Steve Daines

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, last night, I offered amendment No. 388, to ensure the States and local governments are the driving force behind the national monument designations. I ask unanimous consent to add Senator Hatch as a cosponsor to my amendment.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 465.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, article I, section 8, clause 7, of the U.S. Constitution specifically provides for the establishment of the U.S. Postal Service. However, the Postal Service currently teeters on the brink of insolvency. In fact, a January 2015 Congressional Research Service report states that the Postal Service has reached its statutory borrowing limit of $15 billion and has run up more than $40 billion in deficits since fiscal year 2007. However in the midst of the Postal Service's financially tenuous circumstance, State and national political committees are granted postal discounts which can amount to as high as a 26-percent reduction in the standard rate paid by nonprivileged users. Congress would do well to put State and national local committees on the same playing field as ordinary Americans. The Postal Service would certainly benefit from these groups paying the ordinary postage rate. Particularly in rural States like Montana, the Postal Service plays an important role in the vitality of our communities, and it connects people. Accordingly, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting budget amendment No. 387, which would signal the Senate's willingness to address the postage discount it provides to State and national political committees. I thank the Chair. I yield back my time.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, my amendment will establish a deficit- neutral reserve fund for legislation to make sure the ATF does not infringe on our Second Amendment freedoms. This amendment ensures that American sportsmen aren't left with empty relics good for nothing more than mounting on the mantel, symbols of a bygone era of American freedom, until even the relics are taken. Amendment No. 387 Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 387.

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I offer amendment No. 389 to the budget resolution to establish a deficit-neutral reserve to hold Members of Congress accountable for failing to pass a balanced budget. Washington has balanced its budget only five times in the last five decades. Let me say that again. Washington has only balanced its budget five times in the last 50 years. This is completely unacceptable, and it threatens the prosperity of future generations. By strengthening accountability and demanding results, my amendment will help restore fiscal responsibility--I would call it fiscal sanity--in Washington. I have introduced related legislation--the Balanced Budget Accountability Act--which would terminate the salaries of Members of the House and Senate if their respective Chamber does not pass a balanced budget. Simply put, no balanced budget, no pay. It is time to hold Congress accountable to the taxpayer. It is time to hit the Members of Congress in their pocketbooks if they can't pass a balanced budget. Chairman Enzi's budget meets this commonsense principle, and by passing my amendment to the budget resolution we will reinforce our commitment to passing similar balanced budgets in the future. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up my amendment No. 388.

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, as a fifth-generation Montanan and avid sportsman, I know firsthand how important Montana's lands and resources are to our economy and our way of life. I also know how important it is for Montanans to play a strong role in the management of these precious parts of our State. In Montana, we understand that our resource use must be done responsibly. We understand the importance of protecting our State's treasures so that future generations may continue to have the same experiences and job opportunities we have today. We also know that the Montanans who use and live on the land every day best understand how to best protect those resources. But, unfortunately, the Obama administration's persistent efforts to stretch the true intent of the Antiquities Act threatens Montana's ability to manage our State's resources, and it is a trend we are seeing across other States as well. Too often these unilateral designations completely ignore the needs of the local community--the farmers and ranchers, the sportsmen and small business owners directly impacted by these new designations. My amendment will establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation to ensure States and local governments support national monument designations. This amendment in no way precludes the President from proposing a national monument. However, any bill or designation that has a potential to impact land management must be locally driven, not spearheaded in Washington, and must have local government and State support as well. This amendment ensures the people affected most by these designations have a seat at the table and their voices are heard. Amendment No. 389 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up my amendment No. 389.