Press
PHOTO: Daines Meets Special Olympics Montana Athlete of the Year
Senator Steve Daines met with Special Olympics Montana Athlete of the Year, Josh Anderson of Great Falls, this week in the United States Capitol. Daines gave Anderson and Bob Norbie, President and CEO of Special Olympics Montana, a tour of the United States Senate, during which time they discussed the important role that Special Olympics holds in Montana. "Special Olympics Montana is an incredible organization that is making a difference in communities and lives across Montana," Daines stated.… Continue Reading
03.18.15
Daines Calls for Increased Accountability and Transparency at FCC
Senator Steve Daines today pressed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase transparency and accountability in the rule-making process and questioned the FCC's routine practice of granting staff broad "editorial privileges" to make changes to rules previously voted on by FCC Commissioners. During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing held today with all five FCC commissioners in attendance, Daines repeatedly called on the FCC to release the original text of their rule regulating th… Continue Reading
03.18.15
Daines, Tester push Little Shell Recognition Bill through committee
Senate Indian Affairs Committee passes legislation to federally recognize Little Shell (U.S. SENATE) - Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today helped advance their bill to grant federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The Little Shell Tribe, headquartered in Great Falls, was recognized by the State of Montana in 2000, but has sought federal recognition for over 35 years. Both Tester and Daines applauded this impo… Continue Reading
03.18.15
U.S. Forest Service Chief: 300 million board feet per year in MT is a ‘very reasonable’ goal
Today, U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell asserted that increasing timber harvests on Montana National Forests to 300 million board feet per year is a "very reasonable" goal. During today's Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. Forest Service budget request for Fiscal Year 2016, Senator Steve Daines pressed Tidwell on the Forest Service's goals for future timber harvests. In Montana's National Forests, timber production in FY 2014 was 113 million board feet per y… Continue Reading
03.17.15
Daines Grills Agriculture Secretary Vilsack on Grain Inspections
Senator Steve Daines today demanded the release of the safety reports that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducted during the shutdown of grain inspections at the Port of Vancouver. During today's Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on the USDA's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request, Daines called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to release the three safety reports conducted during the duration of the lockout to ensure that the USDA's decisions are tran… Continue Reading
03.16.15
Daines Outlines Priorities for American Prosperity
Senator Steve Daines today delivered his maiden speech on the Senate floor and outlined his priorities as Montana's new United States Senator. During his speech, Daines discussed the need for state-based solutions to restore economic growth that keeps America safe and secure. Key excerpts from Daines' speech are below: We are blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth. And it is the solemn responsibility of the United States Senate to do everything in its power to keep it that way.… Continue Reading
03.12.15
Daines Works to Expand Recreational Access to Public Lands, Promote Montana's Outdoors Economy
Senator Steve Daines today pushed for bipartisan solutions to preserve Montana's outdoors heritage and protect Montanans' Second Amendment rights. During today's Energy and Natural Resources legislative hearing on S. 556, the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015, Daines stressed the importance ofprotecting access to Montana's public lands and increasing recreational opportunities for hunters and anglers. "This is an important bill to Montana and I am a proud cosponsor. Like so many Montanans, hu… Continue Reading
03.11.15
Daines Fights for Tribal Needs at Three Senate Hearings
Senator Steve Daines today fought for Montana's tribes, pressing Obama administration witnesses on the responsible stewardship of federal funds to benefit tribal housing, health services and public safety. During three different Senate Committee hearings today, Daines called on witnesses to ensure that federal dollars intended for Montana's tribes are being properly allocated to help tribal members on Montana's reservations, rather than being misused or creating bureaucratic waste. Daines sough… Continue Reading
03.11.15
Daines, Tester honor Montana Medal of Honor recipients
Montana's Senators introduce a bill to rename Armed Forces Reserve Center in Great Falls after Montana heroes (U.S. SENATE) - To honor the service of two Montana Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester have introduced legislation to rename the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Great Falls the "Captain John E. Moran and Captain William Wylie Galt Armed Forces Reserve Center." Captain John E. Moran served in the Philippine-American War and was awarded the Medal… Continue Reading
03.11.15
Daines Congratulates Missoula Student on West Point Academy Appointment
Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Missoula student Samantha Clark on her appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Samantha, the daughter of James and Janean Clark of Missoula, will graduate from Sentinel High School this spring. She serves as Key Club Secretary and was a delegate to Montana American Legion Auxiliary Girls State in 2014. She is active in competitive fencing, horseback riding, downhill skiing and shooting sports. "Samantha is an exceptional studen… Continue Reading
