Daines Works to Protect Montana From Catastrophic Wildfire
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines is working to ensure Montana has the resources needed to combat wildfires and invest in much-need fire prevention efforts. Daines joined Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, which overhauls federal wildfire policy, increases funding for prevention and ensures large forest fires are treated and funded as true natural disasters. “Montanans know firsthand the economic and physical damage caused by catastrophic wildfire – yet year after year, the federal government falls short in providing the funds needed to both treat and prevent these devastating fires,” Daines
Daines: Montanans’ Voices Must Be Heard in Monument Designations
Daines introduces amendment to help protect Montanans from Obama administration’s efforts to unilaterally designate new national monuments without local support WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines is fighting to protect Montana from the Obama administration’s efforts to unilaterally designate large swaths of land as national monuments, without securing local input and state support. Last night, Daines introduced an amendment to S.1, legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, that would express the sense of Congress that all future national monument designations should be subject to consultation with local governance and the approval of the Governor and legislature of states in
Daines Helps Introduce Bill to Ensure Veterans’ Access to Local Healthcare
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines has joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and a bipartisan coalition of Senators to introduce legislation to ensure Montana veterans have local access to the healthcare services they need. The bill, the Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2015 (S. 207), would allow veterans to access community healthcare providers if the veteran lives more than 40 miles driving distance—rather than as the crow flies—from the closest VA medical facility that could provide the services the veteran needs. “Thousands of Montana veterans live hundreds of miles away from their closest VA healthcare facility. This bill ensures that
Daines Statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s 2015 State of the Union address: “Montanans don’t need more tax increases and more government spending— we need more good-paying jobs. If the President is serious about creating jobs and growing our economy, his first step would be approving the Keystone XL pipeline. Montanans deserve real solutions and results, not more partisan gridlock. I’ll continue fighting for commonsense, bipartisan solutions that grow our economy, lower energy prices, and put hardworking middle class Montanans first.” Video of Daines’ remarks may be viewed here. ###
Daines Statement on Air Force Decision to Move Forward with Powder River Expansion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called the United States Air Force’s decision to move forward with the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex “disappointing and discouraging,” and called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address Montanans’ strong concerns before approving the Air Force’s proposal. The Air Force today issued a record of decision on the proposed expansion that failed to address the many concerns that Montanans and the members of Montana’s Congressional delegation had repeatedly raised. The final proposal now goes before the FAA for final review and approval. “The Air Force’s decision to move
Daines: Montana CBS Programming Restored for DIRECTV Subscribers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced that 24 hours following his urging, DIRECTV and Cordillera Communications have struck an agreement that will restore Montana subscribers’ access to CBS programming. Yesterday, Daines wrote a letter to DIRECTV and Cordillera Communications officials urging the companies to come to a resolution on a negotiations standstill that had left Montana DIRECTV subscribers without CBS programming since January 1. This afternoon, Daines’ office received word from DIRECTV and Cordillera Communications that service will be restored today – just in time for tomorrow’s National Football League playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and the
Daines Statement on Nebraska Supreme Court Keystone Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement regarding the Nebraska Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline: “This decision is a win for the people of Montana and the thousands of American families who will directly benefit from the jobs created by Keystone XL pipeline’s construction,” Daines stated. “This project has strong bipartisan support, will create thousands of good-paying jobs, and will provide struggling Montana communities with millions of dollars of badly needed revenue for infrastructure and education. With the Nebraska Supreme Court’s recent ruling, the President
Daines Urges DIRECTV, Cordillera Communications to Resolve CBS Programming Conflict
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today urged DIRECTV and Cordillera Communications to promptly resolve conflicts in contract negotiations that have left thousands of Montanans without access the state’s CBS programming since January 1. In a letter to DIRECTV Chief Content Officer Daniel York and Cordillera Communications Vice President Jon Saunders, Daines reiterated Montanans’ frustrations with the loss of local news and sports coverage and pressed both parties to quickly find a resolution. “These subscribers are missing local news, public affairs programing and emergency weather alerts that they have subscribed to and expect to receive,” Daines wrote. “I urge both
Daines, Senate Energy Committee Approve Keystone XL Bill
WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Steve Daines joined the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today to approve Daines-cosponsored legislation that would permit construction of the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline, clearing the way for full Senate vote. The bill, S. 1, was introduced earlier this week and has 60 bipartisan cosponsors. It was passed in Committee today with bipartisan support. “Along its way the pipeline crosses through six counties total injecting thousands of jobs to dying rural communities and millions of dollars in tax revenue to support weakening infrastructure and neighborhood schools,” Daines stated. “Simply stated, Keystone XL is not just a