Daines Pushes for Expanded Telehealth Services at Senate Hearing
Montana Witness Says Telehealth Services Help Address Workforce Shortages U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee hearing discussed the importance of expanding telehealth services, especially for rural states like Montana. Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “In rural states like Montana…telehealth has completely changed the game in terms of health care access. At our rural health care hearing earlier this year, I highlighted that two of the most challenging barriers to accessing care in rural states are distance and transportation, we might add weather at times with our Montana winters. With the ability to receive care virtually
At Senate Banking Hearing, Daines Presses Regulators on New Anti-Small Business Rule
New Regulation Would Hurt Montana Small Businesses U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Banking hearing pressed the Federal Reserve (Fed) Vice Chairman Michael Barr about the new Basel III Endgame proposal that would limit credit availability to Montana small businesses and Montana farmers and ranchers. Earlier this week, Daines joined his Republican colleagues in urging the Fed to immediately withdraw this proposal. Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “This proposal will limit credit availability to small businesses. I’m hearing it in both ears from our businesses back home across Montana. We had four Montana small business owners in the office this
Daines Calls Attention to Rise in Criminals Crossing the Southern Border at Senate Leadership Press Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference highlighting the drastic increase in criminals coming across President Biden’s wide-open southern border. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “It’s not lost on the American people, the irony, the fact that President Biden is travelling all the way out to the Bay Area, San Francisco, to meet with Xi Jinping. I’m just asking could he perhaps make a diversion and stop at the southern border on the way home to see what’s going on and the disaster that’s happening as we speak, where many, many
Daines Pushes Biden Admin to Commit to Keeping Montana Mines Open
Bull Mountains, Rosebud, Spring Creek Mines Set to Close Because Admin Dragging Feet on Environmental Reviews U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing pushed President Biden’s Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) on the delayed environmental reviews for three Montana coal mines Watch Daines’ full remarks and questioning HERE. “Deputy Director Owens, the Office of Surface Mining is required by a court order to complete environmental reviews for three major Montana coal mines. For all three mines, OSM set deadlines for the completion of the environmental reviews and in each
Daines, Lankford Introduce Bill to Streamline Ability to Hire Wildland Firefighters
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the “Direct Hire to Fight Fires Act” that would provide the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) permanent Direct Hire Authority to streamline the hiring process for skilled personnel in the firefighting or firefighting support capacity. The bill also directs the Forest Service and DOI to identify policies and propose changes to reduce the time and complexity of hiring wildland firefighters and support personnel. “Year after year, our Montana communities are devastated by wildfires and our brave firefighters’ response to these fires protects lives and our public
Daines Introduces Bill to Honor Montana’s Last Pearl Harbor Survivor
Bill will rename Butte VA Clinic after Charlie Dowd U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bill that would designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie A. Dowd VA Clinic. Charlie Dowd passed away in March 2023 and was Montana’s last survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Dowd was an advocate for his fellow veterans and dedicated to preserving the memory of the events of World War II and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Dowd was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and spoke for
Daines Calls Attention to Fentanyl Crisis Wreaking Havoc on Montana Tribes
At Senate Hearing, Fort Peck Councilman Shares Testimony of Losing Loved One to Fentanyl U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing about the fentanyl coming across the open southern border and harming Montana tribes. Watch and download Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “The ongoing fentanyl crisis is devastating. It’s destroying communities, families, and Montana’s tribal communities are ground zero for this destruction. “The Montana State Crime Lab has reported a 1,000 percent increase in fentanyl-related overdoses since 2017, and Native Americans are suffering the highest overdose death rate by a massive margin—it’s not even close. In Montana, Native Americans are
Daines Bills to Bolster Mental Health Workforce One Step Closer to Becoming Law
Two of Daines’ Bills Passed Out of the Senate Finance Committee with Bipartisan Support U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke at a Senate Finance Committee meeting about the importance of mental health services, especially in rural states like Montana. The committee passed the “Better Act” with bipartisan support which included Daines’ bipartisan “Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act” and the “More Behavioral Health Providers Act.” The legislation Daines helped pass today specifically targets lack of access in several ways, including bolstering telehealth services, addressing coverage gaps, and strengthening the mental and behavioral health workforce. Watch Daines’ remarks HERE. “In
Daines Calls out Senate Democrats and Trial Lawyers for Blocking Veterans’ Benefits
“This is a Scandal in Plain Sight” WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Veterans Day approaches, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called out Senate Democrats and their trial lawyer allies for blocking veterans’ benefits, specifically for Marines who were exposed to chemicals at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Senate Democrats continue to block Daines’ “Protect Camp Lejeune VETS Act,” which would close a loophole that allows trial lawyers to charge veterans 40 percent or more to process veterans’ claims. Current law will cost taxpayers $200 billion and leave Marine veterans without benefits. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “I’m not a Marine, but I’m the