Government Overreach

When I took the oath of office as a member of the United States Senate, I swore to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” It is unquestionably my highest duty and responsibility. Unfortunately, Congress has too often exceeded the limited powers granted to it in Article I of the Constitution. Our Presidents have sometimes overreached their power as well. I will work to restore limited government whereby the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary Branches operate within their constitutional boundaries. This effort starts by limiting the growth of government spending and providing oversight to agencies that expand beyond their congressionally prescribed missions.

Daines Statement on Biden Admin’s Heavy-Handed WOTUS Rule

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “This is a step in the wrong direction from the Biden administration and it infringes on the rights of Montana farmers, ranchers and landowners,” Daines said. “This overreaching rule threatens Montana ag and natural resources and is unacceptable. I will continue to vigorously fight to protect Montanans from out-of-touch rules handed down from D.C. bureaucrats.” The EPA WOTUS rule defines which bodies of water are subject to federal jurisdiction under the 1970 Clean Water Act. The Obama administration rule was

Daines Secures Provision to Protect Servicemembers from COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in 2023 Defense Bill

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines successfully secured a provision in the must-pass defense bill, known as the “National Defense Authorization Act” or “NDAA,” which would rescind the Biden administration’s overreaching COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Montana servicemembers. “Montana servicemembers selflessly defend our nation and our freedoms——now we’re one step closer to defending their liberties and rights to make personal decisions when it comes to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine,” Daines said.  Background: On May 13, 2021, Daines introduced a bill to counter the Biden administration’s efforts to coerce and punish Montana servicemembers who decline the COVID-19 vaccine, and include accountability measures in response to DoD efforts to undermine transparency. Contact: Rachel Dumke,  Blake

Daines Introduces Legislation to Protect Montanans’ Retirement Savings from the Whims of Woke CEOs

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill to prevent financial institutions from prioritizing extraneous factors like environmental social governance over the security of workers’ retirement savings.  “Montanans should not have to pay the price for the whims of wokeness with their hard-earned life savings. Fiduciaries must remember their responsibility is to their shareholders, not the woke mob – these are financial institutions, not pop-up shops for the radical Left,” Daines said.  Daines’ “Securing Employee Retirement Returns Act” would codify the Trump Administration Department of Labor rules for fiduciaries under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).  Background:   On May 20, 2021 President Biden issued an Executive Order on Climate

Daines Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Rein in EPA’s Authority

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court announced its decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency to rein in the EPA’s authority to issue broad climate regulations with far-reaching implications.  “I’m glad to see the Supreme Court uphold what we’ve known all along—the Obama-era ‘Clean Power Plan’ was a massive overreach,” Daines said. “This ruling right-sizes the authority of the EPA to issue sweeping regulations and realigns the EPA with the original intent of the ‘Clean Air Act.’ At a time when Americans are already facing record high gas prices, it ensures that the Biden administration will not be able to weaponize

Daines Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Defend Religious Expression

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court announced its decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District to defend Americans’ First Amendment right to religious freedom in schools.  “America would not be known as the land of the free without our fundamental right to worship freely,” Daines said. “I’m glad to see the United States Supreme Court defend Coach Joseph Kennedy’s constitutional right to religious freedom and prayer. We must do everything we can to protect this freedom which allows all Americans to practice their faith without fear.”  Senator Daines has joined a number of amicus briefs in

Daines, Cotton Urge Biden to Withdraw from World Health Organization

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tom Cotton sent a letter to President Biden expressing concerns with the administration’s recent actions regarding the future of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Senators urge President Biden to not only rescind the proposed January 18, 2022, amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), but also to withdraw the United States from this corrupt and inept international organization.  “Your administration has decided to support at least two measures intended to increase the power of the WHO at the expense of sovereign nations like our own. First, you proposed IHR amendments that would,

Daines, Colleagues: Defund Biden’s Disinformation Board

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a group of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security expressing opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Disinformation Governance Board and urging that any funding for such board be prohibited in the FY 2023 appropriations bill. “…While DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified that the board will not be used for political purposes and did his best to explain away serious concerns raised, little remains known as to what the board will actually do, how it will determine what is disinformation, and the scope

Daines Defends Montana Service Members from Vaccine Punishment

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill to counter the Biden administration’s efforts to coerce and punish Montana service members who decline the COVID-19 vaccine, and include accountability measures in response to DoD efforts to undermine transparency.  “Montana service members selflessly defend our nation and our freedoms—it’s our duty to defend their liberties and rights to make personal decisions when it comes to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine,” Daines said. “I will always stand with Montana service members and ensure the brave men and women in uniform are not punished by President Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandates.” This bill would require

Daines: Biden’s Still Gung-Ho… on Masking Toddlers

U.S. SENATE – Today Senator Steve Daines’ effort to strike down President Biden’s overreaching vaccine and mask mandates for Montana Head Start staff, volunteers and children passed the United States Senate. It would also nullify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate for all children two years of age and older to wear a mask, including when they are playing outside. “While Biden is still gung-ho on masking toddlers and forcing Montana teachers and workers out of a job because of his arbitrary mandates, I’m working to help get Montanans’ lives back to normal,” Daines said. “It’s past time we end