Press
Daines: Systemic Failures at Indian Health Service are Unacceptable
Senator Steve Daines today pushed Indian Health Service (IHS) officials on the agency's persistent shortcomings in providing quality reliable access to health care services for tribal members across the nation and called on IHS to urgently implement much-needed reforms to address the deficiencies plaguing the agency. During a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on the substandard quality of Indian health care in the Great Plains, Daines condemned the systemic failures at IHS that have led … Continue Reading
02.03.16
Tester, Daines push Blackfeet Water Compact to Senate floor
After years of negotiations, Senators lead charge to pass historic water rights agreement (U.S. Senate)-Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today led the charge to push the Blackfeet Water Compact through the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and onto the Senate floor. This decades-in-the-making agreement will resolve water rights claims on the Blackfeet Reservation and ensure access to reliable and clean water for the communities within the Reservation, as well as farms, ranches, and busines… Continue Reading
02.03.16
Daines, Sullivan Introduce Measures to Split the Ninth Circuit Court
Senators author bills to promote equal access to justice, restructure the most populous circuit court to better serve the American people WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) have introduced two bills to address failures in America's system of justice by restructuring the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which, because of its size and scope, denies citizens in its jurisdiction equal access to justice. The Circuit Court of Appeals Rest… Continue Reading
02.01.16
Daines Applauds United Airlines Expansion to Great Falls International Airport
Senator Steve Daines today applauded the announcement that United Airlines will begin a summer route from Great Falls International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. "Increasing reliable and convenient air service for the Great Falls community is great news for our state and will help generate more economic opportunity throughout Cascade County," Daines stated. "This new route will help increase access to new markets for central Montana and Hi-Line communities -in turn creating … Continue Reading
01.29.16
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Bruce Bramlette of Fort Benton
Senator Steve Daines today recognized former Brigadier General Bruce Bramlette of Fort Benton, Montana, on behalf of his lifetime of dedication to the United States and his selfless service on Congressional U.S. Military Academy nomination boards. Bruce has tirelessly served on nomination boards for 25 years, both as a member and board chairman, and has interviewed more than 1,000 young Montana students seeking a nomination to one of our nation's service academies. Through his "Montanan of th… Continue Reading
01.28.16
Daines Highlights Key Reforms in Major Senate Energy Legislation
"We can't fully discuss our nation's energy future without also addressing the President's moratorium on new federal coal leases and royalty increase attempts for federal coal, oil and natural gas." WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to highlight important provisions contained in the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, the first major energy policy legislation debated in the Senate since 2007. This key legislation will help expand Montana energy production,… Continue Reading
01.27.16
Daines Leads Bipartisan Effort Urging VA Officials to Allow Discussion of Medical Marijuana with Patients Where it is Legal
Senator Steve Daines today urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to change its current policy to allow VA doctors to discuss and recommend marijuana as a treatment option in states where medical marijuana has been legalized, like Montana. Daines led a bipartisan group of 21 Senators and Representatives in sending a letter to VA Secretary Bob McDonald urging the VA to permit doctors to discuss and recommend marijuana as a treatment option in states where it's legal. Under the curren… Continue Reading
01.27.16
Malmstrom Officer Joins Daines DC Office as Air Force Fellow
Senator Steve Daines today announced Air Force Major Benji L. Johnson has been selected to serve as a Military Fellow in Daines' Washington, D.C. office through 2016. Johnson was most recently the Assistant Director of Operations, Codes, for the 341st Operations Support Squadron at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. "I am excited to welcome Major Johnson to support our work on the military and national defense issues facing Montana and our nation," Daines stated. "Major Johnson's extensive … Continue Reading
01.22.16
Daines Calls on FCC to Clarify Broadband Definition
Senator Steve Daines today led five of his Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify their inconsistent and arbitrary definitions of broadband, which could detrimentally impact rural Montanans. The letter is also signed by Roger Wicker (MS), Roy Blunt (MO), Deb Fischer (NE), Ron Johnson (WI) and Cory Gardner (CO). The senators expressed their concerns that: The FCC's arbitrary 25/3 Mbps benchmark speed does not reflect what most Americans consider br… Continue Reading
01.22.16
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Blake Wombold of Heart Butte
Senator Steve Daines today recognized Blake Wombold of Heart Butte, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Reserves, for his generous contribution of new shoes for the Heart Butte High School Boys basketball team. This year marks the second year that Blake has donated new shoes to Heart Butte's basketball team. Growing up, Blake witnessed the sacrifices his mother, a teacher at Heart Butte School, made to provide for him and he wanted to be able to give back to the community that supported … Continue Reading
