Supporting Our Troops

Since taking the oath of office, I’ve work tirelessly to ensure that veterans and military families receive the services and benefits that they deserve. The best way to serve our veteran and military communities is to hire those who have been in their shoes. I’ve hired several Montana veterans to serve our state’s veterans, service members and military families.

The men and women of Malmstrom and Montana’s reserve components perform vital missions and are a core part of Montana’s communities. I’ve been fighting to defend Montana’s mission at Malmstrom Air Force Base, which is critical to our national security. I’ve also been fighting to protect and ensure the modernization

of Montana Air National Guard’s C-130 fleet.

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Montana National Guard troops deployed in Kabul, Afghanistan. I met with soldiers from Montana’s 495th CSSB from Kalispell, and spent time visiting with the dedicated men and women who are defending our country.

Montana’s veterans and service members are the greatest examples of why America is the greatest country on earth and why our freedoms and liberties are worth defending. The Montana military community is a strong and powerful family and together we will preserve that tradition for generations to come.

Daines Demands Biden Administration Investigate Link Between Rare Cancer and Service at Malmstrom

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called on the Biden administration to immediately expand the investigation into the possible link between the nine military officers who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after serving at Malmstrom Air Force Base. “I write to stress the importance of the ongoing investigation into the possible increased likelihood of cancer for missileers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. I urge the Department of Defense to re-examine previous studies and expand the current investigation, which is monitoring and screening current and former missileers. It must be a priority to ensure that our nuclear readiness is sufficient and

Daines Delivers Big Wins for Montana Servicemembers, National Security

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines voted to pass several major Montana priorities in the bipartisan “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA) including the repeal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for servicemembers, a pay raise for troops and critical support for Malmstrom Air Force Base.  “This year’s bipartisan defense package ends Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandate for Montana servicemembers, includes a well-deserved pay raise for our military, protects women from the draft, and strengthens our nuclear triad to ensure America’s military remains the best and most intimidating in the world. This legislation contains a lot of big wins for Montanans who wear the uniform and bolsters our national security. I’m glad to support it,” Daines

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 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 Blasts Biden Admin for Recommending Closure of Rural Montana Veterans Health Care Facilities

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today blasted the Biden administration’s report suggesting closures and modifications of Montana veteran health care clinics across the state. “Yesterday’s report from the VA under Biden that recommends closing veteran clinics across Montana is unacceptable and shows how out-of-touch D.C. bureaucrats are with rural America,” Daines said. “The Biden administration cannot ignore the unique obstacles that rural health care facilities face and must take that into consideration before closing clinics. These facilities provide critical care to Montana’s brave men and women who served our nation and I will not give up fighting to protect access to the care

Daines: Reports of Biden Admin Quietly Shuttering Montana Veteran Health Care Facilities is Unacceptable

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today slammed reports that the Biden administration is quietly closing veteran health care clinics across Montana. Daines spoke directly with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to share his concerns about the potential closures and the impacts to Montana veterans. Last month Daines also requested answers and transparency from the VA on the potential closures. “Reports that the VA under Biden plans to silently shutter health care clinics across Montana is absolutely unacceptable. Countless Montana veterans rely on VA health care facilities for critical care and we must do everything we can to ensure these important services remain available to the men and

Daines Demands Answers from the VA on Decisions Impacting Veterans Health Care

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs calling for transparency and answers on decisions impacting Montana veterans. This includes an investigation which found 1,600 potentially ineligible providers in the VA’s system, the VA quietly consolidating Community Care offices and pending VA health care facility closures.  “As you know, the GAO recently flagged some 1,600 health care providers as potentially ineligible to participate in the VCCP, including many who were deceased, had violent criminal records, and had revoked or suspended medical licenses.  Our veterans and taxpayers deserve better.  I would like to know

Daines, Warren Bipartisan Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medals to Service Members Killed in Afghanistan Signed into Law

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today applauded their bipartisan bill to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to the 13 American servicemembers who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks in Afghanistan being signed into law. “This August,13 brave men and women gave the last full measure in service to their country during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. I’m glad to see my bipartisan bill signed into law, which will help ensure the sacrifice of these American heroes is forever remembered with the Congressional Gold Medal,” Daines said. “Today President Biden signed my bipartisan bill with Senator Daines into law –

Daines Stands Up for Montana Service Members, Defends Freedom of Thought in U.S. Military

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, expressing his concern that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) could be using resources to target Montana service members who oppose leftist ideology. “We write to express concern for U.S. service members who could be unfairly targeted by your newly established Countering Extremism Working Group (CEWG). In the wake of the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to silence parents protesting anti-American racial indoctrination being taught in schools across the country, we are deeply concerned that this latest effort by the Biden Administration will target service