Press
Daines Statement on State Department’s Rejection of TransCanada Request to Suspend Keystone XL Application
Senator Steve Daines today denounced the State Department's decision to reject TransCanada's request to suspend their application's review to build the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline: "President Obama has made clear that he has no intention of approving the Keystone XL pipeline. The State Department's rejection of TransCanada's request to suspend the Keystone application's review is just another political move in the Obama administration's long-standing war on American energy. Once again, Pr… Continue Reading
11.04.15
Daines Applauds Senate Passage of Legislation Stopping WOTUS Rule
Reaffirms Commitment to Stopping Obama Administration Overreach WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Steve Daines today applauded the bipartisan Senate passage of legislation nullifying the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and reaffirmed his commitment to stopping the Obama administration's overreach through any means possible. "Today a bipartisan Senate spoke loud and clear: President Obama's Waters of the United States power grab is una… Continue Reading
11.04.15
Daines: Montana Counties Set to Receive $2.3 Million in Additional PILT Payments
Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Department of Interior has allocated nearly $2.3 million in additional Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to Montana rural counties. The Department of Interior has issued nationwide an additional $34,484,000 in payments under the 2015 PILT program. The funds have been made available as a result of a technical fix Daines fought for in the Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2015 passed on September 30, 2015. "These payments are welcome… Continue Reading
11.03.15
Daines Slams Senate Democrats' Failure to Protect Americans from Obama Administration WOTUS Power Grab
Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats after all but four members of the Democrat caucus blocked legislation that would have directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: "Today the Senate came just a few votes shy of passing legislation to protect our farmers, ranchers and small business owners from major new costs and regulatory burdens. I appreciate the bipartisan support demonstrated today by four key Senate Demo… Continue Reading
11.03.15
Montana Congressional Delegation Secures Reversal of India Restrictions on Pulse Exports
Following pressure from Montana Senator Steve Daines, Senator Jon Tester and Congressman Ryan Zinke, India has reversed its regulatory restrictions on pulse crop stock limits - clearing the way for exports of Montana pulse crops to India to resume. India's policy reversal follows a letter sent last week by the Montana delegation urging the resolution of issues surrounding India's recent regulatory changes that would have negatively affected Montana pulse producers' ability to export peas, lenti… Continue Reading
11.02.15
Daines Statement on TransCanada Suspension of Keystone XL Application
Senator Steve Daines today expressed his disappointment following TransCanada's decision to suspend their application to build the commonsense Keystone XL pipeline: "The Obama administration has waged a full on assault on American energy independence that has resulted in TransCanada's decision to suspend its application to build the commonsense Keystone XL pipeline. This pipeline would have created new opportunities for good-paying jobs, helped advance American energy independence and lowered A… Continue Reading
10.30.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Alex Collie of Mackenzie
Senator Steve Daines today honored the service of Alex Collie of Mackenzie, Montana. Mr. Collie is the recipient of the National Weather Service's General Albert J. Myer award for completing 65 years of service as a Cooperative Weather Observer. On November 4th, the National Weather Service will recognize Mr. Collie with the General Albert J. Myer award at the Rib and Chop House in Miles City. Through his "Montanan of the Week" initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitt… Continue Reading
10.29.15
Daines Speaks Out Against Debt Limit Deal
Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to the debt limit deal and reaffirmed his intention to vote no on the deal. Watch Daines' remarks here. "The people of Montana deserve real solutions to address Washington's failures, not more budget gimmicks and backroom deals," Daines stated. "This deal takes our nation in the wrong direction. That's why I'm voting no." Video of Daines' full remarks is available for download here. Yesterday, Daines outlined his conce… Continue Reading
10.29.15
Daines Honors Fort Peck Chairman Rusty Stafne in Congressional Record
Senator Steve Daines today honored A.T. "Rusty" Stafne, Chairman of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. Chairman Stafne has completed his term as Chairman and will not be seeking re-election. Daines honored Chairman Stafne 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. The following is the statement submitted to the Con… Continue Reading
10.29.15
Daines Honors Crow War Chief in Congressional Record on His 102nd Birthday
Senator Steve Daines honored Crow War Chief Joseph Medicine Crow by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record on his 102nd birthday. Medicine Crow comes from a long line of relatives living past 100 years of age, and has proudly served as the Crow Tribe's historian and storyteller. The Congressional Record reflects the official proceedings of Congress and will now include Daines' recognition of Medicine Crow. Daines' recognition in the Congressional Record … Continue Reading
10.29.15
Daines Remembers World War II Veteran Charles DeCrane
