Press Releases

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Bruce Bramlette of Fort Benton

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today recognized former Brigadier General Bruce Bramlette of Fort Benton, Montana, on behalf of his lifetime of dedication to the United States and his selfless service on Congressional U.S. Military Academy nomination boards.  Bruce has tirelessly served on nomination boards for 25 years, both as a member and board chairman, and has interviewed more than 1,000 young Montana students seeking a nomination to one of our nation’s service academies. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that

Daines Highlights Key Reforms in Major Senate Energy Legislation

“We can’t fully discuss our nation’s energy future without also addressing the President’s moratorium on new federal coal leases and royalty increase attempts for federal coal, oil and natural gas.”  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to highlight important provisions contained in the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, the first major energy policy legislation debated in the Senate since 2007.  This key legislation will help expand Montana energy production, permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and rein in the Obama administration’s overreaching anti-energy regulations.  Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Today, the

Daines Leads Bipartisan Effort Urging VA Officials to Allow Discussion of Medical Marijuana with Patients Where it is Legal

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to change its current policy to allow VA doctors to discuss and recommend marijuana as a treatment option in states where medical marijuana has been legalized, like Montana. Daines led a bipartisan group of 21 Senators and Representatives in sending a letter to VA Secretary Bob McDonald urging the VA to permit doctors to discuss and recommend marijuana as a treatment option in states where it’s legal. Under the current system, VA doctors are not allowed to give recommendations for patients to receive medical marijuana, even

Malmstrom Officer Joins Daines DC Office as Air Force Fellow

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced Air Force Major Benji L. Johnson has been selected to serve as a Military Fellow in Daines’ Washington, D.C. office through 2016. Johnson was most recently the Assistant Director of Operations, Codes, for the 341st Operations Support Squadron at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. “I am excited to welcome Major Johnson to support our work on the military and national defense issues facing Montana and our nation,” Daines stated. “Major Johnson’s extensive experience will be an asset to our office’s efforts to best serve Montana’s military members and our continued work to support our nation’s

Daines Calls on FCC to Clarify Broadband Definition

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today led five of his Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify their inconsistent and arbitrary definitions of broadband, which could detrimentally impact rural Montanans. The letter is also signed by Roger Wicker (MS), Roy Blunt (MO), Deb Fischer (NE), Ron Johnson (WI) and Cory Gardner (CO). The senators expressed their concerns that: The FCC’s arbitrary 25/3 Mbps benchmark speed does not reflect what most Americans consider broadband The use of this benchmark discourages providers from offering speeds at or above the benchmark The definition contradicts the broadband definition used in

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Blake Wombold of Heart Butte

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today recognized Blake Wombold of Heart Butte, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Reserves, for his generous contribution of new shoes for the Heart Butte High School Boys basketball team. This year marks the second year that Blake has donated new shoes to Heart Butte’s basketball team. Growing up, Blake witnessed the sacrifices his mother, a teacher at Heart Butte School, made to provide for him and he wanted to be able to give back to the community that supported him. Daines will present Wombold with the Montanan of the Week recognition later this afternoon

Daines Congratulates Four Montana Students on Receiving West Point Academy Appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today congratulated four distinguished Montana students for their appointments to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The students are Keller Balsam, Macy Newbary, Alliemarinda Phillips and Michael Sewell. Daines spoke to the four students last night and personally congratulated each of them on their appointment.  Keller Balsam, a senior at Helena High School, is a member of his school’s varsity track team and a cross-country runner. He serves as a member of the National Honor Society and President of Helena High’s Mentoring Teens Against Drugs. He recently participated in American Legion Boys State

Daines Statement on Vote to Override President Obama’s WOTUS Veto

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to override President Obama’s veto of legislation to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) egregious overreach through newly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:  “Senate Democrats and President Obama have made clear they don’t care about the harmful effects that this overreaching rule will have on our hardworking farmers and ranchers. The EPA’s greatly expanded powers through this new WOTUS rule is a clear effort by the Obama administration to gain control over Montanans’ livelihoods and private property rights. I will continue

Daines Blasts Senate Dems’ Refusal to Allow Debate on Syrian Refugee Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today expressed his disappointment in Senate Democrats’ refusal to allow debate on legislation that would increase security and screening measures for refugees seeking to enter the United States. “It is Congress’s responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our nation, but today Senate Democrats proved they would rather play politics than prioritize our national security,” Daines stated. “The SAFE Act is commonsense legislation that institutes a much-needed intensive screening process for incoming Syrian refugees. We are at war with radical Islamic extremism and it is irresponsible to accept anything less than a 100 percent verification of