Press Releases

(U.S. Senate)—U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today reintroduced their bipartisan Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act to create renewable energy jobs by streamlining the permitting process for wind, solar, and geothermal energy development on public lands.   “This bipartisan bill will allow us to unlock the renewable energy potential that exists on our public lands, invest in conservation efforts, and support local communities,” Tester said.  “This is the balance we need to strike to create jobs on our public lands and preserve our Montana way of life.”  “Promoting renewable energy development is a key part of strengthening our nation’s energy security,” Daines stated. “Montana has

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.  “As Secretary, Governor Perdue will work tirelessly to expand opportunities for Montana agriculture and be a champion for our state’s number one economic driver,” Daines stated. “As Montana’s sole representative on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I look forward to working with Governor Perdue to grow Montana agriculture and create more good-paying jobs.”   Daines and Perdue discussed expanding access to foreign markets for Montana agriculture, ensuring Montana agriculture doesn’t face discrimination in

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 State, Rex Tillerson.  “As our country’s top diplomat, Secretary Tillerson will prioritize our national security priorities, restore the trust and faith world leaders have in our country and ensure we uphold the promises made to our allies,” Daines stated. “I know Secretary Tillerson will uphold the deep and unwavering commitment our country has to Israel that has been damaged under President Obama’s feckless leadership. It’s day one of a new start to American

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. “Neil Gorsuch has an established record as a mainstream judge who upholds the rule of law and doesn’t legislate from the bench. I know that Judge Gorsuch will interpret the rule of law in accordance to the original intent of our founding document, the Constitution. Judge Gorsuch is seeking confirmation to the highest court in our country and I look forward to speaking with him to hear how he will faithfully defend our Constitution.” 

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Elaine Chao. “Secretary Chao is an experienced leader who knows what it takes to deliver results for the American people,” Daines stated. “I look forward to working with her to improve our roads, bridges, runways and infrastructure to create more good-paying jobs.” Immediately following Chao’s confirmation, Daines extended a formal invitation for the Secretary to visit Montana and see how important “our rural transportation infrastructure is to our economy as well as to national

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that he would take the gavel of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks.  The Subcommittee on National Parks includes oversight and legislative responsibilities for: National Park System; Wild and Scenic Rivers System; National Trails System; national recreation areas; historic sites; military parks and battlefields; Land and Water Conservation Fund; historic preservation; outdoor recreation resources; and preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of interest on the public domain. “Growing up just a short drive away from Yellowstone National Park, I know the importance of our national parks to

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced two resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).   In the closing weeks of his term, President Obama announced the Stream Protection Rule and the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule, one of which does little to actually protect waterways and instead extends the strong arm of the federal government at the expense of states, coal workers and ultimately ratepayers. The other is duplicative and unnecessary, conflicts with current state laws, such as those put in place in Montana and would discourage state-driven solutions to managing methane emissions.  “We need to allow