Press
Daines Announces $1.5 Million for Montana Water Conservation Projects
BOZEMAN, Mont. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana will receive $1,500,000 from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Reclamation for local projects in Bozeman, Huntley and the Missouri River headwaters basin in southwestern Montana to improve water and energy efficiency and drought mitigation. The Bureau of Reclamation funding will support three Montana projects through U.S. Department of Interior's (DOI) WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. "Wate… Continue Reading
06.24.16
Daines Pushes for Forest Management Reform
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines moved forward forest management reforms to improve the health of Montana's National Forests, create good-paying jobs and provide Montanans with the economic certainty they deserve. On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a legislative hearing on draft legislation aimed at improving forest management and wildfire budgeting. Additionally, this draft legislation requires federal agencies to work with states to certify fir… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Daines Statement on SCOTUS Ruling Upholding Separation of Powers
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to affirm a lower court's order forbidding President Obama's executive action on immigration. "Once again, President Obama's regulatory overreach and abuse of power has been blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court." In April, Daines joined 42 Senators in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of a challenge by a majority of the nation's governors and attorne… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Daines Tribal Forestry Bill Passes Senate Committee
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines' bill to improve the health of both Indian and federal forest land recently passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. This action follows a June 8, 2016 legislative hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. "The status quo on federal lands is unacceptable and costing Montanans good paying jobs," Daines stated. "We must pursue every tool available to make our forested lands healthier and get more Montana logs to our mills." Cl… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Daines Stands Up for Montanans’ Civil Liberties
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today stood up for Montanans' civil liberties and voted against an amendment that gave the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) increased authority to examine electronic records through a secretive surveillance order without a warrant. "It's important that we protect the homeland without trampling all over our constitutional rights and blatantly disregarding our civil liberties," Daines stated. Daines voted against U.S. Senator John McCain's (R-AZ) amen… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Daines Statement on Weyerhaeuser Closure of Two Mills in Columbia Falls
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Weyerhaeuser announced it is closing two mills in Columbia Falls: "This is devastating news to the Columbia Falls community and the hardworking families who relied upon these good-paying jobs. This underscores the importance to urgently pass forest reform legislation to get Montana's abundance of logs to our mills and keep good-paying jobs in our state. I will not sit idly by and watch Montana jobs disappear a… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Daines Partners with Weather Channel’s Maria LaRosa: How to Prepare for Severe Weather
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today stressed the importance of severe weather preparedness in a newly created Public Service Announcement (PSA). The locally targeted PSA, recorded in partnership with The Weather Channel television network, is airing on the network throughout the summer. "Severe weather affects us all," Daines stated. "Our first line of defense against severe weather is preparedness. I encourage members of the community to create an emergency plan, practice that plan… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Daines: Montana Counties Set to Receive over $30 Million in PILT Payments
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has allocated $30,285,246 million in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to Montana's rural counties. "These payments are essential for the health and safety of Montana's rural counties," Daines stated. "The PILT program provides critical support for Montana's rural and forested counties, but long-term certainty and permanent solutions are still needed. That's why I've been pushing multiple… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Daines Statement on Fracking Ruling
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed Judge Scott Skavdahl of the District Court of Wyoming's ruling to strike down the Obama administration's regulation on hydraulic fracturing on federal lands. "This is great news for Montana made energy and Montana made jobs," Daines stated. "It's important that the Obama administration's over-regulation tyranny comes to an end. Yet another court decision confirms: President Obama can't make laws with his phone and pen." On March 20, 2016, … Continue Reading
06.21.16
Daines Hosts Scoping Meeting in Billings
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today held a public meeting in Billings to ensure that the Department of Interior (DOI) hears the voices that will be most impacted by their review of the federal coal program. Today, DOI held a scoping meeting in Seattle, Washington. Washington State contains only 0.26 percent of the nation's recoverable coal reserves and produces zero. Montana has the nation's largest estimated recoverable coal reserves. Over 150 Montanans attended Daines' scoping mee… Continue Reading
06.21.16
