rachel_dumke@daines.senate.gov, Author at Senator Steve Daines

Daines Expresses Concern Over Proposed Flood Maps for Choteau

December 19, 2023

Sends letter to FEMA outlining negative economic impacts of new maps U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) highlighting the negative economic impacts that the proposed flood maps for the Teton River would have on Choteau, Montana. “The provisional maps presented to the public for comment in November included considerable expansions of the acreage and number of structures within the floodplain. As a result, homes, businesses, and development in these areas would be subject to costly flood insurance requirements, local floodplain regulations, and a lengthy permit process for construction or renovation.

Daines’ Bipartisan Bill to Complete Continental Divide Trail One Step Closer to Becoming Law

December 15, 2023

Bill Passes Out of Senate Committee with Strong Bipartisan Support U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing following the passage of his bipartisan “Continental Divide Trail Completion Act.” The bill directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior to prioritize completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) by the trail’s 50th anniversary in 2028. Watch and download Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “This is an important bill. It’s going to help spur recreation, economic development, grow new jobs, as well as helping our

Daines Doubles Down on Opposition to Biden Administration’s Attempts to Breach Snake River Dams

December 15, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after the Biden administration’s Columbia River Basin announcement to explore ways to replace the power, transportation and agriculture assets in preparation for potential breaching of the Snake River dams. “Congress has the authority to remove dams—not Washington bureaucrats, radical judges or the Biden administration,” Daines said. “The Snake River dams support Montana agriculture, provide a source of clean, reliable energy, help support recreation activities and provide critical transportation. This agreement reached behind closed doors leaves out the Montanans who rely on these dams and is a desperate attempt to appease fringe environmental groups. I remain firmly opposed

Daines, Merkley Call on Biden Administration to Protect Communities from Dangers of Wildfire Smoke, Increase Active Management to Mitigate the Risk of Catastrophic Fire

December 14, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of bipartisan senators in sending a letter to Biden administration officials on the need to use prescribed fires to protect communities from the negative impacts of catastrophic wildfires. “For decades, western states have faced smoke filled summers that harm vulnerable populations, degrade the enjoyment of the outdoors, and weaken the economic vitality of communities that support outdoor recreation industries. Prescribed fire is a proven method to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire and the associated smoke from the mega-fires confronting our communities today. Given the significant harms that wildfire

Daines Sponsors Bill to Defund Colleges and Universities that Promote Antisemitism

December 14, 2023

“Antisemitism has no place in America, much less on our college campuses” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced today he is cosponsoring legislation to defund colleges and universities that promote antisemitism. The “Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act” would rescind federal education funding for colleges and universities that peddle antisemitism or authorize, fund or facilitate events that promote violent antisemitism. “Antisemitism has no place in America, much less on our college campuses and is a rot that will destroy the fabric of our country from within,” said Daines. “Unfortunately, not only have we seen just how pervasive antisemitism is on our college campuses, but the failure

Daines Delivers Big Wins for Montana, National Security in Bipartisan Defense Bill

December 14, 2023

Includes Troop Pay Raise, Support for Malmstrom Air Force Base, Border Security Initiatives and Counters Chinese Communist Party U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured several major Montana priorities in the bipartisan “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA) including support for Malmstrom, a pay raise for our troops and much-needed border security provisions. “This year’s bipartisan defense package delivered huge wins for our national security and for Montana, including Malmstrom Air Force Base. I am proud to support our men and women in uniform and protect the homeland by bolstering the infrastructure at Malmstrom, protecting our southern border and countering the Chinese Communist Party,” Daines said. “With the United States and its allies facing

Daines at Republican Leadership Press Conference: “Everybody Else Sees the Southern Border is in Utter Chaos, Time for the Democrats to Wake Up”

December 12, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference highlighting the public safety and national security threat that President Biden’s record-breaking southern border crisis poses. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “As you see the news every week on what’s going on the southern border one might wonder are things getting better? Or how could they possibly get worse? Let’s look at the numbers for a moment. Just when we thought we hit record numbers in a prior week the next week breaks those numbers, breaks those records. Twelve thousand migrants apprehended at the border

Daines, Colleagues Sound the Alarm on Rapidly Rising Cost of Servicing National Debt

December 11, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a group of his Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) highlighting their concerns with the rising cost of servicing the nearly $34 trillion national debt. “Driven by out-of-control federal spending and rising interest rates, the U.S. spent $659 billion on servicing the federal debt in Fiscal Year 2023, a $184 billion increase from the previous year and nearly double the cost from just three years ago. Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates eleven times, pursuing such an aggressive rate-hiking campaign

Daines Announces Nominations of Montana Students to U. S. Service Academies

December 8, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced he is nominating 16 Montana students to U.S. service academies. A congressional nomination is a critical step in the process for Montanans seeking admission to one of the nation’s four service academies: the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) at Colorado Springs, the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point. “One of my greatest honors as a U. S. Senator is to nominate committed young Montanans to compete for an appointment to one of our nation’s service academies,”Daines said. “I commend these remarkable students for their commitment to serving our nation,

Daines Leads Bill to Unleash American Energy

December 8, 2023

Bill Mandates Onshore and Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines led his Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the “Supporting Made in America Energy Act” to ensure that the United States maintains and grows its energy independence by supporting Made in America energy. The bill bolsters energy indepencence by requiring the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold four onshore oil and gas lease sales in the top oil and gas producing states as well as requiring two offshore oil and gas lease sales in each available area in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

Author: rachel_dumke@daines.senate.gov