Press
Daines Demands Transparency Around Colstrip Closure
BOZEMAN, Mont. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today demanded transparency around the closure of Colstrip Units 1 and 2 to provide certainty to hardworking Montana families who rely on good-paying jobs at Colstrip. In a letter to Paul Farr, the President and CEO of Talen Energy Corporation, Daines sought clarification if a decision had already been made to close Colstrip Units 1 and 2 at the earliest opportunity in 2017 and if the disclosure of this decision is being withheld. Daines requested … Continue Reading
10.28.16
Daines Statement on FBI Reopening Clinton Email Investigation
BOZEMAN, Mont. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey informed the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary that Hillary Rodham Clinton is back under investigation. "Hillary Rodham Clinton's reckless conduct put our national security at risk," Daines stated. "The citizens of our country deserve an honest and transparent investigation to hold the former Secretary accountable." ###… Continue Reading
10.28.16
Daines Statement on the Appointment of Dr. Kathy Berger as Director of VA Montana
BOZEMAN, Mont. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement upon Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcement of Dr. Kathy Berger's appointment as permanent Director of VA Montana Health Care System. "The appointment of a new VA Montana Director is welcome news for Montana's veterans and I wish Dr. Berger the best," Daines stated. "Now that our veterans have a new director I look forward to seeing a commitment and change to ensure their needs are not only being met, b… Continue Reading
10.28.16
Daines Celebrates Completion of the Kalispell Bypass
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement upon the completion of the Kalispell Bypass. "Downtown Kalispell is an economic engine for northwest Montana and the whole state," Daines stated. "This engine runs on our transportation network, allowing residents, visitors, freight and natural resources to traverse the state. It's great to see infrastructure growing in Kalispell. This bypass may only add seven miles of road, but it will increase safety downtown an… Continue Reading
10.27.16
Daines, Zinke Work to Ensure Healthcare Delivery for Rural Montanans
U.S. CONGRESS -U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today worked to ensure equitable healthcare delivery for rural Montanans. In a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, Daines and Zinke seek to clarify why certain Montana zip codes are not designate as rural for ground ambulances despite meeting qualifications and having rural designations for most other Medicare programs. There are currently 16 zip codes through… Continue Reading
10.27.16
Daines, Tester Fight for Montanans’ Right to Privacy
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today stood up for Montanans' right to privacy and pressed Attorney General Loretta Lynch to provide Congress with more information about a proposed expansion of government hacking and surveillance powers. In the letter to AG Lynch, Daines and Tester ask for more information about how the government would use the new hacking authority, formally known as amendments to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Unless Congress acts, … Continue Reading
10.25.16
Daines and Tester Push Obama to Update ICBM Fleet
(U.S. Senate)-Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are pushing the Obama Administration to take steps forward and update the ICBM fleet at Malmstrom Air Force Base. In a letter to President Obama, Montana's Senators reiterated their support for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, which is scheduled to replace the Minuteman III fleet and provide a next generation land component of the U.S. nuclear triad for decades to come. Tester and Daines both agree that modernizing Malmstrom's IC… Continue Reading
10.24.16
Daines Statement on Obamacare Rate Increases
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Obama administration announced that premiums for Obamacare will increase by an average of 25 percent next year. "Montanans are stuck with insurance rate hikes that are more than the jaw dropping 25 percent national average for next year," Daines stated. "Obamacare isn't affordable and needs to be replaced with state-driven solutions that puts patients at the center of the healthcare equation." Average in… Continue Reading
10.21.16
Daines Demands Response to Lapsed Softwood Lumber Agreement
Moratorium on litigation related to U.S. - Canada softwood lumber trade lapsed at midnight, October 12, 2016 U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined 26 Senators in urging President Obama to prioritize ongoing negotiations to obtain a new softwood lumber trade agreement with Canada. In a letter to President Obama, Daines underscored the need to reach a new deal to prioritize American jobs and help forested counties. "We are disappointed that Canada appears reluctant to follow … Continue Reading
10.20.16
Daines Welcomes Montana Telecom Leaders to DC
U.S. SENATE - This week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines welcomed two Montana telecommunications industry leaders to Washington, D.C. for a forum to discuss rural connectivity. The #Solutions2020 Policy Forum, hosted by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, gathered communications specialists from around the country to discuss connectivity issues facing America. Participants discussed issues such as: digital inclusion, communications affordability, 5G technology and d… Continue Reading
10.19.16
Daines Seeks to Level Trade Playing Field