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, when I travel across the State of Montana, from Alzada to Whitefish, I meet many different people and small businesses. Although the diversity of thought in Montana is self- evident to anyone who has spent time there, everyone agrees on one thing. Regulation dictated by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. is stifling entrepreneurial creativity, pushing opportunities overseas, and killing jobs. While many burdensome regulations are new, through adoption of laws such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and the Affordable Care Act, still many more have been on the books for years without review. In an evolving and dynamic economy, regulators should, at the very least, review their regulations on a periodic basis, allow for public input, and eliminate any rules that are either obsolete or unnecessary. Oftentimes, regulation has unintended consequences on Montana's small businesses. In discussions about the harmful impacts of regulations with Montanans, Vicki Bertelsen, who is the President of K&K Trucking in Great Falls, said, ``Burdensome reporting requirements eat up too many business hours every month. I would rather be growing my business than sending redundant [and] antiquated paperwork to the government.'' With nearly 175,000 pages in the Code of Federal Regulations, it is easy to understand how regulations are keeping people from getting back to work. That is why today I am introducing the Regulatory Examination Vital for Improving and Evaluating Working Solutions, REVIEWS, Act. While this bill recognizes that many regulations serve a noble purpose in protecting consumers and natural resources, it also seeks to address a structural deficiency in government agencies which allow obsolete and unnecessary regulations to remain in the Code of Federal Regulations. Because agencies operate on limited resources, they focus their efforts on drafting new regulatory rules, rather than monitoring the rules that already exist. While most agency employees are well-intentioned, this structural deficiency places a greater emphasis on creating rules, rather than monitoring the application and effectiveness of existing rules, only to the detriment of Americans. The REVIEWS Act will require agencies to periodically review each regulation every ten years using the Notice and Comment process. This requirement will ensure that obsolete regulations are recognized and eliminated and that regulatory cost considerations are properly evaluated. If a rule is not reviewed at least every 10 years, it cannot be enforced in court. This requirement will provide public accountability and force regulators to periodically examine existing rules. It is my hope that this common sense bill will ultimately reduce the regulatory burden on Americans and allow them to freely pursue their ends, independently of government intervention. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, when I travel across the State of Montana, from Alzada to Whitefish, I meet many different people and small businesses. Although the diversity of thought in Montana is self- evident to anyone who has spent time there, everyone agrees on one thing. Regulation dictated by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. is stifling entrepreneurial creativity, pushing opportunities overseas, and killing jobs. While many burdensome regulations are new, through adoption of laws such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and the Affordable Care Act, still many more have been on the books for years without review. In an evolving and dynamic economy, regulators should, at the very least, review their regulations on a periodic basis, allow for public input, and eliminate any rules that are either obsolete or unnecessary. Oftentimes, regulation has unintended consequences on Montana's small businesses. In discussions about the harmful impacts of regulations with Montanans, Vicki Bertelsen, who is the President of K&K Trucking in Great Falls, said, ``Burdensome reporting requirements eat up too many business hours every month. I would rather be growing my business than sending redundant [and] antiquated paperwork to the government.'' With nearly 175,000 pages in the Code of Federal Regulations, it is easy to understand how regulations are keeping people from getting back to work. That is why today I am introducing the Regulatory Examination Vital for Improving and Evaluating Working Solutions, REVIEWS, Act. While this bill recognizes that many regulations serve a noble purpose in protecting consumers and natural resources, it also seeks to address a structural deficiency in government agencies which allow obsolete and unnecessary regulations to remain in the Code of Federal Regulations. Because agencies operate on limited resources, they focus their efforts on drafting new regulatory rules, rather than monitoring the rules that already exist. While most agency employees are well-intentioned, this structural deficiency places a greater emphasis on creating rules, rather than monitoring the application and effectiveness of existing rules, only to the detriment of Americans. The REVIEWS Act will require agencies to periodically review each regulation every ten years using the Notice and Comment process. This requirement will ensure that obsolete regulations are recognized and eliminated and that regulatory cost considerations are properly evaluated. If a rule is not reviewed at least every 10 years, it cannot be enforced in court. This requirement will provide public accountability and force regulators to periodically examine existing rules. It is my hope that this common sense bill will ultimately reduce the regulatory burden on Americans and allow them to freely pursue their ends, independently of government intervention. