Press
Daines Works to Advance Interests of Montana Tribes
Senator Steve Daines today spoke out about the lack of assistance available for tribal housing loan programs and called on Congress to find solutions to make loan programs more accessible for Montana's tribes. "If you don't have a home, achieving other life needs is difficult. But with these high unemployment rates we see in Indian country, access to loans is very difficult. The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, I believe, is an important law to facilitate access to… Continue Reading
02.04.15
Daines Blasts Costly EPA Wood Stove Regs
Senator Steve Daines today blasted the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new regulations on wood burning stoves as a direct threat to Montanans' access to affordable energy. This afternoon, the EPA rolled out its final regulations on residential wood heaters, pellet stoves and other wood burning stoves. The new regulations are projected to have a $45.7 million annualized compliance cost, which could lead to higher costs or decreased access to stoves for Montana consumers. "The EPA's shor… Continue Reading
02.03.15
Daines Congratulates Andrew Obst on Naval Academy Appointment
Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Kalispell student Andrew Obst on his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Obst, a senior at Flathead High School in Kalispell, received a nomination to the Naval Academy from Daines last year. Obst has served as a Search and Rescue volunteer in Libby, is a member of Flathead 4-H Shooting Sports, where he was a 2014 State Champion in Small Bore Pistol, and is active in football, track and field and wrestling. "I'm proud of Andrew, a hardworkin… Continue Reading
02.03.15
Daines Lauds Bipartisan Passage of Bill to Address Veteran Suicide
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the bipartisan, unanimous passage of legislation to help prevent veteran suicide and improve veterans' access to mental healthcare services. Daines is a cosponsor of The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to improve veterans' access to mental healthcare and suicide prevention resources and increase accountability and quality of care at VA hospitals. "The tragic epidemic of veteran suicide wil… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Daines Statement on Obama's Budget Proposal
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2016: "It's no coincidence that the President is releasing his budget on Groundhog Day - it's yet another budget that never balances, bursting with massive big government spending and burdensome taxes and regulations that have become the unfortunate trademark of the Obama administration. Instead of repeating the same failed agenda that has proven to be wrong for Montana, … Continue Reading
02.02.15
Daines Announces Commerce Subcomittee Assignments
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he was selected to serve on four subcommittees on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for the 114thCongress. Daines will serve on Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittees on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet; Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security; Space, Science and Competitiveness; and Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security. … Continue Reading
02.02.15
Daines Renews Commitment to Repealing Obamacare
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has joined his fellow Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to fully repeal Obamacare- a failed law that has raised healthcare costs for thousands of Montanans, harmed Montana jobs and small businesses and limited many Montanans' access to the healthcare plans and doctors they want. "We need to ensure health care is affordable and accessible for all Montanans, and that starts with repealing Obamacare and its costly mandates, burdensome taxes… Continue Reading
01.30.15
Daines Congratulates Two Montana Students on West Point Academy Appointment
Senator Steve Daines today congratulated two distinguished Montana students, Zach Giesecke and Nicholas Loos, for their appointments to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Giesecke, from Greycliff, MT, received a nomination to West Point from Senator Daines and was also nominated by Senator Jon Tester and former Senator John Walsh. Giesecke is a student at Bozeman High School and has been active in football, lacrosse, wrestling and choir. He has previously attended the West Point … Continue Reading
01.30.15
Daines Announces Washington, D.C. Legislative and Administrative Hires
Senator Steve Daines today announced legislative and administrative staff hires for his Washington, D.C. office. "My number one priority is serving the people of Montana and ensuring their voices are heard in Washington, D.C." Daines stated. "Our staff has the experience, enthusiasm and dedication needed to provide Montanans with the service they deserve." Wally Hsueh will serve as legislative director for Daines' office, where he will provide strategic policy guidance and oversee all legislat… Continue Reading
01.29.15
Montana Senators Urge FAA to Address Montanans’ Safety Concerns Over Powder River Expansion
Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today pressed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resolve Montanans' ongoing concerns regarding the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC) before issuing a final Record of Decision. In a meeting today with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, the Montana Senators called on Huerta to reevaluate the Air Force's plan in light of increased economic activity and air traffic in southeastern Montana. The Senators also urged Huerta to strongly … Continue Reading