01.22.16
Daines Congratulates Four Montana Students on Receiving West Point Academy Appointments
Senator Steve Daines today congratulated four distinguished Montana students for their appointments to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The students are Keller Balsam, Macy Newbary, Alliemarinda Phillips and Michael Sewell. Daines spoke to the four students last night and personally congratulated each of them on their appointment. Keller Balsam, a senior at Helena High School, is a member of his school's varsity track team and a cross-country runner. He serves as a member of … Continue Reading
01.21.16
Daines Statement on Vote to Override President Obama’s WOTUS Veto
Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to override President Obama's veto of legislation to stop the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) egregious overreach through newly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: "Senate Democrats and President Obama have made clear they don't care about the harmful effects that this overreaching rule will have on our hardworking farmers and ranchers. The EPA's greatly expanded powers… Continue Reading
01.20.16
Daines Blasts Senate Dems’ Refusal to Allow Debate on Syrian Refugee Legislation
Senator Steve Daines today expressed his disappointment in Senate Democrats' refusal to allow debate on legislation that would increase security and screening measures for refugees seeking to enter the United States. "It is Congress's responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our nation, but today Senate Democrats proved they would rather play politics than prioritize our national security," Daines stated. "The SAFE Act is commonsense legislation that institutes a much-needed intensiv… Continue Reading
01.20.16
Daines Blasts Senate Dems’ Refusal to Allow Debate on Syrian Refugee Legislation
Senator Steve Daines today expressed his disappointment in Senate Democrats' refusal to allow debate on legislation that would increase security and screening measures for refugees seeking to enter the United States. "It is Congress's responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our nation, but today Senate Democrats proved they would rather play politics than prioritize our national security," Daines stated. "The SAFE Act is commonsense legislation that institutes a much-needed intensi… Continue Reading
01.19.16
Daines: The IRS is Failing Montanans
Daines Underscores Need to Reform IRS Services, Tax Code as Tax Season Begins WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the first day of tax season, Senator Steve Daines is calling for reforms to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) operations in light of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealing that nearly 62 percent of callers who wanted to speak with an IRS representative were unable to receive assistance. "As this year's tax season begins today, we are once again reminded of the consisten… Continue Reading
01.19.16
Daines: New Deficit Projections Affirm Need to Rein in Spending
Senator Steve Daines today reaffirmed his commitment to reining in Washington's out-of-control spending after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that the federal budget deficit is expected to increase by $105 billion in 2016 - the first increase in seven years. "These projections reaffirm the dire consequences of Washington's continued bloated spending. Make no mistake - this $105 billion increase in the federal deficit is direct result of the 2000-page trillion dollar spending bill… Continue Reading
01.15.16
Daines, Forbes Highlight Resolution to Celebrate Religious Freedom Day
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA) today highlighted their resolution to celebrate and reaffirm the role of religious freedom as a fundamental human and Constitutional right. The resolution recognizes the 230th anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and commemorates January 16, 2016 as Religious Freedom Day by an act of Congress. The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom was authored by Thomas Jefferson and served as the model… Continue Reading
01.15.16
Daines Blasts Obama Moratorium on New Coal Leases
Senator Steve Daines today slammed President Obama's decision to place a moratorium on new coal leasing on federal lands, which will likely end coal mining in the west and destroy the thousands of good-paying jobs coal supports in Montana. "This moratorium is almost exclusively focused at destroying Montana and Wyoming coal. It is an unprecedented assault on one of Montana's most important sources of good paying jobs and tax revenue that will likely shut down coal development in Montana and… Continue Reading
01.14.16
Daines Applauds American Airlines Expansion to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
Senator Steve Daines today applauded the announcement that American Airlines will expand their air services to the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and create an additional travel route for Montanans. "This is exciting news for the Bozeman community and the thousands of Montanans who rely on Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport for reliable air travel," Daines stated. "This new partnership with American Airlines won't just increase options for Montanans, but will also make it easi… Continue Reading
01.14.16
Daines to Kerry: Congress Doesn’t Make Laws With Iranian Interests in Mind
Senator Steve Daines today criticized Secretary of State John Kerry for his recent attempts to placate Iran's concerns over the United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP) restrictions. Daines also called on Kerry to press the Iranian government, the largest state sponsor of terrorism, to cease its support for terrorist activity and provide tangible evidence of such action. In a letter to Secretary Kerry, Daines and 13 of his colleagues ask the Secretary to make clear to Iranian Foreign Minister … Continue Reading
