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Tag: Environment

Tester and Daines’ East Rosebud bill receives Senate hearing

March 17, 2016

Bipartisan legislation will preserve the free-flowing condition of the East Rosebud Creek  (U.S. Senate)—Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines’ bill to designate the East Rosebud Creek as Wild and Scenic received a hearing today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks.  Tester and Daines’ bill was built through on-the-ground collaboration and will preserve the free-flowing condition of East Rosebud Creek under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  When S. 1577 becomes law, it will be the first Wild and Scenic designation in Montana in 40 years. “This legislation proves that on-the-ground collaboration works,” Tester said.  “Preserving

Daines Works to Improve Federal Cooperation with Indian Country

March 9, 2016

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today fought to improve Montana’s tribes’ sovereignty, pressing the Obama administration to work more collaboratively and efficiently with Montana’s tribes relating to health care and management of tribal forests.  During two different Senate Committee hearings today, Daines called on witnesses to improve stewardship of federal funds while working to alleviate some of the challenges associated with wildfires in Indian Country. U.S. Indian Health Service Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request: Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks.  During this morning’s Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing on the Indian Health

Daines Presses Kerry on Coal

February 24, 2016

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today pressed the Obama administration on their anti-coal, anti-energy policies and emphasized the important role that innovation holds in America’s energy future.   During this afternoon’s Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs hearing, Daines pressed Secretary of State John Kerry on the Obama administration’s failure to take into account the effect of anti-energy policies on hardworking Montana families including the disastrous effects to tribal and union jobs. Under Daines’ questioning, Kerry acknowledged that coal will continue to be an “energy of choice” because it is affordable. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to

Daines Grills Interior Secretary Jewell on Coal Leasing Moratorium

February 23, 2016

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today pressed the Department of Interior on their proposed review of the coal leasing program and the unwarranted moratorium on coal leasing. During this morning’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the Department of Interior’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, Daines demanded answers from Interior Secretary Sally Jewell regarding the decision to place a moratorium on new coal leasing and for certainty in the Department’s plan.   “In Montana, we do see the moratorium on coal leasing as a direct assault on our state,” Daines stated. “Our state relies on production of coal, including federal coal,

Daines, Zinke Commend Extension of Yellowstone Bison Quarantine Plan Comment Period

February 16, 2016

 U.S. CONGRESS — Montana Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke successfully secured a two-week extension of the comment period for the National Park Service’s (NPS) Environmental Assessment of Yellowstone National Park’s Bison Quarantine Plan. The previous deadline for the comment period was February 15, 2016.                 At Daines’ and Zinke’s urging, NPS recently announced that the comment period would be extended to February 29, 2016. In a letter sent last week to NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis, Daines and Zinke called on the agency to extend the comment period to accommodate the concerns of Montana ranchers,

Daines Highlights Key Reforms in Major Senate Energy Legislation

January 28, 2016

“We can’t fully discuss our nation’s energy future without also addressing the President’s moratorium on new federal coal leases and royalty increase attempts for federal coal, oil and natural gas.”  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to highlight important provisions contained in the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, the first major energy policy legislation debated in the Senate since 2007.  This key legislation will help expand Montana energy production, permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and rein in the Obama administration’s overreaching anti-energy regulations.  Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Today, the

Daines Statement on Vote to Override President Obama’s WOTUS Veto

January 21, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to override President Obama’s veto of legislation to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) egregious overreach through newly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:  “Senate Democrats and President Obama have made clear they don’t care about the harmful effects that this overreaching rule will have on our hardworking farmers and ranchers. The EPA’s greatly expanded powers through this new WOTUS rule is a clear effort by the Obama administration to gain control over Montanans’ livelihoods and private property rights. I will continue

Daines Applauds House Action to Stop Obama’s WOTUS Power Grab

January 13, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the House of Representatives’ passage of bipartisan legislation nullifying the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.  The House today joined the Senate in passing S.J.Res.22, a joint resolution Daines helped introduced to disapprove of the EPA’s new, overreaching WOTUS rules. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk.  “I’m pleased to see the House join the Senate in passing bipartisan legislation to stop yet another Obama administration power grab that harms our farmers, ranchers and landowners,” Daines stated. “The EPA’s latest overreach is a direct threat to Montanans’ way of

Daines, Zinke Call on Governor Bullock to Issue Full Approval of the Montanore Project

January 7, 2016

U.S. CONGRESS – Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke are calling on Governor Steve Bullock and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to expeditiously issue full approval for the Montanore Project, which would create much-needed jobs and economic opportunity in Lincoln County.  After more than a decade, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Montanore project was recently completed, clearing the way for the U.S. Forest Service and MDEQ to issue Records of Decision approving of Montanore’s plan of operations and required permits. MDEQ is considering a phased approval of the project, which would be inconsistent with the

Daines Works to Protect American Energy Security

December 10, 2015

Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Senator Steve Daines today spoke out about the critical role that American energy independence holds in winning the war on terrorism and strengthening American security both at home and abroad.  “Our national security—protecting our families from terrible acts of terrorism—I can tell you is on many Montanans’ minds every day as I travel around the state. It’s telling to us today how important American energy independence and security is to our safety and prosperity—not just ours, but the world’s.” During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on examining terrorism and global