Daines, Zinke Request Meeting With VA Secretary McDonald on Replacement for MT VA
U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today urged Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Bob McDonald to prioritize a quick and qualified replacement for outgoing VA Montana Director John Ginnity. The VA Montana went for nine months without a full-time director before Ginnity was appointed director in March of 2015. The members also requested a full congressional meeting with Secretary McDonald to ensure this replacement is timely and with a top candidate. Daines and Zinke wrote: “The failure of the VA to prioritize the hiring of these leadership positions with honorable individuals reflects a
Daines Secures Important Healthcare Resources for Montanans
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured important healthcare resources for Montanans to improve the quality and reliability of services. “Montanans deserve reliable access to quality healthcare services close to home,” Daines stated. “Through my efforts, our health care providers will be able to better serve rural communities across our state and country.” The Senate Committee on Appropriations today passed the bipartisan FY2017 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill. Daines secured the following resources for Montana: Air Ambulance: Secured language to require the Government Accountability Office to author a report about the costs and coverage
Sidney Herald: Debate is Drawing a Bullseye on Beets
Efforts are continuing in the United States Senate to develop a compromise on GMO labeling that would circumvent Vermont’s GMO labeling law which goes into effect July 1. That law is a trigger for enacting similar laws in two other states, Maine and Connecticut. Roberts brought a bill to the Senate floor in March, dubbed by opponents as the Deny Americans Right to Know act, that attempted to forestall Vermont’s legislation. The Kansas Senator is trying again with another bill he says has “workable solutions” to address the concerns that flummoxed his last bill. He doesn’t expect anything definitive to
Daines Statement on Resignation Montana VA Director Ginnity
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Montana VA Director John Ginnity announced his resignation. “Montana veterans deserve a leader who will ensure their needs are being met and the Montana VA has not lived up to this commitment. The Montana VA needs a strong leader who understands the mission and will not fail Montana veterans.” Daines has always fought to ensure that Montana VA leadership is serving Montana’s veterans. March 23: Daines sent a letter to the Office of Inspector General asking them to investigate misconduct as a whole at the VA – possibly from
Daines’ Amendment to Provide Security for Nuclear Sites Passes Senate
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ amendment to provide additional security for land based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sites, like Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) today unanimously passed the United States Senate and will now be included in the National Defense Authorization Act. It was confirmed this year that the UH-1N Huey helicopter does not meet the security requirements for land based missile sites. The Air Force has known this since before 2001 and is working currently to replace the Huey’s. Daines’ amendment requires the Department of Defense to certify what security shortfalls the UH-1N has created, and how it
Daines Ensures Due Process for Veterans Erroneously Discharged
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded unanimous Senate passage of his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to negative behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The bipartisan amendment codifies the principles of the Hagel memo, ensuring Discharge Review Boards (DRBs) give liberal consideration to petitions for changes in discharge status to honorable if the servicemember has PTSD, TBI or related conditions in connection with their military service. Additionally,
KMMS: Daines’ Amendment to Provide Security for Nuclear Sites Passes Senate
Senator Steve Daines’ amendment should provide additional security for land based intercontinental ballistic missile sites like Malmstrom Air Force Base; Today the amendment unanimously passed the United States Senate and will now be included in the National Defense Authorization Act. “The Department of Defense has failed to recognize the urgency in replacing the Vietnam-era helicopters at Malmstrom, and the increased security is needed until they are replaced,” Daines stated. “I am pleased that the Senate is taking the appropriate steps to study the shortfalls and provide increased security from an outside resource until that replacement takes place.” It was confirmed
The Daily Interlake: Polson Receives Hospital Grant
St. Joseph Hospital in Polson will receive $99,023 to address health-care needs in rural areas, according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. The grant will be used by St. Joseph to engage a network of hospitals serving rural communities through development of a Western Montana Rural Nursing Collaborative. The collaborative provides a unique partnership of hospitals that seek to expand, enhance and improve access to services in rural communities and allow patients to receive high-quality care closer to home. “This is a collaborative project and a made-in-Montana solution that supports our nurses, helps lower health-care costs
Daines Introduces Tribal Forestry Legislation
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced major legislation that will improve the health of both Indian and federal forest land. Daines’ bill, the Tribal Forestry Participation and Protection Act helps keep Indian forest land and nearby federal forest land healthy by fostering greater cooperation between tribes and the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. This legislation will empower Montana tribes and federal agencies with a new tool to expedite critical restoration projects on certain federal lands, thereby increasing active management and improving forest health. “We need commonsense forest management reform that cuts through the bureaucratic red tape, improves the health