Press
Daines, Tester call for Senate hearing on East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
- Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are urging the leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing on their bill to designate East Rosebud Creek as Wild and Scenic. The Senators recently introduced the East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to protect 20 miles of East Rosebud Creek under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This designation will preserve the free-flowing condition of the pristine creek located south of Roscoe, Montana. "Homeowners organizations, … Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Secures Field Hearing on Pipeline Safety
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has secured a Senate field hearing on pipeline safety and the upcoming reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), to be held in Billings, Montana next week. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee field hearing is entitled "Pipeline Safety: State and Local Perspectives" and will be held on Friday, September 18th at 10:00 a.m. MT/Noon ET at Montana State University, Billings. "Montanans … Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Announces Over $2 Million in Funding for Billings Logan International Airport
Senator Steve Daines today announced over $2 million in funding for Billings Logan International Airport in light of recent flooding and infrastructure challenges facing the airport. The Department of Transportation's $2,068,668 grant will fund much-needed drainage improvements at the airport, which serves as a major air transportation hub in Montana and is vital to commercial and general aviation. In the last reported year (2013), there were over 380,000 enplanements and 76,000 aircraft operat… Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Riley Slivka of Winifred
Senator Steve Daines today honored Riley Slivka of Winifried. Riley is a senior at Winifred High School who is working to highlight the work of the Montana farmers through film. Through his "Montanan of the Week" initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines' recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Daines welcomes … Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Statement on 9/11 Anniversary
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States: "Today, I join my fellow Montanans in pausing to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the September 11 terrorist attacks. We continue to honor the heroism and bravery of the first responders, firefighters, law enforcement officials and civilians who worked to save the lives of others. "We also pause to honor the memory of the four Americans lost … Continue Reading
09.10.15
Daines: Americans Deserve an Up or Down Vote on the Iran Deal
Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats for blocking an up or down vote on the President's deal with Iran: "The American people deserve to have an up or down vote on one of the most consequential issues facing our nation. Senate Democrats are blocking the voice of the American people by failing to allow a vote on the President's deal with Iran. "Let us not forget that just a few short months ago, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 98-1… Continue Reading
09.10.15
Daines: Iran Deal Will Not Prevent Iran From Obtaining a Nuclear Weapon
Senator Steve Daines today took to the Senate floor to blast President Obama's deal with Iran and underscored the serious security concerns the deal has for Israel, the United States and the world. Click here to watch Daines' remarks. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning: "If Iran's ultimate goal is to obtain a nuclear weapon, the deal reached by the Obama administration sets Iran on a course to do so. "From the t… Continue Reading
09.03.15
Daines: VA Incompetence Hurting America’s Veterans
Senator Steve Daines today expressed his deep concerns regarding the latest report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General: "This report paints a disturbing pattern of incompetence at the Department of the Veterans Affairs. It is unconscionable that our nation's veterans have not been able to effectively access the health care that was promised to them. The level of this failure should outrage every American, and it's incomprehensible that the VA's haphazard… Continue Reading
09.02.15
Daines, Zinke Stand With American Legion Against Iran Deal
Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today released the following statements following a vote taken at the American Legion National Convention by the body to publically and officially oppose the Iran nuclear agreement. "The men and women of the American Legion have experienced first-hand the sacrifices made in times of war,"Daines stated. "I stand with the American Legion in my continuing opposition to the Iran nuclear agreement which keeps Iran on track to obtain a nuclear weapon… Continue Reading
08.28.15
Daines Announces $10.2 Million in Grants for Montana Tribal Colleges
U.S. SENATE - Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today announced that Montana's tribal colleges have been awarded more than $10.2 million in grants through the U.S. Department of Education. Grants will be awarded to tribal colleges in Box Elder, Browning, Crow Agency, Harlem, Lame Deer, Pablo and Poplar. The formula-based grants will provide Montana's tribal colleges with additional resources to expand academic opportunity for Montana tribal members. "Montan… Continue Reading
08.27.15
Daines Welcomes Court Delay of WOTUS Regulations
