Daines Votes to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines released the following statement on his vote to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program for two years — providing rural Montana counties with critical support for schools and community services. “It is critical that the federal government fulfill its long-standing promise to our forested counties, which have faced significant economic challenges under declining timber harvests and the ongoing mismanagement of our National Forests. It’s unacceptable that Washington’s inaction has led to such great uncertainty in these already struggling communities. Last night, I was proud to vote to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program — a vote I’ve long been fighting for
On Tax Day, Daines Continues Fight to Repeal Death Tax
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today marked “Tax Day” by continuing his efforts to stand up for hardworking Montanans and repeal the death tax. Daines has signed on as a cosponsor to S.860 the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, which would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. This bill would effectively end a long-standing tax on family farms, ranches, and businesses upon the death of an owner. “On tax day, we are once again reminded that our nation’s tax code places an undue burden and unnecessary hardship on hardworking Montana families, small businesses, farmers and ranchers,” Daines stated. “The death tax is a direct
Daines Secures FAA Commitment to Maintain High Level of Safety in Powder River Training Complex
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today secured a commitment from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maintain a high level of aviation safety in southeastern Montana in the wake of the Powder Riving Training Complex expansion. In today’s Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on reauthorizing the FAA, Daines pressed FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to ensure that the FAA take steps to maintain safe and secure skies in southeastern Montana and better incorporate Montanans’ input as the Air Force moves forward with the expansion without addressing Montanans’ numerous, long-established concerns. “I think we share the same fear that the
KULR: FAA Commits to Safety Around Powder River Training Complex
The Federal Aviation Administration commits to ensuring air safety around the Powder River Training Complex.
Helena Independent Record: Daines pushing for disaster funding for wildfires
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said he is looking to add certainty to federal fire managers’ budgets by reforming the way the worst wildfires receive federal funding. Daines was in Clancy on Friday discussing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2015 with a roundtable of state and federal forest managers, conservation and forest dependent business interests. Daines signed onto the act as a senator in January, which would likely end the practice of “fire borrowing” when suppression funding runs out and must be pulled in from other programs. “The agencies have this cloud hanging over them,” said Richard Stem, retired deputy
Sidney Herald: Daines meets with foreign leaders, U.S. troops in five different countries
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., announced that he recently returned from an official overseas congressional delegation trip to Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.
Billings Gazette: Indian coal economy has suffered because of EPA regs, tribes say
The coal economy on Indian reservations is being endangered by tougher Environmental Protection Agency clean air laws, tribal officials told U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., on Wednesday.
Daines Investigates Importance of Coal to Tribal Economies
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today chaired a Senate Indian Affairs Committee (SCIA) field hearing in Crow Agency, Montana on empowering Indian Country. Daines examined the need to responsibly develop coal resources as a vital component of the tribal economies along with the importance of access to international markets. Daines spoke with Crow Chairman Darrin Old Coyote regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) harmful policies that stand in the way of the tribes’ ability to develop their coal resources and create good paying jobs. Daines also questioned Chairman Old Coyote on the economic benefits of making permanent the Indian Production Coal Tax Credit.
KULR-8: Senator Steve Daines Talks Jobs and Coal in Indian Country
CROW AGENCY – Senator Steve Daines emphasized unemployment, the coal industry and jobs in Indian Country as part of a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs field hearing in Crow Agency on Wednesday. The hearing at the Little Big Horn College Health and Wellness Center lasted nearly two hours, and Attorney general Tim Fox and Crow Tribe Chairman Darrin Old Coyote were among the speakers. Sen. Daines discussed the importance of passing a permanent Indian coal tax credit. The temporary tax credit, which provides millions of dollars for the Crow’s economy, expired in December 2013. Daines and Old Coyote both testified