Tag: Jobs

Daines Outlines Priorities for American Prosperity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today delivered his maiden speech on the Senate floor and outlined his priorities as Montana’s new United States Senator. During his speech, Daines discussed the need for state-based solutions to restore economic growth that keeps America safe and secure. Key excerpts from Daines’ speech are below: We are blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth. And it is the solemn responsibility of the United States Senate to do everything in its power to keep it that way.  Washington is more concerned with its own self-interest and self-gain than the well being of the

Daines Works to Encourage Job Creation, Investment

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage investment, job creation and economic growth in Montana and across the nation. Daines joined Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing the New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2015. This legislation would make permanent the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, provide an annual allocation of credits indexed to inflation, and exempt NMTC investments from the Alternative Minimum Tax. NMTC attracts capital to low-income communities by providing private investors with a 39 percent federal tax credit for investments made in

Daines Calls for Montana Solutions to Land Management, Coal Jobs and Increasing Access to Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today advocated for the Department of Interior to better incorporate Montana-driven solutions in the management of Montana’s public lands, energy resources and wildlife habitats. During this morning’s Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing on the Department of Interior’s fiscal year 2016 budget request, Daines pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to work more collaboratively with Montana in the conservation and management of the state’s sage grouse population. Daines also called for Department funds to be better utilized to expand access to public lands and pushed back against the Department’s recently proposed energy regulations that could have

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to override President Obama’s veto of the bipartisan Keystone XL pipeline. “It’s disappointing that some of my Democrat Senate colleagues failed to stand with a majority of the Senate and the American people to override the President’s short-sighted veto of the Keystone XL pipeline. Regardless of today’s vote, the fight to build Keystone is not over. I will continue to keep pressure on the Obama administration to approve this pipeline and fight for American jobs, American opportunity and American energy independence.” Last

Daines, Tester cast support for increasing public land access for Montana sportsmen

(U.S. SENATE) – Montana’s hunters and anglers today hailed Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines’ support for the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act, a bill that increases access for hunting and fishing. Montana’s Senators, joined by over one-dozen colleagues, are pushing legislation that increases public access for outdoorsmen and women, supports conservation, protects hunting and fishing rights, and increases Second Amendment protections on public land. “As a lifelong sportsman, I know firsthand the importance of Montana’s outdoor heritage to our state’s economy and our way of life,” Daines stated. “It’s important that we work together to ensure this legacy is protected for

Daines Statement on FCC Internet Access Power Grab

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today slammed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for voting to place more burdens on Internet access through their 317-page plan to regulate the Internet under Title II of the Federal Communications Act of 1934. “The Obama administration’s 317-page regulation is nothing short of a government takeover of the Internet and a power grab that will slap more red tape on Americans’ Internet access. Rather than working toward bipartisan solutions that create jobs and promote innovation, the President and his administration have forced through yet another short-sighted regulation that will likely increase costs for the

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: 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 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 Announces Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee Assignments

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has been selected to serve on three subcommittees on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Daines will serve on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittees on Energy; Public Lands, Forests and Mining; and Water and Power. Daines noted that these subcommittees will help him work for commonsense policies that help create good-paying Montana energy jobs, protect Montanans’ access to public lands and keep energy prices low for hardworking Montana families. As a member of the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining, Daines will also be at the