Daines Introduces Legislation to Accelerate Forest Management
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the Protect Collaboration for Healthier Forests Act to accelerate badly needed and locally supported forest management projects that will improve the health of National Forests and get loggers back to work. Daines’ bill establishes a pilot arbitration program authorizing the U.S. Forest Service to use binding arbitration in Region 1 (Montana, parts of Idaho, North Dakota) as an alternative dispute resolution process for certain forest restoration projects. Litigation against forest management projects frequently take many years to resolve. Pilot arbitration authority would bring swifter resolution to disputed projects. In doing so, hazardous fuels reduction projects developed through a collaborative process that are
Montana Ag: Risk management important in new farm bill
Members of Montana’s largest agriculture organization met this week in Billings to hear updates and set policies on issues impacting Montana farmers and ranchers. “We are such a small percentage of the farm bill that we know we have to play nice with others” Cyndi Johnson, vice president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation from Conrad, said. The farm bill is essentially agriculture’s play book for five years and work is already underway to ensure Montana farmers and ranchers are well-represented in the 2018 bill. “The farm bill is currently being discussed at the national level and even our local members have
KMMS: Daines demands our National Parks Must Remain Accessible to All Americans
Senator Steve Daines is upset because the National Park Service announced it is considering raising the entrance fees during peak season for 17 National Parks, including Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park in Montana. The proposal, would change the fee from $30 to $70 per vehicle. The price per person would go from $15 to $30. The current public comment period will end on November 23, 2017. “Glacier and Yellowstone National Park – are national treasures that belong to Montanans and Americans across the country” said Daines. “Fee increases of this magnitude could prohibit families from enjoying the great
Char-Koosta News: Daines introduces legislation to build veteran homes
U.S. SENATE — Just ahead of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced legislation to ensure that underserved veterans get the care they need. Daines’ bill, “Veteran State Home Grant Backlog Reduction Act” will create a new prioritization system that will separate out upgrades and needed rehabilitation to existing VA facilities and much-needed new construction. It requires the VA to separately designate construction specific budget resources and have a plan to clear up the state home construction backlog by the end of Fiscal Year 2023. “Montana is home to one of the highest populations of veterans per capita
Daines: National Parks Must Be Accessible to All
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to the Acting Director of the National Park Service, Mike Reynolds, asking for an extension of the public comment period for fee increases at 17 National Parks. On October 24, 2017, the National Park Service announced it is considering raising the entrance fees during peak season for 17 National Parks, including Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park in Montana. Under the proposal, the price per vehicle will be raised from $30 to $70; the price per person from $15 to $30; and the park specific annual pass from $50 (Glacier) and
Daines Votes for Energy Dominance and American Jobs
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to empower Alaskans to develop a job-creating oil and gas program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. “Conservation and job creation are not mutually exclusive,” said Daines. “Alaskans, like Montanans understand the needs of their communities better than radical extreme environmentalists who are determined to block good-paying American jobs.” Earlier this month at a Committee hearing, Sen. Daines spoke about the importance of blending the protection of our environment and responsibly developing our natural resources. ###
Daines Supports Repeal of Individual Mandate in Tax Bill
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate after the Senate acted on his urging to include a repeal of Obamacare’s poverty tax in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Watch video HERE. Download video HERE. Last week, Senator Daines sent a letter to Committee on Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch, urging him to include a repeal of the poverty tax in the tax legislation. Read the letter HERE. Remarks as prepared: Mr. President – As we cut taxes, there’s one goal I hold center: We need more good paying jobs and bigger paychecks for hardworking Montanans.
Daines Announces Staff Changes
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Helena-native, Liz Dellwo has been promoted to State Director. Daines also welcomes new hire Breanna Deutsch to join his communications team, serving as Press Secretary. “A Helena-native, Liz brings Montana hard work, dedication and passion for our state,” Daines stated. “I know Liz will be invaluable in serving Montanans and putting their interests first.” Liz Dellwo is a fourth generation Montanan who grew up in Helena. She attended Capital High School and went on to graduate from Montana State University with an undergraduate degree in Psychological Sciences and subsequently a Master’s degree in Public
Ripon Advance: Daines bill would build new veterans care facilities
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on Friday introduced the Veteran State Home Grant Backlog Reduction Act of 2017 to ensure that veterans have the care facilities they need. “Montana is home to one of the highest populations of veterans per capita, and our state is in dire need of the proper facilities to provide veterans quality healthcare,” Daines said in introducing the bill the day before Veterans Day. The bill would ensure that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) separately prioritizes grants for new state veterans’ home construction from grants for renovating and updating existing homes. The measure also