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, it is an incredible honor to represent Montana in the Senate. More than 150 years ago, a young Norwegian woman named Karine Dyrud immigrated to this country. She came in search of freedom and opportunity. She came to a nation where government served the people and not the other way around. After her husband passed away, this tough widow and mother of seven headed West to Montana and settled with her children about an hour north of Great Falls. Karine Dyrud was my great-great-grandmother and the beginning of my Montana story. Her perseverance is the reason why my family has called Montana home for five generations. It is why Cindy and I have been able to pass along the legacy of faith and freedom, of personal responsibility, to our four children. We are blessed to live in the greatest Nation on Earth, and it is a solemn responsibility of the Senate to do everything in its power to keep it that way. Before I was elected to Congress, I spent 28 years in the private sector growing companies and creating jobs. In fact, I am the only chemical engineer in Congress. In the private sector, we understand the importance of hard work, of innovation, accountability, and not spending more than you take in. The freedom of ideas and trade, private property and opportunity, are the fundamental elements of liberty and of prosperity. These are the elements that helped RightNow Technologies--a Montana-based cloud computing business that I served as vice president of for 12 years-- grow from a small startup into a publicly traded company and a global leader in cloud computing. We created over 1,000 high-paying jobs--jobs that support a vibrant community with good schools and quality of life for Montana families. Unfortunately, Washington, DC, under the guise of equality, is encroaching upon these freedoms, replacing the constitutional rule of law through elected officials with bureaucratic rule that is unaccountable, inefficient, ineffective, and far too costly. Washington is more concerned with its own self-interest and self-gain than the well-being of the American people. As we begin consideration of the Federal budget this week, we must hold government accountable to the people. Last year, the New York Times did an assessment of the health and wealth of every county in the Nation. You might expect folks in Silicon Valley to be doing fairly well or perhaps in the suburbs of New York City. What shocked me was seeing that six of the Nation's top 10 wealthiest counties surround Washington, DC. That sends a pretty clear message about where Washington priorities are. During the recession, while millions of Americans were struggling to make ends meet amidst layoffs and economic instability, Washington, DC, thrived. The Federal Government poured millions of dollars into new buildings, and salaries kept growing and growing. It is time for Washington to be held accountable to the American people, and that is why the first bill I introduced in the Senate was the Balanced Budget Accountability Act. It simply requires Congress to balance the budget or Members won't get paid. It is not that complicated. It is easy to measure. It is very simple. No balanced budget, no paycheck. Washington is out of touch with the day-to-day struggles that American farmers, ranchers, union workers, and tribal members face every day. Look no farther than President Obama's recent veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Instead of working toward North American energy independence, President Obama continues to play politics with good- paying American jobs. Instead of advancing economic opportunity for hard-working Montana families, President Obama is instead perpetuating his war on energy and standing in the way of affordable made-in-Montana and made-in-America energy. While serving in the House, I invited Crow tribal chairman Darrin Old Coyote to testify before the Natural Resources Committee. The Crow Reservation in Montana is home to some of the richest energy reserves in our country, but the President's senseless agenda is preventing them from developing their resources. What Chairman Old Coyote said has stuck with me. He said, ``A war on coal is a war on the Crow people.'' President Obama and the EPA's regulatory overreach is a direct threat to thousands of jobs and our Nation's economic future. We shouldn't be hitting pause on American energy production. We need to encourage it. More made-in-America energy doesn't just mean more money in the pockets of hard-working families. It also means more jobs. It means energy independence. Our energy security, though, isn't just about jobs and low energy prices. It is tied directly to our national security. I am happy to report the United States will become the largest oil and gas producer in the world this year, surpassing both Russia and Saudi Arabia. As we see the growing threat of ISIS and a nuclear Iran, one thing is clear: We need more made-in-America energy, not more made-in-the-Middle East oil. We have tremendous opportunities to develop our Nation's energy resources and create new jobs across the entire Nation, but we must allow the States to take the lead. Rather than moving forward with commonsense, job-creating solutions, such as the Keystone Pipeline, Washington