Press
Daines Fights to Give Montana Farmers Certainty in Federally Mandated Grain Inspections
Senator Steve Daines today fought to secure key provisions for Montana farmers and ranchers and provide farmers greater certainty in federally mandated grain inspections to protect against disruptions like those that occurred last summer at the Port of Vancouver. Daines successfully worked to include provisions addressing concerns voiced by Montana's farmers and ranchers in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2016, which w… Continue Reading
07.16.15
Daines Works to Move Forward Long-Term Highway Bill
Senator Steve Daines joined the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last night in approving key components of a multi-year transportation bill and reaffirmed his call for Senate leadership to move forward a long-term highway bill that provides Montanans with much-needed certainty for infrastructure investments. "This vote is an important step forward in getting a long-term highway bill across the finish line. Montana's short construction season is well underway, and it's criti… Continue Reading
07.16.15
Daines, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Protect Students’ Data
Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced legislation to ensure proper safeguards are in place to protect students' data. The Safeguarding American Families from Exposure by Keeping Information and Data Secure (SAFE KIDS) Act protects student privacy by establishing clear parameters for third-party operators when using data collected from students. The legislation empowers parents to control access to their children's information. The current federal protec… Continue Reading
07.15.15
Daines, Alexander Introduce Legislation to Halt Over-Regulation of Legal Ivory
Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today introduced legislation to halt the Obama administration's over-regulation of lawfully owned ivory found in antique firearms, musical instruments and other family heirlooms and antiques often sought by collectors. The African Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act of 2015 ends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's unilateral moratorium on the importation, exportation, and sale of lawfully possessed ivory, while also makin… Continue Reading
07.15.15
Daines, Zinke Announce Legislation to Protect Tribes from Costly Obamacare Employer Mandate
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT) today announced the introduction of legislation to protect Native American tribes from Obamacare's costly employer mandate. The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act, which was introduced today in the Senate and House, will exempt tribes and tribal employers from Obamacare's employer mandate. The bills prevent massive fines that tribal employers would incur under Obamacare's employer mandate. "Tribes should not be forced to … Continue Reading
07.14.15
Daines Speaks at Helena Native Newman’s Swearing-in as NASA Deputy Administrator
Senator Steve Daines today spoke at the ceremonial swearing-in of Helena native Dr. Dava Newman as the new National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Deputy Administrator. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Newman on April 27, 2015. Click here to download the picture of Newman and Daines. "Dr. Newman is inspiration for countless of young Montanans who are excited about not only space exploration, but also science, technology, engineering and math," Daines stated. "I ha… Continue Reading
07.14.15
Daines Applauds Air Force Decision to Maintain RED HORSE Unit at Malmstrom
Senator Steve Daines today applauded news that the 819th RED HORSE squadron will remain stationed at Montana's Malmstrom Air Force Base. "This is great news for Malmstrom, the Great Falls community and the state of Montana," Daines stated. "The 819th RED HORSE unit at Malmstrom Air Force Base holds an important role in our national security and is a critical partner for the Montana Air National Guard's 219th RED HORSE unit. I'm thankful that the Air Force has recognized the importance of mainta… Continue Reading
07.14.15
PHOTO: Daines Presents Montanan of the Week to Son of Crow Code Talker
Senator Steve Daines presented his Montanan of the Week award to Judge Not Afraid, son of Crow Code Talker, Cyril Not Afraid. Cyril Not Afraid was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for serving in the armed forces as a "code talker," speaking his native Apsaalooké (Crow) language during wartime in order to transmit and receive military intelligence and successfully avoid disclosing information to enemy forces. Click here to download the photo of Daines and Judge Not Afraid. "I am … Continue Reading
07.14.15
Daines Statement on Iran Nuclear Agreement
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the Obama administration's announcement that the P5+1 has reached an agreement with Iran, the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism: "I remain unconvinced that this agreement will prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon. This agreement paves the way for Iran to further direct its resources in leading the way as the world's greatest state-sponsor of terrorism." Last night, Daines took to the Senate floor to outline paramet… Continue Reading
07.13.15
Daines Announces New Books Program for Montana Schools
Senator Steve Daines today announced a new partnership with the Library of Congress to donate surplus books to Montana public schools. Through the program, three different Montana schools and libraries will receive books each month to encourage education and learning. The first recipients include: Harlowton Public Library in Wheatland County Troy Public High School in Lincoln County Brockton Public High School in Roosevelt County "As a product of Montana public scho… Continue Reading
07.10.15
Daines Statement on Resignation of OPM Director
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to the resignation of Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Katherine Archuleta. "Director Archuleta's resignation is an important first step in restoring accountability at OPM-however, OPM's consistent failure to properly address and react to these cyber attacks results from a much larger, systemic lack of accountability within the Obama administration," Daines stated. "It's time for President Obama to place a high… Continue Reading
07.10.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Ben Steele of Billings
Senator Steve Daines today honored Ben Steele, a World War II veteran of Billings, for his exceptional service to the nation and the Billings community. During the war, Steele served in the Philippines and survived the Bataan Death March. After World War II Steele studied art at the University of Denver and later taught at Montana State University - Billings. Through his "Montanan of the Week" initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in th… Continue Reading
07.09.15
Daines: Latest OPM Report Affirms Need for New Leadership
Senator Steve Daines today reiterated his calls for new leadership at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in light of new reports that more than 21.5 Americans were victims of a mass breach of the OPM's personnel database. This reported hack is in addition to the more than 4.2 million breached records originally announced by OPM last month. "The systemic failures and lack of accountability at OPM is staggering and completely unacceptable. The breach reported today is five times larger tha… Continue Reading
07.08.15
Daines Fights to Increase State, Local Role in Schools and Education
Senator Steve Daines is working to increase local control in Montana students' education by giving states greater flexibility in allocating federal funds to schools. Earlier today, Daines took to the Senate floor to introduce an amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015. Daines' Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success (A-PLUS) amendment increases states' ability to allocate federal education funding in a way that best fits students' unique needs, frees states from burdensome federal re… Continue Reading
06.29.15
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
