Daines Statement on Report that Biden Administration Intended to Keep Chinese Spy Balloon Secret
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement today regarding a report from NBC News that the Biden administration intended to keep the Chinese spy balloon secret and not tell Congress or the American people. “The Biden administration’s foreign policy failures continue to get worse. As if it wasn’t enough that the Chinese spy balloon flew over Montana’s nuclear missile fields unabated, now we find out from NBC News that the administration intended to hide it from Congress and the public I’m not sure which is worse: letting a spy balloon fly across the country or thinking the American people
Daines Applauds Senate Passage of Legislation Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation designating U.S. Highway 20 between Oregon and New England, including part of Montana, as the “National Medal of Honor Highway.” “As the son of a United States Marine, I know that it’s our duty to honor our brave servicemen and women as they selflessly defend the freedoms we hold dear,” said Daines. “The National Medal of Honor Highway should serve as a powerful reminder of American exceptionalism and the sacrifice of our nation’s heroes.” The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor, presented by the president in Congress’ name. U.S. servicemembers who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry
Daines Introduces Bill to Hold ATF Accountable, Give Certainty to Montana Gun Owners and Manufacturers
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped reintroduced the “ATF Accountability Act” to provide transparency to Montana gun owners on rules made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF engages in a secretive classification review process where the agency makes decisions about whether a particular firearm is regulated by the National Firearms Act. Decisions and justification for decisions are often only made available to manufacturers in private correspondence. This causes a lot of uncertainty for both gun-owning Montanans and firearm manufacturers, especially in combination with the ATF’s refusal to make final public rules regarding classification. “For too long
Daines Expresses Concern Over Proposed Flood Maps for Choteau
Sends letter to FEMA outlining negative economic impacts of new maps U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) highlighting the negative economic impacts that the proposed flood maps for the Teton River would have on Choteau, Montana. “The provisional maps presented to the public for comment in November included considerable expansions of the acreage and number of structures within the floodplain. As a result, homes, businesses, and development in these areas would be subject to costly flood insurance requirements, local floodplain regulations, and a lengthy permit process for construction or renovation.
Daines’ Bipartisan Bill to Complete Continental Divide Trail One Step Closer to Becoming Law
Bill Passes Out of Senate Committee with Strong Bipartisan Support U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing following the passage of his bipartisan “Continental Divide Trail Completion Act.” The bill directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior to prioritize completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) by the trail’s 50th anniversary in 2028. Watch and download Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “This is an important bill. It’s going to help spur recreation, economic development, grow new jobs, as well as helping our
Daines Doubles Down on Opposition to Biden Administration’s Attempts to Breach Snake River Dams
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after the Biden administration’s Columbia River Basin announcement to explore ways to replace the power, transportation and agriculture assets in preparation for potential breaching of the Snake River dams. “Congress has the authority to remove dams—not Washington bureaucrats, radical judges or the Biden administration,” Daines said. “The Snake River dams support Montana agriculture, provide a source of clean, reliable energy, help support recreation activities and provide critical transportation. This agreement reached behind closed doors leaves out the Montanans who rely on these dams and is a desperate attempt to appease fringe environmental groups. I remain firmly opposed
Daines, Merkley Call on Biden Administration to Protect Communities from Dangers of Wildfire Smoke, Increase Active Management to Mitigate the Risk of Catastrophic Fire
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of bipartisan senators in sending a letter to Biden administration officials on the need to use prescribed fires to protect communities from the negative impacts of catastrophic wildfires. “For decades, western states have faced smoke filled summers that harm vulnerable populations, degrade the enjoyment of the outdoors, and weaken the economic vitality of communities that support outdoor recreation industries. Prescribed fire is a proven method to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire and the associated smoke from the mega-fires confronting our communities today. Given the significant harms that wildfire
Daines Sponsors Bill to Defund Colleges and Universities that Promote Antisemitism
“Antisemitism has no place in America, much less on our college campuses” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced today he is cosponsoring legislation to defund colleges and universities that promote antisemitism. The “Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act” would rescind federal education funding for colleges and universities that peddle antisemitism or authorize, fund or facilitate events that promote violent antisemitism. “Antisemitism has no place in America, much less on our college campuses and is a rot that will destroy the fabric of our country from within,” said Daines. “Unfortunately, not only have we seen just how pervasive antisemitism is on our college campuses, but the failure
Daines Delivers Big Wins for Montana, National Security in Bipartisan Defense Bill
Includes Troop Pay Raise, Support for Malmstrom Air Force Base, Border Security Initiatives and Counters Chinese Communist Party U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured several major Montana priorities in the bipartisan “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA) including support for Malmstrom, a pay raise for our troops and much-needed border security provisions. “This year’s bipartisan defense package delivered huge wins for our national security and for Montana, including Malmstrom Air Force Base. I am proud to support our men and women in uniform and protect the homeland by bolstering the infrastructure at Malmstrom, protecting our southern border and countering the Chinese Communist Party,” Daines said. “With the United States and its allies facing