continues to put barrier after barrier up to prevent job creation and the responsible management of our resources. We see that in our national forests and our public lands. Our public lands out West are a tremendous asset to our tourism economy and our way of life. It is one of the many reasons people come to Montana in the first place. But the Federal Government's perpetual failure to properly manage our national forests has led many of Montana's forested counties into economic despair. Like many Western States, Montana once boasted a robust timber industry. Now timber harvests in our national forests have declined 82 percent. In fact, I had dinner one evening with a couple from Eureka, MT, up in the northwest corner of our State, in Lincoln County. They said: Steve, basically we describe this area now as poverty with a view. We must implement meaningful forest management reforms that get our timber industry up and running again. It improves the health of our forests and it ensures our rural counties aren't dependent on the whims of the Federal Government's annual budget. But we must ensure that States have primacy in these decisions. We must ensure the hard-working farmers, the ranchers, the loggers, and the sportsmen who live, work, and recreate on these lands every day have their voices heard, and that those closest to the land are guiding management practices, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC, or lawyers in San Francisco, who would be hard pressed to find Montana on a map. But Washington's overreach doesn't just affect our natural resources. We are seeing it in our technology sector and the Internet. I worked in the technology sector for more than 12 years. I know firsthand how the Internet has removed geography as a constraint for countless businesses in Montana and across our Nation. I know technology has created jobs and economic opportunities in communities where little previously existed. We must encourage the growth of these high-tech jobs in Montana and across our country. These are good-paying jobs that will help us grow economically and allow us to remain globally competitive. The Internet is a laboratory of innovation, yet DC wants to tie our entrepreneurs' hands by placing more regulations on the Internet. The FCC recently approved a 300-plus-page plan to regulate Americans' Internet access as a title II utility, in short, a government takeover of the Internet. That is like putting a buggy whip manufacturer in charge of Tesla. The Internet is unconstrained innovation. That is why I will stand strong against DC's attempts to tax the Internet, to regulate the Internet, and to stifle innovation. If we want to remain the greatest Nation in the world, we need to remain globally competitive, and technology plays a key role in that. We also must implement meaningful tax reforms that encourage American businesses, incentivize American businesses to grow and create jobs here at home, not overseas. During my time at our software company, in the last 5 years I managed Asia Pacific, and I had offices in Tokyo and Sidney, but headquartered in Bozeman, MT, as we were growing and competing against some of the world's best technology companies. We must expand our trade opportunities, certainly for our farmers and ranchers across our country. So it is important that innovation and entrepreneurship are encouraged, not hindered. Unfortunately, Washington, DC, is more interested in issuing press releases and headlines than getting results. As an engineer, I was trained to solve problems, find solutions, and get results. It is time for Washington to look to the States for these solutions--to adhere to the principles of federalism and States rights, as clearly found in our Constitution--and empowering local communities, State legislatures, Governors, and tribes to manage their resources, to grow economic opportunity, and to find and determine their own destiny. In fact, it is time for Washington to listen to the States and it is time for Washington, DC, to listen to Montana. I have always said one of the best decisions I ever made in my life was when I picked my great-great-grandmother. She got her family out to Montana, and she is buried in a small country cemetery just east of a small town called Conrad, MT. On her headstone, in this very remote small country cemetery, reads three simple words: ``saved by grace.'' She placed her ultimate faith in her God, not in her government. It is an honor to stand here today on the Senate floor to serve as Montana's voice in Washington. I will continue working to bring more Montana solutions to Washington and get it working again for all Montanans. I yield the floor.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 18; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that following leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, and that the time be equally divided, with the Democrats controlling the first half and the majority controlling the second half; finally, following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 178.