Daines to lead national parks subcommittee

Montana Sen. Steve Daines will head up the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, the Republican’s congressional office announced Tuesday.

The Subcommittee on National Parks holds oversight responsibilities for the National Park System, along with the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the National Trails System, national recreation areas, historic sites, military parks and battlefields, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other federal sites.

“Growing up just a short drive away from Yellowstone National Park, I know the importance of our national parks to Montanans way of life,” Daines stated in a press release. “In this new role, I’ll continue to champion our national parks by working with the Trump administration to reduce the maintenance backlog and restore integrity to [the] Park Service.”

Daines will also serve as a member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining, according to the release.

The statement also quoted representatives from several state organizations praising Daines’ assignment, including the National Park Service Association’s Crown of the Continent Initiative, the Montana Chamber of Commerce and Business for Montana’s Outdoors.

Separately, the other Republican member of Montana’s congressional delegation, Rep. Ryan Zinke, advanced on Tuesday toward his likely post as the next Secretary of the Interior under the administration of President Donald Trump. Following a Senate Natural Resources Committee vote in favor of his selection, he now faces a confirmation vote by the full Senate as soon as Wednesday.