Flathead Beacon: Forest Service Drops Proposal to Reduce Montana Trail Funding
The U.S. Forest Service has dropped its proposal to reduce funding for trail maintenance in Montana. The agency originally planned to reduce appropriations for Region One, which includes Montana, by 30 percent over the next three years. This included a potential loss of $1 million to Montana’s federal trail budget this year. U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester criticized Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell last week for failing to prioritize trail maintenance in Montana. The agency proposed revising its formula for funding trail maintenance across the U.S. with an added emphasis on higher population centers. In Region One, there are 28,000 miles
Helena Independent Record: Forest Service restores trails’ funding, Montana’s senators say
The U.S. Forest Service has reportedly reversed plans to deeply cut trail maintenance funding for the region including Montana, according to Montana’s senators. The Forest Service earlier this year announced a change to its allocation formula for trail maintenance. Historically, funding weighted the expense of maintaining remote trails in wilderness areas, which favored the Northern Region including Montana and Idaho. The new formula focused more heavily on population and visitor days, giving more populous areas a funding boost. The reallocation meant a 30 percent cut for the Northern Region phased in over three years, triggering a backlash from regional trail users
Missoulian: Senators tout Montana benefits of coming energy bills
Two bills up for votes in the U.S. Senate next week contain a lot of money for Montana’s power production sector. Montana senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester each said the 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act and the 2016 Energy Policy Modernization Act will bring assistance to both state programs and energy issues that Montana has a stake in. The 2017 appropriations bill would allocate $37.5 billion for the Department of Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers. It cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday with a nearly unanimous approval. Direct Montana projects in the bill include
Daines: Venting and Flaring Rule Stifles Innovation
U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today called on the Obama administration to ease red tape regulations stifling Montana’s energy future. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining hearing on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rule, entitled “Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resources Conservation,” Daines pressed the Obama administration on burdensome costs to American innovation and that further stifle oil and gas production in Montana while having a miniscule impact on global climate change. “In Montana, oil and gas activity is at the lowest it’s been in decades. It’s clear our federal
Daines Secures Important Provisions for Montana’s Veterans in Senate Appropriations Bill
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today secured important reforms that increase Montana veterans’ access to health care services and ensures that the services and care earned by Montana veterans through their loyal and dedicated service to the nation is rightfully given to them. Daines successfully worked to include provisions for Montana veterans’ long-standing concerns in the FY 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which was marked up and approved by the Senate Committee on Appropriations this afternoon. “Montana’s veterans should have easy access to the resources and medical care they need close to home,” Daines stated. “I’m proud to
Daines Secures Provisions to Improve Montana’s Energy Future
U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today secured important provisions that improve the future of Montana energy. “Made-in-Montana energy means good-paying Montana jobs,” Daines stated. “Through provisions I’ve secured, Montana can lead the world in developing energy resources that will power not only our state, but the country and the world.” Daines successfully included many important provisions for Montana energy and water projects in the FY 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill to fund the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) programs and critical infrastructure projects administered by the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. The bill was marked up and
Military Times: Senators move to give veterans access to medical marijuana
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed an amendment that would let Veterans Affairs doctors discuss and recommend marijuana as a potential medical treatment in states where it is legal. An addition to the fiscal 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill, the bipartisan amendment sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, would let VA doctors discuss marijuana as a potential medical treatment, similar to the allowances given civilian physicians in medical marijuana states. The move marks the second time senators have tried to improve access to medical marijuana for veterans who are treated
Daines Announces over $4.6 Million in Critical Funding for Ten Montana Community Airports
U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today announced that ten Montana community airports will receive $4,661,676 for critical construction and maintenance projects. Grants will be awarded to airports in Billings, Broadus, Circle, Forsyth, Hardin, Livingston, Malta, Ronan, Shelby and Wolf Point. “Community airports across Montana provide critical transportation services to Montana’s rural communities,” Daines stated. “These grants will ensure that Montana’s smaller airports are able to meet rising ridership demands, ensure safe and reliable service for their passengers and meet the long-term economic needs of the communities they serve.” Grants awarded today by the Federal Aviation Administration include: Billings Logan International Airport: $400,000 to
Billings Gazette: FAA sending $2 million for Billings airport improvements
Billings Logan International Airport will receive almost $2 million for infrastructure improvements, Montana Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester announced Wednesday. The funding is part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. A news release from the senators’ offices says the money will be spent on extending taxiways and improving the airport’s drainage system. “The AIP grants allow for enhancing safety and continuing the expansion of the Billings airport, and we are grateful to have these needed funds,” said Kevin Ploehn, the city’s director of aviation and transit. Ploehn said the projects being funded include the extension of the