Press Releases

Daines Welcomes Court Delay of WOTUS Regulations

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after a federal district court blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its new regulation broadly expanding the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “Today’s order is further proof that the EPA’s latest power grab is not only a direct threat to Montanans’ livelihoods, but to our Constitutional rights. This rule could have devastating impacts on Montana farmers and ranchers, our natural resource industries, Montanans’ property rights and Montana jobs. I’m thankful for Attorney General Tim Fox’s continued leadership on this critical issue and his

Daines: Reverse Prohibition on Use of Montana’s UH-1H Helicopters for Firefighting

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK – Senator Steve Daines today urged the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to reverse the USDA’s prohibition on the use of UH-1H helicopters to combat Montana wildfires. In a letter to Vilsack, Daines pressed the USDA for the maximum use of safe and effective resources to combat wildfires on federal lands.   “As emphasized by Governor Bullock, UH-1H helicopters have a strong safety record and have been proven to provide a critical capability in the initial attack phase of combating wildfires,” Daines wrote. “As Montana and the nation confront one of the worst fire

Daines: New VA Service Animal Rule is a “Step in the Right Direction”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today commended news that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revised its rules regarding veterans’ ability to bring service animals to VA facilities. Veterans in some states, including Montana, have had difficulty bringing their animals into VA medical facilities. The VA’s new rule will put clear guidance in place that allows the presence of service animals at VA facilities across the United States. “While there is still work to be done, today’s announcement is a step in the right direction. I’m glad the VA has responded to my calls to ensure our veterans

Daines, Zinke Statements on Crow Tribe’s New Agreement in Gateway Pacific Terminal

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today released the following statement on the partnership between Cloud Peak Energy, the Crow Tribe of Indians and SSA Marine in the Gateway Pacific Terminal, located in the northwest corner of Washington State: “The Crow Tribe’s economic opportunities have long been tied with the future of the Gateway Pacific Terminal,” Daines stated. “With this announcement, the importance of this project to the Crow Tribe is greater than ever. It is imperative that the Army Corps of Engineers fully consider the Crow Tribe’s right to self-determination and the impact of this

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Montana FCCLA Participants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today honored Montana students participating in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) who recently brought home a combined 31 gold medals, 26 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals from their STAR Event national conference in Washington, D.C. Daines met with representatives from Montana FCCLA when they were in Washington, D.C. for the national conference on July 8. Click here to download the picture. 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 reflects

Daines Announces Nearly $4 Million in Funding for Glacier Park International Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced nearly four million dollars in funding for critical construction and maintenance needs at Glacier Park International Airport. The Department of Transportation’s $3,986,340 grant will fund a full-depth reconstruction of the airport’s existing runway, as well as the rehabilitation of the runway’s lighting system. “Glacier Park International Airport provides critical transportation services to the entire Flathead Valley,” Daines stated. “This grant will ensure the airport is able to serve the region’s growing transportation needs and provide a reliable air service for the thousands of tourists who visit Glacier National Park and the Flathead

Daines Statement on Reported Russian Cyber Attack

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to reports that Russia hacked the Pentagon’s unclassified email system: “Reports that Russian hackers—possibly sanctioned by the Russian government—hacked into the Joint Chiefs of Staff email servers nearly two weeks ago are deeply concerning.  This is the third known major cyber attack on the federal government unearthed this summer, and we still have yet to see a full report on the depth of the hack at the Office of Personnel Management. It’s unacceptable that the Obama administration has not yet addressed these serious holes in our nation’s

Daines Reiterates Call to End Fire Borrowing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today reiterated his call for the federal government to end the practice of fire borrowing, following the U.S. Forest Service’s recent report on the rising cost of wildfire operations: “Montana has already experienced several high-intensity fires this year. The fire season thus far has been one of the worst in the past decade and has only made more evident the urgent need for a wildfire funding solution. It is critical that Congress end fire borrowing and ensure that the Forest Service can spend more of its budget on making our National Forests more resilient

Daines: Privacy and Security Both Matter in Cyber Reforms

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today underscored the importance of enhancing America’s cybersecurity infrastructure while striking the right balance between protecting Americans from borderless cyber criminals and protecting Americans’ privacy. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning: “As I like to say, there are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those who know they have been hacked. “This was recently seen at J.P Morgan Chase. “Last summer, the company suffered a cyber attack that involved the theft of contact information for about 76 million households. “In the aftermath, J.P. Morgan