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

Daines Sounds Alarm on Possible Terror Threats in the U.S.

November 7, 2023

“Think what’s happened in the Middle East can’t happen here? Think again.” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference where he highlighted the increased risk of terror attacks on U.S. soil partly due to the wide-open southern border that has seen a spike in illegal crossings from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “The idea of a potential terror attack occurring in the United States is no longer just a what if — it is a when. With a war in the Middle East emboldening violent extremists and a wide-open

At Senate Hearing, Daines Slams Biden Anti-Energy Policies for Killing Montana Jobs, Hurting Rural Communities

November 3, 2023

Calls Out Administration for Radical Rules That Would Shut Down Colstrip Power Plant U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing slammed the Biden administration for their anti-energy policies that are hurting America’s national security and devastating Montana jobs. Daines called attention to Biden administration rules that would force Colstrip Power Plant to close and asked a Biden official about Montana’s grid reliability. Watch Daines’ full remarks HERE. Senator Daines on the Biden administration’s attack on made-in-America energy: Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE. Senator Daines: Chairman, thank you. Ranking Member Brasso, thank you as well. Since taking

Daines Introduces Bill to Increase Penalties for Illegally Sharing Americans’ Tax Information

November 3, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the “Increasing Rightful Sentences Act” or the “IRS Act,” to increase penalties for future unauthorized disclosures of confidential tax information. Introduction follows the news that after a more than two-year-long investigation, a former IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn, pleaded guilty to stealing and leaking thousands of individuals’ private IRS tax records, including those of a former President, and sharing them with news outlets. Littlejohn was charged with a single count of unauthorized disclosure of tax information through a plea deal negotiated with the Department of Justice despite illegally obtaining and sharing thousands of individuals’ information. “A mere slap-on-the-wrist for illegally releasing Americans’ private tax

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Raise Overtime Pay Cap for Wildland Firefighters

November 2, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce bipartisan legislation to permanently raise the caps on overtime premium pay for federal wildland firefighters. The “Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act” would increase these overtime pay caps to appropriately compensate Forest Service and Department of the Interior wildland firefighters for the work they do. Despite risking their lives and traveling cross-country for months at a time to protect American communities and forests from catastrophic wildfires, many of the more than 11,000 wildland firefighters live paycheck to paycheck. This has contributed to a firefighter workforce shortage — already, 20 percent of Forest Service permanent firefighter positions are

Daines, Lankford Lead Colleagues in Condemning Biden Admin for Funding Abortions for Minors at the Border

November 2, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and James Lankford (Okla.) led seven of their Republican colleagues in submitting a comment letter to the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) condemning the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) proposed “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule,” which blatantly violates prohibitions on the use of taxpayer funds to facilitate abortions on unaccompanied minors at the border. “Instead of adhering to the law, responding to Congressional inquiry, heeding Congress’ warning, and treating unaccompanied minors with the dignity and respect they deserve as young mothers, HHS ORR has decided to codify these flagrant violations of the Hyde Amendment through the proposed rule,” the Senators

Daines Introduces Bill to Redesignate Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization

November 1, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the “Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act” to redesignate Ansarallah, more commonly known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) given their actions to destabilize the region, the security threat they pose to the U.S. and most recently, their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Israel, including attacks on Israel this week. Today, Daines also joined a letter led by Senator Hagerty to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the administration re-designate the Houthis as a FTO. “The Biden administration needs to send a strong, decisive message to the Iranian regime that the U.S. will

Daines: Confirmation of Jack Lew as Ambassador to Israel is a “Disgrace”

October 31, 2023

“We should be standing up to Iran, not coddling it by confirming an ambassador who will go to Jerusalem and represent the interests of Iran over that of the United States and our greatest ally in the Middle East.” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today after voting against confirmation of Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel: “The confirmation of Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel is a disgrace. Throughout his tenure in the Obama administration Jack Lew coddled Iran by championing the failed Iran nuclear deal, likely gave Iran access to the U.S. financial system and

Daines Highlights Terror Threat at Southern Border, Condemns Rise in Anti-Semitism Around the World

October 31, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference where he highlighted the terror threat at the United States’ southern border and demanded President Biden change policy, including tightening asylum standards, reforming the parole program and finishing the border wall. Daines also raised concerns about the rise of antisemitism in the United States and demanded all instances of antisemitism be forcefully condemned by American leaders. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “The odds that terrorists are coming across our southern border into the United States are increasing on an hour -by -hour basis. Last week if you remember I spoke about Cuba, Iran, North

Daines Honors Montanan of the Month for October: Sherm Anderson of Powell County

October 30, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Sherm Anderson of Powell County for his long-standing dedication to Montana’s timber industry, carrying out his family’s entrepreneurial spirit in his hometown of Deer Lodge and for selflessly serving the greater Powell County community. Through his “Montanan of the Month” initiative, each month Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the recipient’s honor into the Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Month” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE.

Daines Introduces Bill to Improve Indian Health Service for Montanans

October 30, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today helped introduce the “Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act” to address persistent failures and increase accountability at the Indian Health Service (IHS). Consistent shortcomings, unmet staffing needs, lack of oversight and longstanding deficiencies at the IHS have resulted in significant gaps in Montana tribal citizens accessing high-quality care. The bill helpsaddress the many issues recipients of IHS care face by improving patient access to safe and reliable health services. “For too long the IHS has failed to provide Montanans with reliable, quality care. It’s time we enact serious reform and hold IHS accountable in order for tribal leaders,

Author: rachel_dumke@daines.senate.gov