Steve Daines

This is about American jobs. As someone who came from the private sector, spent 28 years in business, speed is a comparative advantage.

We have talked about for a long time is the need for reciprocity, for states to work together.

We need more mental health services for the kids in our schools.

If we're going to drive change, we are at the best place, and support of this committee is critical to make.

I think it comes down to holding individuals accountable; put what's most important and, certainly, it's going to be safety and thoroughness of these certifications.

Ultimately, whoever can deliver those orders the fastest will win the business.

I represent the great state of Montana, and we have a very rural character to our state.

We are proud in Montana to have a Boeing manufacturing facility. We manufacture 737, 747, 767, 787 parts and assemblies there.

I can tell you Montanans are very concerned given that 51 percent of our electricity comes from coal that this plan would further increase electricity rates for Montanans, for Montana families, while also damaging our state's ability and…

I would like to get your commitment to continue to work with the local airports, the stakeholders, to provide the appropriate communications and radar equipment necessary to ensure a high level of aviation safety.

I don't believe that the EPA did meaningful consultation in a timely way with the three tribes that have coal production.

You're entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts.

The EPA claimed it created an accommodation for coal plants across Indian County in the clean power regs.

It's important to our state officials. I know there are representatives from the Governor's office here who are very invested in this issue.

I personally called the EPA in Washington, D.C., and asked if they had members here...

Will coal development in Indian Country be compatible with traditional native values in the close relationship with the land?

We want to make sure that the economic impacts are not lost in this discussion, as the Chairman said, it affects real people right here in this area, and those are the people I'm most concerned about.

I think another source of revenue would help the Crow people move forward to a better, brighter future.

What gets lost in the debate back in Washington about energy development in general, and coal in particular, is what it means to real people in real places like Crow Agency, Montana.

If there's one thing Congress is good at, is creating uncertainty.

They never did mention or take into consideration the effect it would have on the Crow people.

I talked about trying to diversify the use of coal.

We're going to continue to mine coal because unless they have an alternative to feed my people, to help my people go forward, we're going to continue to mine coal.

This is a debate about the future of sovereign nations looking to be self-sufficient and providing for their own livelihood.

It's an honor to be on the Crow Reservation here today examining an issue that means a great deal not only to Indian Country, but to all Montanans and Americans.