Category: Press Release

(U.S. Senate)—Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are pushing the Obama Administration to take steps forward and update the ICBM fleet at Malmstrom Air Force Base.  In a letter to President Obama, Montana’s Senators reiterated their support for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, which is scheduled to replace the Minuteman III fleet and provide a next generation land component of the U.S. nuclear triad for decades to come.  Tester and Daines both agree that modernizing Malmstrom’s ICBM fleet is the best way to ensure that we are able to maintain a safe, reliable, and cost-effective deterrent that contributes to

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Obama administration announced that premiums for Obamacare will increase by an average of 25 percent next year.  “Montanans are stuck with insurance rate hikes that are more than the jaw dropping 25 percent national average for next year,” Daines stated. “Obamacare isn’t affordable and needs to be replaced with state-driven solutions that puts patients at the center of the healthcare equation.”  Average increases for Montana’s top three insurance providers range from 27 to 58 percent, with the highest increase for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana policies. ###

Moratorium on litigation related to U.S. – Canada softwood lumber trade lapsed at midnight, October 12, 2016  U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined 26 Senators in urging President Obama to prioritize ongoing negotiations to obtain a new softwood lumber trade agreement with Canada.   In a letter to President Obama, Daines underscored the need to reach a new deal to prioritize American jobs and help forested counties.  “We are disappointed that Canada appears reluctant to follow through on this commitment which has significantly undermined USTR’s efforts to reach a final agreement,” Daines wrote. “We urge you to encourage Canada to fulfill Prime

U.S. SENATE — This week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines welcomed two Montana telecommunications industry leaders to Washington, D.C. for a forum to discuss rural connectivity.   The #Solutions2020 Policy Forum, hosted by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, gathered communications specialists from around the country to discuss connectivity issues facing America. Participants discussed issues such as: digital inclusion, communications affordability, 5G technology and digital healthcare.  Diane Smith, Founder and CEO of American Rural shared her firsthand experiences with infrastructure and affordability issues in rural communities and Mike Kilgore CEO, Sagebrush Cellular and Nemont Telephone Cooperative discussed challenges in providing quality

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of 14 Senators in deriding the Obama administration’s decision to increase the costs of production for Montana companies by excluding many Generalized System of Preferences countries from duty relief on exports of backpacks, luggage and other related travel goods.   In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, Daines pressed for the criteria that were used in making a decision that negatively impacts Montana companies by placing duties on these goods.  “The Obama administration needs to clearly define why and how they decide to prioritize additional expenses on Montana products,” Daines

BOZEMAN, Mont. —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today celebrated National Forest Products Week by highlighting the important impact forestry has on Montana’s economy. Montana’s National Forests are a treasured part of the state’s heritage for generations and provide timber-surrounded counties with good-paying jobs and a vital revenue source to fund schools and infrastructure projects.  National Forest Products Week occurs the third week in October as designated by Public Law 86-753 (36 U.S.C. 123), and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week each year. The Montana Legislature established this week in 2011 to honor our

BOZEMAN, Mont. —U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to support Native children was signed into law on Friday, October 14, 2016.  The bipartisan Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act creates a Commission on Native Children, which will conduct a comprehensive study on the programs, grants, and supports available for Native children, both at government agencies and on the ground in Native communities. The goal is to develop a sustainable system that delivers wrap-around services to Native children.  “I am thrilled to see my bill to help Native children enacted into law,” Daines stated. “This bill is an important step

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA): “Subsidized and unfairly traded lumber imports continue to severely harm Montana mills, workers and communities. President Obama needs to remain committed to reaching a new trade agreement that prioritizes the American worker and fights for good-paying jobs.” The SLA expired on October 12, 2015 with a one-year moratorium on complaints or lawsuits ending on October 12, 2016.   A timeline of Daines’ efforts to renegotiate a new SLA for Montana’s sawmills is below:  April 27, 2006: SLA signed – seven year agreement that went

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hosted a roundtable discussion with the leaders of the Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association (MLHA) on growing Montana’s tourism industry and protecting consumers from online booking scams. Daines sought to raise awareness and crack down on operators of that trick consumers into thinking they are making reservations directly with hotels. On September 27, Daines introduced bipartisan legislation to address this problem and protect consumers from online booking scams.   According to the University of Montana Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, in 2014, tourists spent $3.98 billion and which helped support more than 55,000 jobs.

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today made the following statement after hearing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to deny the appeal of the U.S. Forest Service in challenging the ruling of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cottonwood v. U.S. Forest Service:  “I’m very disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear this case. Allowing the Ninth Circuit’s disastrous ruling to stand will greatly increase needless paperwork on the Forest Service and further delay much-needed restorative management work. This development makes it especially critical that Congress act to explicitly remove this crippling regulatory burden, and I will continue