News

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Feds recommend delisting Yellowstone grizzlies

Federal wildlife officials recommended lifting protections for the Yellowstone region grizzly bears Thursday, saying the species is recovered and no longer threatened. The long-awaited decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would remove the more than 700 Yellowstone-area grizzlies from the Endangered Species list and could pave the way for state-managed trophy hunting in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. USFWS director Dan Ashe called it a “proud moment” and said that it was the result of three decades of collaboration between state and federal agencies. “This is a triumph for partnership-driven conservation,” Ashe said. The proposal will be open for

Newsmax: Sen. Steve Daines: I’m Worried Obama Will Return Gitmo to Cuba

President Barack Obama could easily return the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay to Cuba when he visits the country later this month, Sen. Steve Daines told Newsmax TV on Thursday. “With this president, you remain worried on every front in terms of his executive overreach,” the Montana Republican told “Newsmax Prime” host J.D. Hayworth. “His abuse of power, his complete disregard of the Constitution and the Article II powers that are clearly, clearly laid out in our Constitution are something this president continues to violate. Obama will visit Cuba on March 21-22 as part of his efforts to normalize relations with Havana.

Daines Works to Connect Rural Montana

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today worked to increase broadband service and improve reliable connectivity for rural Montanans.  During two Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearings this week, Daines emphasized the need for reliable broadband service throughout rural America and successfully moved forward bipartisan solutions and ensure that rural communities are not left behind. On Wednesday, all five Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioners testified before the Commerce Committee. During the hearing, Daines called on the commissioners to ensure an equitable distribution of Universal Service funds to help close the connectivity gap between urban and rural areas, including tribal communities.

KGVO:Senator Daines Visits Guantanamo Bay, Advocates Againsts Transferring Prisoners

On February 29th, Senator Steve Daines went to Cuba to visit the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Upon Daines’ return, he took to the Senate floor to state the importance of maintaining the detention center and not bringing detainees to American communities. “Guantanamo Bay was a humble reminder of the services our military provides overseas to get these terrorists off the battle field and ensure that they don’t end up in American’s backyards,” said Daines. “President Obama has signed multiple pieces of legislation into law the explicitly prohibit the transfer of enemy combatants.” During the speech, Daines highlighted the threat

The Hill: GOP pushes Interior head on agency rules

Republicans on a Senate appropriations panel challenged the head of the Interior Department Wednesday on a host of rules and energy assessments the agency is undertaking. During a hearing on the agency’s 2017 budget request, members were most concerned about regional issues, including regulations for offshore drilling in the Gulf and a pause in the federal coal leasing program. “The stakes are a lot higher today than they may have been in the past,” Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said, arguing the pause on new coal leases on federal land would hurt the economy in parts of his state, where coal

Glasgow Courier: Connecting The Hi-Line

Traveling around our state, from the wheat fields and rolling hills in the east to the jagged snow-covered peaks almost 500 miles to the west, it is easy to understand why our state really is Big Sky Country.  That’s why it’s so important to ensure that Montanans in rural communities can easily travel not only across our state, but the region and country as well. Amtrak’s Empire Builder runs approximately 660 miles across Montana and connects 12 rural communities. For the many Montanans who live a long ways from an airport, but live close to a rail station, it’s critical to

Daines Slams Interior Secretary for Failing to Listen to States and Tribes in Moratorium on Coal Leasing

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today took the Obama administration to task for failing to properly take into account states’ and tribes’ voices in placing a misguided moratorium on coal leasing.  During this morning’s Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing on the Department of Interior’s (DOI) Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, Daines pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to better incorporate Montanans voices in unilateral bureaucratic decisions that have the potential to severely cripple Montana’s coal industry.  “Several tribal members and others who rely on coal jobs to provide for their families expressed strong concern regarding potential administration actions during a

Daines Visits Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

U.S. SENATE — On Monday, Senator Steve Daines went on a fact-finding mission to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Daines was joined by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Cory Gardner (R-CO). Upon Daines return, he took to the Senate floor to underscore the importance of maintaining the detention center and not helping President Obama fulfill a campaign promise to bring detainees to American communities.  Click here to watch Daines’ remarks.Click here to download Daines’ remarks. “Visiting Guantanamo Bay was a humble reminder of the services our military provides overseas to get these terrorists off the battlefield and ensure

MTN News: Sen. Daines calls for changes in the VA

Montana Senator Steve Daines is calling for changes in the Veterans Affairs system. A recent discussion held in Bozeman largely centered around the VA Bonus Accountability Act, which Daines and other senators are working to pass. The measure is designed to hold the VA accountable and keep under performing employees from receiving bonuses. “We’re mobilizing forces here and you know veterans know how to mobilize., that we can move forward here with changes in the VA, to move this VA accountability act forward, that puts accountability into the VA,” Daines said. “[It] allows hiring and firing these mid level managers that aren’t doing their jobs. There