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Keystone XL Pipeline means opportunity for the American people. The President is standing in the way of jobs. He is standing in the way of affordable energy. He is standing in the way of our Nation's energy security. His recent veto threat and now carrying through with the veto sent a clear message that he is more concerned with political games than increasing opportunity for the American people. We are here today to send a strong message that this fight is far from over. The Keystone XL Pipeline is a lifeline for many Montana communities. In fact, the Keystone Pipeline enters the United States through Montana, and that is why I will keep fighting to get this project moving forward. In fact, in our State of Montana alone, the Keystone Pipeline means $80 million to Montana counties and schools per year. Now, $16 million per year of that goes directly to our Montana university systems. This is how we continue to fund our infrastructure, our schools, and our teachers. A couple of weeks ago I got a call from Rion Miles. He is the business manager for the Operating Engineers Local 400 in Montana. He told me the Keystone XL Pipeline will create 300 good-paying jobs for his union members in Montana alone. Like most Montanans, Ryan is scratching his head. He doesn't understand why the President is standing in the way of these good-paying union jobs. A while back, I was in my pickup traveling in eastern Montana in the town of Glasgow. I stopped by the NorVal Co-Op. This co-op supplies electricity to a few thousand Montana families in northeast Montana. They told me over a cup of coffee that morning that they will keep electric rates flat for the next 10 years if the Keystone Pipeline is approved. Why is that? That is because the NorVal Co-Op is supplying the electricity to a couple of the pump stations on the Keystone Pipeline. That extra volume of electricity will help keep costs down for everybody. I asked: What happens if the Keystone Pipeline is not approved? They said electric rates would go up about 40 percent over the next 10 years. That is nearly $500 a year of increase per family. These are hardworking Montana families living month to month. These are senior citizens living on fixed incomes, where we can hold their utility rates, electric rates flat for the next 10 years by passing the Keystone Pipeline bill. What about North American energy independence? Up to 830,000 barrels a day of oil will be transported through this pipeline. Contrary to what the President has said, 100,000 barrels a day from the Bakken, which is shared between North Dakota and Montana, will be put into that pipeline close to Baker, Montana. The President was just given four Pinocchios by the Washington Post yesterday for claiming that the Keystone Pipeline bypassed the United States. I would like to have the President come to Montana. I will pick him up in Billings, and we will drive in my pickup. I will show him where the proposed siting is for the Baker onramp where 100,000 barrels a day of made-in-Montana and made-in-North Dakota oil will enter the Keystone Pipeline. The people of Montana and the people in the Bakken region know the President's claim is absolutely false. With gas dropping under two bucks a gallon where I am from, that has been a welcomed change for many, many hard-working Montana families. Why are gas prices dropping? It is because we are seeing more made-in- America energy. Again, this lowering in gas prices will result in approximately $750 a year of savings for the average American household. That is a good thing. But rather than hitting pause on our energy production, it is time to encourage it. Just this morning we were reminded by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that we are living in an increasingly dangerous world. Our energy security isn't just about jobs and low energy prices. It is directly tied to our national security. Whether it is ISIS, whether it is Boko Haram in Nigeria and Chad, whether it is the Russian aggression in Eastern Europe or the growing threat of a nuclear Iran, it is vitally important we move forward with more made-in-America energy because many of these regions that are filled with turmoil supply much of the world's oil and natural gas. I remember just a year ago when we were having some challenges and we looked at the numbers of what is going on in Ukraine. Nearly 40 percent of the natural gas that is supplied in Europe comes through pipelines going through Ukraine. Thankfully, as the United States becomes the world's largest oil producer this year, surpassing both Russia and Saudi Arabia, these are positive steps forward towards a more secure future for our children and grandchildren. We need more made-in-America energy, not more made-in-the-Middle East oil. The Keystone Pipeline will help us do just that. Looking forward, the President's veto isn't the end. This week we will vote to override the President's veto. I hope we can get three or four more Senators onboard for this veto vote, and we can do it in the Senate. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. It was encouraging to see a good bipartisan vote in the Senate and in the House in support of the Keystone Pipeline. Let's stand together, and let's stand with the American people and override the President's shortsighted veto. Regardless of the vote, the fight is not over. This week the President himself said he would make a final decision on this pipeline. I hope he does. You realize it took the Canadians just 7 months to approve the Keystone Pipeline--7 months. It has now taken our President over 6 years without approving the pipeline. We must keep the pressure on this administration. We must continue to fight for American jobs, American opportunity, American energy independence, and low energy prices. I yield back my time.

