KGVO: DAINES ENERGY SUMMIT FEATURES INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
The third annual Montana Energy Summit will take place in Billings on May 30 and 31, hosted by Senator Steve Daines, featuring a host of industry and government officials. After meeting with President Trump during his lunch hour to discuss his priorities, Senator Daines said the conversations that began two years ago at the first summit will continue. “We’re going to continue to focus on how to unlock Montana’s great energy potential,” said Daines. “We’re starting to move out thinking now and we’re thinking bigger. It used to be about North American energy independence, but now we have an opportunity
Daines’ Bipartisan Bill Fights Meth Crisis through Criminal Justice Reform
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his sponsorship of bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017, bringing the total number of bill sponsors to 28 senators. Among other initiatives to strengthen law enforcement, the bill establishes new mandatory penalties to fight the opioid and drug crisis, which includes methamphetamine use. “There is a meth epidemic in Montana,” said Daines. “It is destroying families and threatening the future potential of communities. This bill will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to help fight this crisis.” Current and former law enforcement leaders from around the
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Mary Ann and Mark Petree of Musselshell County
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Mary Ann and Mark Petree for their contributions to Musselshell County as owners of Roundup’s Busy Bee Café for almost 50 years. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. 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
WaPo: Group of GOP senators calls for canceling August recess
A growing group of Senate Republicans — eager to break the logjam on nominations and must-pass spending bills — is pressing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to cancel the August recess later this year. The effort, led by Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), is a repeat of last year’s push in which a coalition of mostly newer GOP senators said that they would skip the annual August break if necessary to complete the legislative work that had gone unaccomplished. But the call takes on a new resonance this year, after President Trump said in March that he would refuse to sign
Daines, Perdue, Zinke, Christiansen Join Forces to Fight Wildfires, Zinke Pledges Support to Repeal Cottonwood Decision
U.S. SENATE — Today, at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke, USDA’s Interim Chief of the Forest Service Vicky Christiansen and other congressional leaders joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines in agreeing to join forces to strengthen the fight against wildfires. At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Zinke also affirmed his commitment to work with Daines to fully repeal the Ninth Circuit’s Cottonwood decision. During the roundtable, Daines, Perdue, Zinke, Christiansen and the other congressional leaders from wildfire-prone states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that facilitates interagency coordination in response to
Secretary Mattis Agrees with Daines: America Must Address China’s Threat to America’s Security, Economy
U.S. SENATE — Following a recent congressional delegation trip U.S. Senator Steve Daines led to China, Daines pressed Department of Defense secretary Jim Mattis on the importance of protecting American innovation from theft and forced technology transfers in China today during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing. The current laws in place do not ensure sufficient protections. During the hearing, Secretary Mattis agreed with Daines about the need to protect American research and development, especially relating to national security. Watch video HERE. Download the video HERE. “The time has passed where America can be complacent,” said Daines. “China poses very
Daines Leads Charge against Harassment within Bureau of Indian Affairs
Daines Secures Interior Nominees’ Commitment to Maintain Harassment-Free Workplace U.S. SENATE — Today, during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, secured Interior Department nominee for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Mac Lean Sweeney’s commitment to maintain a harassment-free workplace at the Department. During the hearing, Daines highlighted that the BIA reports the highest rate of harassment of any agency within the Interior Department. Ms. Sweeney assured Daines she would maintain a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. Watch video HERE. Download
Missoula Current: Daines: Water act funds Blackfeet water rights settlement, funds boat inspection stations
Legislation introduced in Congress this week would expand the capacity for water storage and include funding for the Blackfeet Tribe water rights settlement, along with other issues identified as Western state priorities, including floodwater protection. Sens. Steve Daines, chairman of the Western Caucus, and John Barrasso, chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the measures are included in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. “This is an important first step for Montana families, farmers, ranchers, the Blackfeet Tribe and Western states,” Daines said. “Inclusion of funding for the Blackfeet Tribe water rights settlement and for watercraft inspection stations
Daines, Warren, Shea-Porter, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Streamline National Guard Promotion Process
Legislation Would Remove Bureaucratic Obstacles to Ensure Guard Officers Receive Pay and Benefits They Have Earned U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who was rated one of the Senate’s most bipartisan Senators, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representatives Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) and Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) today introduced the bipartisan National Guard Promotion Accountability Act to address delays in federal recognition of promotions for National Guard members. The bill would compensate Guard officers who serve at a higher rank while waiting for federal recognition by backdating their date of rank to the date at which it was recognized