Latest news with #R-MT
The Verge
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Verge
A new bill would ensure that the military has the right-to-repair its own equipment.
Posted Jul 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM UTC A new bill would ensure that the military has the right-to-repair its own equipment. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) have introduced the Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025, which would force contractors to give the Department of Defense 'fair and reasonable' access to repair parts, tools, and information. Earlier this year, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll committed to adding right-to-repair provisions in existing and future contracts with manufacturers. This bill would extend the policy to other branches of the military.
The Diplomat
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Diplomat
A Region of Opportunity? US Policy and the Future of Central Asia
Central Asia is no longer perceived solely as an object of great power rivalry; on the contrary, the region is emerging as an important and self-sufficient actor, putting forward its own initiatives and playing a constructive role in promoting stability, security, and sustainable development. Regional cooperation in Central Asia is becoming a key driver of sustainable development, stability, and economic growth. In recent years a new regional reality has taken shape, influenced not from the outside, but emerging from within the region itself. This new reality reflects the shared aspiration of Central Asian countries to deepen collaboration, make joint decisions, and advance common interests. Through coordinated efforts, the states of the region have begun to address issues that for decades remained sources of tension. This progress has been made possible thanks to growing trust and the strengthening of both bilateral and multilateral platforms for dialogue. The Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia play a particularly important role. The format, which began with a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2018, has proven its relevance in practice, offering a consistent platform for discussing prospects for cooperation, aligning national positions, and jointly developing solutions that serve the long-term interests of Central Asia. Of particular importance is the search for balanced foreign policy strategies that reflect the multi-vector nature of Central Asian states' interests. The countries of Central Asia continue to demonstrate a commitment to balanced and pragmatic foreign policy approaches based on mutual respect, diversification of partnerships, and the pursuit of greater regional resilience. In a shifting global environment, they are consolidating internally, deepening multilateral cooperation formats, and showing increased interest in constructive engagement with leading international actors. This outlook enables regional states to strengthen their own agency while contributing to a more stable and predictable international order. It is within this context, wherein Central Asia is exhibiting greater agency and a shift toward stronger regional cooperation, that the United States seeks to build a stable partnership architecture with the region, focused on supporting sovereignty, sustainable growth, and both political and economic reform. Nevertheless, in recent years, Central Asia has rarely occupied a prominent place on the U.S. foreign policy agenda. It is therefore noteworthy that in January 2025, Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) raised the issue of updating U.S. policy toward the region during Marco Rubio's secretary of state confirmation hearings. Specifically, Daines emphasized the importance of repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which continues to formally restrict the establishment of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) between the United States and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan (Kyrgyzstan was permanently exempted in 2002). Rubio agreed with the proposal, characterizing the provision as an 'absurd relic of the past.' The potential repeal of this amendment could serve as both a symbolic and practical step for the new U.S. administration, opening the door to expanded cooperation in areas beyond traditional trade, from infrastructure projects and strategic rare earth supply chains to joint efforts in the field of security. Such a move would not only strengthen the U.S. position in the region but also enable Washington to engage more effectively in balancing the interests of Russia, China, and other external actors. It remains, however, under the purview of Congress. In 2023, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced a bill to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. It never made it out of committee. Other bills to the same effect over the years have stalled without serious consideration. One of the most high-profile developments since the outset of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term was the large-scale increase in U.S. import tariffs in an early April executive order, which labeled the increased tariffs as 'reciprocal.' Using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as a justification, Trump argued that the state of global trade imbalances with the U.S. constituted an emergency. For some countries, the tariff rate was elevated as high as 50 percent. The rate for Kazakhstan was set at 27 percent, while for the rest of the region's countries, including Uzbekistan, a base 10 percent was applied. Soon after, Trump paused the higher rates, enforcing a 10 percent universal tariff on all trading partners while the higher rates were paused for 90 days – a period that ends next week. Another growing concern is the issue of entry restrictions on foreign nationals implemented as part of U.S. migration and visa policy. In a recent proclamation, the Trump administration introduced full and partial bans on the issuance of visas for a number of countries, including