Daines Presses Forest Service Chief on Forest Reforms
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today called on the U.S. Forest Service to work together with Congress to move forward common sense forest management reforms to responsibly increase timber harvests, create good-paying jobs and improve forest health across Montana. During today’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the U.S. Forest Service budget request for Fiscal Year 2016, Daines pressed Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell on the effect of litigation on Montana National Forest timber output, the need for effective implementation of the Farm Bill’s forest management provisions, and ongoing efforts to grow timber jobs for hardworking Montanans. “Montana
Daines: No Confidence in Loretta Lynch for Attorney General
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced his strong concerns regarding President Obama’s nomination of Loretta Lynch as the next U.S. Attorney General. “Ms. Lynch has an accomplished career as the United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York and has built a strong and admirable resume. Her capability as a litigator is clear. A strong resume is a necessary but not sufficient qualification for confirmation. “After carefully considering Ms. Lynch’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I am not confident, nor do I believe, that she will be an independent voice or nonpartisan leader that will defend the rule
Daines: Naming of Permanent VA Montana Director Is Welcome News
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to John Ginnity being named as the new permanent director of VA Montana: “This is welcome news for Montana veterans. I’m glad to finally see a permanent director put in place at VA Montana, and I wish John the best as he assumes this role. Now that a permanent director has been named, we need to quickly take steps to address the shortages of health care providers and services facing VA Montana and implement much needed reforms to ensure Montana’s veterans receive the best care possible.” ###
Daines Fights to Defend Critical Montana Military Missions
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today called on the U.S. Air Force to prioritize the modernization of Montana’s critical military missions and take additional steps to address Montanans’ ongoing concerns regarding the proposed expansion of the Powder River Training Complex. This morning, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on the proposed FY 2016 U.S. Air Force budget. During the hearing, Daines pressed Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh for details about the Air Force’s plan to modernize the avionics of the Montana Air National Guard’s (MANG) C-130 fleet. Daines
Daines: Keystone Veto Solidifies President’s War on Jobs, Energy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today blasted President Obama’s recent veto of the bipartisan Keystone XL pipeline, condemning the veto as yet another sign of Obama’s “war on energy.” “President Obama is standing firmly against thousands of good-paying American jobs and domestic energy independence,” Daines stated. “Instead of advancing economic opportunity for hardworking Montana families, the President is instead perpetuating his war on energy and standing as a barrier to affordable energy. With one stroke of the pen, President Obama chose political grandstanding over the overwhelming bipartisan approval of Congress and the American people. I will continue to fight
Daines: Obama Administration’s Refusal to Acknowledge ‘Islamic Extremism’ Jeopardizes American Strategy in Middle East
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today took the Obama administration to task for its lack of strategy in addressing the rising threat of extreme Islamic terrorism in the Middle East. “The Obama administration’s refusal to acknowledge ISIS for what it is — extreme, radical Islamic terrorism — directly jeopardizes our nation’s efforts to extinguish this growing threat in the Middle East,” Daines stated. “It is irresponsible that Secretary Kerry would rather label these terrorists as ‘adventurers and thrill-seekers’ than extremists driven by a radical ideology. The President’s clear lack of strategy in dealing with this threat was on full
Daines: BIA Dollars Should Support Tribes, Not Bureaucracy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today called on the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to prioritize Montana tribes’ interests in the agency’s fiscal year 2016 budget request and ensure that federal dollars are being better used to support tribes’ needs – not spent on bureaucracy. During today’s Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on the President’s FY2016 budget request for Indian programs, Daines pressed BIA witnesses to increase the agency’s efforts to promote tribal sovereignty and provide tribes with greater primacy in the management of local health care provided by Indian Health Services. “Montana’s tribes must be empowered to drive
Daines Calls on Obama Administration to Lift Barriers to Montana Energy Production
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today condemned the Obama administration’s refusal to embrace an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy and called on Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to revise Department of Interior policies that stand in the way of Montana tribes’ ability to develop their coal resources and create good paying jobs. During this morning’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Interior Department’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2016, Daines pressed Jewell to also reduce the bureaucratic overreach limiting new oil and gas permitting in eastern Montana and ensure the state of Montana has primacy in developing and implementing
Daines: Montana Veterans Have Waited Long Enough for New VA Montana Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today aired his frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ ongoing failure to name a permanent director of VA Montana. Daines’ comments come in light of VA Montana naming a new acting director to replace John Ginnity, who has served as acting director since June of last year and recently reached his maximum allowable days of service in that role. Under VA rules, an acting director may serve no more than 240 days in that role. “Montana’s veterans have waited long enough. It’s time for a permanent director of VA Montana to be named,”