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of 14 Senators in deriding the Obama administration's decision to increase the costs of production for Montana companies by excluding many Generalized System of Preferences countries from duty relief on exports of backpacks, luggage and other related travel goods. In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, Daines pressed for the criteria that were used in making a decision that negatively impacts Montana com… Continue Reading
10.18.16
Daines Marks National Forest Products Week
BOZEMAN, Mont. -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today celebrated National Forest Products Week by highlighting the important impact forestry has on Montana's economy. Montana's National Forests are a treasured part of the state's heritage for generations and provide timber-surrounded counties with good-paying jobs and a vital revenue source to fund schools and infrastructure projects. National Forest Products Week occurs the third week in October as designated by Public Law 86-753 (36 U.S.C. 123), a… Continue Reading
10.18.16
Daines’ Bill to Support Native Children Signed into Law
BOZEMAN, Mont. -U.S. Senator Steve Daines' bill to support Native children was signed into law on Friday, October 14, 2016. The bipartisan Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act creates a Commission on Native Children, which will conduct a comprehensive study on the programs, grants, and supports available for Native children, both at government agencies and on the ground in Native communities. The goal is to develop a sustainable system that delivers wrap-aro… Continue Reading
10.13.16
Daines Statement on Expiration of Softwood Lumber Agreement
BOZEMAN, Mont. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA): "Subsidized and unfairly traded lumber imports continue to severely harm Montana mills, workers and communities. President Obama needs to remain committed to reaching a new trade agreement that prioritizes the American worker and fights for good-paying jobs." The SLA expired on October 12, 2015 with a one-year moratorium on complaints or lawsuits ending on Oc… Continue Reading
10.11.16
Daines Hosts Roundtable in Billings to Protect Consumers from Online Booking Scams
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hosted a roundtable discussion with the leaders of the Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association (MLHA) on growing Montana's tourism industry and protecting consumers from online booking scams. Daines sought to raise awareness and crack down on operators of that trick consumers into thinking they are making reservations directly with hotels. On September 27, Daines introduced bipartisan legislation to address this problem and protect consumers from online boo… Continue Reading
10.11.16
Daines Comments on U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Deny Appeal of Cottonwood Case
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today made the following statement after hearing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to deny the appeal of the U.S. Forest Service in challenging the ruling of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cottonwood v. U.S. Forest Service: "I'm very disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear this case. Allowing the Ninth Circuit's disastrous ruling to stand will greatly increase needless paperwork on the Forest Service and further delay much-needed restor… Continue Reading
10.07.16
Daines Wraps Up Eastern Montana Tour
BOZEMAN, Mont. - This week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines traveled 648 miles across Eastern Montana with stops in Malta, Glasgow, Scobey, Westby, Plentywood, Culbertson, Sidney, Glendive, Wibaux, Baker, Ekalaka, Broadus and Ashland. Malta: Daines discussed critical issues facing Phillips County in Malta at breakfast with the Rotary Club and local elected officials at the Great Northern. During the breakfast, the conversation focused on developing Montana's vast natural resources and the good-paying… Continue Reading
10.06.16
Daines, Tester Urge FCC to Approve Application to Expand Broadband to Rural Montana
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve T-Mobile's waiver application to allow them to expand broadband access in rural Montana. In a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, Daines and Tester underscored the importance of ensuring that underserved, rural areas have access to broadband and that T-Mobile has a proven track record building facilities to serve this part of the country. This transaction will provide wir… Continue Reading
10.05.16
Daines Holds Roundtable in Sidney on Law Enforcement Needs
SIDNEY, Mont. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today held a roundtable discussion to discuss law enforcement needs, coordination and approaches to combating the continuing criminal activity in the Bakken region, as well as the need for the temporary Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent presence in Sidney to be made permanent. During the roundtable, Daines presented John Dynneson, Richland County Sheriff with a letter he sent today to FBI Director James Comey requesting a meeting to discuss t… Continue Reading
10.05.16
Daines, Zinke Introduce Legislation to Encourage Carbon Sequestration
SIDNEY, Mont. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representive Ryan Zinke today announced that they have introduced legislation to encourage carbon sequestration. The CO2 Regulatory Certainty Act of 2016 aligns tax guidelines with existing federal regulations to ensure taxpayers are better able to utilize the Section 45Q carbon sequestration tax credit. By accelerating work on carbon sequestration projects, this bill is helping to provide one of the energy technologies needed to utilize Americ… Continue Reading
