News

Daines Talks Montana Ag, Forestry, Tribal Priorities for Farm Bill at Indian Affairs Committee Hearing

Welcomes witness from MT association to discuss Tribal access to ag programs U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing discussed Tribal priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill, including the Good Neighbor Authority to promote Tribal involvement in forest management and Tribal access to ag programs. Abi Fain, Director of Policy and Government Relations with the Intertribal Agriculture Council headquartered in Billings, spoke before the Committee. Watch and download Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “As the Senate crafts the Farm Bill, it’s important to ensure that Montana tribal ag producers and their voices are heard so that the next farm bill works

Daines and Tester Lead Bipartisan Resolution Demanding Russia Release Unjustly Detained American Marc Fogel

Montana Senators recently met with Fogel’s family, pledged to keep fighting to bring him home (U.S. Senate) — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today joined with a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce a resolution calling for the immediate release of Marc Fogel from Russia. Fogel is a U.S. citizen and career educator who has been unjustly imprisoned by Russia since August 2021. The resolution urges the Biden Administration to prioritize securing the release of Mr. Fogel, whose immediate family resides in Montana, and all other U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are wrongfully detained by Russia. “Marc

Daines Slams Biden Administration’s War on Made-in-America Energy

Blames Senate Democrats for Paving the Way for Administration Rule that Will Increase the Price of Energy for Montanans To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference highlighting the continued destruction of made-in-America energy by the Biden administration. Last week, the Department of Interior (DOI) proposed a rule that would increasethe cost of energy production. These costs would be passed on to consumers in Montana and across the country. It’s estimated that these new fees would amount to nearly $2 billion from now until 2031. “Not long after Vladimir Putin

Daines’ Bipartisan Effort to Prevent China from Buying American Farmland, Ag Businesses Included in NDAA 

U.S. SENATE – U.S.Senator Steve Daines today announced that his bipartisan bill to blacklist China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from investing in, purchasing or otherwise acquiring land or businesses involved in agriculture was officially included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “Food security is national security and folks across Montana are rightfully concerned that China and our adversaries are buying up American farmland near critical military operations,” Daines said. “In order to protect our national security interests, especially after the Chinese spy balloon floated over Montana’s ICBMs and used American technology against us, we must stop our adversaries in their tracks before they threaten

Daines Calls on Biden Administration to Analyze Sawtimber Levels in Montana

Encourages public-private partnerships to bolster active forest management U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a group of his colleagues in urging U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore to analyze and release standing sawtimber levels in high priority firesheds in Montana. This data is important to motivate and focus collaborative work between federal land management agencies and private forest product companies as they work to remove hazardous fuels. Active forest management is the most effective means to preventing catastrophic wildfires. Additionally, utilizing public-private partnerships can simultaneously reduce fire risk and vitalize rural communities in Montana that rely on the timber industry. “Decades of wildfire

Daines Fights for Montanans’ Second Amendment Rights

Joins Colleagues in Demanding Answers for Shipping Policies Targeting Firearms and Ammunition U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his colleagues in sending letters to major shipping companies regarding their policies surrounding firearms and ammunition. Over the past year, several large freight and shipping companies have implemented policies that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industries, ranging from prohibiting shipments containing certain firearm parts to total bans on firearms and ammunition. “[DHL/XPO Logistics/Saia’s] policy is an affront to the Second Amendment and discriminates against the millions of law-abiding citizens, including many of our constituents, who utilize and value their constitutional right to keep and bear arms,” the Senators wrote.  “Your policy

Daines Slams Biden Administration for New Proposed Rule That Would Increase Cost of Domestic Energy Production

Every Senate Democrat Paved the Way for the Rule to Take Place U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Biden administration announced a new proposed rule that would drastically increase the cost of oil and gas production on public lands. “Since Day One President Biden has sent a clear message to Montana energy producers: this administration is coming for you. From shutting down lease sales to begging our adversaries for oil to this new rule that will raise rates for Montana oil and gas producers, the Biden administration is proving that they would rather bow to

Daines: “Biden VA Continues to Fail our Veterans”

Criticizes Agency for Taking too Long to Change Leadership in Montana  U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced changes to the Montana VA Healthcare System. “Montana has one of the highest populations of veterans per capita in the United States yet the Biden administration’s VA continues to fail our heroes who have sacrificed so much for our country. The fact that it took this long for the Administration to make a much-needed leadership change in Montana shows the Biden administration is not prioritizing care for our veterans. Unfortunately, the Democrat-controlled

Daines Effort to Crack Down on Fentanyl Crisis Included in NDAA 

U.S. SENATE – U.S.Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, today announced that his “FEND Off Fentanyl Act” was officially included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senate began voting on the NDAA this week. “Enough is enough. The fentanyl that is spilling through Joe Biden’s open border and into the Treasure State is destroying our local communities,” Daines said. “I am proud that my ‘FEND Off Fentanyl Act’ was officially included in this year’s NDAA, and included my specific concerns to add transparency to President Biden’s sanctions exemptions. I am working to ensure this legislation passes the Senate and is sent to