Daines, Warren Introduce Bill to Protect Americans' Retirement Savings
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and today introduced the bipartisan Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act to protect hard-working Americans' retirement savings. As employers have shifted from defined benefit pensions to individualized retirement plans such as 401(k)s, workers have become responsible for tracking, managing, and consolidating multiple retirement accounts as they move from job to job. But moving accounts from job to job is not eas… Continue Reading
06.20.16
Daines: Stands up for Due Process, Stops Known Terrorists from Purchasing a Gun
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after supporting legislation that would take suspected terrorists off the streets. "A known terrorist shouldn't be able to board a plane or buy a gun," Daines stated. "By ensuring that we investigate individuals on the terrorist watch list who are trying to buy a gun, we are upholding Americans' constitutional rights while making our country a safer place." Daines voted in support of U.S. Senator John Cornyn's (R-… Continue Reading
06.17.16
Daines Announces $349,000 for MSU Advanced Nursing Education
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $349,000 in funding for advanced nursing education at Montana State University in Bozeman. "The nurse training program at Montana State University is a great resource for providing quality care in communities across Montana," Daines stated. The Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship (AENT) program gives preference to applicants that substantially benefit rural or underserved populations, or help meet public health nursing needs in State o… Continue Reading
06.17.16
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Frances Ordway of Chinook
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Frances Ordway of Chinook for her service to the country. She was a first grade school teacher who served countless Montana students across the state. Click here to download. Click here to download. 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 the official Congressional Reco… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Daines Announces over $1 Million in Funding for Bighorn, Lincoln, Yellowstone County Health Centers
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,050,000 in funding for community health centers in Bighorn, Lincoln and Yellowstone Counties to provide improved access to quality healthcare services. "This grant gives community health centers in Montana resources they need to better serve Montanans and provide quality care in our communities," Daines stated. Grants awarded today include: Bighorn County - Bighorn Valley Health Center (Hardin): $350,000 Lincoln County -Northwest C… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Daines Secures Much-Needed Reform to Address Failures in America’s Justice System
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured provisions to improve access to broadband on tribal lands, increase transparency and reform America's judicial system. "When our courts are overburdened and overworked, Americans are left underserved and waiting too long for justice. I'm pleased that my colleagues are taking this important step to modernize the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, " Daines stated. "I'm also proud to secure numerous reforms that work to increase transparency, imp… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Daines Strengthens Access to Public Lands, Stops Obama’s Regulatory Overreach
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured many important resources for Montana to fully fund wildfire suppression, prohibit President Obama's overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, promote responsible public lands policies and honors Indian trust responsibilities. The Senate Committee on Appropriations today passed the bipartisan FY2017 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill which funds the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Forest S… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Daines Secures Reinstatement of Royalty Policy Committee
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured passage of his amendment to help protect Montana coal jobs from the Obama administration's recent moratorium on new federal coal leases and ensure that states and tribes have a significant voice in any changes to federal coal, oil, gas royalties or leasing policy. The Senate Committee on Appropriations today unanimously passed Daines' amendment in the FY2017 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill which would reestabl… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Daines to Listen to Montanans, After Snubbed by Interior
On the same day, BLM is hosting an official meeting in Seattle, Washington with no plan to hear Montanans' voices U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that he will hold a public meeting on June 21, 2016 in Billings, Montana to ensure that the Department of Interior (DOI) hears the voices that will be most impacted by their review of the federal coal program. While the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) claims that they are "particularly interested in gathering public input on t… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Daines’ Bill to Protect Small Businesses Passes Commerce Committee
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the overwhelming bipartisan passage of his legislation to protect Montana small businesses from burdensome regulations found in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 317-page "net neutrality" rules. The Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2015 passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee this morning. It extends a temporary exemption from the FCC's new so-called "enhanced transparency requirements," which… Continue Reading