Click here to watch Daines' remarks. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Earlier today, Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor in honor of Montana World War II veteran Charles DeCrane, a member of the Crow Tribe, who passed away earlier this week in Billings, Montana. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning: "Today I rise in honor of Montana World War II veteran Charles DeCrane, a member of the Crow Tribe, who passed away earlier this week in Billings, … Continue Reading
10.29.15
Tester, Daines, and Zinke unite to protect Butte workers
(U.S. Senate) - Senator Jon Tester, Senator Steve Daines, and Congressman Ryan Zinke are pushing to resolve a trade dispute between China and the United States that could negatively impact REC Silicon, one of Butte-Silver Bow's largest employers. The Montana Congressional delegation has sent a letter to Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai urging him to work with the China Ministry of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to resolve the trade dispute that is preventing China from purcha… Continue Reading
10.28.15
Montana Congressional Delegation Works to Remove Trade Barriers for Montana Pulse Producers
Senator Steve Daines, Senator Jon Tester and Congressman Ryan Zinke are actively working to resolve regulatory barriers that threaten Montana pulse crop producers' access to international markets. The Montana Congressional delegation sent a letter urging Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to resolve issues surrounding India's recent regulatory changes that will negatively affect Montana pulse producers' ability to export peas, len… Continue Reading
10.28.15
Daines Pushes to Expand Rural Broadband
Click here to watch Daines' remarks. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Senator Steve Daines today pushed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to close the gap in connectivity between rural and urban areas. Daines called on the FCC to expand connectivity in rural regions to minimize the divide that currently exists in delivery of broadband service. "Access to technology removes geography as a constraint and allows Montanans to start and grow world-class companies," Daines stated.… Continue Reading
10.27.15
Daines: CISA Fails to Protect Americans’ Personal Privacy
Senator Steve Daines today expressed his disappointment after the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) passed the United States Senate and reaffirmed his concerns that the legislation failed to sufficiently protect Americans' privacy and civil liberties: "I have serious concerns that this legislation fails to fully protect Montanans' right to privacy from government overreach. As someone who spent nearly 13 years in the technology sector, I know firsthand the cybersecurity risks facing … Continue Reading
10.27.15
Daines Fights to Protect Montana Coal Jobs
Senator Steve Daines today went to bat for Montana coal jobs by formally introducing measures to block implementation of new rules on coal-fired power plants and calling the Obama administration's myriad of anti-coal regulations a direct attack on Montana energy. This afternoon, Daines and 48 other Senators introduced two bipartisan resolutions disapproving of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan regulations on new and existing power sources. The Congressional … Continue Reading
10.26.15
Daines Helps Introduce Bill to Rein in Regulatory Authority
Senator Steve Daines has introduced legislation to rein in out of control executive agencies that interpret laws inappropriately to grant themselves more regulatory authority than Congress intended. The Regulatory Authority Clarification Act would allow Congress to provide additional clarification on what regulatory authority has or hasn't been granted by passing concurrent resolutions. "Montanans know far too well the cost of Washington's top-down, unchecked ability to issue broad and burden… Continue Reading
10.26.15
Daines Announces $10 Million in Funding for Infrastructure Improvements in Kalispell
Senator Steve Daines today announced that the city of Kalispell has been awarded $10 million in Transportation, Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funds for critical infrastructure improvements in downtown Kalispell. The Glacier Rail Park/Kalispell Core Area Development and Trail Project will construct rail and road infrastructure at Glacier Rail Park to accommodate existing and prospective customers and remove rail from downtown Kalispell. The project will also increase ped… Continue Reading
10.23.15
Daines Honors Montanans of the Week: Sgt. Michaela Boushey and SSG Shayne Boushey of Havre
Senator Steve Daines today honored Sgt. Michaela Boushey and SSG Shayne Boushey of Havre for their dedicated service to Montana and the nation. Sgt. Michaela Boushey has served in the Montana Army National Guard for eight years, including four years in the 112th Security and Support Detachment Aviation Unit. Her husband, SSG Shayne Boushey, has completed deployments with both the Infantry Battalion and the Military Police Company. During his deployment to Afghanistan, SSG Boushey helped saved t… Continue Reading
10.23.15
Daines Fights to Block Obama Administration’s Misguided Anti-Coal Regulations
HELENA, Mont. - Following publication of the Obama administration's new anti-coal regulations in the Federal Register, Senator Steve Daines today announced several efforts to block President Obama's anti-coal regulations and any future regulations on coal-fired plants. Daines joined Montana Attorney General Tim Fox in Helena this morning to announce that Montana, along with 23 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to halt the Obama administration's so-called Clean P… Continue Reading
