Daines Chairs Final National Parks Subcommittee Hearing: “Our National Parks and Public Lands Have a Special Place in My Heart”

• July 21, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today chaired his final National Parks subcommittee hearing, after a decade of serving as co-chair. In the hearing he discussed the America Battlefield Protection Program Amendment Act and the importance of preserving Montana battlefields from the Great Sioux and Nez Perce Wars.

Watch Daines' opening remarks HERE.

Daines' opening remarks:

Today's hearing marks my 22^nd as Chairman or Ranking Member. And as Senator King and I always say, we are co-chairs of this committee. No matter which way the gavel falls in the U.S. Senate, and we've seen it go both ways, Angus, we are co-chairs of this committee. And I want to thank my co-chair, Senator King, for serving alongside me for nine years. It's truly been a pleasure. I also want to thank Senator Hirono who served as my first ranking member and former Chairmen Murkowski and Manchin and current Chairman Lee for entrusting the gavel to me. Our national parks and public lands have a special place in my own heart. If you come to my office, you'll see the Yellowstone Conference Room. That's not named after the Yellowstone TV show. Just to be clear, it's named after Yellowstone National Park. It's been a privilege to serve in this role for so many years. On today's agenda we have 28 bills, many of which are bipartisan or have the support from the state delegation. I am excited to hear more about S.3524, the America Battlefield Protection Program Amendment Act, led by Senators McCormick and Kaine. The bill reauthorizes the National Battlefield Protection Program and expands the mission of the program to include the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War. Under current law the Battlefield Program focuses on the Civil War and the Revolutionary War. Expanding the program will help preserve important historical sites and help remember those who lost their lives fighting on American soil. However, I believe that if we are going to expand this program to include the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War then we should also look at expanding its scope to include the Indian Wars. With the 150^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn last month and the 150^th Anniversary of the Nez Perce Wars coming up next year, now is the time to remember these important battles and preserve them for future generations. Montana is home to numerous important battlefields from the Great Sioux and Nez Perce Wars. I look forward to working with the Department of the Interior, this committee, and Senator McCormick to include the Indian Wars in this important bill.

###

Contact: