Press
Tester, Daines Push East Rosebud Bill to Senate Floor
Senators' Bill Designates Montana Creek as "Wild and Scenic" (U.S. Senate) - Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines' bill to designate portions of the East Rosebud Creek as Wild and Scenic has cleared the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and now heads to the Senate floor. The Senators' bill will preserve 20 miles of creek originating in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and flowing out to the prairie where it joins the Yellowstone River just west of Columbus, Montana. … Continue Reading
07.12.16
Daines, Senate Freshmen Decry Democratic Filibuster of Critical Troop Funding
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today joined Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in a colloquy on the Senate floor to speak about the Democratic filibuster of the FY 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill. The funding bill came out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with the unanimous support of Democrat and Republican members. However, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said that his members are blocking critical funding for our troops so that… Continue Reading
07.12.16
Daines: Senate Moving Forward on Energy Bill
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today welcomed the next step to go to conference on S.2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which passed the U.S. Senate in April by a bipartisan vote of 85-12. The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly voted to appoint conferees and go to conference on S. 2012, the next step in the legislative process. "It's great to see momentum to permanently reauthorize LWCF, move forward critical forest reform to improve forest health and protect good-paying Montan… Continue Reading
07.12.16
Daines Statement on Closure of Colstrip Units 1 & 2
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the upcoming closure of Colstrip Units 1 & 2: "The closure of Colstrip units 1 and 2 is devastating news. Colstrip provides hundreds of good paying jobs, is an anchor to the entire economy and tax base of Montana and because of fringe environmental extremists and the onslaught of anti-energy regulations from the Obama administration we are seeing this important plant, one of the largest coal-fired generating … Continue Reading
07.12.16
Daines Announces over $7 Million for Four Montana Airports
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $7,348,4900.00 in funding for critical construction upgrades for four Montana airports. Grants will be awarded to airports in Stevensville, Great Falls, Kalispell and Bozeman. "This funding will ensure that our airports can continue to serve their communities and keep Montana as a top travel destination for tourists," Daines stated. Grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Transportation include: Stevensville Airport: $1,999,142… Continue Reading
07.11.16
Daines to FCC: Close the Rural Broadband Gap
Daines Joins Bipartisan Call to Expand Mobile Network in Rural America U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan effort urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the Universal Service Fund's (USF) Mobility Fund, which is aimed at providing broadband service to rural and underserved areas. Daines was joined by 27 Senators in a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for the agency to prioritize new mobile broadband deployment in areas that support a… Continue Reading
07.08.16
Daines Statement on Double-Digit Obamacare Rate Request Increase
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Montana State Auditor Montana Lindeen announced the double-digit requested rate increases under Obamacare insurance plans. "President Obama promised Obamacare would drive down the cost of healthcare premiums, instead we are seeing astronomical proposed increases in Montana," Daines stated. "Obamacare continues to take money out of the pockets of hardworking Montana families with no relief in sight. O… Continue Reading
07.08.16
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Tom Kuntz of Madison County
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Tom Kuntz of Ennis for his dedication to the community and the Ennis Community Children's School. 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 welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines' "Montanan of the Week" program by calling Da… Continue Reading
07.07.16
Daines: Vermont Law is an Attack on the Heart of Montana’s Way of Life
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke out in support Montana's hardworking farmers and ranchers against Vermont's law that could impact Montana jobs and the price families' pay at the grocery store. Tonight, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan compromise with a vote of 63-30 to protect Montana farmers and ranchers. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Click here to watch Daines' remarks. "Make no mistake, this Vermont law is an attack on the heart of Montana's way of … Continue Reading
07.07.16
Daines Announces over $7 Million to Improve Great Falls International Airport
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $7,175,439.00 in funding for critical construction upgrades for Great Falls International Airport. The funding will be used to construct an extension to the existing (16/34) runway, including improvements to runway safety areas, install guidance signs, install miscellaneous NAVAIDS, install runway sensors, rehabilitate runway, rehabilitate runway lighting and remove obstructions. "Air travel is essential to Montana's economy and I'm proud… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Daines Announces over $1.4 Million in Funding for Montana Airports
