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

Daines Congratulates Colonel Renea Dorvall on Promotion to Brigadier General

January 6, 2024

Dorvall is the first woman in the Montana Army National Guard to serve as a Brigadier General HELENA, MT – U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement congratulating Colonel Renea Dorvall on her promotion to Brigadier General in the Montana Army National Guard today. Colonel Dorvall is the first woman to be promoted to this rank and was the first woman to serve as Assistant Adjutant General. “This is a momentous day for Montana and for Colonel Dorvall. Joining the Montana Army National Guard in 1987, Colonel Dorvall has spent decades serving the Treasure State and our nation. She has

Daines Statement on Announcement of Montana Oil and Gas Lease Sale

January 2, 2024

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today in response to the Biden administration’s announcement that a 30-day public comment period has begun to gather input on 26 oil and gas parcels that may be included in a July 2024 lease sale in Montana and North Dakota. “It’s about time. With only one lease sale in Montana since Biden took office, this administration has been skirting the law to the detriment of Montana communities in order to further their anti-American energy agenda. I’m glad to see the Biden administration finally heed my calls to prioritize domestic energy

Daines Statement on Report that Chinese Spy Balloon Used American Internet Service Provider to Communicate

December 29, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today in response to an NBC report that the Chinese spy balloon used an American internet service provider to communicate: “This is outrageous. First the Biden Administration let the Chinese spy balloon float over America unabated hoping the American people wouldn’t notice and now we find out it used American communications infrastructure as a basis for its operational capabilities. The Chinese Communist Party must love the Biden administration’s feckless approach to foreign policy. “It is far past time the administration leveled with the American people about what and how much American-made equipment and services China used

Daines Statement on Report that Biden Administration Intended to Keep Chinese Spy Balloon Secret

December 23, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement today regarding a report from NBC News that the Biden administration intended to keep the Chinese spy balloon secret and not tell Congress or the American people. “The Biden administration’s foreign policy failures continue to get worse. As if it wasn’t enough that the Chinese spy balloon flew over Montana’s nuclear missile fields unabated, now we find out from NBC News that the administration intended to hide it from Congress and the public I’m not sure which is worse: letting a spy balloon fly across the country or thinking the American people

Daines Applauds Senate Passage of Legislation Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients

December 20, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation designating U.S. Highway 20 between Oregon and New England, including part of Montana, as the “National Medal of Honor Highway.” “As the son of a United States Marine, I know that it’s our duty to honor our brave servicemen and women as they selflessly defend the freedoms we hold dear,” said Daines. “The National Medal of Honor Highway should serve as a powerful reminder of American exceptionalism and the sacrifice of our nation’s heroes.” The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor, presented by the president in Congress’ name. U.S. servicemembers who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry

Daines Introduces Bill to Hold ATF Accountable, Give Certainty to Montana Gun Owners and Manufacturers

December 19, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped reintroduced the “ATF Accountability Act” to provide transparency to Montana gun owners on rules made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF engages in a secretive classification review process where the agency makes decisions about whether a particular firearm is regulated by the National Firearms Act. Decisions and justification for decisions are often only made available to manufacturers in private correspondence. This causes a lot of uncertainty for both gun-owning Montanans and firearm manufacturers, especially in combination with the ATF’s refusal to make final public rules regarding classification. “For too long

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

Author: rachel_dumke@daines.senate.gov