01.29.15
Daines Announces Appropriations Subcommittee Assignments
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has been selected to serve on five Senate Appropriations subcommittees. Daines will serve on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies; Defense; Interior, Environment and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies. Daines noted that the subcommittees' focus will address a num… Continue Reading
01.29.15
Daines Applauds Final Passage of Keystone XL Pipeline
Senator Steve Daines today applauded the bipartisan Senate passage of legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline by a vote of 62-36. This long-awaited legislation will create tens of thousands of good paying jobs, bring much needed economic opportunity to Montana and move the nation one step closer to North American energy independence. "Today, the Senate finally took long-awaited action and passed commonsense, pro-growth legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. This job-creating pr… Continue Reading
01.28.15
Daines' Efforts to Stop Unilateral Monument Designations Draws Majority Support
Senator Steve Daines' fight to protect Montana from the Obama administration's efforts to unilaterally designate new national monuments without local support today gained majority support on the Senate floor. Under a vote of 50-47, a majority of U.S. Senators today support Daines' amendment expressing the sense of Congress that that all future National Monument designations should be subject to consultation with local governance and the approval of the Governor and legislature of states in whic… Continue Reading
01.28.15
Daines Stresses Importance of Montana's Freight Rail Network
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sought to address the critical need for expanded rail capacity to support Montana jobs and key industries, such as agriculture and mining. During today's Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on Freight Rail Transport, Daines pressed the panel on how to improve track capacity and maximize efficiency on our nation's rail system. "80 percent of our wheat crop is exported overseas, so it's our connection from rails to the ports that all… Continue Reading
01.23.15
Daines Works to Protect Montana From Catastrophic Wildfire
Senator Steve Daines is working to ensure Montana has the resources needed to combat wildfires and invest in much-need fire prevention efforts. Daines joined Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, which overhauls federal wildfire policy, increases funding for prevention and ensures large forest fires are treated and funded as true natural disasters. "Montanans know firsthand the economic and physical damage caused by catastrophic wildfir… Continue Reading
01.23.15
Daines: Montanans' Voices Must Be Heard in Monument Designations
Daines introduces amendment to help protect Montanans from Obama administration's efforts to unilaterally designate new national monuments without local support WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Steve Daines is fighting to protect Montana from the Obama administration's efforts to unilaterally designate large swaths of land as national monuments, without securing local input and state support. Last night, Daines introduced an amendment to S.1, legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, that wou… Continue Reading
01.21.15
Daines Helps Introduce Bill to Ensure Veterans' Access to Local Healthcare
U.S. Senator Steve Daines has joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and a bipartisan coalition of Senators to introduce legislation to ensure Montana veterans have local access to the healthcare services they need. The bill, the Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2015 (S. 207), would allow veterans to access community healthcare providers if the veteran lives more than 40 miles driving distance-rather than as the crow flies-from the closest VA medical facility that could provide the services … Continue Reading
01.20.15
Daines Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's 2015 State of the Union address: "Montanans don't need more tax increases and more government spending- we need more good-paying jobs. If the President is serious about creating jobs and growing our economy, his first step would be approving the Keystone XL pipeline. Montanans deserve real solutions and results, not more partisan gridlock. I'll continue fighting for commonsense, bipartisan solutio… Continue Reading
01.15.15
Daines Statement on Air Force Decision to Move Forward with Powder River Expansion
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called the United States Air Force's decision to move forward with the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex "disappointing and discouraging," and called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address Montanans' strong concerns before approving the Air Force's proposal. The Air Force today issued a record of decision on the proposed expansion that failed to address the many concerns that Montanans and the members of Montana's Congressional deleg… Continue Reading
01.09.15
Daines: Montana CBS Programming Restored for DIRECTV Subscribers
Senator Steve Daines today announced that 24 hours following his urging, DIRECTV and Cordillera Communications have struck an agreement that will restore Montana subscribers' access to CBS programming. Yesterday, Daines wrote a letter to DIRECTV and Cordillera Communications officials urging the companies to come to a resolution on a negotiations standstill that had left Montana DIRECTV subscribers without CBS programming since January 1. This afternoon, Daines' office received word from DIREC… Continue Reading
