Press
Daines Statement on AG Lawsuit to Rein in EPA Overreach
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on Montana Attorney General Tim Fox and 12 other states' lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) over the new regulation broadly expanding the definition of the Waters of the United States rule (WOTUS). "I applaud Attorney General Tim Fox for standing up for Montana farmers, ranchers and small businesses against another egregious power grab by the Obama administration.… Continue Reading
06.29.15
Daines Statement on Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA et. al.
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA et. al.: "The Court took an important step today to help ensure the EPA takes into account the true cost of excessive regulations on the American people, their jobs and their livelihoods. This rule is just one of the numerous burdensome regulations the Obama administration has cooked up that has the potential to eliminate good paying jobs and devastate the livelihoods… Continue Reading
06.26.15
Daines Honors Montanans of the Week: Crow Tribe Code Talkers
Senator Steve Daines today honored Samson Birdinground, Cyril Not Afraid, Barney Old Coyote and Henry Old Coyote of the Crow Indian Nation for their exceptional service to our country during World War II. These four men were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for serving in our armed forces as "code talkers," speaking their native Apsaalooké (Crow) language during wartime in order to transmit and receive military intelligence and successfully avoid disclosing information to enemy forc… Continue Reading
06.26.15
Daines Recognizes PTSD Awareness Day on Senate Floor
To mark National Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day, this Saturday, June 27, Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to raise awareness about the prevalence of mental illnesses like PTSD among service members and veterans. Below are key excerpts from Daines' floor speech: "PTSD is a serious problem affecting too many of our country's bravest individuals. We must do more to help our heroes. "There is no greater honor or responsibility than fighting for our vetera… Continue Reading
06.26.15
Daines Statement on Supreme Court Ruling
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges et al.: "The Court is overriding the will of the people of Montana and numerous other states that have defined marriage as between one man and one woman. I believe marriage is between one man and one woman." In 2004, Montana voters approved Initiative 96 that amended the Montana Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. ###… Continue Reading
06.25.15
Daines Fights for Montana Transportation Priorities
Senator Steve Daines today helped move forward key provisions important to Montana transportation and public safety. Daines joined the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today in moving forward the "Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act," which reauthorizes Amtrak services. Daines successfully included an amendment requiring Amtrak to evaluate options for establishing additional Amtrak stops that would have a positive financial impact to Amtrak, including a potent… Continue Reading
06.25.15
Daines Statement on Obamacare Supreme Court Ruling
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's King v. Burwell ruling: "Obamacare is a poorly written law that is failing the American people. I'll continue working to repeal this failed law and replace it with Montana-driven solutions that increase access to affordable care for all Montanans and put patients first." ###… Continue Reading
06.24.15
Daines Announces Miles City Airport to Receive Grant to Rehabilitate Runway
Senator Steve Daines today announced that Miles City's Frank Wiley Field will receive $2.5 million to rehabilitate the airport's runway and modernize its visual guidance system. The grant was awarded under the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program (AIP). "Safe and reliable air service is critical to the long-term economic needs of Montana's rural communities, including Miles City," Daines stated. "This grant will provide the Miles City airport with the tools needed to b… Continue Reading
06.24.15
Daines Joins Cavuto to Discuss OPM Hack
Senator Steve Daines today reiterated his call for Director Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Katherine Archuleta to step down amid serious concerns that under her watch, OPM failed to address major security flaws and systemic problems leading to the largest ever breach of federal employees' personal information. In the interview, Daines also called for the resignation of Donna Seymour the Chief Information Office (CIO) for OPM. "We need to hold the government accountable to standards we h… Continue Reading
06.23.15
Daines: OPM Director Should Step Down
Senator Steve Daines today called on Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Katherine Archuleta to step down in light of recent reports that due to failures in OPM's security, an estimated 18 million current, former and prospective federal employees were victims of a mass cyber breach. "Under Katherine Archuleta's watch, OPM allowed one of the largest breaches of federal employees' personal information in our nation's history. More, Ms. Archuleta has refused to take accountability… Continue Reading
06.23.15
Daines Presses Highway Safety Administrator for Answers on Fire Truck Safety