Mr. DAINES. I ask unanimous consent to speak for 10 minutes as in morning business.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I join Senator Cassidy of Louisiana, Senator Gardner of Colorado, and Senator Cotton of Arkansas in introducing the Balanced Budget Accountability Act. By establishing the principle No Balanced Budget, No Pay, this legislation will bring fiscal responsibility to Washington. The American people deserve a balanced budget. Unfortunately, Washington remains unwilling to take the steps needed to get our country back on solid fiscal ground. The Balanced Budget Accountability Act reflects core principles that work: common sense business practices that protect hardworking taxpayers and making elected officials accountable for delivering results to the people they serve. It is what Washington needs to finally balance the budget. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I join Senator Cassidy of Louisiana, Senator Gardner of Colorado, and Senator Cotton of Arkansas in introducing the Balanced Budget Accountability Act. By establishing the principle No Balanced Budget, No Pay, this legislation will bring fiscal responsibility to Washington. The American people deserve a balanced budget. Unfortunately, Washington remains unwilling to take the steps needed to get our country back on solid fiscal ground. The Balanced Budget Accountability Act reflects core principles that work: common sense business practices that protect hardworking taxpayers and making elected officials accountable for delivering results to the people they serve. It is what Washington needs to finally balance the budget. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Madam President, as a father of four, I am deeply concerned by the very need for legislation like S. 295, the Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act. It is appalling that even a single one of our children is subject to such base and vile exploitation. As parents, and as a Nation, it is paramount we guard our children when there are those who would exploit them in pornography, who would enslave them in human and sex trafficking, and who would perpetrate this sickening crime upon them. The Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Act is one more step in laying the full consequences of these heinous crimes upon the perpetrators. While current law brings criminals to justice before the courts, it can leave the victims to reconstruct their lives with only limited resources on hand. This bill would make sure victims of child pornography have what they need to rebuild and restore their lives by making the perpetrators financially responsible. Yet while it is a good and necessary step, nothing can ever truly be done by the law or the courts to repair the damage that has been wrought on these lives. We must stop it before it begins. So let us help those who are in need of healing and stop those who would continue this violence.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has been instrumental in increasing access to our public lands, growing opportunities for outdoor recreation, and protecting wildlife. And there is great potential for the program to be used to increase access to our existing Federal lands. My amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the Land and Water Conservation Fund serves an important role in improving wildlife habitat, increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, and facilitating economic development on our public lands. It will also convey that funding and reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund should be a priority for Congress and as we consider its reauthorization, we should also look for improvements to the structure of the program. The benefits and opportunities for improvement to the Land and Water Conservation Fund should be thoroughly evaluated in a transparent legislative process. My amendment would support authorization through the legislative process and allow for oversight and transparency in improving the program. My amendment is not intended to undermine the integrity of the program. Montana's outdoors heritage is of great importance to our State's economy and thousands of Montanans' way of life. Supporting and improving the Land and Water Conservation Fund will help us ensure that this legacy is continued for future generations.

Mr. DAINES

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, my amendment simply expresses the sense of Congress that all future national monument designations should be subject to consultation with local governments and the approval of the Governor and legislature of the States in which such designation would occur. This amendment ensures that the people affected most by these designations have a seat at the table and their voices are heard. The current administration, as well as past administrations--both Republican and Democratic--have made efforts to stretch the intent of the Antiquities Act, threatening Montanans' ability to manage our State's resources. It is a trend we are seeing. Any bill designation that impacts land management should be locally driven, not spearheaded in Washington. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.