(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus redoubled his Call to Action in the Bakken today by focusing on workforce training and housing issues at the Eastern Montana Development Forum in Miles City.

In a video message to attendees, he pressed energy companies to hire as many Montana-trained workers as possible. Due to votes in the U.S. Senate, Baucus was unable to attend the forum which was co-hosted by his office. (Full text of remarks available below)

"Studies show there are around 18,000 open jobs in the Bakken. Right now, many energy companies operating in Montana hire workers trained out-of-state.  We can do better," Baucus said.

"I want challenge to every energy company in the room: hire as many Montana-trained workers as possible.  My goal is to make sure as many of those 18,000 jobs in the Bakken are filled with Montanans trained right here in the state."

As part of the forum, Miles Community College President Stefani Hicswa, MSU-Northern Chancellor Jim Limbaugh and Fort Peck Tribal College President Florence Garcia discussed the Eastern Montana Energy Workforce Development Initiative. The initiative is designed to make sure Montanans are getting the training they need to land jobs in the booming energy sector.

At Baucus' invitation, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rocky Mountain Regional Administrator, Rick Garcia joined the conversation to learn more about ways the agency can support local efforts to target the housing crisis triggered by the energy boom in the Bakken.