In The News
Sidney Herald: Daines visits Sidney Sugars, talks about new farm bill
The ball is already on the ground and rolling for the 2018 farm bill, and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., had his ear to the ground for those issues most on farmers' minds during a visit to Sidney Sugars Wednesday, where growers talked about the increasing difficulties they face getting to a profitable harvest. Daines made a swing through eastern Montana, starting off with breakfast in Malta and ending at the Wibaux County Courthouse. Prior to arriving in Sidney, he had visited United Grain i… Continue Reading
10.06.16
Billings Gazette: Guest opinion: Court should limit EPA's power
Last week, an appeals court in Washington, D.C., heard a case that will determine whether the Environmental Protection Agency has the power to require states to restructure the electric grid. At issue is the EPA's Clean Power Plan, which would expand the power of the federal government immensely, cost thousands of jobs, and give the EPA a veto over decisions that have always been left to state legislatures and utility commissions. A majority of states, including Montana, are challenging EPA's… Continue Reading
10.05.16
Sen. Daines: Where to find your next Montana steak? Could be China
If you ever find yourself on the other side of the Pacific homesick for Montana beef, you may soon be able to indulge at a local restaurant or supermarket in China. In a game-changing move, China recently announced that it would end the ban on United States beef imports for the first time since 2003. This long-overdue decision signals a tremendous boon to Montana's economy and a milestone decision in a vigorous campaign. China is the second-largest beef import market in the world. This… Continue Reading
10.05.16
Glasgow Courier: Senator Daines Tours Eastern Montana
Senator Steve Daines made a stop in Glasgow while on his tour of eastern Montana. Glasgow marked the Senator's second stop on a 650 mile long tour that will undertake in three days. After flying into Malta on Oct. 4 to begin his tour, Glasgow was the second stop out of the 15 planned destinations. The Senator took time to address a crowd of 20 local leaders, business owners, ranchers and members of the press at the event hosted by Farm Equipment Sales. The Senator addressed local concerns on i… Continue Reading
10.05.16
KUMV: Sen. Steve Daines on 13-city tour of Eastern Mont. to discuss issues with communities
SIDNEY, MT - A Montana U.S. Senator is traveling more than 600 miles across Eastern Montana to learn about the different issues communities are facing. As the general election nears, the United States Senate is in recess, which allows Senator Steve Daines, (R-Mont.) to hit the road. It's a 13-city tour in just three days, and the mission is simple. "Listening to the concerns of the people here in Eastern Montana," says Daines. Wednesday, Daines was in Montana's Sunrise City. He met with mult… Continue Reading
09.29.16
KBZK: Senate overrides Obama veto for the first time in his presidency
The Senate voted Wednesday afternoon to override President Obama's veto of a bill that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. Senators Jon Tester, Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke all voted in favor of overriding Obama's veto of "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act." Lawmakers overrode the veto in a 97-1 vote. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, was the only lawmaker to oppose the override. The House is expected to vote to override the… Continue Reading
09.29.16
Roll Call: Daines joins Republican senator seeking radical changes to budget process
Senate Republican freshmen have seen enough to know that the way Congress approaches the federal budget is broken. And a prospective fix one of them is unveiling Thursday is nothing short of radical - at least by the standards of the often creaky Senate. Georgia Republican David Perdue is proposing to break down the wall between authorizing and appropriating - a way of doing business that, by design, would upend the 1974 Budget Act. The proposal would merge authorizing committee… Continue Reading
09.28.16
KBZK: Lame Deer center for Indian woman receives $1.2 million to help victims of abuse
U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced Wednesday $1.2 million in funding for the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, Inc. in Lame Deer to address domestic violence and improve safety for Indian women. "I am committed to ensuring American Indian women have access to the resources they need to feel safe in their communities," Daines stated. Paula Julian, Policy Specialist National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, said: "We are honored and humbled to continue to serve as the National Ind… Continue Reading
09.28.16
MSU Exponent: Senator Steve Daines addresses student issues
Sen. Steve Daines, the only Bobcat in Congress, returned to his alma mater last weekend to participate in homecoming festivities on Saturday, Sept. 24. Daines graduated from MSU in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. After spending 13 years working for Procter & Gamble both domestically and abroad, he returned to Bozeman and worked for his family's construction business and later as an executive for RightNow Technologies, a company founded by current Republican gubernator… Continue Reading
09.28.16
E&E: Daines, Gardner double down on LWCF reauthorization push
A group of Republican senators are at odds with their House counterparts over a 5-decade-old conservation and recreation program. Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Steve Daines of Montana were part of a recent letter supporting permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in energy reform legislation (E&ENews PM, Sept. 26). Both of them were members of the House during the last Congress and don't appear shy about opposing House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R… Continue Reading