Turkmenistan. A subsequent internal State Department memo leaked to the media included Kyrgyzstan among a list of more than 30 countries that could be targeted with future entry bans. A growing question emerges: to what extent might domestic decisions by the new U.S. administration, including a possible expansion of import tariffs on goods from various countries, stricter visa policies, and broader trade and technology restrictions affect the dynamics of engagement with Central Asia? In light of these turbulent dynamics, the countries of Central Asia are demonstrating increasing flexibility. In response to potential protectionist measures from the United States, the region has intensified its efforts to diversify foreign economic relations and strengthen partnerships with leading global actors. At the same time, homegrown initiatives are gaining momentum in areas such as sustainable transport, the digital economy, renewable energy, and regional banking cooperation. Second, cooperation in the multilateral 'Central Asia Plus' format is gaining momentum, incorporating dialogue platforms with key external partners including the United States and China. These frameworks serve not only as tools for diplomatic coordination but also as important channels for technological, educational, and infrastructure cooperation. Such flexible partnership mechanisms enable the countries of Central Asia to enhance their agency, develop coordinated regional positions, and build sustainable connections beyond traditional spheres of influence. For the United States, participation in these formats remains a vital component of strategic dialogue, particularly in areas where American expertise and resources can have long-term impact, such as climate resilience, water resource management, and digital transformation. Third, according to assessments by Moody's, U.S. tariff policy may have indirect effects on the economies of Central Asian countries, particularly in the event of a slowdown in global economic growth. A decline in demand from the region's key trading partners such as China, Russia, and the European Union could impact export-oriented sectors, including the textile and mining industries. Heightened competition and fluctuations in commodity prices pose additional challenges for producers, as well as for the financial sector that supports these industries. In Uzbekistan, for example, where textiles constitute a significant share of total exports, potential revenue losses could lead to a revision of lending terms and a broader need to adapt to new market conditions. In addition, the countries of Central Asia are placing strong emphasis on the development of trade and economic partnerships, leveraging their substantial natural resource base, demographic potential, and favorable macroeconomic dynamics. The region is home to approximately 20 percent of the world's uranium reserves, 17 percent of oil, 7 percent of natural gas, as well as significant deposits of rare earth elements. Central Asia also possesses major potential in hydropower and solar energy, positioning it as a strategic player in the global energy transition. At the same time, the region is experiencing a demographic rise, forming a sizeable labor pool. The population has reached 80 million and, according to U.N. projections, is expected to surpass 100 million by 2050. Central Asia is also one of the youngest regions in the world, with an average age of just 28.7 years. Over the past decade, the region's economy has demonstrated stable growth, averaging 6.2 percent annually — more than double the global average of 2.6 percent. Since 2016, the combined regional GDP has grown by 60 percent, reaching $450 billion by the end of 2023. Central Asia is increasingly becoming a dynamic participant in the global economic system. In the past seven years, the region's total trade volume has more than doubled, reaching approximately $225 billion. Intra-regional trade has increased 4.5 times, from $2.4 billion to $11 billion. At the same time, foreign direct investment inflows have nearly doubled, from $27 billion in 2016 to $50 billion in 2023. Notably, mutual investments among Central Asian countries are growing steadily, with an average annual increase of 9 percent. Cumulatively, foreign investment stock in the region has expanded more than twentyfold over the past two decades, from $12.2 billion to $251.4 billion. Central Asian countries are projected to attract up to $170 billion in foreign investments by 2030. Uzbekistan, in particular, has demonstrated high investment momentum, having attracted $14.6 billion in Chinese investments over the past six years (a sixfold increase), $7.5 billion from South Korea, and $1.2 billion from Turkiye(a threefold increase). These investments are being directed toward the creation of industrial clusters, biotech parks, the semiconductor industry, and engineering and technology centers — initiatives aimed at generating high-value-added production chains. As a result, gross fixed capital formation has increased from 24 percent to 35 percent of GDP over four years, while the volume of capital investments reached $22 billion in 2023. At the same time, the number of joint ventures has grown significantly. Since 2016, the number of enterprises with the participation of Central Asian capital in Uzbekistan has increased almost sixfold, reaching 1,830. Likewise, the number of joint ventures with Uzbek capital in other Central Asian countries has grown 8.5 times, exceeding 4,700. These developments point to deepening regional economic interdependence and a growing level of integration, laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth and collective outreach to global markets. This dynamic trajectory highlights the emergence of Central Asia as a proactive and increasingly self-reliant economic region. The countries of the region are no longer viewed merely as peripheral suppliers of raw materials, but as forward-looking actors capable of attracting high-quality investments, fostering industrial modernization, and expanding their presence