Montana delegation discusses priorities

Montana's congressional delegation is busy with the current session in Washington, D.C., and both senators and representatives agree there is work to be done.

Sen. Jon Tester recently announced he is running for re-election in 2024. "I want to work on making sure the country is less divided," Tester said last week from his office in D.C. He added that he wants to be able to give the younger generation the same opportunities his parents gave to him.

"So far so good," Sen. Tester said of the 2023 session. He noted there are different challenges from east to west in representing all Montanans, but there are common issues too, including housing, child care and forest management. "We all appreciate privacy and being able to work."

He said Congress has been pushing the Forest Service on timber management. "Let's start treating some forest," he added. Tester has introduced several pieces of legislation to help veterans since he was elected in 2006, and he said there is still more work to do. "We need to speed up the process of hiring for veterans affairs," he expressed. He also said he is working to get the farm bill passed, which he says is another important bill for Montana. He noted that he likes being in Washington, D.C., to help solve problems for Montanans. "That's a special feeling when you help people."

Senator Steve Daines also is working on forest management this session, urging the Forest Service for more "common sense treatment projects." He added that he is looking for bipartisan opportunities in forest management. Daines said lawyers are stopping forest projects with litigation. "It's upsetting to me." Daines also commented on litigation that has stalled mining projects including the Rock Creek and Montanore mines. It's been 30-plus years of battling to permit a mine that will create hundreds of jobs," he said.

When it comes to balancing the needs of the diverse Montana population, both senators expressed the importance of visiting with Montanans. "That's an important part of representing our state and understanding different views," Daines said. When asked what he likes about being a senator, Daines replied: "Every morning we wake up in the greatest country in the world. That's an honor. And we wake up in the greatest state. To bring the voice of Montana to Washinsgton is a great honor."

The Ledger also sat down with the state's two U.S. House representatives last week - Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale. "I'm still an optimist," Zinke said when asked how he thought the session was going. "The bumps are being worked out." Zinke noted he is one of more than 60 veterans in the House of Representatives. Zinke's priorities this session are varied. "We need to get a hold of our appropriations process and get control of the budget," he noted. "Inflation is hurting us all, especially Montanans." Zinke said the Biden administration leaped into electric vehicles without thinking about consequences such as additional waste in landfills. "We need to get back to $2 gas, lower spending and lower inflation," he stated.

Rep. Zinke noted that Sanders, Mineral and Lincoln counties have "enormous resources in mining, timber and recreation." He said that litigation has stopped the ability to go in and manage the woods. Zinke agreed that litigation remains "a huge obstacle" for forest management. "I have a lot of concerns and worry about the direction of the country. He said that housing is really rough for Montanans, and the housing crisis is the result of excessive spending. "I'm a big advocate for home ownership. We're looking at 50-year mortgages and multi-family housing that have titles," he noted as possible solutions that would help Montanans.

In regard to representing Montana, Zinke talked about what he calls "The Yellowstone Effect" and that people outside Montana envision life here as it is on the popular TV show. "That's the impression of Montana," he said, "but we know that's not true." Zinke is familiar with Washington, D.C., having served in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2017 before serving as Secretary of the Interior from 2017-2019. As for other priorities, Zinke said there is a workforce of people who aren't working and that the country needs to incentivize people getting back to work if they are able.

Rep. Matt Rosendale said he is more optimistic this session, as Congress has a more reliable schedule. With a Republican majority in the House of Representatives, he said his bills are getting more timely hearings. "Folks know where my principles are," he responded in regard to balancing the needs of all Montanans. Rosendale, in response to timber management, said that there are currently 28 timber sales in Montana tied up in litigation. Rosendale and Sen. Daines discussed the reversal of the cottonwood decision, which would allow forest management plans to continue even if new information is provided regarding critical habitat of threatened species in a management area. Rosendale testified last week that the Forest Service is not covering their expenses. "We're harvesting more on school trust land than the Forest Service is," he noted, adding that when he was on the land board "we never had a single timber sale that was litigated."

This session Rosendale is also on the veterans affairs committee, where he is working to push technology advancements for veterans affairs. He also expressed his disapproval of executive orders. "We need to rein in executive orders and rein in agencies," he said, adding that agencies pass rules that can govern in the same manner as laws.

Montana's senators and representatives host a delegation breakfast each Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Many Montanans have been visiting the congressmen, with the breakfasts averaging about 75 people a week from their home state.