Press
Daines Secures Forest Service’s Commitment to Clear Hazardous Dead Trees from Montana National Forest
Clearing debris supports timber jobs and public safety U.S. SENATE - This week, Vicki Christiansen, Interim Chief of the Forest Service, announced that she approved U.S. Senator Steve Daines' request to expedite removal of dead and dying timber leftover from wildfires in the Lolo National Forest. "Dead and dying trees are sitting in our National Forests, creating safety hazards and losing their economic value," said Daines. "Clearing the debris will support good-paying timber jobs at nearby m… Continue Reading
06.06.18
President to Sign Daines’ Bill to Overhaul VA, Strengthen Care for Veterans
U.S. SENATE - In the hours leading up to President Donald Trump signing the VA MISSION Act into law, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the Senate floor to highlight the positive impact that this legislation will have on veterans' access to critical health care services. This legislation, which Daines helped champion in the U.S. Senate, will overhaul the VA Choice Program and provide better health care for Montana's veterans. Daines will join President Trump at the White House this aftern… Continue Reading
06.05.18
McConnell Responds to Daines’ Demands to Cancel August Recess
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has responded to Daines' demands and cancelled the Senate's upcoming August recess to help avoid last minute funding battles and push through the backlog of judicial nominees currently before the U.S. Senate. "In order to drain the swamp, the pumps need to keep running in August," said Daines. "While I'm thankful the Majority Leader has heeded my call to cancel August recess, simply keeping the… Continue Reading
06.05.18
Daines Announces over $12 Million in Grants for Montana Community Health Centers
U.S. SENATE - Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced over $12 million in grants for Montana Community Health Centers. "Community Health Centers provide vital and affordable care to the most vulnerable members of our community," said Daines. "These critical funds will work to improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of Montanans." The following Community Health Centers received grants from the Department of Health and Human Services: RiverStone Health: $3,338,867.00 Lincoln County Com… Continue Reading
06.04.18
Daines Applauds Zinke for Prioritizing Montana, Sperry Chalet Reconstruction in DOI Funding Request
U.S. SENATE - Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines applauded Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke for prioritizing Montana in the DOI's appropriations request and setting aside $12 million for the reconstruction of Glacier National Park's Sperry Chalet hotel. The Sperry Chalet hotel was burned down in a forest fire in August 2017. "Glacier's Sperry Chalet hotel has been a place for visitors to stay for over a century," said Daines. "I thank Secretary Zinke for putting Montana's p… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Broadband to Rural Montanans
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the bipartisan Reprioritizing Unserved Rural Areas and Locations for Broadband (RURAL Broadband) Act of 2018, which will prioritize federal funds that are used to provide broadband access to areas that are unserved with no access before they are used to upgrade areas with existing service. "We must work to close the rural-digital divide so our rural communities can be part of the 21st Century economy," said Daines. "My bill ensures that … Continue Reading
05.24.18
Daines Joins President at White House to Roll Back Dodd-Frank Regulations
U.S. SENATE - Today, President Donald Trump invited U.S. Senator Steve Daines to a bill signing ceremony at the White House for legislation that will roll back disastrous Dodd-Frank regulations. "Montana's rural banks, credit unions and customers have been the biggest victims of Dodd-Frank," said Daines. "It was great to join the President at the White House to finally takes steps to provide relief to our rural communities." The Dodd-Frank Act has done tremendous harm to Montana by eliminating… Continue Reading
05.23.18
Daines Introduces Legislation to Protect Tribes from Costly Obamacare Employer Mandate
Senator Steve Daines today announced the introduction of legislation to protect Native American tribes from Obamacare's costly employer mandate. The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act will exempt tribes and tribal employers from Obamacare's employer mandate. The bill prevent massive fines that tribal employers would incur under Obamacare's employer mandate. The employer mandate places an undue burden on tribes, leading to lost jobs and increased unemployment. Instead of bolstering triba… Continue Reading
05.23.18
Senate Sends Bill to Overhaul VA, Deliver on Promises to Our Veterans to President’s Desk
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today supported and the Senate passed, the VA MISSION Act, which will overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and fix many of the shortcomings in the VA Choice Program. "Under the Choice Program, our veterans did not receive the healthcare they deserved," said Daines. "The bipartisan VA MISSION Act will follow through on the promises that were made to our Veterans." This week, Daines took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to join him in supp… Continue Reading
05.23.18
IHS Director Concedes to Daines More Must be done to Combat Suicide in Tribal Communities
U.S. SENATE - During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, the Acting Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), conceded to U.S. Senator Steve Daines that IHS is not doing enough to combat the suicide epidemic in Indian country. During the hearing, Daines confronted Admiral Weahkee with the startling statistic that American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of suicide of any demographic group in the United States,… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Secretary Mnuchin to Daines: CFIUS Modernization Must Cover Joint-Ventures