in global value chains. The growing integration within the region, combined with strategic diversification of external partnerships, underscores Central Asia's commitment to sustainable development, innovation, and long-term resilience in the global economy. Under these conditions, in which U.S. policies contrast sharply with Central Asia's dynamism, the development of dialogue within the Central Asia-U.S. (C5+1) platform takes on particular importance, as it remains a key mechanism for multilateral engagement. The format provides an appropriate space to discuss not only strategic issues related to security and sustainable development, but also sensitive topics such as visa policy, academic exchanges, and the conditions for economic cooperation. Maintaining open dialogue on such matters can help dispel concerns, build trust, and lay the groundwork for a more pragmatic and results-oriented partnership between the United States and the countries of the region. In conclusion, it should be emphasized that amid the transformation of the global agenda and the rise of regional agency, Central Asia is increasingly shaping itself as a space of opportunity for mutually beneficial cooperation. For the United States, this represents not only a window for renewing active dialogue but also a chance to develop a pragmatic engagement strategy that reflects the interests of both sides. Addressing economic, visa-related, and infrastructure issues through platforms like C5+1 enables a transition from statements to action, strengthening trust and establishing a solid foundation for durable partnership in the evolving geopolitical landscape.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House Passes Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill'—but Federal Land Sale Provision Is Axed
President Donald Trump is one step closer to seeing his 'Big Beautiful Bill' become a reality, but it's not a complete celebration. The sweeping trillion-dollar tax and spending bill passed the House by just one vote, 215-214, with two Republicans joining the Democrats in their opposition. The vote in the overnight hours extends the president's tax cuts passed in 2017 (when Trump was first president), provides more money for the military and border security but cuts hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps). A provision that slipped into the May 6 revision of the bill was what to do with about 450,000 acres of undeveloped land in Nevada and Utah, owned by the federal government. Republicans were proposing selling that land to the respective state or private entities, possibly with the intent to build affordable housing. Nevada and Utah were singled out as the top two states, respectively, with the highest percentage of government-owned land. On the campaign trail in August last year, Trump pledged to make housing more affordable, saying: 'We're going to open up tracts of federal land for housing construction. We desperately need housing for people who can't afford what's going on now.' America faces a housing shortage that will take more than seven years to fix at the current rate of construction, according to a report on the housing supply gap from the economic research team. Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke (R) led the effort to get the provision removed and was successful when it was axed late Wednesday, May 21. 'This was my San Juan Hill; I do not support the widespread sale or transfer of public lands. Once the land is sold, we will never get it back. God isn't creating more land,' said Zinke. 'Public access, sportsmanship, grazing, tourism … our entire Montanan way of life is connected to our public lands. I don't yield to pressure; I only yield to higher principle. There is a process to making sure that our lands are being used for the best benefit of the people.' Zinke wasn't the only politician concerned about the land sale. The change was supported by Representatives Troy Downing (R-MT), Mike Simpson (R-ID) and hundreds of other members on both sides of the aisle, according to a press release from Zinke's office. The concerns were wide-ranging, including what might happen to the land if it was sold to private corporations, such as energy companies. 'The TRCP is encouraged to see provisions removed from the House budget reconciliation bill that would sell off public lands. Hunters and anglers stepped into the arena to make their voices heard, and members of Congress listened—thank you,' said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Missoula, MT-based Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. The proposed land sales would open the door for developers to build affordable housing on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land outside Las Vegas and Reno, and in Utah, around the tourist town of St. George, but there was no guarantee that would be the outcome. In Nevada, the federal government manages most of state's land—over 85%. The state also has the largest special recreation permit. The federal government has controlled much of the state of Utah's land dating back to the 1800s, when Utah and other states were given up by Mexico as part of the treaty to end the war. Now, the Bureau of Land Management oversees nearly 23 acres. 'Public lands in Utah serve multiple purposes,' Jonathan Malloy with the Utah Bureau of Land Management tells 'Some areas support recreation and tourism; others are used for responsible resource development or infrastructure needs such as roads, pipelines, and transmission corridors.' The bill now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate, but GOPers have vowed to make changes. Congressional leaders want to send a final bill to Trump's desk by July 4. 'The Bachelorette' Star Jenn Tran Reveals Cute Miami Apartment Where She's Hunkering Down To Finally Finish Physician's Assistant Training Natalie Portman Reveals Real Reason She Quit Los Angeles To Raise Her 2 Kids in France Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy's Rivalry Is Heating Up—but Which of the PGA Championship Stars Has Hottest Home?
