#MakeCongressWorkAgain
The Senate Majority canceled August recess in order to #MakeCongressWorkAgain. Great! With all this extra time on our hands, the Senate should be voting on the dozens of bills currently stalled in committee. Here a few suggestions:
Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act
For almost a decade loggers, conservationists, outfitters, and sportsmen have collaborated on the Blackfoot-Clearwater Stewardship Project (BCSP), a three-pronged approach to forest management in the region. After securing funding for the first prong of the project — sustainable timber harvest — I introduced a bill to implement the conservation and recreation initiatives outlined by the project. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is a made-in-Montana solution that will protect 79,000 acres of land and open thousands of acres to recreation. It’s supported by two-thirds of Montanans because it will create jobs, strengthen the local economy, and preserve our outdoor way of life for generations to come.
Introduced on March 2, 2017
Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act
After two mining companies announced plans to expand their operations near Yellowstone National Park, locals approached me about coming up with plan to protect the region’s natural resources and growing outdoor economy. Over the next two years, I worked with residents and small-business owners to craft the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act. This bipartisan bill will permanently withdraw federal mineral rights on 30,000 acres of public land in the Gallatin National Forest — adjacent to Yellowstone National Park — and prevent proposed mines from expanding onto unclaimed public land. There are some places you just shouldn’t dig or drill, the doorstep of our nation’s first National Park is one of them.
Introduced on April 25, 2017
Land & Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act
Over the last 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has invested more than $540 million in Montana’s outdoor recreation economy — at no cost to taxpayers. That’s because funding for LWCF comes from offshore oil and gas revenue, which is then reinvested in projects that preserve and increase access to our public lands. I fought to secure $425 million in funding for LWCF this year, while also introducing a bipartisan bill to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the critical conservation initiative for future generations.
Introduced on March 8, 2017
The E-File Act
Every quarter Senate candidates file thousands of pages of financial disclosure reports — by hand — with the Secretary of the Senate. Filing reports by hand not only costs taxpayers nearly $900,000 a year, but it delays public access to these reports, sometimes for months. That’s why Jon introduced the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity — or E-File — Act, requiring Senate candidates to file their campaign finance reports with the FEC electronically, instead of by hand. This legislation will increase transparency, allow the public to hold candidates accountable, and save the taxpayer money.
Introduced on February 2, 2017
The DISCLOSE Act
Thanks to Citizens United all sorts of organizations, like corporations, off-shore companies, labor organizations, and super PACs, can now donate more and report less. That’s why I’m sponsoring the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act. This bill requires organizations who participate in political activity to promptly disclose their donors who give more than $10,000 during an election cycle.
Introduced on July 19, 2017
The Honest Ads Act
When it comes to political campaigns, all print, television, and radio advertising must include a disclaimer that tells voters, viewers, or listeners who paid for the ad. But, because these rules were put in place before the internet became big, digital advertising has fallen through the cracks. That’s why I’m sponsoring the Honest Ads Act, which would require the same disclaimers on digital ads and make Montana common sense the law of the land.
Introduced on October 19, 2017
Rural Education Support & Training (REST) Act
My REST Act will to help bring more teachers into classrooms across Montana by providing scholarships and student loan forgiveness to college students who commit to teach for at least three years in a rural school. It will also allow school districts to receive funding to reimburse teachers in rural schools for their out-of-pocket costs associated with obtaining their certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Introduced on February 27, 2017
Student Testing Improvement & Accountability Act
Federal testing mandates have stifled creativity in our classrooms and burdened local schools with red tape and regulation. That’s why I introduced the Student Testing Improvement and Accountability Act, which significantly reduces the number of standardized tests schools must administer from 17 to 9. This is a commonsense approach that allows teachers to determine what’s best for their students and gives more flexibility to local school districts.
Introduced on September 5, 2017
IDEA Full Funding Act
When Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) more than 40 years ago, it promised to cover 40% of the cost of special education. That hasn’t happened. In fact, federal funding for IDEA currently hovers around 16%. Unfunded federal mandates handcuff our local school districts, draining their already meager resources and chipping away at local control. That’s why I introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act, to require the federal government to pay its fair share of IDEA funding, putting control of critical resources back in the hands of local teachers, principals, and administrators.
Introduced on March 13, 2018
