News

Tester and Daines Reintroduce Bill to Preserve East Rosebud Creek

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to permanently preserve the East Rosebud Creek in south central Montana. Tester and Daines are introducing the legislation at the request of local Montana residents.  Their bill will designate 20 miles of East Rosebud Creek as wild and scenic under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which will preserve the free-flowing condition of the creek located south of Roscoe, Montana. “East Rosebud Creek is one of Montana’s most hidden treasures with world-class fisheries and breathtaking views,” Tester said. “This is another made-in-Montana solution that was built through

Daines, Tester Introduce Two Bills to Complete Montana Hydro Projects

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced legislation to ensure the completion of two hydroelectric facilities in Montana. The bills will provide for the reinstatement and three-year extension of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for Clark Canyon Dam Hydro Project in Dillon, Montana and a six-year extension of the FERC license for the Gibson Dam Hydro Project near Augusta, Montana. “The Gibson Dam and Clark Canyon Dam are critical for tax revenue and jobs in Montana communities,” Daines stated. “These bills will help create more Montana made energy projects that provide a reliable source of energy and will create good-paying

AgWeek: Senator Daines receives Friend of Farm Bureau Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has presented Montana Senator Steve Daines a “Friend of Farm Bureau Award.” Daines received the award from MFBF members who were in the national’s capital for the American Farm Bureau Advocacy Conference. “We are very honored to present this award to Senator Daines. He has been a real champion for agriculture and rural Montana,” said MFBF Director of National Affairs Nicole Rolf. “Whether it’s supporting good legislation to protect farmers from harmful rules and inconsistent regulations, protecting the safety net provided in the Farm Bill, working to preserve important tax provisions

Daines Named “Friend of Farm Bureau” by the American Farm Bureau Federation

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that he was recognized by the American Farm Bureau with its “Friend of Farm Bureau” award for his strong support of agriculture and his advocacy on behalf of Montana farmers and ranchers. The American Farm Bureau Federation gives the “Friend of Farm Bureau” award to members of Congress who have led on issues critical to farmers and ranchers across the country, supported Farm Bureau issues, as demonstrated by their voting records and who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureau.  Daines was presented with the award today by the Montana Farm Bureau

Daines: Zinke Confirmed as Interior Secretary

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Montana’s U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke.  “This is a historic moment for Montana as Congressman Zinke is the first Montanan to ever serve in a President’s cabinet,” Daines stated. “Ryan is a Montanan who grew up in America’s public lands. He knows that we must strike the right balance between conservation and responsible energy development, and he understands more than most that one-size fits all policies from Washington, D.C., never work for

Billings Gazette: Zinke confirmed as Interior secretary; Montana prepares for special election

Ryan Zinke has been sworn as secretary of the Interior. The U.S. Senate’s Wednesday confirmation triggered Zinke’s resignation from Congress and a special election to replace him. Zinke became the first Montanan to serve in a U.S. Cabinet. Approved by the Senate 68 to 31, the Whitefish native is the nation’s 52nd Interior secretary. Montana’s U.S. Sens. Jon Tester, a Democrat, and Steve Daines, a Republican, both voted to confirm Zinke. “First, I want to say thank you to the people of Montana,” Zinke said in a statement announcing his resignation. “It has been an honor to serve you in Congress,

Washington Times: Senate approves Ryan Zinke as Interior secretary

The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly confirmed Rep. Ryan K. Zinke to head the Interior Department, putting in place a secretary who’s poised to reverse Obama-era restrictions on energy development on public lands. The confirmation of Mr. Zinke, a Montana Republican and former Navy SEAL, was held up by Democratic leaders in the Senate for over a month. While Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, voted against him and urged his colleagues to do the same, 16 Democrats ultimately voted in favor of Mr. Zinke. He was approved by a vote of 68 to 31. Mr. Zinke’s confirmation is a major step forward for President Trump’s so-called “America

Trump Heeds Daines Calls: Starts Process to Reverse WOTUS

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on President Donald J. Trump’s executive actions to revise former President Barack Obama’s overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. The overreaching WOTUS rule seeks to regulate virtually every ditch and pond that may be occasionally wet across the United States and would have a significant negative impact on farmers, ranchers, and landowners across the country.  “We can protect Montana’s pristine water without harming our agriculture economy and violating Montanans’ private property rights,” Daines stated. “I’m thrilled President Trump has heeded my call to halt this disastrous Obama-era policy and

Daines Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump’s first joint address to Congress. “There is a renewed spirit because Americans know that Washington, D.C. is returning power back to Montanans and back to the people. The strategy that the President laid out tonight is an optimistic, clear vision to create jobs, return education decisions back to families and keep our communities safe.  I will continue working with President Trump to deliver real change for the American people making our communities stronger and safer.”  ###