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposal to Keep Grizzlies on the Endangered Species List Is ‘Ludicrous,' Say Western Lawmakers
Nearly a dozen Western lawmakers sent a scathing letter Tuesday to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's acting director Paul Souza, urging the agency to revisit the agency's January decision to keep grizzly bears on the Endangered Species list, and accusing the USFWS of 'changing the playbook' guiding the species' recovery. This change lies at the heart of their concerns, as the federal agency proposed in January to establish a single recovery zone for grizzlies (what it calls a 'distinct population segment') and do away with the six distinct recovery zones that have guided grizzly bear management for decades. Led by U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), the group of 11 Congressmen and -women who sent the letter represent Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, the three states outside Alaska that hold sustainable populations of grizzly bears. (There is also a small population of grizzlies in northeastern Washington State, and more bears could be introduced into the North Cascades in the coming years.) 'We should be celebrating the recovery grizzly bears have made through the dedication and sacrifice of the people who must live with these bears in their backyards,' the letter reads. 'We strongly oppose the proposed [4(d) rule] and urge you to review the population data to acknowledge the recovery of grizzlies.' Read Next: Researchers Just Said California Could Support Up to 1,700 Grizzly Bears The lawmakers say this 'flawed' decision, which came during the final weeks of the Biden administration, is yet another example of the process being driven by politics instead of science. They contend that by moving back the goal posts for recovery, the agency is undermining the whole purpose of the Endangered Species Act and disregarding the achievements that have already been made in the Lower 48. 'This decision punishes Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho's successful grizzly bear recovery efforts,' the lawmakers write in the May 13 letter. 'As members who represent these states, we believe this flawed decision will severely damage trust in ESA listing decisions and undermine future recovery efforts.' Several of those lawmakers have long pushed for the Feds to delist grizzlies, citing the federal agency's own metrics for recovery that have clearly been met — in some cases, multiple times over. They point to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which now holds more than 1,000 bears, or more than double the goal of 500 bears that the USFWS had previously established. This should be viewed as a huge success story, according to agencies like Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks that have been working toward grizzly recovery at the state level. 'The recovery of that population is one of the greatest large carnivore success stories in North American history,' a former MFWP Director wrote in 2016. 'When the grizzly bear was put under federal protection in 1975, the GYE population was just 150 bears. The federal recovery goal then was 400 bears, later increased to 500 bears to make sure the population would be healthy and viable before delisting. The population reached that goal in 2002.' Read Next: Montana's New Grizzly Bear Plan Says It's Ready to Take Back Management from the Feds Other metrics help paint a fuller picture of how grizzlies are doing in the Northern Rockies. In 2024, grizzly bears set a new record in Wyoming for cattle depredations, while the Wyoming Game and Fish Department saw a near-record number of grizzlies killed by humans, according to reporting by WyoFile. But even with the loss of those 60-plus bears, Cowboy State managers said the grizzly population there is still growing. Already this year Montana has recorded at least two conflicts between grizzlies and humans, including a shed hunter who shot and killed a charging sow in self defense. Federal wildlife managers have also seen grizzly bears expanding and dispersing into the different recovery zones, including the first documented instance (since the bears were listed) of a male grizzly leaving one zone and breeding successfully in another. The USFWS called this a 'milestone' in a recent explainer article, which noted the 'remarkable success' of grizzly reintroduction — thanks in large part to the commitments from state and tribal agencies over the last 40 years. The USFWS, however, has used the same milestone to argue that managers should encourage this movement between recovery zones and continue to list the bears as threatened, with all the federal protections this entails under the Endangered Species Act, until they are all part of one big, interconnected population. Daines and other lawmakers say this is totally unrealistic and unachievable because the four-state region is no longer connected by viable grizzly habitat. And with more human development taking place in the West every year, the islands of habitat that can support grizzlies will only get farther apart. 'For FWS to take this remarkable recovery data and say that recovery is too effective to warrant delisting is ludicrous,' the letter reads. 'It is time to celebrate the recovery of grizzly bears by delisting them and returning management to the states where it belongs.' The timing of the letter is significant because the USFWS is still accepting public comment on its proposed grizzly bear rule until Friday. The original 60-day comment period was set to expire in March, but after canceling a series of in-person public hearings on the rule change in January, the agency decided to extend the public comment period until May 16.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Trump offers ‘Complete and Total Endorsement' of Daines
Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) at the National Republican Senatorial Committee building on June 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Trump is visiting Capitol Hill to meet with Senate Republicans and participate in additional meetings. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images) There are more than 19 months until the 2026 elections, but candidates are spinning up their campaign operations left and right. The latest of those machinations came on Tuesday when President Donald Trump endorsed Montana Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on Truth Social. 'Steve Daines is a Great Man, and TREMENDOUS Senator, representing the Fantastic People of Montana. I love Montana, won every one of my Races there by a landslide, and would only recommend the best to represent you in the Senate!' the president wrote. 'Senator Steve Daines, of the Great State of Montana, has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!' Daines is Montana's senior senator, following the election of Republican Tim Sheehy last November. Since 2023 he has served as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), helping elect Republicans nationwide, including elevating Sheehy to victory over former Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. After first winning his seat in Congress in 2014 with 57.8% of the vote, Daines ran for re-election in 2020, facing termed-out Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. Daines defeated Bullock with 55.01% of the vote that year. While Daines has not yet officially announced his re-election, he thanked Trump for his endorsement on X, formerly Twitter, and is actively fundraising based on Federal Election Commission filings. Currently, FEC filings for the Steve Daines for Montana committee show he has $2.4 million in cash on hand, with nearly $1 million in contributions during the first quarter of the year. Montana used to be considered a purple state with Democrats serving in statewide elected offices for more than a century until the 2024 election. President Trump carried the state in all three of his elections, winning with increasingly high margins of 56.17%, 56.92%, and 58.39%. Trump visited Montana in 2024 to campaign for Sheehy, drawing thousands of people to a rally in Bozeman. Currently there are no clear frontrunners from the Democratic party to challenge Daines' re-election.
