Billings Gazette: Sources: Zinke is Trump’s pick for Interior secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has asked Montana’s lone congressman, Ryan Zinke, to be secretary of the Interior, according to sources close to Zinke. Zinke met with Trump in New York City on Monday. He was reportedly in the mix for one of a handful of Cabinet positions that include the departments of the Interior and Veterans Affairs. Zinke, a Republican, was flying back to Whitefish on Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., was meeting with The Gazette when the news broke. “The Interior is all about public lands. It’s about wildlife and national parks.
Great Falls Tribune: Port to remain open 24 hours, senators say
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have reportedly told Montana’s congressional delegation the Raymond Port of Entry will remain a 24-hour entryway into Canada, shelving plans to close it for six hours daily due to low traffic volume. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., put out news releases last week stating that plans to reduce hours at the port 15 miles north of Plentywood had been scrapped. Daines said that he and fellow Montana Republican, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, met with CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, Commissioner urging him to abandon reduced hours at the port, which
Flathead Beacon: Daines, Tester Praise Passage of Blackfeet Water Compact
Among its final actions before the 114th Congress closed session, the U.S. Senate followed the lead of Montana lawmakers Steve Daines and Jon Tester and passed the long-awaited Blackfeet Water Compact. The water settlement was included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation Act, a water resources agreement that also includes legislation to address the Flint water crisis, provide drought relief in California and across the West. The U.S. Senate passed the bill on Dec. 10. President Obama is expected to sign it into law at the end of the month. “Today is a historic day for the Blackfeet Tribe,
Missoulian: Brace for change on health care under Trump, Daines predicts
Obamacare will go through some serious changes early in the new Trump presidency, Montana Sen. Steve Daines predicted on Monday. “Now we’re playing with live ammunition,” Daines said during a visit to the Missoulian. “It’s a very real discussion. This time, it needs to be thoughtful and not jammed down.” Officially known as the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare was targeted for complete repeal by Republican congressional candidates and president-elect Donald Trump. While that’s likely to happen, Daines said it would go through a transition process to keep some of the popular parts of Obama’s healthcare program. Those include expanded access
Sidney Herald: Local students ask questions of senator
Sidney High School students received the opportunity to talk with an U.S. senator face to face when U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., took part in a Skype call on Wednesday afternoon. Brad Faulhaber, government teacher, said the call was part of the school’s civic engagement’s opportunities beyond the classroom. The classroom consisted of mainly seniors along with a junior and a couple of sophomores. Daines encouraged students to stay engaged in the political process. “We have an amazing country,” the Republican said. He also said they should consider being in political service. “I never dreamed I would be doing this
U.S. Senate Passes Daines’ Bipartisan Bill to Promote Open Science and Innovation in Government
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill to encourage and increase the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science within the federal government to advance and accelerate scientific research, literacy and diplomacy passed the U.S. Senate this evening. This is the first ever legislation to grant explicit authority to the government to use these methods. Daines’ bill is included in S. 3084 American Innovation and Competitiveness Act. “The best solutions to the challenges facing our country are going to come from hardworking folks – not the federal bureaucracy,” Daines stated. “By encouraging the federal government to pursue citizen-driven solutions we will be able
Daines Secures Provision to Stop Spread of Invasive Mussels
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured passage of legislation to combat the spread of invasive mussels in Montana. Daines secured language in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, clarifying congressional intent that inspection stations are not just intended to be in the Columbia River Basin, they must be strategically located across Montana and the West to prevent transmission of these invasive species from all bodies of water. “If these invasive mussels continue to mature and spread it will have a costly impact on Montana’s ecosystem, obstructing irrigation and hydropower infrastructure and negatively impacting our economy,” Daines stated. “Watercraft
Daines Hails Passage of Blackfeet Water Compact, Applauded By Senate Leaders
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of the Blackfeet water compact in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act. The authorization of Blackfeet water compact is included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The WIIN Act authorizes the Blackfeet water compact and ends decades of litigation and paves the way for more than 400 million of investment water, irrigation and infrastructure projects. “Today is a historic day for the Blackfeet Tribe, Montana farmers, ranchers and families, ” Daines stated. “The Blackfeet water compact will update decades old infrastructure, strengthen
Daines: Port of Raymond Will Remain Open 24-Hours
U.S. SENATE — After more than a year of work by U.S. Senator Steve Daines, today the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that the Port of Raymond will remain a 24-hour entryway into Canada. “The announcement that the Port of Raymond will remain open 24-hours is welcome news for Montana farmers and ranchers who need to get their goods to market,” Daines stated. “I’m pleased that the CBP heard my frustration and that of Montanans and reversed their misguided decision to reduce their hours.” On March 5, 2016, Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke met with CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske,