Daines’ Bills One Step Closer To Becoming Law

Last week, three bills sponsored by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, including one of Daines’ top forest management priorities that would stop frivolous litigation from holding up forestry projects.

“My bipartisan bill would put an end to a procedural loophole being abused by fringe groups in the courts to block important forest restoration work that is critical for what I like to call the 4 W’s: reducing wildfire, protecting wildlife, improving watersheds and supporting workers,” Daines said.

Daines’ bill to reverse the Cottonwood decision will help increase active forest management by finally aligning consultation requirements in Montana with the rest of the country. This bill passed committee for the first time by a vote of 16-4 and is the first time in years a major forest management bill has passed out of the ENR Committee with such bipartisan support. It is a major win for Montana that will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, restore Montana’s forests and support good-paying timber jobs.

After it passed, Daines said, “We must manage our forests before they manage us. My forest management bill passing out of committee is a big win for Montana and the West, and I will keep working until it becomes law.”