• January 15, 2026

U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle about the Senate's latest funding bill, which provides support for Montana's rural communities and public lands.

Sen. Daines touts expanded fire-fighting, national park funding amid $5B minibus cuts

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Dan Astin

January 15^th, 2026

Montana U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is touting $2.9 billion more for wildfire suppression and otherwise sustaining Montana-specific federal funding for national parks, public lands and Native American services…

…"These are the funding bills that keep the lights on in the federal government," Daines said in an interview with the Chronicle, adding any failure to pass the minibus, one-fourth of the 12 annual appropriation bills, could result in a government shutdown. "This is all work that has to be done on or before Jan. 30."

…Daines highlighted other financial support, including $3.27 billion for national park preservation, staffing and overall management, and $49 million for the North American Wetland Conservation Fund, which protects and restores wetland habitats for migratory birds. The bill also allocates $1 million for rural airstrips…

"This is all about our public lands and being better stewards," Daines said. "As we're seeing record levels of visitation in our national parks, including Yellowstone and Glacier, we want to make sure we've got the dollars there to keep operations running smoothly."

…Daines also referenced maintaining tribal safety funding for police services, detention facilities and probation programs.

Read the full story in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle HERE.

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