News

The Daily Inter Lake: Bill Pushes Focus on $5.8 Billion Outdoor Industry

Montana’s outdoor recreation industry is frequently cited as a top economic driver in the state, but aside from a scattering of privately funded studies and location-specific economic impact reports, the sector’s full scope remains largely unknown. That could change within two years if a bill passed unanimously by the Senate this week wins President Barack Obama’s signature. The Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act directs federal agencies and departments to begin accounting for outdoor recreation as an economic sector within gross domestic product, a measure the country’s overall economic output. “At a really macro level, it helps show the

Daines Applauds Bipartisan Passage to Reauthorize Iran Sanctions

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded bipartisan passage of a bill to provide a long-term extension of the Iran Sanctions Act: “These sanctions are an important tool in holding Iran – the world’s leading state sponsor of terror – accountable in maintaining our strength in the region,” Daines stated. “Iran is not a friend to our country or our allies and it’s critical they aren’t treated like a normal country until they behave like a normal country.”  The Iran Sanctions Extension Act: Extends sanctions on Iran for 10 years Targets Iran’s energy sector Pressures Iran to cease developing weapons of mass

Manufacturing Day Highlights Opportunity to Bolster Good-Paying Jobs

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the unanimous passage of a resolution to mark October 6, 2016 as National Manufacturing Day.  Manufacturing Day is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.  “Manufacturing plays an integral role in supporting hardworking families across our state,” Daines stated. “Manufacturing jobs pay an average of 17 percent higher wages than non-manufacturing jobs and I’m proud to support funding to create more of these high-paying jobs.”   Paddy Fleming Center Director Montana Manufacturing Extension Center: “This is great to news to the 2,841 manufacturers of Montana, who provide 23,931 high paying jobs

USA Today: Congress Allows Rule Permitting Mass Hacking by Government to Take Effect

In a defeat for privacy advocates, Senate leaders rebuffed a last-ditch effort by a bipartisan group of senators Wednesday to allow a vote to block a new rule that allows federal agents armed with a single search warrant to hack millions of Americans’ computers or smartphones at once. That rule will now take effect Thursday. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Chris Coons, D-Del., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., took to the Senate floor to seek agreement to bring up bills to stop the rule from taking effect or at least delay it for three to six months to give Congress more time to study it. Republican Senate leaders denied

KHQ: Daines Annonces $1.4 Million for MSU to Increase Public Transportation

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,402,200.00 for the Western Transportation Institute to study how best to improve accessibility and efficiency of rural public transportation. “It’s great to see additional funds being sent to an organization that has been an advocate for rural transportation efficiency and safety for over 20 years,” Daines stated.  “As a graduate of MSU’s College of Engineering, I am proud their contributions are recognized and these funds will be used to improve mobility in Montana and rural America.” The Western Transportation Institute is a department within Montana State University’s College of Engineering.  They have been designated one

Daines Announces Nearly $1.5 Million for MSU to Increase Public Transportation

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,402,200.00 for the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) to study how best to improve accessibility and efficiency of rural public transportation.   “It’s great to see additional funds being sent to an organization that has been an advocate for rural transportation efficiency and safety for over 20 years,” Daines stated.  “As a graduate of MSU’s College of Engineering, I am proud their contributions are recognized and these funds will be used to improve mobility in Montana and rural America.” The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) is a department within Montana State University’s (MSU) College of Engineering.  They

The Hill: Last-Ditch Effort to Prevent Changes to Law Enforcement Hacking Rule Fails

A last-ditch effort in the Senate to prevent changes to a rule that will ease the process for law enforcement to use hacking in investigations failed Wednesday morning, allowing the controversial updates to Rule 41 to take effect at midnight. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Chris Coons (D-Del) took to the floor and unsuccessfully asked for unanimous consent to either pass or formally vote on three bills to delay or prevent updates to the process used by law enforcement to get a warrant to hack suspects’ computers.  “We simply can’t give unlimited power for unlimited hacking,” Daines argued.  The updates to

The Shelby Promoter: Shelby FFA Gains Valuable Experience at John Deere Agriculture Expo

Wednesday, Nov. 16, the Shelby FFA left for another fun and educational trip to Bozeman to attend the FFA John Deere Agricultural Exposition. The annual John Deere Ag Expo is full of competitions and leadership activities designed for FFA members to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge about agriculture and leadership.  The competitions, or Career Development Events (CDEs), included Food Science, Agricultural Communications, Meat Judging, Agricultural Sales, Job Interview, Livestock Judging, Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems, Veterinary Science, Horse Judging and Market/Business Planning just to name a few.  The first CDE Shelby competed in, Meat Judging, was held on

Daines’ Amendment to Elevate Cyber Command Included in NDAA

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the inclusion of his amendment to elevate U.S. Cyber Command to a Combatant Command in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Cyber Command it is currently a subordinate unit to U.S. Strategic Command.  “The elevation of CYBERCOM will ensure that we are always one step ahead of the enemies who seek to destroy us and our way of life,” Daines stated. “As radical Islamic extremists continue to recruit online, it is imperative now more than ever that CYBERCOM has the tools to react quickly and defeat the enemy.” Congress established U.S. Strategic Command