Press
Daines Blasts Senate Democrats’ Refusal to Fund the Department of Veterans Affairs
Senator Steve Daines today blasted Senate Democrats' obstruction of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which provides critical funding for veterans services: "Our nation's heroes should have easy access to the resources, services and medical care that they need and deserve. It's unconscionable that Senate Democrats would rather make our veterans pawns in political games. This legislation contains numerous important provisions to address Montana… Continue Reading
09.30.15
Daines Applauds SEMPER FI Provisions in NDAA
Senator Steve Daines today applauded a provision included in the National Defense Authorization Act that allows military officers the ability to carry weapons at military recruitment centers. The NDAA conference report, agreed to by the House and Senate conference committee, includes a provision that mirrors Daines' legislation, the Securing Military Personnel Response Firearm Initiative (SEMPER FI) Act. "The fastest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. I'm glad that … Continue Reading
09.30.15
Daines Announces Kick Off of Veterans History Project in Montana
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he will be bringing the American Folklife Center's Veterans History Project (VHP) to Montana to collect and preserve the stories of Montana's wartime veterans in the Library of Congress. Montana veterans who served in the United States military during wartime in any capacity from World War I through the present and are no longer serving, as well as civilians who served in support of a U.S. war effort in a professional capacity, are eligible to partici… Continue Reading
09.30.15
Daines Rallies Senators in Support of LWCF Reauthorization
Senator Steve Daines today led a coalition of Senators in support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an important tool for increasing public access to public lands, on the Senate floor. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Richard Burr (R-NC) joined Daines on the Senate floor to urge their House and Senate colleagues to reauthorize LWCF and not allow authorization to lapse. "We're not going to let this conversation die. We're going to cont… Continue Reading
09.30.15
Daines Applauds Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act
Senator Steve Daines today applauded the overwhelming bipartisan passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides critical support for the nation's military and national security. "Montana is playing a critical role in meeting our nation's security and military needs and this bill provides the support our men and women in uniform need to carry out their missions," Daines stated. "The NDAA prioritizes the needs of our service members, while protecting the important role t… Continue Reading
09.30.15
Daines Votes to Keep the Federal Government Funded
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after voting for the second time to keep the government funded through December 11, 2015: "Like all Montanans, I know how important it is to keep our government running. While I'm glad the Senate was able to find agreement and ensure the government remains funded, I am disappointed that this bill failed to address several critical issues, including permanently reauthorizing LWCF and directing funding away from Planned Parenthood. I wil… Continue Reading
09.29.15
Daines Continues to Investigate Pipeline Safety
Senator Steve Daines today continued his work to increase the safety of the United States' vast pipeline network and underscored the importance of timely inspection responses from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). During a Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security hearing entitled "Pipeline Safety: Oversight of Our Nation's Pipeline Network," Daines today reaffirmed the challenges facing the … Continue Reading
09.29.15
Daines Announces Renewal of Cape Air Service for Montana Airports
Senator Steve Daines today announced that Cape Air has been re-approved as the Essential Air Service (EAS) provider for airports in Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney and Wolf Point. "Cape Air provides Montana's community airports in Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney and Wolf Point with critical transportation services. It has proven to be a reliable and badly needed service for a number of Montana's rural communities," Daines stated. "As a commuter air carrier, Cape Air makes it easier to do busi… Continue Reading
09.29.15
Daines Announces Over $350,000 for Montana State University - Northern
Senator Steve Daines today announced $350,388.00 in funding for the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) program at Montana State University (MSU) - Northern in Havre. The NASNTI program provides grants and related assistance to Native American-serving, nontribal institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals. "Montana State University - Northern plays an important role in providing a qualit… Continue Reading
09.29.15
Daines Calls on Senate Veterans Affairs Committee To Help Blue Water Vietnam Veterans
Senator Steve Daines today called on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to pass his legislation to ensure that Blue Water Navy veterans who are victims of Agent Orange-related diseases receive the care and compensation they have long deserved. During today's Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on "Examining the Impact of Exposure to Toxic Chemicals on Veterans and the VA's Response," Daines testified on the importance of reversing a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decision that cut… Continue Reading
09.28.15
