In the News

At Stevenson's Diamond Dot Ranch outside Hobson, Montana, U.S. Representative Troy Downing spent Thursday afternoon meeting with ranchers to discuss increasing concerns about the future of American beef production. His visit comes just days after Downing and several House Republicans sent a letter to President Trump urging the administration to prioritize U.S. producers over foreign beef imports.

Congressman Troy Downing visited Ekalaka on October 23, making stops at Ekalaka Public Schools, the healthcare facility, and meeting with county officials.

The federal government shutdown has now lasted 27 days. During that time, the U.S. House hasn't been in full session, as majority Republicans argue they've done their work by passing a short-term funding extension and that it's up to the Senate to take action.

In the energy-rich state of Montana, Republican members of both the House and Senate are proposing a plan to remove restrictions on coal mining that were put in place by the Biden administration.

State coal tracts in eastern Montana’s Miles City Field Office region account for an estimated 95% of Montana’s mineable coal reserves, according to DNRC. However, federal and state coal deposits are often located adjacent to each other and cannot be developed unless both parcels are accessible.