Independent Record: Delegation Reflects on US Miltary
May is a month to recognize what those who don the uniforms of the country give to their nation. May 8 is the date that marks the Allies’ acceptance of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. May 21 is Armed Forces Day, created in 1949 to replace separate patriotic days for individual branches of military service. May 30, Memorial Day, is a day of remembrance for those who died in service to the nation. These aren’t the only significant dates during the month that recognize and pay homage to those in service. But in 1999, Congress set aside May for
Tech Times: Female WWII Pilots Can Now Be Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Female World War II pilots can now be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. On May 20, President Barack Obama signed a law clarifying the eligibility of these women for such honorable burial. In the past, Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) were denied the honor of having their remains interred in the said famous cemetery. The White House said the move of the president is necessary to give honor to the survivors of the Greatest Generation, including the first pilots, who were on active duty during WWII. Daines’ Bill U.S. Senator Steve Daines authored the bill to allow female WWII pilots to be
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Bob Newman of Musselshell County
U.S. SENATE — In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized U.S. Army veteran Bob Newman of Musselshell County. After leaving the Army, Newman went into law enforcement and served his community in Musselshell County Sheriff’s Department. 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
Daines Moves Forward Investments in Montana Infrastructure
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured important investments in Montana air, rail and surface transportation. The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan FY2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act to fund the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and related agencies in fiscal year 2017. “Infrastructure is an important part of our everyday lives, from our roads to the skies to our railways,” Daines stated. “I’m proud to secure investments to increase safety and create more good-paying jobs.” Daines’ moved forward the following provisions to
Daines Addresses Montana’s Veterans Long-Standing Concerns
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today moved forward important reforms that increase Montana veterans’ access to healthcare services. This afternoon, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the FY 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes many of Daines’ reforms that address Montana’s veterans long-standing concerns. “I am proud to secure important priorities for Montana on behalf of those that served our nation in uniform,” Daines stated. Daines also successfully included an amendment during the committee process protects veterans’ ability to discuss with VA physicians the use of medical marijuana in states where it is legal. The amendment would
Daines Makes Important Gains for Montana Farmers and Ranchers
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured key provisions for Montana farmers and ranchers. “As a steadfast champion of our state’s number one industry, I work everyday to ensure that our farmers and ranchers are being heard and well represented,” Daines stated. “I was able to secure important provisions to sustain funding for initiatives to help farmers and ranchers with loans, help stop diseases that are encroaching our forests and expand employment opportunities for veterans in agriculture.” “The Montana Grain Growers Association thanks Sen. Daines’ for protecting the ARS Insect Research Unit in Sidney and for his efforts to secure increased funding for the
Daines, Tester Call on Congress to Stop Massive Expansion of Government Surveillance and Hacking Power
Stopping Mass Hacking Act Reverses Disastrous Changes to Warrant Procedures; Congress Must Act or Government Will Be Able to Hack Millions of Americans’ Devices with a Single Warrant, Compromising Security and Privacy U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced the Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act to protect millions of law-abiding Americans from government hacking. The Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act, S. 2952, is a bipartisan effort that prevents recently approved changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure from going into effect. The changes would allow the government to get a single warrant to hack
Roll Call: Senate Privacy Advocates Seek to Block Expanded Search Powers
A bipartisan Senate coalition led by Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Rand Paul wants to block efforts to make it easier for the government to search computers across multiple jurisdictions. The Justice Department is proposing rule changes that would allow it to use a single warrant to search far and wide, a move the government says is designed to deal with technology. But some senators see the change to criminal procedure rules, which has already been blessed by the Supreme Court, as opening the door to a vast expansion of surveillance by the FBI. And on Thursday, they introduced legislation to
The Hill: Coal war intensifies with Obama review
Miners and Western Republicans are lining up against the Obama administration and environmentalists in what some consider the next front in the “war on coal.” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced a three-year moratorium on new coal leases on public lands in January, launching a review that could potentially result in mining companies paying higher rates. “It fits tidily into their overall view of coal,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the chairwoman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “You can call it a ‘war on coal,’ you can call it whatever you want. It is a policy directive coming out of this administration that