Press
Daines, Zinke Work to Protect Montana Sawmills
Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today worked to provide much needed certainty for Montana sawmills, which are facing the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) on October 12, 2015. In a letter to US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, Daines and Zinke highlighted the economic benefits that sawmills provide Montana and called on Tidwell to provide mills with needed relief and flexibility as they face concerns surrounding the impact of foreign demand and exchange rates… Continue Reading
09.17.15
Daines, 46 Additional Senators Introduce Resolution to Nullify Expanded WOTUS Definition
Senator Steve Daines, along with 46 Senate cosponsors, today introduced a joint resolution disapproving the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which directly threatens Montana agriculture and energy production, Montanans' property rights and Montana jobs. The resolution would nullify the EPA's WOTUS rule, which greatly expands the scope of federal authority over land and waterways in the United States under the Federal Water Pollut… Continue Reading
09.17.15
Daines, Zinke Stand With Montanans In Opposition to President Obama’s Iran Deal
Daines, Zinke Stand With Montanans In Opposition to President Obama's Iran Deal WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today stood with Montanans in opposition to President Obama's bad deal with Iran. A recent poll showed that 60 percent of Montanans are opposed to President Obama's deal with Iran. Click here to watch Daines' and Zinke's remarks. Click here to download Daines' and Zinke's remarks. "Ryan Zinke and I stand opposed to President Obama's Ir… Continue Reading
09.17.15
Daines Works to Expand Access to Public Lands
Senator Steve Daines today sought to improve and expand access to public lands in Montana and throughout the country for sportsmen, outfitters and guides. During an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the reauthorization of the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), Daines sought answers on how to streamline and improve access by cutting down red tape on public access to public lands. Additionally, Daines emphasized his work to end fire borrowing and reform federal fore… Continue Reading
09.17.15
Daines: We need to be Proactive in Preventing Future Cyber Attacks
Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to underscore the gaping holes in the cybersecurity of the United States, while also reflecting on his first biannual Montana High Tech Jobs Summit, which took place in Bozeman earlier this week. Click here to watch Daines' remarks. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor: "Mr. President, this generation is at the forefront of technological advances. In fact it's making the United State… Continue Reading
09.16.15
Daines Discusses Montana Trade Opportunities With Taiwanese Business Leaders
Senator Steve Daines today met with Taiwanese business leaders to discuss future opportunities to export Montana goods to Taiwan. Taiwan is Montana's fourth largest export market in Asia and seventh largest export market in the world. In 2014, Montana's exports to Taiwan reached $44 million in exports. Taiwan is one of Montana's top foreign markets for agricultural products, especially the state's hard red winter and hard red spring wheat crops, as well as barley and durum. Taiwan is Montana… Continue Reading
09.15.15
Daines: Democrats Put Partisanship Above the American People
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on Senate Democrats' repeated refusal to allow an up or down vote on the Iran deal: "Yet again, Senate Democrats have put partisanship above the American people and refused to allow an up or down vote on the Iran deal. I am extremely disappointed that Senate Democrats are refusing to stand with Americans and give them their right to be heard in the United States Senate. Opposition to this deal is bipartisan. We need a deal that can be … Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines, Tester call for Senate hearing on East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
- Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are urging the leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing on their bill to designate East Rosebud Creek as Wild and Scenic. The Senators recently introduced the East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to protect 20 miles of East Rosebud Creek under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This designation will preserve the free-flowing condition of the pristine creek located south of Roscoe, Montana. "Homeowners organizations, … Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Secures Field Hearing on Pipeline Safety
Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has secured a Senate field hearing on pipeline safety and the upcoming reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), to be held in Billings, Montana next week. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee field hearing is entitled "Pipeline Safety: State and Local Perspectives" and will be held on Friday, September 18th at 10:00 a.m. MT/Noon ET at Montana State University, Billings. "Montanans … Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Announces Over $2 Million in Funding for Billings Logan International Airport
