Daines addresses Bureau of Indian Affairs official during committee hearing
During Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C., Senator Steve Daines spoke about how the missing and murdered indigenous women crisis needs immediate attention. Daines said that communication between the different law enforcement agencies needs to improve to be able to combat the problem. “The murder rate of native woman are 10 times the national average,” Daines said. Daines added that lawmakers must raise awareness and bring justice to these cases. He asked Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney what they need to be able combat this crisis. Sweeney said they have been working
Daines Pushes for Permanent Tax Relief for Montana Small Businesses
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to give small businesses permanent tax relief. Daines is pushing to make the small business tax deduction included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 permanent. Currently, the tax deduction is set to expire at the end of 2025. “I championed the effort to make sure small businesses in Montana are on equal tax footing as corporations. Now, we must make this level playing field permanent to protect and grow Montana jobs,” Daines said. Daines championed the tax deduction for small businesses in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The
Daines, King Launch Bipartisan Bill to Protect Seniors
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Angus King (Maine) today renewed efforts to protect Medicare benefits by re-introducing the bipartisan Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act. The bill would reverse an unintended policy of the Affordable Care Act that is currently denying millions of seniors and people with disabilities the full measure of their Medicare Advantage benefits. “There are currently 16,000 Montanans being shortchanged the full scope of their Medicare benefits because of Obamacare,” Daines said. “My bipartisan legislation will ensure that seniors and people with disabilities receive the Medicare Advantage benefits they deserve.” “Medicare Advantage is a tried and true program that gives Maine seniors and people with disabilities high-quality, patient-centered
Daines Fights for Mandatory Funding of LWCF
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). “The historic bipartisan lands package which permanently maintained our commitment to LWCF was a big win for Montana, but now we must come together again to ensure the program is fully funded,” Daines said. “Expanding access to public lands and preserving the rich outdoor heritage of Montana is one of my highest priorities in the U.S. Senate. I will not stop fighting until we get full funding of LWCF.” Daines is a member of the U.S. Senate
Daines Fights for Increased Transparency, Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Montanans
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing grilled Pharmacy Benefit Manager executives (PBMs) on the need to increase transparency and lower prescription drug costs for Montanans. PBMs, which serve as the middle men between insurance companies and patients, are responsible for negotiating drug costs for patients. Daines slammed their current practices as failing Montanans. Click HERE to download Currently, there is a bill moving through the Montana legislature shedding light on PBMs pricing practices. Several of the PBM executives on the panel today oppose the bill. Daines pressed the executives, “Why are you fighting
Daines: Montana Farmers Need Clarity, Action on Hemp Production
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to swiftly implement hemp provisions outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill. “Hemp in Montana is a great opportunity to create Montana jobs and grow Montana Ag,” Daines said. “As a member of the Senate Ag Committee during discussions for the 2018 Farm Bill, I worked hard to create more opportunities for Montana farmers and remove hemp from being considered a controlled substance. It’s time we get that implemented.” To read the letter, click HERE. Daines was a cosponsor of the Hemp Farming Act, which was included in the 2018
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: University of Montana Western Women’s Basketball Team
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized the University of Montana Western Women’s Basketball Team for winning the NAIA Division I National Championship. 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.
Daines proposes bill to allocate college savings to apprenticeships
(HELENA) On Friday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines met with leaders from the skilled trades in Helena to discuss ways to encourage more students to consider apprenticeship programs. Daines visited the Montana Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center, operated by local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. The center offers a competitive apprenticeship program where young people who want to become electricians can earn a salary while developing the skills they will need. “What we saw here today is an example of how we’re training the workforce for 21st-century challenges,” Daines said. But
Hundreds march through downtown Billings to bring awareness to murdered and missing women
BILLINGS – Several hundred people gathered at the MSU-Billings Native American Achievement Center on Friday morning for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women March. The group marched on the west side of North 27th Street and was helped by police officers as they marched toward the Yellowstone County Courthouse. The march began at about 10 a.m. The Native American Achievement Center at MSU-Billings wrote the crisis of MMIWG is prevalent in the Billings community and the march is an important step in ending the violence against Native women. Senator Steve Daines, who believes missing and murdered Native women is a significant problem in