Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Dottie Wilson of Hill County
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Dottie Wilson of Hill County for her tremendous impact on the state of Montana. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE. The following is a statement submitted to the Congressional Record: Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, this
Daines, Klobuchar to Commerce Committee: Act on Bipartisan Stop Online Booking Scams Bill
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Amy Klobuchar sent a bipartisan letter to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation urging him to act and include their bipartisan bill, the Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2019, in the Committee’s next Executive Session. “With the rise of online bookings has come an increase in online booking scams. Fraudulent websites give the appearance of being connected to a hotel, but actually have no relationship with them,” Daines and Klobuchar wrote. “We believe that the Stop Online Booking Scams Act is a balanced, narrow and needed solution
Daines Continues Fight for LWCF Funding
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured and advanced a $30 million increase in funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) out of the U.S. Senate, which would bring the fund to $465 million. “LWCF is a critical tool that helps increase public access to public lands and preserve our Montana way of life,” Daines said. “While I am glad to see a $30 million dollar increase in funding for LWCF advance through the U.S. Senate, I remain committed and will not stop fighting until we get full funding.” The last time LWCF funding was at $465 million
Daines Secures, Advances Major Montana Priorities Out of U.S. Senate
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to advance four appropriations bills out of the U.S. Senate supporting major Montana priorities including the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), law enforcement and meth prevention, wildfire prevention, Montana agriculture, addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis, superfund cleanup and more. “This is about securing funding for critical priorities that are important to our Montana way of life,” Daines said. “I am honored to bring the issues that Montanans care about most to the center of the appropriations negotiations.” As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Daines
Fight moves to funding on Land and Water Conservation Fund
With the backing of Montana’s Congressional delegation, the Land and Water Conservation Fund saw permanent reauthorization earlier this year – a significant victory for conservation groups and lawmakers who spent years advocating for the program. Now the funder of major public access projects to municipal parks is in the midst of another debate: How much money it will receive this year and into the future? LWCF uses a portion of offshore oil and gas royalties to fund a variety of conservation and recreation projects across the country. While the program may be most recognized for federal land purchases, state grants go to
Daines criticizes Montana for Medicaid fraud
Sen. Steve Daines criticized the state of Montana on Wednesday during a Senate subcommittee hearing, saying its policies on Medicaid has made it more at risk to abuse and fraud compared to other states. He made his comments after noting the U.S. government improperly spent $36 billion in Fiscal Year 2018. “The sad reality is that for every dollar that is lost to waste, fraud and abuse means a lost investment in improving the health and well-being of vulnerable Montanans,” the Montana Republican said. He noted a 2018 report from the Montana Legislative Audit Division that he said found Montana
USDA Hemp Production Program
The USDA announced the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. It establishes a national regulatory framework for hemp production in the United States. The 2018 Farm Bill allowed for the legalization of hemp in the United States but with little rules or regulations. The new provisions for hemp production include requirements for maintaining information on the land where hemp is produced, testing the levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinoil, better known as THC, disposing of plants not meeting necessary requirements and licensing requirements. These new provisions provide clarity to hemp farmers in what they can and can’t do moving forward. Senator Steve Daines said,
Montana delegation works to rename VA clinic for Travis Atkins
Montana’s federal lawmakers are moving ahead with their effort to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Bozeman after local Medal of Honor recipient and Army Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Rep. Greg Gianforte sent a letter on Tuesday to the chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee asking that he advance the bill that would rename the clinic. “On behalf of Montana’s service members, veterans, family members and citizens, we write to express the unanimous support of the Montana congressional delegation for the designation of one Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities
Daines, Tester Fight for Bozeman Airport Workers
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced a bipartisan amendment to the U.S. Senate Appropriations package which would address a longstanding staffing issue at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. “Our airports are a critical piece to the tremendous economic growth we’re seeing in Bozeman and around our state,” Daines said. “I’m glad to introduce this bipartisan amendment which will address a longstanding issue and improve the quality of customer service at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.” “As more folks come to experience everything the Big Sky State has to offer, it’s critical that our busiest