Daines to Welcome Chairman Thune to Montana Tech Summit

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman John Thune (R-SD) will deliver remarks at the Montana High Tech Jobs Summit. 

The Summit, co-sponsored by Daines will take place in Missoula on October 9. The Montana Tech Summit will serve as a unique opportunity to bring together the nation’s tech leaders in the hub of Montana’s growing technology sector.  The Summit will highlight Montana’s growing role in the nation’s high-tech economy and serve as an opportunity to discuss ways to create more good-paying Montana tech jobs. 

Thune chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which exercises legislative jurisdiction over the Federal Communications Commission as well as federal technology and communications policy including broadband, spectrum, and the internet. Last Congress, he authored new internet policy laws including the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act, which made the once temporary moratorium on taxing internet access permanent, and the Senate version of the Consumer Review Fairness Act, which prevents companies from punishing consumers for posting negative but honest criticism of goods and services.

“Relationships with small businesses and unique infrastructure needs are two factors that often determine whether or not residents in rural states like Montana and South Dakota get the full benefits of new technologies,” said Thune. “I look forward to seeing technology solutions adapted for residents of rural communities at the Montana Tech Summit and the opportunity to listen to ideas for improving federal policies with my friend and colleague Steve Daines.”

“I’m excited to welcome back Senator Thune to Montana for the Montana High Tech Jobs Summit,” Daines stated. “Senator Thune is a tech leader who understands the challenges of rural states like Montana. I look forward to hearing his ideas at the Summit about the future of spurring high-paying tech jobs in places like Montana.” 

Before being elected to Congress, Daines spent 13 years working in the technology sector. He helped grow RightNow Technologies, a Bozeman-based technology company, into a global leader in cloud computing. The company grew rapidly to 17 offices around the world and software products in more than 30 languages. Oracle acquired RightNow in 2012 and remains one of Montana’s largest commercial employers.

For more information and to register now please visit, https://montanatechsummit.com/

Members of the press are welcome to attend and can RSVP by emailing Katie_Waldman@daines.senate.gov. 

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