Billings Gazette: Daines secures national parks week
National parks will get a week of observance this month, a gesture U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said should raise awareness later about needed park maintenance. During last year’s centennial of the National Parks Service, roughly 331 million visitors went to national parks. Yellowstone National Park recorded 4.2 million visits. Glacier National Park reported nearly 3 million visits. “They truly are something that sets America apart. It’s part of our national heritage, as Americans,” Daines said. “We’re known for our national parks.” Daines said the Senate’s unanimous vote to recognize national parks for the week beginning April 15 was a
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: The People of Libby
U.S. SENATE — During National Asbestos Awareness Week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized the people of Libby, Montana, for their resiliency and strength in confronting economic, environmental, and public health challenges. Daines is pictured with Dr. Brad Black, Ms. Tanis Hernandez, and Ms. Tracy McNew of CARD. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. 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
Daines Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Gain Permanent Reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which would fully realize LWCF’s promise to conserve parks, open spaces, and wildlife habitat for the benefit of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. “LWCF is a critical tool that helps expand access to our public lands and preserves our Montana way of life,” Daines stated. “By permanently reauthorizing LWCF we can remove uncertainty and protect access to public lands for future generations.” U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Michael Bennet (D-CO) Susan Collins (R-ME),
Daines: Gorsuch Confirmed for U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Judge Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to be the next U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice: “Judge Gorsuch is mainstream and he’s not going to legislate from the bench. As a fellow westerner, he will uphold our Montana values and defend our Second Amendment rights. The Senate did its job and I look forward now to seeing Judge Gorsuch on the court.” Gorsuch has widespread support from mainstream groups across Montana. Daines has consistently underscored the reasons why Gorsuch belongs on the U.S. Supreme Court. On April 6, 2017, Daines
Daines Introduces Bill to Protect Local Governments From Abandoned Federal Buildings
U.S. SENATE —During National Asbestos Awareness Week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation safeguard local governments from having to take ownership of old federal buildings filled with asbestos after bankruptcy. Daines’ bill requires the federal government to take into account commonsense factors when deciding whether a bidder for federal property is capable of fulfilling its financial obligations, preventing local governments from having to take possession of asbestos-filled buildings post-bankruptcy through tax liens. “A promise made must be a promise kept,” Daines stated. “An abandoned asbestos-filled building in downtown Billings could have serious health implications. That’s why I’m taking action
Billings Gazette: Daines bill would make sure those who buy federal buildings can maintain them
Inspired by the bizarre tale of Billings’ once-blighted federal courthouse, the U.S. Senate will consider raising the standards for who can bid on abandoned federal buildings. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., wants the government to make sure buyers of federal property have the resources to clean up the buildings and keep them from turning into eyesores or health hazards that communities are eventually stuck with. Daines had Billings’ federal courthouse in mind when he introduced his bill Friday. The federal government sold the old James F. Battin Federal Building at auction was in 2013. The federal government was
Billings Gazette: Tester, Daines say no more Syria bombings without Senate approval
Montana’s congressional delegation is cautioning President Donald Trump not to proceed with any more Syrian bombings without Senate approval. U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines say they didn’t oppose Thursday night’s bombings but think it’s time Congress update the Authorization for Use of Military Force, which addresses military action in Afghanistan and Iraq but not Syria. The attack against a Syrian air base was the first U.S. assault against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The lawmakers issued statements about the bombing after participating in a confidential, all-Senate briefing by the Trump administration. “Before further military intervention in Syria
Daines: Gorsuch Will Be The Ninth Supreme Court Justice
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today took to the Senate floor after the U.S. Senate voted to invoke the “nuclear option” because of unprecedented obstruction at the hands of Senate Democrats to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. Click HERE to download Daines’ remarks. Click HERE to watch Daines’ remarks. Daines’ remarks as prepared are below: “One of the most consequential votes I cast is a vote to confirm a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. It’s a lifetime appointment to our nation’s highest court. “As it stands today – the U.S. Senate is on the precipice of
Ravalli Republic: Lead versus non-lead bullets: Demonstration to provide insights of the differences between the two
Any hunter worth his salt wants to know the animal he shoots won’t suffer. For that reason alone, many sportsmen have been hesitant to change from lead bullets to another alternative. On Sunday, at the MPG Ranch in Florence, hunters will have a chance to see first hand what happens to lead and copper bullets when they strike an animal. The two wildlife biologists offering the demonstration say it will offer a whole other view to what’s become a controversial issue in some quarters. Leland Brown and Chris Parish are lifelong hunters who have been taken their demonstration to a