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that four Montana airports will receive $1,465,311.00 for critical construction projects. Grants will be awarded to airports in Havre, Dillon, Laurel and Billings. "Montana's airports are a critical piece of our state's transportation system, because they bolster our local communities and connect us," Daines stated. "This additional funding will ensure that our airports can continue to support the communities and regions they serve." G… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Daines Stands Up for Montana Farmers and Ranchers
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today stood up for Montana farmers and ranchers and the number one industry in Montana: Agriculture. "There is no reason that Vermont and Bernie Sanders should dictate our way of life in Montana," Daines stated. "This compromise will protect Montanan jobs, prevent baseless discrimination against Montana agricultural goods and avoid higher prices in the grocery line." Key provisions of the bipartisan bill include: Pre-emption: imme… Continue Reading
07.06.16
Daines Works to Protect Americans from Dangerous Criminals
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today blasted Senate Democrats who blocked consideration of several pieces of commonsense legislation that would protect families from the dangers posted by sanctuary cities, which harbor criminals who are in this country illegally. "It's outrageous that Senate Democrats blocked commonsense legislation that would help protect the safety and security of innocent Americans from criminals who violate our nation's laws," Daines stated. "Our cities need to up… Continue Reading
07.01.16
Daines Honors Montanans of the Week: Students of Dawson County High and Industrial Arts Teacher Dean Myer
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized the students of Dawson County High School and Industrial Arts teacher Dean Myer. Thanks to their initiative and hard work, children and families in Dawson County will be able to create wonderful memories this summer at Penninger Park. Daines' recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his "Montanan of the Week" initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in t… Continue Reading
07.01.16
Daines: Sage Grouse Can’t Tell The Difference Between Private, Federal and State Land
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines this week pressed the Obama administration on the impact on private property, state and private land use of federal land requirements due to the checkerboard nature of conservation plans to protect the sage grouse. During a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining, Daines questioned the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on the failure to adequat… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Daines Announces $750,000 for Billings Airport, $600,000 for Missoula Airport
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that two Montana airports will receive $1,350,000 in funds to attract new routes for Montana. Billings Logan International Airport: $750,000: Revenue guarantee and marketing campaign to attract new service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Missoula County Airport: $600,000: Revenue guarantee and marketing campaign for service to a Texas hub. "This is exciting news for Montanans who rely on these airports for reliable air t… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Commerce Committee Passes Daines’ Outdoors Recreation Bill
U.S. SENATE - The United States Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved U.S. Senator Steve Daines' bill that allows federal, state and local policymakers to better understand the economic impact outdoor recreation has to the American economy. This legislation would inform policymakers and business leaders on the jobs created, and the consumer spending driven by, the outdoor recreation economy. "As a fifth-generation Montanan and avid outdoorsman, I know firsthand … Continue Reading
06.29.16
Daines Announces Nearly $8 Million in Preparedness Funding
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana will receive a total of $7,990,666.00 million in preparedness funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "It's critical that we continue to fund our operations centers and law enforcement to ensure that we are fully prepared for when an emergency occurs," Daines stated. "This additional funding will provide Montana, tribes and our local communities more security." The Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program: $86,… Continue Reading
06.28.16
Montana Congressional Delegation Introduces Resolution to Designate National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls
U.S. CONGRESS - U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today introduced a resolution to designate May 5, 2017 as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls in memory of the birthday of Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who was murdered in July 2013. The resolution seeks to commemorate the lives of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native women whose cases are documented and undocumented in pu… Continue Reading
06.28.16
Daines Leads Bicameral Group of Members Urging Congressional Leadership to Include Medical Marijuana Provision in Funding Bill
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led ten members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives today urged Congressional leadership to include a provision in the final funding bill sent to the president that protects veterans' ability to discuss the use of medical marijuana with VA physicians in states where it is legal. Although, the provision passed both chambers of Congress, the provision was removed in the conferenced appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Aff… Continue Reading