Senator Steve Daines today announced over $2 million in funding for Billings Logan International Airport in light of recent flooding and infrastructure challenges facing the airport. The Department of Transportation's $2,068,668 grant will fund much-needed drainage improvements at the airport, which serves as a major air transportation hub in Montana and is vital to commercial and general aviation. In the last reported year (2013), there were over 380,000 enplanements and 76,000 aircraft operat… Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Riley Slivka of Winifred
Senator Steve Daines today honored Riley Slivka of Winifried. Riley is a senior at Winifred High School who is working to highlight the work of the Montana farmers through film. 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 … Continue Reading
09.11.15
Daines Statement on 9/11 Anniversary
Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States: "Today, I join my fellow Montanans in pausing to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the September 11 terrorist attacks. We continue to honor the heroism and bravery of the first responders, firefighters, law enforcement officials and civilians who worked to save the lives of others. "We also pause to honor the memory of the four Americans lost … Continue Reading
09.10.15
Daines: Americans Deserve an Up or Down Vote on the Iran Deal
Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats for blocking an up or down vote on the President's deal with Iran: "The American people deserve to have an up or down vote on one of the most consequential issues facing our nation. Senate Democrats are blocking the voice of the American people by failing to allow a vote on the President's deal with Iran. "Let us not forget that just a few short months ago, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 98-1… Continue Reading
09.10.15
Daines: Iran Deal Will Not Prevent Iran From Obtaining a Nuclear Weapon
Senator Steve Daines today took to the Senate floor to blast President Obama's deal with Iran and underscored the serious security concerns the deal has for Israel, the United States and the world. Click here to watch Daines' remarks. Click here to download Daines' remarks. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning: "If Iran's ultimate goal is to obtain a nuclear weapon, the deal reached by the Obama administration sets Iran on a course to do so. "From the t… Continue Reading
09.03.15
Daines: VA Incompetence Hurting America’s Veterans
Senator Steve Daines today expressed his deep concerns regarding the latest report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General: "This report paints a disturbing pattern of incompetence at the Department of the Veterans Affairs. It is unconscionable that our nation's veterans have not been able to effectively access the health care that was promised to them. The level of this failure should outrage every American, and it's incomprehensible that the VA's haphazard… Continue Reading
09.02.15
Daines, Zinke Stand With American Legion Against Iran Deal
Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today released the following statements following a vote taken at the American Legion National Convention by the body to publically and officially oppose the Iran nuclear agreement. "The men and women of the American Legion have experienced first-hand the sacrifices made in times of war,"Daines stated. "I stand with the American Legion in my continuing opposition to the Iran nuclear agreement which keeps Iran on track to obtain a nuclear weapon… Continue Reading
08.28.15
Daines Announces $10.2 Million in Grants for Montana Tribal Colleges
U.S. SENATE - Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today announced that Montana's tribal colleges have been awarded more than $10.2 million in grants through the U.S. Department of Education. Grants will be awarded to tribal colleges in Box Elder, Browning, Crow Agency, Harlem, Lame Deer, Pablo and Poplar. The formula-based grants will provide Montana's tribal colleges with additional resources to expand academic opportunity for Montana tribal members. "Montan… Continue Reading
08.27.15
Daines Welcomes Court Delay of WOTUS Regulations
U.S. SENATE - Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after a federal district court blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its new regulation broadly expanding the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: "Today's order is further proof that the EPA's latest power grab is not only a direct threat to Montanans' livelihoods, but to our Constitutional rights. This rule could have devastating impacts on Montana farmers and ranchers, our… Continue Reading
08.23.15
Daines: Reverse Prohibition on Use of Montana’s UH-1H Helicopters for Firefighting
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - Senator Steve Daines today urged the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to reverse the USDA's prohibition on the use of UH-1H helicopters to combat Montana wildfires. In a letter to Vilsack, Daines pressed the USDA for the maximum use of safe and effective resources to combat wildfires on federal lands. "As emphasized by Governor Bullock, UH-1H helicopters have a strong safety record and have been proven to provide a critical capabili… Continue Reading
08.17.15
Daines: New VA Service Animal Rule is a “Step in the Right Direction”
Senator Steve Daines today commended news that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revised its rules regarding veterans' ability to bring service animals to VA facilities. Veterans in some states, including Montana, have had difficulty bringing their animals into VA medical facilities. The VA's new rule will put clear guidance in place that allows the presence of service animals at VA facilities across the United States. "While there is still work to be done, today's announcement is a … Continue Reading
