Reilly Lowery, Author at Senator Steve Daines

Sidney Herald: Daines receives award for being ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’

March 6, 2017

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., has announced that he was recognized by the American Farm Bureau with its “Friend of Farm Bureau” award for his strong support of agriculture and his advocacy on behalf of Montana farmers and ranchers. The American Farm Bureau Federation gives the “Friend of Farm Bureau” award to members of Congress who have led on issues critical to farmers and ranchers across the country, supported Farm Bureau issues, as demonstrated by their voting records and who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureau. Daines was presented with the award on Wednesday by the Montana Farm

Washington Examiner: Senators warn: FBI, other agencies work in buildings owned by China

March 3, 2017

Federal officials are putting sensitive materials in foreign-owned buildings, making them vulnerable to cyberattack and espionage, senators warned Friday. Their alarm bells were set off by a report that said the General Services Administration has been placing FBI agents and other “high-security” government officials in buildings owned by foreign entities in China and other countries. The GSA didn’t tell the tenants, according to the government report, so the officials aren’t taking addition security precautions. “Yet, in some cases the space is used for classified operations and to store sensitive data,” Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., wrote in a Thursday

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Ty Lantis of Prairie County

March 3, 2017

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Ty Lantis, a distinguished Montana craftsman with deep roots along the Yellowstone Valley. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: http://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve The following is the statement submitted to the

Daines, Duckworth Highlight GSA Cybersecurity Deficiency in Operations

March 3, 2017

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today wrote to the General Services Administration (GSA) highlighting the clear deficiency in GSA’s operations regarding foreign-owned buildings. In a letter to GSA Acting Administrator Timothy Horne, the Senators expressed concern with GSA’s practice of leasing high-security space from foreign owners and the cybersecurity risks created by conducting high-security operations in foreign-owned buildings. Daines also requested a response by March 31, 2017 as to how GSA will address these issues. “Federal agencies are among the top targets for cyber criminals, with many agencies experiencing thousands of attempted attacks daily,” Daines and

Billings Gazette: Montana senators reintroduce East Rosebud Creek protection bill

March 3, 2017

Montana’s two U.S. senators again introduced legislation that would protect East Rosebud Creek in the Beartooth Mountains. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, and Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, on Thursday reintroduced bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill S. 501, to permanently protect East Rosebud Creek under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, said spokesmen for the senators. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Leslie Ziegler, president of Friends of East Rosebud, said the organization “greatly appreciates” the senators’ bipartisan work to protect the creek. “This area is a special place where many Montanans have

Hirono, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Expiration of Asia-Pacific Expedited Travel Program

March 2, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the bipartisan APEC Business Travel Card Reauthorization Act to make permanent the APEC Business Travel Card Program, which grants U.S. citizens access to fast-track processing lanes at airports across the Asia-Pacific. Without reauthorization, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cannot issue cards to U.S. citizens after September 30, 2018. Over 200 Hawaii residents are active holders of the APEC Business Travel Card which saves 43 minutes on average in airport wait times. “The APEC Business Travel Card has helped hundreds of Hawaii residents travel and conduct business with ease

Great Falls Tribune: Trump budget isn’t great for agencies with big Montana footprint

March 2, 2017

The Trump administration proposed Thursday that as part of its new budget it would eliminate federal subsidies for flights from Billings to five rural communities in Eastern Montana. The cuts would target the 39-year-old Essential Air Service, which subsidizes Cape Air flights from Billings to Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Wolf Point and Sidney. Without the program, Cape Air would unlikely be able to afford to continue operating the service, which peaked during the Bakken boom earlier this decade. The program has bipartisan support from Montana’s two senators. In 2016, at least 37,106 passengers boarded subsidized Cape Air flights in Montana, down 15 percent

Zinke Heeds Daines’ Call: Reverses Obama Directive Restricting Hunting and Fishing

March 2, 2017

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the first actions taken by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to return power back to the people. “I’m pretty certain the bureaucrat that put this regulation in place has never hunted elk in Montana,” Daines stated. “Secretary Zinke is off to a strong start protecting Montana’s and our country’s hunting and fishing heritage.” “Secretary Zinke’s first actions in office also help unlock access to our nation’s public lands. In Montana we know that nearly 2 million acres of our public lands are inaccessible and I am hopeful this action will

The Hill: Interior secretary repeals ban on lead bullets

March 2, 2017

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed an order Thursday overturning a ban on using lead ammunition on wildlife refuges. Zinke signed the order on his first day in office, overturning a policy implemented by former Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe on Jan. 19, the Obama administration’s last full day in office. Ashe’s policy banned the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on all FWS wildlife refuges that allow hunting or fishing, as well as in all other hunting or fishing regulated by the agency elsewhere. It was meant to help prevent plants and animals from being poisoned by lead left on

Daines: Perry Confirmed as Energy Secretary

March 2, 2017

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, former Texas Governor Rick Perry. “Secretary Perry will work to make our nation energy secure and I’m excited to partner with him to restore the balance between fossil fuel and renewable energy investments to create more good-paying jobs,” Daines stated. Immediately following Perry’s confirmation, Daines wrote to Perry: “Mr. Perry, I cannot think of a more important place to witness firsthand the need for investments in clean coal technology and grid security

Author: Reilly Lowery