Downing, Daines, Sheehy, Zinke Introduce Bicameral Resolution Removing Harmful Miles City RMPA
Representatives Troy Downing (MT-02) and Ryan Zinke (MT-01), along with U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, today introduced a bicameral resolution disapproving and removing the Bureau of Land Management’s 2024 Miles City Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA). The Miles City RMPA effectively ends future coal leasing within the Miles City Field Office planning area, which will have an adverse impact on Montana’s jobs, economy, and energy security.
“Montana’s Second Congressional District keeps the lights on in the Treasure State," said Congressman Downing. "Under the Biden Administration, Montana energy production took a direct hit when an outright ban on coal leasing in the Powder River Basin went into effect. I’m proud to lead this CRA in the House to reverse this disastrous management plan amendment that threatens access to affordable, reliable energy and investment in the communities I represent.”
“Energy security is national security, and Montana’s mining industry plays a vital role in ensuring America remains energy dominant" said Senator Daines. "The Miles City RMPA halts all future coal leasing in the region and will cause hardworking Montanans to lose their jobs. Moreover, the plan will stifle our state’s growing economy and increase our dependence on foreign nations for coal and energy production. I’m proud to introduce this resolution with Senator Sheehy, Representative Downing, and Representative Zinke to remove this plan from the books and allow President Trump to move forward with a Made-In-Montana and Made-In-America energy policy.”
“It’s time to put an end to the Biden-era, job-killing, environmentalist mandates, and this resolution will help achieve that," said Senator Sheehy. "As we work to unleash Montana energy, we must support Montana’s resource economy in building a successful future, creating jobs, and powering America. Montanans voted to make America energy dominant so we can bring down prices for families and boost real wages for the hardworking Americans who keep our economy running, and Montana’s delegation is delivering on this commonsense, America First agenda.”
“The only way we can achieve true American Energy Dominance is when we utilize all-of-the-above forms of energy to include Montana’s clean coal," said Congressman Zinke. "Coal provides reliable, abundant and affordable baseload power. Our economy and people have always relied on Montana’s clean coal and that is only going to increase with the advancement of AI, data centers and population growth.”
Read the full resolution HERE.
Background:
The Miles City RMPA makes nearly 2,000,000 acres unavailable for coal leasing within the Miles City Field Office planning area and prohibits new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin.
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