03.10.15
Daines: Obama Administration Abandons Ammo Ban Plan
Senator Steve Daines today announced that at his urging, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has abandoned its proposal to ban M855 ammunition for one of the most common firearms in the United States: the AR-15. "The Obama administration's decision to abandon its misguided ammunition ban is welcome news for countless law-abiding firearm owners and sportsmen. I'm glad that the ATF has heeded my call and listened to the more than 80,000 Americans who spoke out in opposi… Continue Reading
03.10.15
Daines Demands Commitment to On-Time Federal Grain Inspection Service
Senator Steve Daines today renewed his call to ensure timely and efficient grain inspections from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are conducted so that normal shipments of Montana grain will continue uninterrupted. In a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee leaders, Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Daines underscored the importance of maintaining continuous required grain inspection for farmers, ranchers and producers. Daines also highli… Continue Reading
03.09.15
Daines, 46 Fellow Senators Send Letter to Iranian Leaders on Nuclear Negotiations
Senator Steve Daines, along with 46 Republican Senators, today sent an open letter to the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. The letter emphasizes the role of Congress in scrutinizing any potential agreement between the Obama administration and Iranian leadership. A PDF of the official letter may be found here. The full text of the letter is below: An Open Letter to the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran… Continue Reading
03.09.15
Daines, Gillibrand to Help Thousands of "Blue Water" Vietnam Vets Harmed by Agent Orange, but Ignored by Feds Due to Technicality in the Law
Current Law Requires VA To Provide Benefits For Service Members Exposed To Agent Orange On Dry Ground, But Ignores Vets Off Shore WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation to ensure thousands of Navy veterans known as "Blue Water" vets from the Vietnam War exposed to the powerful toxin Agent Orange will be eligible to receive disability and health care benefits they have earned for diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure. During … Continue Reading
03.09.15
Daines, 52 Senators Condemn ATF Framework Limiting Sporting Ammo
Senator Steve Daines is continuing his fight to stop the Obama administration from implementing new restrictions on Montanans' Second Amendment rights and access to ammunition. Daines today joined 52 of his Senate colleauges in condemning a new proposal from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that would restrict access to M855 ammunition, which is primarily used for sporting purposes. In a letter sent today to ATF Director Todd Jones, Daines and his colleagues quest… Continue Reading
03.05.15
Daines: Obama's Anti-Gun Agenda, Plan to Ban M855 Ammunition Must Be Stopped
Senator Steve Daines today called on the Obama administration to halt its anti-Second Amendment agenda and abandon the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) plan to ban the manufacturing, importation and sale of ammunition for one of the most common rifles in the United States: the AR-15. In a letter sent to B. Todd Jones, Director of the ATF, Daines condemned the ATF for overstepping its mission by moving to restrict M855 ammunition, which is primarily used for sporting pu… Continue Reading
03.05.15
Daines Works to Encourage Job Creation, Investment
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage investment, job creation and economic growth in Montana and across the nation. Daines joined Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing the New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2015. This legislation would make permanent the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, provide an annual allocation of credits indexed to inflation, and exempt NMTC investments from… Continue Reading
03.05.15
Daines, Tester and Juneau announce Montana students selected to participate in Senate Youth Program
(MONTANA) - Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau today announced Missoula Loyal Sacred Heart High School students Ian Descamps and Rosemarie McCormack have been selected to serve as delegates to the 53rd annual United States Senate Youth Program. The United States Senate Youth Program was created in 1962 to provide students from each state the opportunity to participate in a week-long study of the federal government and officials who lead i… Continue Reading
03.04.15
Daines Calls for Montana Solutions to Land Management, Coal Jobs and Increasing Access to Public Lands
Senator Steve Daines today advocated for the Department of Interior to better incorporate Montana-driven solutions in the management of Montana's public lands, energy resources and wildlife habitats. During this morning's Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing on the Department of Interior's fiscal year 2016 budget request, Daines pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to work more collaboratively with Montana in the conservation and management of the state's sage grouse population. Daines… Continue Reading
03.04.15
Daines Statement on Vote to Override President Obama's Keystone Veto
Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to override President Obama's veto of the bipartisan Keystone XL pipeline. "It's disappointing that some of my Democrat Senate colleagues failed to stand with a majority of the Senate and the American people to override the President's short-sighted veto of the Keystone XL pipeline. Regardless of today's vote, the fight to build Keystone is not over. I will continue to keep pressure on the Obama adm… Continue Reading