Daines Statement on Passing of Former Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Turnage
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the passing of former Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Turnage: "Chief Justice Turnage was a true public servant who always put Montana and this nation first. As a World War II veteran, a state legislator and Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, he exemplified Montana's strong legacy of service. Cindy and I are keeping the Turnage family in our thoughts and prayers during this time." ###… Continue Reading
09.25.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Russ Fullmer of Sidney
Senator Steve Daines today honored Russ Fullmer of Sidney. Russ Fullmer will be retiring from Sidney Sugars Inc. in December after 30 years of loyal service and hard work. 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' recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Daines welcomes anyo… Continue Reading
09.24.15
Daines Statement on Double-Digit Obamacare Rate Increases
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the double-digit Obamacare rate increases for approximately 41,000 Montanans: "Despite President Obama's promises, health care premiums are not as affordable for many Americans as he claimed they would be. These steep premium increases make it harder to have access to affordable healthcare and create severe hardships for thousands of Montanans. It's money that's no longer in the pockets of Montanans. We need to ensure health care i… Continue Reading
09.23.15
Daines Statement on Historic Pope Address
Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement ahead of Pope Francis' address to a joint meeting of Congress: "On behalf of all Montanans, it is a privilege to welcome His Holiness Pope Francis to the United States and to our nation's capital," Daines stated. "We should let this day remind us that our great nation was founded with the vision that we are all endowed with certain natural rights and dignity that come from God, not from government. It is the role of government to protec… Continue Reading
09.22.15
Senators Introduce Born-Alive Protection Act
Senator Steve Daines today along with 20 Senate cosponsors helped introduce the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. "We cannot stand idly by and allow those who can't fight for themselves to receive substandard care or simply no care at all," Daines stated. "The right to life is protected by our Constitution and is part of the framework of the Declaration of Independence. We must continue to be a voice for those who have none. We need to get this common sense legislation passed and o… Continue Reading
09.22.15
Daines Statement on Department of Interior’s Sage Grouse Announcement
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the Department of the Interior's sage grouse announcement: "While it is good news that the sage grouse is not listed as an endangered species, I remain concerned that the Obama administration's land-use plans will have a harmful impact on Montana's economy, our land users and Montanans' way of life. The fact remains, sage grouse numbers have increased in the west by nearly two-thirds since 2013. Montana needs to continue take the l… Continue Reading
09.22.15
Daines: We Must Continue to be a Voice for Those Who Don't Have a Voice
Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to underscore the importance of Senate passage of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which will prevent late-term abortion nationwide beyond 20 weeks. Click here to watch Daines' remarks. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Daines is an original cosponsor of the commonsense Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This legislation would prevent late-term abortion nationwide beyond 20 weeks - more than halfway through pregna… Continue Reading
09.21.15
Daines Applauds Senate Passage of Federal Grain Inspection Reforms
Senator Steve Daines today applauded the Senate passage of the United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, which contains key reforms secured by Daines to ensure Montana farmers are protected from disruptions in federally mandated grain inspections, like what occurred last summer at the Port of Vancouver. Daines' provisions maintain continuous required grain inspection for farmers, ranchers and producers. The legislation was passed by the Senate today without opposition. The … Continue Reading
09.21.15
Daines Leads Montana, North Dakota Congressional Delegations in Urging Army Corps of Engineers to Prioritize the Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam
Senator Steve Daines today led the Montana and North Dakota congressional delegations in urging the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to prioritize concerns at the Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam. In a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy and BOR Commissioner Estevan Lopez, the bipartisan delegations emphasized the economic benefit that the dam provides to both Montana and North Dakota. On September 8, a federal judge blocked c… Continue Reading
09.18.15
Daines Investigates Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Reauthorization at Montana Field Hearing
BILLINGS, Mont. - Senator Steve Daines today held a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation field hearing in Billings, Montana to discuss the upcoming reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The hearing examined current issues and challenges relating to the inspection and safe management of the nation's pipeline network, as well as the importance of safely transporting our natural resources through pipelines, highways and rail lines. Daines an… Continue Reading
