Daines’ Bill to Protect Consumers Passes Senate Commerce Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today hailed the bipartisan passage of his legislation to protect and expand protections for consumers. The bipartisan Consumer Review Freedom Act unanimously passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee this morning. The bill would prohibit the use of non-disparagement clauses referred to as “gag clauses,” which are often found in little-read online user agreements. “Feedback from consumers provides valuable insights not only for companies but for other consumers looking for honest firsthand information,” Daines stated. “We should encourage competition and let consumers’ voices be heard on a free and open Internet. I’m pleased to see this commonsense legislation
Daines Announces $2.5 Million for Montana Tribal Schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced that Lodge Grass Elementary School District and Heart Butte School District were awarded nearly $2.5 million in construction grants for FY2016. Heart Butte and Lodge Grass Elementary school districts are among seven educational agencies nationwide to receive Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grants this year. The funding will be used to address emergency health and safety conditions in school facilities. “These grants will provide Heart Butte and Lodge Grass schools with additional resources to ensure the safety of their students and to better serve their communities,” Daines stated. “This additional support will help students on the
Daines: Coal Keeps the Lights On
“The Obama administration’s war on energy isn’t just a war on coal – it’s a war on American jobs, American families and our national security.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of today’s vote to fully nullify President Obama’s so-called “Clean Power Plan,” Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to join him in standing up for American energy independence. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Later tonight, the Senate is expected to pass two bipartisan resolutions disapproving of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan regulations on new and existing power sources. The
Washington Examiner: Senators burning for big fixes to wildfire problems
After a wildfire season that burned up 9.4 million acres and cost taxpayers about $4.2 billion, lawmakers want a comprehensive solution to the budget and management problems that are fanning the fires. In the third hearing about the 2015 wildfire season held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said her state and other western states cannot endure many more fire seasons like 2015, which took the lives of three firefighters in Washington state. At one point this year, 200 fires were burning in Murkowski’s home state. Alaska accounted for 54 percent of the land
KMMS: Daines’ and AG Fox’s Brawl of the Wild Rivalry Continues
Senator Steve Daines and Attorney General Tim Fox have entered into their third annual wager over the upcoming University of Montana/Montana State University football game. If the Bobcats win the Brawl of the Wild, Attorney General Fox will be forced to wear a blue and gold Montana State necktie for a full day of work. Should the Grizzlies prevail, Senator Daines will likewise wear a University of Montana tie for a full workday. As Fox has won this bet in both of the past two years, the pressure is on to see if the Bobcats can pull through and break
Senator Daines’ and Attorney General Fox’s “Brawl of the Wild” Rivalry Continues
Montana Senator Steve Daines and Attorney General Tim Fox have entered into their third annual wager over the upcoming University of Montana – Montana State University football game. If the Bobcats win the Brawl of the Wild, Attorney General Fox will be forced to wear a blue and gold Montana State necktie for a full day of work. Should the Grizzlies prevail, Senator Daines will likewise wear a University of Montana tie for a full workday. As Fox has won this bet in both of the past two years, the pressure is on to see if the Bobcats can pull
Daines: We Need Forest Management Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today fervently implored his Senate colleagues to take long-needed action and move forward bipartisan legislation that includes both a solution for wildfire funding and responsible forest management reforms. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on wildfire management strategies, Daines reiterated the need for comprehensive, bipartisan solutions that address the wildfire funding challenges facing the Forest Service, implement litigation reforms and improve the health of the National Forest system through increased active forest management. “I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, let’s come
Daines Introduces Legislation to Roll Back Red Tape for Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to protect Montana small businesses from burdensome regulations found in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 317-page “net neutrality” rules. The Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2015 would make permanent a temporary exemption from the FCC’s new so-called “enhanced transparency requirements,” which would require Internet service providers to disclose an excess of information about their network performance, some of which may require hiring an engineer. Daines’ bill makes the temporary exemption permanent so that small businesses don’t have to comply with unnecessary and burdensome regulations that would cost small businesses time and money. “Burdensome
Great Falls Tribune: Montana has no plans to close border to refugees from Syria
WASHINGTON – Montana does not plan to close its borders to refugees from Syria following last week’s attacks in Paris, Gov. Steve Bullock said Monday. “Montana has a process in place for considering refugee settlement requests. We are reviewing those protocols to ensure that if a request comes (that) we take all appropriate steps to ensure that the safety of Montanans will not be jeopardized by their placement.” said Bullock, a Democrat. “If there are safety concerns about any refugees that are requesting settlement, they will be denied.” The governor said no Syrian refugees have settled in the state and he