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Tag: Forest Management

Daines Calls Out U.S. Forest Service for Lack of Fire Management Transparency

October 11, 2024

Echoes Concerns Raised by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the United States Forest Service (USFS) requesting more transparency about wildfire management strategy actions following recent concerns raised by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. More transparency will help the public better understand how USFS plans to handle wildfires and will allow for better oversight as well. “Montanans are tired of breathing in smoke and as Governor Gianforte points out, the Biden-Harris Forest Service failed Montanans in a number of areas. Specifically, the Forest Service is not being transparent with state partners and the

Daines Urges Biden Administration to Withdraw Costly, Burdensome Mandate on Montana Firefighters, Sheriffs

August 23, 2024

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calling for the withdrawal of its Emergency Response Standard rule which would impose more than $14,000 in unfunded mandates on volunteer fire departments in Montana. Daines emphasized the immediate negative impacts this rule will have on fire and rescue operations in Montana. Daines wrote in the letter: “Montana’s vast rural and forested landscape provides unique challenges for the small volunteer and career fire departments who serve on the frontlines every day, and especially during wildfire season. These departments, despite facing an ever-growing list of challenges, always

Daines Bill to Unlock Public Access, Improve Forest Management One Step Closer to Becoming Law

September 21, 2023

Bill improves conservation of 100,000 acres of public land U.S. SENATE – Today U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act” to return to general management three restrictive Wilderness Study Area (WSA) designations that can hinder land management and public access passed the Energy and Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. “My ‘Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act’ will help protect our Montana way of life by promoting public access to public lands, improving the ability to restore wildlife habitat and reducing the risk of wildfire. This is a big win for Montana sportsmen and a big win for conservation, I’m glad to see my bill move

Daines Talks Montana Ag, Forestry, Tribal Priorities for Farm Bill at Indian Affairs Committee Hearing

July 27, 2023

Welcomes witness from MT association to discuss Tribal access to ag programs U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing discussed Tribal priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill, including the Good Neighbor Authority to promote Tribal involvement in forest management and Tribal access to ag programs. Abi Fain, Director of Policy and Government Relations with the Intertribal Agriculture Council headquartered in Billings, spoke before the Committee. Watch and download Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “As the Senate crafts the Farm Bill, it’s important to ensure that Montana tribal ag producers and their voices are heard so that the next farm bill works

Daines Calls on Biden Administration to Analyze Sawtimber Levels in Montana

July 25, 2023

Encourages public-private partnerships to bolster active forest management U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a group of his colleagues in urging U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore to analyze and release standing sawtimber levels in high priority firesheds in Montana. This data is important to motivate and focus collaborative work between federal land management agencies and private forest product companies as they work to remove hazardous fuels. Active forest management is the most effective means to preventing catastrophic wildfires. Additionally, utilizing public-private partnerships can simultaneously reduce fire risk and vitalize rural communities in Montana that rely on the timber industry. “Decades of wildfire

Daines Fights for More Public Access, Better Forest Management

July 13, 2023

Promotes bill to improve conservation of 100,000 acres of public land at Senate hearing U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, announced the introduction of his “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act” to remove certain restrictive Wilderness Study Area (WSA) designations that can hinder land management and public access. At the hearing, Biden administration officials explained that returning the WSAs to general public land management will help mitigate wildfire risk and increase public access to public lands while keeping important protections in place. Listen to Daines’ full remarks HERE. “My ‘Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act’ will improve the ability to

Daines Introduces Bill to Protect Montana Communities, Firefighters from Wildfires 

March 15, 2023

U.S. SENATE –Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the “Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act” to protect firefighters, communities and property in Montana and throughout the West from the devastating impacts of wildfires. The bill ensures the continued use of fire retardant to manage wildfires and protect communities and firefighters. “In recent years, Montana has suffered catastrophic wildfire seasons. We must do everything we can to cut bureaucratic red tape and put an end to frivolous litigation that’s preventing our brave firefighters from using all means necessary to protect our Montana families and communities from these deadly flames,” said Daines. Daines joined Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho),

Daines, Feinstein, Newhouse, Peters Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Boost Efficient, Effective Forest Management

February 1, 2023

U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Congressmen Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral “Root and Stem Project Authorization Act” to facilitate efficient and effective forest management by empowering collaboratives and public-private partnerships.  “Collaboration between the federal government and Montanans is key when it comes to common sense forest management. We should be encouraging public-private partnerships that will find creative and effective solutions to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, promote healthy forests and protect local communities. Season after season, Montana is facing devastating wildfires. It’s past time we restore active forest management

Daines reintroduces Root and Stem Act

February 1, 2023

Source: Daily Inter Lake U.S. Sen. Steve Daines’ office announced Tuesday that he has reintroduced his Root and Stem Act after it passed the Senate during the last congressional session, but not the House. This time, the Montana Republican is introducing the bill with legislators from both houses of Congress in the hopes of securing its quick passage. The Root and Stem Authorization Act will codify the authority of the secretaries of the Agriculture and Interior departments to conduct forest restoration projects alongside private landowners and companies. The legislation aims to facilitate more efficient forest management efforts, supporters say. “Season

Daines Leads Bipartisan Call on Biden Administration to Include Cottonwood Fix in Federal Budget

January 31, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today continued his push for common sense forest management and led a bipartisan group of his colleagues to call on the Biden administration to include Daines’ full and permanent Cottonwood fix in the Fiscal Year 2024 President’s Budget, which is traditionally introduced after the President delivers his State of the Union Address. President Biden is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union Address February 7, 2023. “We write today to request your support in the Fiscal Year 2024 President’s Budget for a clean legislative fix to reverse the 2015 Cottonwood Environmental Law Center