Senator Steve Daines today pressed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for answers about delayed recall efforts for a failing fire truck component that resulted in a deadly crash outside of Helena, Montana last summer. During today's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing with NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind, Daines recalled the crash and pressed Rosekind as to why a full recall of the defective part has taken approximately one year to institute. Daine… Continue Reading
06.19.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Gene Peterson
Senator Steve Daines today honored Gene Peterson, a native of Culbertson and resident of Missoula, for his fifty successful years of shaping Montana's broadcasting industry and long history of public service to the state. Peterson was inducted into the Montana Broadcasters Hall of Fame earlier this month. In addition to working in Montana broadcasting for more than fifty years, Peterson has served as president of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and a member of the St. Patrick Hospital Advisor… Continue Reading
06.18.15
Daines Introduces Bill to Honor Jeannette Rankin on U.S. Currency
Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to require that former Montana Representative Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, be featured as the first woman on U.S. paper currency. Today, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that it is taking nominations for the new face of the $10 bill. Daines introduced the "Celebrating the First Woman in Congress Currency Act" to require that Jeannette Rankin be the first woman on paper currency. "Jeannette Rankin, a proud Mont… Continue Reading
06.18.15
Daines’ Bills to Provide Critical Funding for Montana’s Rural Water Infrastructure Receive First Hearing
Senator Steve Daines' bills to provide much-needed funding for Montana rural water infrastructure received their first Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing today. Daines' bills- S. 1552 the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act and S. 1365, the Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act - provide much-needed funding and authorization for the construction and completion of critical rural water infrastructure projects in Montana and other states. Daines' remarks can be viewed he… Continue Reading
06.18.15
Daines Applauds Passage of Critical Defense Bill
Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides critical support for the nation's military and national security. "This legislation is critical to ensuring our men and women in uniform have the funding and support they need to fulfill their missions," Daines stated. "The NDAA prioritizes the needs of our service members while protecting the important role that Montana holds in our national defense." Daines successfully included an… Continue Reading
06.18.15
Daines Secures Additional Support for LWCF
Senator Steve Daines today secured close to $14 million in additional funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program of critical importance to increasing access to Montana public lands and protecting Montana's outdoors heritage. During today's mark up of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2016, Daines and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) successfully passed an amendment to increase LWCF programs by nearly $14 million, bringing the overall tot… Continue Reading
06.18.15
Daines Announces First Biannual Montana High Tech Jobs Summit
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he will be hosting the first biannual Montana High Tech Jobs Summit in Bozeman this fall. The Summit, sponsored by Daines, the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Montana Chamber of Commerce, will take place at Montana State University on September 13 and 14 and will feature Safra Catz, Chief Executive Officer of Oracle, among other national tech and business leaders. "Working at RightNow Technologies, I experienced firsthand the opportunity that technol… Continue Reading
06.17.15
Daines Urges Commerce Committee to Hold Oversight Hearing on PHMSA
Senator Steve Daines is calling on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to hold an oversight hearing on the reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). In a letter to Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Daines urged the Committee to convene a hearing on the reauthorization PHMSA to examine the federal government's responsibility in ensuring safe and environmentally sound transportation of natural resources through America's pipelines, rail… Continue Reading
06.15.15
Daines Works to Ensure Due Process for Veterans Erroneously Discharged
Senator Steve Daines today announced he has helped introduce two measures to ensure due process for veterans who suffer from mental health illnesses who may have been erroneously given an administrative discharge, rather than an honorable discharge. Daines has joined Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to introduce S. 1567 which ensures active duty members who suffer from invisible wounds, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) aren't incorrec… Continue Reading
06.12.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Jaydyn Child of Dillon
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Senator Steve Daines today honored Jaydyn Child, a Dillon high school student who recently received the Girl Scouts' highest possible award, the Gold Award, for her project to raise awareness about suicide prevention among teens and adults in Montana. Daines presented Jaydyn with her award today at the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming office in Bozeman. Click here to download the high-resolution photo. Through his "Montanan of the Week" i… Continue Reading