09.27.16
The Western News: Rail spur project funded
The Kootenai Business Park is getting a boost. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced on Friday that a $750,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration is being awarded to the 418-acre park, which is located south of Libby town limits. The funds will be used to rehabilitate the existing 3,070-foot rail spur line and connect it to the BNSF main line. Tina Oliphant, executive director of the Lincoln County Port Authority, said that bringing the rail spur online is the group's top s… Continue Reading
09.25.16
Billings Gazette: 'American hero, state treasure' Ben Steele has died at 98
Bataan Death March survivor, artist and educator Ben Steele will be remembered for his heroism and his warm, caring personality. He died Sunday at age 98 with his wife Shirley and daughters Julie Jorgenson and Rosemarie Steele at his side. A memorial service is pending. "Everyone knows his war stories and what he went through as a POW, but it's his personality, his warm caring personality that made people love him," Jorgenson said. "His students would come up to me and say, 'Ben and I … Continue Reading
09.25.16
KTVQ: Ben Steele, Billings war hero and artist, dead at age 98
Ben Steele, who survived the Bataan Death March during World War II, has died. He was 98. His wife, Shirley Steele, said Ben died at about 4 a.m. Sunday morning. Steele's book, "Tears in the Darkness - The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath," chronicled his experience during the war and he became well-known for his art depicting his time as a prisoner of war. A new Billings middle school currently under construction was named in his honor. Steele's ordeal as a survivor of the … Continue Reading
09.25.16
Great Falls Tribune: Peak to honor Alex Diekmann
I'm in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love." Lisa Diekmann remembers John Steinbeck's quote about Montana from his travelogue, "Adventures with Charley: In Search of America," when she thinks about the state where she and her late husband Alex Diekmann raised their sons, Logan and Liam. Before he passed away in February after a battle with cancer, Alex worked with the Trust for Public Land to head project… Continue Reading
09.24.16
Billings Gazette: A lot of Montana work has gone into lifting China beef ban
Cattle prices were losing value faster than autumn sheds daylight when the unexpected happened. China announced it was lifting its 13-year ban on U.S. beef. If you don't think a cowboy or two cried with joy, think again. China is the second largest beef customer in the world. It's expected to import 825,000 tons of beef this year. That's the kind of shopper that could turn current prices around. "The beef industry has suffered huge losses in the last 12 to 14 months," said Jim Peterson… Continue Reading
09.23.16
The Western News: $750K to fund rail line at business park
The Kootenai Business Park is getting a boost. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced on Friday that $750,000 from the federal Economic Development Administration is being awarded to the 400-acre Kootenai Business Park, which is located south of town limits. The grant will be used to fund development of a railroad, according to a press release from Daines' office. "The investment will support the creation of additional wood product manufacturing jobs in the distressed region of Lincoln County and w… Continue Reading
09.23.16
KULR: Alternative medicine for veterans
BILLNGS, Mont. -It's a program for veterans to help heal their chronic pain without opioids. Those with the Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic say they're committed to the cause, offering alternative therapy to help veterans live a more productive life. George Blackard was injured during active duty in 1988 and dealt with chronic back pain for years, until he was introduced to the hard working and caring staff at the clinic. Blackard says the treatment offered at the clinic has changed his life f… Continue Reading
09.23.16
KTVQ: Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic helps veterans treat pain through alternative medicine
BILLINGS - Service members, both active duty and veterans, have a lot to deal with upon returning home. Many come back with chronic pain, PTSD and lasting injuries. To cope, veterans are often prescribed a number of different medications, but in some cases, those medications end up causing more problems. On Friday, Senator Steve Daines visited the Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic, where doctors have been working on a program to provide veterans with alternatives to medication. Instead, the cli… Continue Reading
09.22.16
Billings Gazette: China ends ban on U.S. beef
China has agreed to begin buying U.S. beef, a major break for Montana ranchers. The announcement was made this week by China Premier Li Keqiang, who was speaking in New York. It wasn't clear exactly when China would lift its 13-year-old U.S. beef ban, which stems from the 2003 discovery of mad cow disease in a Washington dairy animal. China is the second-largest beef consumer in the world. U.S. Sen Steve Daines in May discussed ending China's beef ban with with Zhang Dejiang, cha… Continue Reading
09.22.16
KULR: China lifting beef ban will boost Montana economy, experts say
The Montana Stockgrowers Association's Executive Vice President, Errol Rice, has spent his whole life raising cattle, and the past 13 years trying to reopen beef trade between the United States and China. On Thursday, Rice received word from U.S. Senator Steve Daines' office that his longtime goal is becoming a reality, and China will be lifting their ban on U.S. beef. "The market potential is absolutely an incredible opportunity for the Montana ranching community to showcase some of our high… Continue Reading
