In The News

OP-ED: Fighting for Montana Values

With the holidays behind us and Congress gearing up for a new session, I look forward to continuing my mission fighting for our Montana way of life in Washington, D.C. Under President Joe Biden and Democrat congressional leadership, Montanans are facing the highest inflation rate in three decades, driving up prices of everything from groceries to used cars. In addition, the wide-open southern border is allowing record amounts of fentanyl to devastate our communities, and the attacks on made in Montana and made in America energy are costing Montana jobs and raising prices at the gas pump.   As I

Daines renews push for reversal of Cottonwood decision

Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle Montana’s Republican U.S. senator is leading a bipartisan effort to compel the Biden administration to reverse precedent set in a 2015 federal court decision over critical habitat for Canada lynx. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, on Tuesday sent a letter to the Biden administration asking for a full and permanent reversal to requirements established in the 2015 Cottonwood decision. Daines is calling for the change about a month after the 117th Congress ended its session without passing a bill to reverse the court case’s precedent. The legislation passed out of the

Daines reintroduces Root and Stem Act

Source: Daily Inter Lake U.S. Sen. Steve Daines’ office announced Tuesday that he has reintroduced his Root and Stem Act after it passed the Senate during the last congressional session, but not the House. This time, the Montana Republican is introducing the bill with legislators from both houses of Congress in the hopes of securing its quick passage. The Root and Stem Authorization Act will codify the authority of the secretaries of the Agriculture and Interior departments to conduct forest restoration projects alongside private landowners and companies. The legislation aims to facilitate more efficient forest management efforts, supporters say. “Season

Daines eyes passage of forest collaboration bill

Source: Daily Inter Lake Montana Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines expects a piece of forest management legislation he worked on with California Democrat U.S. Sen. Dianne Fienstein will pass through Congress later this year. The Root and Stem Authorization Act codifies the authority of the secretaries of the Agriculture and Interior departments to conduct forest restoration projects alongside private landowners and companies – with the goal of facilitating more efficient forest management efforts. “This act is really going to promote this collaboration effort,” said Tim McEntire, the northwest region representative for the Montana Logging Association, which is based in Kalispell.

OP-ED: I’m Thankful for Montana

As a fifth-generation Montanan, I didn’t choose Montana — Montana chose me. Over 100 years ago, my great-great-grandmother homesteaded 23 miles east of Conrad, and that’s how my family made it to the Last Best Place. And I’ll be forever thankful for that. There is a lot that makes America an exceptional place to live, and the Thanksgiving tradition is one of them. It’s an integral part of our uniquely American story. For the last 400 years, we have gathered with our families, friends and neighbors to thank God for all that He has given us. But it wasn’t until

OP-ED: Biden’s America is the real Halloween horror

Source: Fox News Do you like scary movies? You don’t have to rent a horror movie this Halloween to feel spooked—just take a look at what President Biden and the Democrats have done since they took control of the White House and Congress.  Inflation is clocking in at 40-year highs. It can cost Montana families over $100 just to fill up their tank. Fentanyl from the open southern border is wreaking havoc across Montana. Good-paying energy jobs have been nixed. Our small-town communities aren’t safe anymore, and cities across the country are grappling with an exponential uptick in violent crime. The current state of

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Steve Daines Demands Veterans Affairs Sec. Denis McDonough Rescind Rule Permitting Abortion Services

Source: Daily Caller Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines sent a letter Tuesday to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Sec. Denis McDonough demanding he immediately rescind the VA’s new rule that allows for abortion services through the VA healthcare system. In the letter, first obtained by the Daily Caller, Daines demanded the Biden administration reverse a recent rule which would allow VA clinics to provide abortions after the Congressional Research Service (CRS) determined such an action would be illegal. The VA announced in early September it will begin providing abortion counseling and abortions to Americans who qualify for VA services. The rule would make it

Daines co-sponsors bill to complete Continental Divide Trail

Source: Helena Independent Record The Continental Divide Trail could finally be completed before it turns 50 years old.  A bill introduced by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) would direct land management agencies to prioritize the elimination of gaps in the 3,100-mile continent-spanning path that generally follows the geographic Continental Divide. The trail is 95% complete, according to the Golden, Colorado-based nonprofit Continental Divide Trail Coalition, which lauded the bill on Friday.  Heinrich introduced S. 4995, the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act, into the Senate on Wednesday, according to Congress’ official website. Daines is an original co-sponsor

Daines announces bills to expand mental health care workforce

Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle A Montana senator has proposed five new bipartisan bills aimed at expanding the mental health workforce in the country. Republican Sen. Steve Daines announced Thursday that he and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, introduced a slate of bills meant to expand the mental health services workforce in the hopes of expanding access to mental health care. Daines said in a release that the bills would “empower and expand” the mental health care workforce, which would grow access for people seeking out those services. “Access to mental health services is critical for our rural communities