Press Releases

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today introduced legislation to honor the life of renowned Montana conservationist, Alex Diekmann by naming an unnamed peak in his memory.  The delegation’s bill will name an unnamed 9,765-foot peak as “Alex Diekmann Peak”. It is located 2.2 miles west-northwest of Finger Mountain on the western boundary of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, Montana (UTM coordinates Zone 12, 457966 E., 4982589 N.).  “As someone who went from kindergarten through college in Bozeman, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Alex’s life and memory than by

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today helped pass critical legislation that will improve Montana air travel for passengers, pilots and the aviation industry. The U.S. Senate today passed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension through September 30, 2017 with a vote of 89-4. The House of Representatives unanimously passed this legislation on July 11, 2016.  “This FAA reauthorization maintains Montana’s critical aviation infrastructure and access to affordable travel for hardworking Montana families,” Daines stated. “This bill continues to strengthen security and protect travelers at airports across the country.” Daines secured the following provisions in the FAA reauthorization: Eastern Montana: Maintains Essential Air Service

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill that moves Montana rural water projects forward and ensures the completion of authorized projects across Montana today cleared the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Western Water Supply and Planning Enhancement Act is a bill that would help improve the efficiency of existing water supply infrastructure, ease the regulatory burden on new projects and protect water rights that are critical to the prosperity of the western United States.   The bill also accelerates implementation of Montana driven forest management projects that enhance watersheds and reduce the risk of wildfires. This is critical for

Senators’ Bill Designates Montana Creek as “Wild and Scenic”  (U.S. Senate) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines’ bill to designate portions of the East Rosebud Creek as Wild and Scenic has cleared the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and now heads to the Senate floor.   The Senators’ bill will preserve 20 miles of creek originating in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and flowing out to the prairie where it joins the Yellowstone River just west of Columbus, Montana.   “East Rosebud Creek will take your breath away, it’s just one of those indescribable places,” said Tester. “From the Cutthroat Trout to the

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today joined Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in a colloquy on the Senate floor to speak about the Democratic filibuster of the FY 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill.  The funding bill came out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with the unanimous support of Democrat and Republican members. However, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said that his members are blocking critical funding for our troops so that his party wouldn’t be at the “mercy” of Republicans.   As all of the members said in the colloquy, this filibuster comes

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today welcomed the next step to go to conference on S.2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which passed the U.S. Senate in April by a bipartisan vote of 85-12. The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly voted to appoint conferees and go to conference on S. 2012, the next step in the legislative process.  “It’s great to see momentum to permanently reauthorize LWCF, move forward critical forest reform to improve forest health and protect good-paying Montana energy jobs,” Daines stated.   This key legislation will help expand Montana energy production and at Daines’ request will permanently reauthorize the Land and

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the upcoming closure of Colstrip Units 1 & 2:  “The closure of Colstrip units 1 and 2 is devastating news. Colstrip provides hundreds of good paying jobs, is an anchor to the entire economy and tax base of Montana and because of fringe environmental extremists and the onslaught of anti-energy regulations from the Obama administration we are seeing this important plant, one of the largest coal-fired generating stations in the West and our largest industrial facility in Montana, lose significant part of its generating capacity. We need to stop the

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $7,348,4900.00 in funding for critical construction upgrades for four Montana airports. Grants will be awarded to airports in Stevensville, Great Falls, Kalispell and Bozeman. “This funding will ensure that our airports can continue to serve their communities and keep Montana as a top travel destination for tourists,” Daines stated.  Grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Transportation include:  Stevensville Airport: $1,999,142.00  Great Falls International Airport: In addition to the $7,175,439.00 secured by Great Falls International last week, they will receive an additional $1,820,614.00.  Glacier Park International: $1,204,079.00 Bozeman Yellowstone International: $2,324,655.00  More information

Daines Joins Bipartisan Call to Expand Mobile Network in Rural America U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan effort urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) Mobility Fund, which is aimed at providing broadband service to rural and underserved areas. Daines was joined by 27 Senators in a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for the agency to prioritize new mobile broadband deployment in areas that support agricultural activity as well as preserve and upgrade mobile broadband where it is currently available.  “Without the certainty that essential mobile broadband infrastructure