Category: Press Release

U.S. SENATE — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on the Department of the Air Force budget, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force, to consider Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls as a future base for the B-21 bomber.  He also requested an update on the plan to replace Montana’s aging UH-1N helicopters.  “With 3,400 active duty airmen, 968 Air Guardsmen, and 600 civil servants in Montana, Montana is essential to some of the Air Force’s most critical missions,” said Daines. “These men and women represent the best America has to

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of 54 Senators in confirming Gina Haspel as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. “Ms. Haspel is a woman who is exceptionally qualified to lead the CIA at a time when we cannot make mistakes,” said Daines. “She has put country first her entire 30 year career. She has earned the respect of leaders as well as those men and women in the CIA. Ms. Haspel has my full support.” Following a meeting with Ms. Haspel this afternoon, Daines announced his support for her as Director of

U.S. SENATE — During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged Amtrak officials to reconsider cutting ticket agent jobs at Amtrak’s Havre and Shelby stations and to take action to ensure the transportation needs of rural Montanans are met, including adding a stop in Culbertson. “The Empire Builder is critically important to keeping our rural communities connected, transporting out-of-state visitors to some of Montana’s pristine landscapes and supporting local economies,” said Daines. “Amtrak must take action to ensure the needs of Montanans and rural travelers are met.” During

U.S. SENATE — During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured Administrator Pruitt’s commitment to seek community input at the Anaconda Co. Smelter and Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund sites. “Montana is home to the most expansive Superfund sites in the country,” said Daines. “It is critical the EPA prioritize these sites and listen to the input of impacted Montanans as we work to clean up these areas.” During the hearing, Administrator Pruitt committed to lifting the court gag order on the conceptual agreement on a consent decree to

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), David Perdue (R-GA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are asking Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to expedite floor consideration of funding bills and nominees in order to make substantial progress before the end of the fiscal year, September 30. Yesterday, Daines and a group of Senate colleagues held a press conference to express their willingness to

U.S. SENATE – Today during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Steve Daines pressed Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on what the Department is doing to address the recent severe flooding in Montana. During the hearing, Daines asked how DHS is assisting affected communities in Montana now, and how the Department can provide support in the coming months as Montana deals with additional flooding and the upcoming wildfire season. Watch video HERE. Download video HERE.  “Surging rivers and streams due to severe flooding have affected communities across the state, forcing

According to Estimates, Nearly 56,000 Servicemembers Meet Criteria for Gambling Disorder  Fact Sheet (PDF) Bill Text (PDF) U.S. SENATE – United States Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced the bipartisan Gambling Addiction Prevention (GAP) Act. The legislation would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to begin tracking gambling disorder in its health assessments and instructs the DOD to develop policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling problems among our servicemembers. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, an estimated 56,000 active duty servicemembers may meet the criteria for gambling disorder.  “Countless service members and veterans suffer from gambling

Calls on DOD to Prioritize National Guard Readiness U.S. SENATE — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize equipment shortfalls in the National Guard. During the hearing, Daines questioned General Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, about the military’s plan to strengthen funding for tank units in the National Guard, such as Charlie Company of the 163rd in Great Falls. Watch video HERE. Download the video HERE. “Montana is home to nearly 2,600 Army National Guard members who are ready to fight for our

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his sponsorship of bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017, bringing the total number of bill sponsors to 28 senators. Among other initiatives to strengthen law enforcement, the bill establishes new mandatory penalties to fight the opioid and drug crisis, which includes methamphetamine use. “There is a meth epidemic in Montana,” said Daines. “It is destroying families and threatening the future potential of communities. This bill will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to help fight this crisis.” Current and former law enforcement leaders from around the

U.S. SENATE — Today, at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke, USDA’s Interim Chief of the Forest Service Vicky Christiansen and other congressional leaders joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines in agreeing to join forces to strengthen the fight against wildfires. At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Zinke also affirmed his commitment to work with Daines to fully repeal the Ninth Circuit’s Cottonwood decision. During the roundtable, Daines, Perdue, Zinke, Christiansen and the other congressional leaders from wildfire-prone states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that facilitates interagency coordination in response to