News

Daines’ bill targets tax schemers manipulating conservation program U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released data showing that more than 1,500 investment advisers facilitated the erroneous payout of more than $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to their clients by manipulating a program intended to incentivize conservation. Daines recently sponsored the bipartisan Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, legislation that would crackdown on the 1,500 investment advisers whose actions threaten the long-term sustainability of the Charitable Conservation Easement Program, a critical conservation program used in Montana. “Protecting and appreciating our outdoors is part of Montanans’

U.S. Senate – Today, during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill, the Mitigating METH Act, received broad support from tribal leaders.   “We are facing a methamphetamine epidemic in Montana,” said Daines. “I will continue to take action to stop this terrible drug from taking lives and ripping apart communities.”     Watch video HERE.? Download video HERE.  The Mitigating the Methamphetamine Epidemic and Promoting Tribal Health Act, also known as the Mitigating METH Act, takes steps to combat methamphetamine use across Montana and strengthen Indian tribes’ ability to fight this epidemic by making tribes, like states, directly eligible for funding authorized

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of rolling back Dodd-Frank regulations.   To watch the video click HERE. To download the video click HERE. “Dodd-Frank has suffocated Montana’s rural banks and credit unions and ultimately, the Montana customers who use these banks and credit unions have been hit the hardest. I wasn’t here in 2010 when this bill was passed – but I’m really happy to be here now to help undo some of the damage caused to our rural communities,” said Daines. Since the passage of Dodd-Frank, the number of state-chartered banks

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today announced academy nominee Gabriella Gerving’s offer of appointment to the Air Force Academy. Gabby is from Whitehall, Montana. Gabby is a senior at James I. O’Neill High School in New York where her father is an Army Lieutenant Colonel temporarily assigned as an instructor at West Point. She is the squadron commander at her Junior Reserve Office Training Corps (JROTC) unit and the varsity team captain on her cross country team.  “Gabby has already demonstrated herself as a successful leader through her participation in JROTC,” said Daines. “I know her leadership philosophy,

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte today announced academy nominee Claudia Downing’s offer of appointment to the Air Force Academy. Claudia is a senior at Helena High School. She runs varsity cross country and track, as well as is a student journalist. “As an exceptional student athlete and aspiring aviator, Claudia has a lot to offer the Air Force Academy,” said Daines. “Her talents and commitment to service set her apart from her peers and I look forward to seeing where her career will take her.” “Claudia has proven herself to be an outstanding student and

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called on the Department of Interior to continue working to expediently address sexual harassment and workplace environment issues within the Department. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Department of Interior budget, Daines received confirmation from Secretary Ryan Zinke that the Department of Interior has established protocols to ensure that instances of workplace harassment within Department agencies are reported and addressed. “It is critical that processes are in place that hold perpetrators of workplace harassment accountable,” Daines stated following today’s hearing. “I appreciate Secretary Zinke’s commitment to removing

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted his request to continue exempting agriculture and livestock haulers from its electronic logging devices (ELD) mandate. “Montana agriculture and livestock haulers are the wheels behind Montana’s economy,” said Daines. “I will continue working with Secretary Chao so we can find a path forward that will keep our roads safe while also allowing Montana’s agriculture community to continue growing and creating local jobs.” Montana agriculture and livestock haulers have raised numerous concerns regarding the impact of electronic logging devices, including concerns over increased stress placed on livestock and

Grant expected to create 62 jobs, $150,000 in private investment U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today announced a nearly $500,000 investment to boost high-speed Internet accessibility in Eureka, Montana.    “Improved high-speed Internet connectivity will greatly benefit Eureka by growing existing businesses, creating new economic opportunities and supporting new, good-paying jobs,” Daines stated. “This investment will allow InterBel Telephone Cooperative to continue their mission of supporting Lincoln County’s communications needs and will help expand the economic diversity of the region.”  With Daines’ support, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded InterBel Telephone Cooperative (ITC) an Economic Development Association (EDA) grant to

U.S. Senate – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a bipartisan coalition in opposition to ongoing attempts to sneak the Internet sales tax, which would mandate small businesses to collect sales tax on behalf of other cities and states when selling products over the Internet, into the upcoming government funding bill. “This bill would fundamentally change how online purchases are taxed and would impose yet another burden on Montana’s small businesses,” Daines stated during a press conference held today at the U.S. Capitol. “Under this tax Montana’s small businesses, like Big Sky Gifts out of Kalispell, would be forced to collect sales taxes for up