U.S. SENATE - Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after a federal district court blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its new regulation broadly expanding the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: "Today's order is further proof that the EPA's latest power grab is not only a direct threat to Montanans' livelihoods, but to our Constitutional rights. This rule could have devastating impacts on Montana farmers and ranchers, our… Continue Reading
08.23.15
Daines: Reverse Prohibition on Use of Montana’s UH-1H Helicopters for Firefighting
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - Senator Steve Daines today urged the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to reverse the USDA's prohibition on the use of UH-1H helicopters to combat Montana wildfires. In a letter to Vilsack, Daines pressed the USDA for the maximum use of safe and effective resources to combat wildfires on federal lands. "As emphasized by Governor Bullock, UH-1H helicopters have a strong safety record and have been proven to provide a critical capabili… Continue Reading
08.17.15
Daines: New VA Service Animal Rule is a “Step in the Right Direction”
Senator Steve Daines today commended news that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revised its rules regarding veterans' ability to bring service animals to VA facilities. Veterans in some states, including Montana, have had difficulty bringing their animals into VA medical facilities. The VA's new rule will put clear guidance in place that allows the presence of service animals at VA facilities across the United States. "While there is still work to be done, today's announcement is a … Continue Reading
08.14.15
Daines, Zinke Statements on Crow Tribe’s New Agreement in Gateway Pacific Terminal
Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today released the following statement on the partnership between Cloud Peak Energy, the Crow Tribe of Indians and SSA Marine in the Gateway Pacific Terminal, located in the northwest corner of Washington State: "The Crow Tribe's economic opportunities have long been tied with the future of the Gateway Pacific Terminal," Daines stated. "With this announcement, the importance of this project to the Crow Tribe is greater than ever. It is imperati… Continue Reading
08.07.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Montana FCCLA Participants
Senator Steve Daines today honored Montana students participating in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) who recently brought home a combined 31 gold medals, 26 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals from their STAR Event national conference in Washington, D.C. Daines met with representatives from Montana FCCLA when they were in Washington, D.C. for the national conference on July 8. Click here to download the picture. Through his "Montanan of the Week" initiative, Daines e… Continue Reading
08.07.15
Daines Announces Nearly $4 Million in Funding for Glacier Park International Airport
Senator Steve Daines today announced nearly four million dollars in funding for critical construction and maintenance needs at Glacier Park International Airport. The Department of Transportation's $3,986,340 grant will fund a full-depth reconstruction of the airport's existing runway, as well as the rehabilitation of the runway's lighting system. "Glacier Park International Airport provides critical transportation services to the entire Flathead Valley," Daines stated. "This grant will ensure… Continue Reading
08.06.15
Daines Statement on Reported Russian Cyber Attack
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to reports that Russia hacked the Pentagon's unclassified email system: "Reports that Russian hackers-possibly sanctioned by the Russian government-hacked into the Joint Chiefs of Staff email servers nearly two weeks ago are deeply concerning. This is the third known major cyber attack on the federal government unearthed this summer, and we still have yet to see a full report on the depth of the hack at the Office of Perso… Continue Reading
08.06.15
Daines Reiterates Call to End Fire Borrowing
Senator Steve Daines today reiterated his call for the federal government to end the practice of fire borrowing, following the U.S. Forest Service's recent report on the rising cost of wildfire operations: "Montana has already experienced several high-intensity fires this year. The fire season thus far has been one of the worst in the past decade and has only made more evident the urgent need for a wildfire funding solution. It is critical that Congress end fire borrowing and ensure that the Fo… Continue Reading
08.04.15
Daines: Privacy and Security Both Matter in Cyber Reforms
Senator Steve Daines today underscored the importance of enhancing America's cybersecurity infrastructure while striking the right balance between protecting Americans from borderless cyber criminals and protecting Americans' privacy. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning: "As I like to say, there are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those who know they have been hacked. "This was recently seen at J.P Morgan Chase. "Last summer… Continue Reading
08.04.15
Daines Blasts Obama’s So-Called Clean Power Plan
Senator Steve Daines today took to the Senate floor to blast President Obama's plan to devastate Montana's coal industry and the good-paying jobs it provides. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Click here to watch Daines' remarks. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning: "Yesterday, President Obama and his Employment Prevention Agency continued to wage their war on American energy, American families and American jobs. "As President Obama was announcin… Continue Reading
