Sen. Daines Proposes New Wildfire Caucus to Address Endangered Species and Federal Land Management Disputes

Sen. Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, has called for a new wildfire caucus in the Senate to resolve a dispute over protecting endangered species and federal land management. The caucus, co-chairing by Dainese and California Democrat Alex Padilla, met for the first time last week and focused its first meeting on the findings of a federal wildfire commission, which made recommendations on fire preparedness and forest management. Daine hopes the caucus could push legislation undoing a 2015 court case forcing the Forest Service to make additional consultations with the Fish and Wildlife Service on endangered species.