U.S. SENATE - During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told U.S. Senator Steve Daines that congressional modernization of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) must include jurisdiction over joint-ventures. CFIUS' jurisdiction over joint-ventures is critical as China regularly requires U.S. companies to create joint-ventures with Chinese counterparts to do business in China. These… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Daines, Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Administration to Safeguard Critical Military and Dual-Use Technology from China
'There can be no question that China seeks to surpass the U.S. both economically and militarily and become the world's foremost superpower, and neither the Federal Government nor private U.S. companies should aid and abet that effort. As such, we implore you to reject any proposal to soften restrictions on the transfer to China of U.S.-made military technologies and advanced dual-use technologies, including semiconductors.' 'Export control and sanctions laws should not be negotiable, because f… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Secretary Mnuchin Commits to Daines: Administration Will Not Relax Export Controls on Sales to China, Will Protect Sensitive Technology
U.S. SENATE - During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin committed to U.S. Senator Steve Daines that the Administration will not relax export controls and allow sensitive technologies to be sold that compromise U.S. security when negotiating trade deals with China. During the hearing, Daines urged to Secretary Mnuchin that it is critical that during these ongoing negotiations with the Chinese the A… Continue Reading
05.21.18
Daines, Tester, Gianforte Bill to Designate Three VA Facilities in Honor of Montana Veterans Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. SENATE - Today, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte's legislation to designate three Department of Veterans Affairs facilities passed the U.S. House of Representatives and will now head to the President's desk to be signed into law. This legislation recognizes the commitment to duty and personal courage of three Montanans by naming VA facilities in Missoula and Billings in their honor. The Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Missoula will be designated… Continue Reading
05.18.18
Daines Calls for Greater Flexibility for Montana Agriculture and Livestock Haulers
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter signed by a bipartisan group of Senators to Administrator Raymond Martinez of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), calling for greater flexibility within hours of service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers, which help maintain the safety on Montana's roadways. Daines and the bipartisan group of colleagues wrote, "The trucking industry provides for over three million jobs in the U.S. and is the backbon… Continue Reading
05.18.18
Daines Applauds President’s Nomination of Robert Wilkie to Lead VA
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced Robert Wilkie, the acting secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as his next nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. "Robert is a friend and I know he will do what it takes to put our veterans first in a department that has not been giving our heroes the treatment they deserve," said Daines. "I look forward to putting my full support behind his nomination t… Continue Reading
05.18.18
Daines, Tester Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Injured First-Responders are Fairly Compensated
U.S. SENATE - During National Police Week, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester introduced the bipartisan Putting First-Responders First Act. This legislation would clarify the current tax code to ensure injured first-responders do not have to pay taxes on injury-related compensation. In addition, this bill prevents injury-related compensation from becoming taxable when injured first-responders reach retirement age since their injuries and associated costs remain. The legislation was inspi… Continue Reading
05.17.18
After Urging Pruitt, EPA Works to Lift Gag Order on Cleanup Plan at Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site
U.S. SENATE - Just a day after U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to lift a court gag order on the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund site cleanup plan, Daines announced today that the Department of Justice in conjunction with the EPA and the Atlantic Richfield Company filed a motion to lift the confidentiality order. During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies hearing, Daines secu… Continue Reading
05.17.18
Daines Urges FCC Chairman to Remain Competitive in Wireless, Better Serve Rural Areas
U.S. SENATE - During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to act swiftly to ensure the United States remains the leader in 5G wireless technology and to take steps to strengthen access to broadband in rural areas. Mentioning the recent congressional trip he led to China, Daines warned Chairman Pai that he feared America was losing the race to 5G and qu… Continue Reading
05.17.18
Daines Urges Secretary Wilson to Strengthen Montana Air Force, Address Equipment Shortfalls
U.S. SENATE - Today, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on the Department of the Air Force budget, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force, to consider Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls as a future base for the B-21 bomber. He also requested an update on the plan to replace Montana's aging UH-1N helicopters. "With 3,400 active duty airmen, 968 Air Guardsmen, and 600 civil servants in Montana, Montana is essential to some of … Continue Reading
