Press
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
06.12.15
Daines Statement on Reported Chinese Cyber Attacks
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to reports that Chinese hackers have accessed the private security clearance information of millions of military and intelligence personnel: "Reports that Chinese hackers have hacked into private security clearance information from our nation's military and intelligence agencies is deeply concerning and could have devastating implications for our national security. This is the second major cyber attack on the federal govern… Continue Reading
06.11.15
Daines, Senate Appropriations Committee Move Forward Critical Montana Defense Priorities
Senate defense appropriations bills approved by committee, contains key provisions to support Montana defense priorities WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Steve Daines today helped move forward support for important Montana defense priorities in the Senate Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2016. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill today with a strong bipartisan vote of 18-3. "This bill is essential to funding our military," Daines stated. "I'm proud that this bill contain… Continue Reading
06.11.15
Daines Helps Introduce Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Senator Steve Daines today helped introduce legislation to protect unborn children from the pain of late-term abortions. 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 pregnancy when a baby can feel pain. "The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is an important measure to do exactly that: protect unborn children who can feel pain," Daines… Continue Reading
06.09.15
PHOTO: Daines Meets with Children's Miracle Network Champion Jordynn Hardman
Senator Steve Daines today met with Helena native Jordynn Hardman, the 2015 Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Champion for Montana. Hardman discussed with Daines her journey to receiving a diagnosis, her plans to become a writer and the important role Children's Miracle Network plays in her life. Senator Daines with Jordynn Hardman "Jordynn is an incredible young woman who inspires others to live each day to the fullest," Daines stated. "She is dedicated, smart and resilient and it was honor… Continue Reading
06.09.15
Daines Works To Expand Markets for Montana Energy
Senator Steve Daines today worked to break down some of the regulatory barriers facing Montana energy producers and expand markets for made in Montana energy. During today's Energy and Natural Resources hearing, Daines sought to ensure that Montana coal isn't hindered by duplicative regulations that could increase energy prices and negatively impact the thousands of jobs and more than one hundred million dollars in tax revenue each year that coal provides. Daines: "Can you provide some example… Continue Reading
06.08.15
Senators Call on Commerce, Ag Secretaries to Prioritize Broadband Access for Rural Americans
Daines, Manchin, King lead bipartisan effort to ensure high-speed broadband for rural communities WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Angus King (I-ME) today led a bipartisan effort to ensure the federal government prioritizes high-speed broadband access for rural Americans. In a bipartisan letter signed by more than a dozen Senators, the Senators pressed Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Co-Chairs of the Broadband Oppo… Continue Reading
06.05.15
Montana’s Senators Work to Improve Access to Montana’s Outdoors
In honor of the upcoming National Trails Day, Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are working to improve maintenance of Montana's National Forest trails. Daines and Tester have signed onto S.1110, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2015, which would ensure existing Forest Service resources are better used to maintain National Forest trails. It would also significantly increase the role of volunteers and local partners in maintaining the usability and sustainability of… Continue Reading
