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 SCOTUS Vaccine Mandate Rulings

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today made the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in the cases on President Biden’s vaccine mandates for private businesses and for healthcare workers. The Court blocked Biden’s mandate on private businesses and upheld the mandate on health care workers. “President Biden’s private sector mandate is an extreme federal overreach, and I’m glad to see the Supreme Court step in to make that clear. Biden’s mandate on private businesses would have forced Montanans out of work and forced some businesses to close their doors. While I’m pro-vaccine, I’m strongly anti-mandate. This should be a decision between Montanans and their doctor, not the federal government,” Daines said. “I am disappointed

Daines Introduces Effort to Strike Down Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for MT Healthcare Workers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced another legislative effort to strike down President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The measure introduced by Daines and Senate Republicans would block Biden’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate for Montana healthcare workers.  “President Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandate for Montana healthcare workers threatens to cripple our hospitals and hurt our healthcare heroes who have been on the frontlines since the beginning of the pandemic. I’ve heard concerns from health providers across Montana that Biden’s vaccine mandate would further burden our healthcare system, which is already struggling with worker shortages. I will continue doing all that I can to block Biden’s vaccine mandates on behalf of Montanans,” Daines said.  Daines’ effort comes after the

Daines Leads Colleagues in Push to Biden to Reverse Vaccine Mandate for Truckers Crossing the Northern Border

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.), John Thune (S.D.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), John Hoeven (N.D.), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Jim Risch (Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Mike Braun (Ind.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Susan Collins (Maine), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Pat Toomey (Penn.) are pushing back against President Biden’s vaccine mandates that will impact truckers and other essential travelers trying to cross the U.S.-Canada border. The senators stressed the impact of the vaccine mandate in further exacerbating the ongoing supply chain crisis and forcing American workers out of their jobs. “Trucking is the largest mode of surface trade with Canada; every

Daines Pushes Back Against Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Montana Head Start Workers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Montana Head Start employees and volunteers that could force them out of their jobs and threaten access to childcare for families in need.   “As you know, the rule requires universal masking for those two years and older attending Head Start and mandates all staffers, contractors working directly with children, and volunteers be vaccinated against the coronavirus by January 31, 2022. More than 3,000 children attend Head Start in the state of Montana. Now, this vaccine mandate

Daines Effort to Strike Down Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for MT Small Businesses Passes U.S. Senate

U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ legislative effort to rescind President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate against private businesses passed the U.S. Senate. Daines has been fighting back against Biden’s business vaccine mandate that would impact Montana small businesses and could force nearly 130,000 Montanans out of work. Daines has also been working to push back against Biden’s other vaccine mandates like the ones impacting healthcare workers and federal contractors. Click HERE to download a video statement. “While I’m pro-vaccine, I’m strongly anti-mandate. President Biden’s overreaching COVID-19 vaccine mandates are a threat to Montana small businesses and workers,” Daines said. “Today, the Senate passed my effort to strike down Biden’s vaccine

Senate Democrats Vote Against Daines’ Effort to Help Kill Vaccine Mandate for Montanans

U.S. SENATE — Senate Democrats today voted against U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ effort to stop President Biden’s vaccine mandates that will hurt Montana small businesses, federal employees, federal contractors, healthcare workers and service members.  “President Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandate will hurt Montana small businesses and force hardworking Montanans out of their jobs. Tonight, the Senate had a chance to help kill the mandate, yet every Senate Democrat, including the senior senator from Montana, chose to stand with Biden and voted against it. I won’t stop fighting until Biden’s mandates are no longer a reality,” Daines said.  It’s estimated that about 130,000 Montanans will be

Daines to Biden: Vaccine Mandate Threatens to Cripple Hospitals, Hurt Montanans Seeking Health Care

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is calling on President Biden to reverse the vaccine mandate for health care workers, which could cripple and even shut down some of Montana’s hospitals as nurses and other health care workers will be forced to leave their jobs. The most painful consequence will be the harm to Montana patients not able to receive care.  “While I am pro-vaccine and encourage all Montanans to discuss getting the vaccine with their doctor, I do not believe top-down federal mandates are the right approach, especially as our nation continues to face labor shortages. … Unfortunately, your Administration’s

Daines Moves to Strike Down Biden Vaccine Mandate Impacting Montana Businesses, Workers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is continuing his work to block President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on Montana small businesses. Following this morning’s release of Biden’s vaccine mandate rule and requirements for private businesses, Daines and Senate Republicans are moving to pass a measure that would strike it down.  “President Biden’s vaccine mandate will hurt Montana small businesses and workers. While I will keep urging Montanans to talk to their doctor and get a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, I will continue to fight back against these mandates,” Daines said. “For over a year, we’ve done everything we can to help Montana small businesses

Daines to Biden: Vaccine Mandates Could Impact MT Wildland Firefighters, Wildfire Response

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is calling on Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to reassess the vaccine mandate for Montana firefighters that could inhibit effective forest management and wildfire response in the state. “In their roles, these federal wildland firefighters also coordinate emergency responses with state, local, and tribal partners, and are the tip of the spear to combat ongoing wildfire threats. As President Joe Biden stated earlier this year, ‘we’ve got to be prepared and have every resource available to make sure we’re there for the American people.’ The full availability of these