Butte Superfund
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other parties reached a cleanup agreement for the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund site after requests from Daines to prioritize the site. The Butte Superfund site is one of the largest in the country. “This is an important development for the Butte Superfund site,” said Daines. “The people of Butte have waited long enough for this milestone. I will continue fighting to ensure Montana Superfund sites make the progress they need. Daines’ Actions to Prioritize Montana Superfund Sites: On January 17, 2018,
Daines, Tester Introduce Bill to Promote Precision Agriculture, Rural Broadband
Bipartisan Legislation Targets High-Speed Internet Deployment to Nation’s Farms & Ranches U.S. SENATE — Montana U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced legislation to promote precision agriculture and rural broadband deployment. The Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act of 2018, S. 2343, would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a task force to identify gaps in high-speed internet connectivity for the nation’s cropland and ranchland. The measure also instructs the agency to develop ways to help encourage broadband adoption and precision agriculture in areas where it is currently unavailable. “Montana farmers and ranchers need access to the farming tools of
Daines Pushes for Strengthened Law Enforcement to Combat Meth Crisis
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on the shipment of drugs through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), questioned witnesses about the Postal Service’s shipment of methamphetamine in rural America. Watch the video HERE. Download the video HERE. “Methamphetamine use has become an epidemic in Montana,” said Daines. “We must do more to protect the families and communities this terrible drug has torn apart by disrupting its distribution.” Last week, the Flathead Beacon reported that a couple employed by the USPS in Polson, MT was caught distributing methamphetamine through postal shipments.
E&E News: Most sites were open during shutdown, but at what cost?
The three-day government shutdown earlier this week forced lawmakers to revisit a thorny issue that crops up every time federal funding lapses. Should the country’s national parks and monuments remain open to the public even with fewer resources to protect visitors and maintain basic services? Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke decided to keep open most national parks and other sites from Saturday through Monday while the government was partially shuttered — a stark contrast to the three-week 2013 shutdown when the country’s iconic public lands were closed during the peak fall season. “The Obama administration wanted to make a point, to
Independent Record:Tester and Daines both present bills addressing Montana wilderness areas
Both senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines have wilderness-related bills up for hearing on Feb. 7, but their proposals move in opposite directions. Democrat Tester will present his Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (S.507), which would add 79,000 acres to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Mission Mountains wilderness areas. Republican Daines’ Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act (S.2206) would release about half a million acres in the Blue Joint, Sapphire, West Pioneer, Big Snowies and Middle Fork Judith wilderness study areas back to general national forest status. Both bills appear before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s public lands
Daines Announces State of the Union Guest
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that nine year-old Danielle (Dani) Highley from Deer Lodge, one of the 24,000 Montana children who will benefit from the six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), will be his guest at this year’s State of the Union Address. This is the longest reauthorization in the program’s history. “Dani and the other 24,000 Montana children who depend on CHIP are the reason I fought so hard for the longest reauthorization in the program’s history,” said Daines. “I couldn’t think of anyone better to bring as my one guest to the
Great Falls Tribune: Walmart announces wage hikes, bonuses for Montana workers
Wal-Mart will give more than $3.8 million in pay increases and bonuses to 3,340 of its Montana workers as part of its plan to raise its starting hourly wage nationwide to $11 in a move that company officials credited to recent tax reforms passed in Congress. Wal-Mart, the state’s third-largest employer, also said Monday it would provide a one-time cash bonus for $1,000 to eligible associates as it expands its benefits. “These dollars are coming from the tax savings that the company is realizing from recent legislation,” said Tiffany Wilson, Wal-Mart communications director. “With this new tax savings, we wanted to
Montana’s Largest Employer Announces Nearly $4 Million in Wage Increases for Montanans
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Walmart announced 3,340 Montanans will benefit from $3.8 million in wage increases and bonuses of up to $1,000 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by Congress last December. “It’s simple, tax cuts equal more jobs and bigger paychecks,” said Daines. Click HERE to see a list of major U.S. companies increasing pay and giving bonuses due to tax reform. Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Walmart will: Increase starting hourly wage from $9 to $11 Expand maternity and parental leave Offer financial assistance
Daines: Colstrip Part of an All-of-the-Above Energy Approach
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today highlighted the critical role Colstrip Power Plant plays in all-of-the-above approach to meet energy demands. His remarks were made during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing about the importance of reliable and affordable energy during cold winters. Watch the video HERE. Download the video HERE. During his opening remarks, Daines mentioned his plans to host his second Montana Energy Summit in Billings, Montana on May 30th and 31st. At the summit, attendees will discuss energy infrastructure and the good-paying jobs energy creates. Excerpt from Daines’ prepared remarks: “One critical piece