Indian Affairs Archives - Senator Steve Daines

Daines, Smith, Larsen, Zinke Introduce Bill to Combat Drug Trafficking in Montana’s Tribal Communities

June 5, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and Representative Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) today announced the bipartisan “Protection for Reservation Occupants Against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act” to combat drug trafficking in tribal communities. The “PROTECT Act” would expand Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) to allow tribal nations to prosecute non-Native offenders for drug trafficking. It would also allow tribal courts to execute warrants for electronic material to better combat drug traffickers and other criminals. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we’ve seen strong decisive action to secure the southern border and keep our

Daines Calls on Bureau of Indian Affairs to Address Concerns with Montana Detention Facilities

July 26, 2024

U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) expressing concern about reports that Montana’s BIA detention facilities are turning away detainees and requesting information about the facilities’ contract status and operating bed space. The letter also draws attention to the BIA’s current practice of sending tribal members from Montana to out-of-state detention facilities. “Recently, leadership from the Fort Belknap Indian Community indicated that the BIA has only been accepting individuals into custody who commit ‘serious offenses.’ This poses a significant public safety risk as those who arrested for offenses not deemed as ‘serious’ are released back into the community or kept

Daines Demands Washington Commanders Make It Right with Wetzel Family, Honor Native American Heritage

May 15, 2024

“Make no mistake, this logo was inspired and envisioned by Wetzel as a tribute to Native Americans. It is not a caricature. It is a depiction of pride and strength. Of courage and honor.” U.S. Senator Steve Daines, ranking member of the Senate National Parks subcommittee, today highlighted the story of Blackie Wetzel and the origins of the Redskins logo. Daines then demanded that the Washington Commanders football team and the National Football League (NFL) work with the Wetzel family to honor this legacy and Native American communities. Watch Daines’ remarks HERE. For TV elements click HERE. For pictures from the hearing,

Daines Introduces Bill to Improve Indian Health Service for Montanans

October 30, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today helped introduce the “Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act” to address persistent failures and increase accountability at the Indian Health Service (IHS). Consistent shortcomings, unmet staffing needs, lack of oversight and longstanding deficiencies at the IHS have resulted in significant gaps in Montana tribal citizens accessing high-quality care. The bill helpsaddress the many issues recipients of IHS care face by improving patient access to safe and reliable health services. “For too long the IHS has failed to provide Montanans with reliable, quality care. It’s time we enact serious reform and hold IHS accountable in order for tribal leaders,

Daines Applauds Decision to Protect Natural and Cultural Resources of the Blackfeet Nation

September 1, 2023

Final Oil and Gas Lease in Badger-Two Medicine Area Relinquished U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA) announced that the final federal oil and gas lease in the Badger-Two Medicine area will be relinquished in order to ensure the natural and cultural resources of the Blackfeet Nation are protected. “I’m glad to see a solution that all parties were able to agree on to ensure this land that holds such significant cultural and spiritual importance to the Blackfeet Nation is protected. Decades in the making, this agreement will help generations to come

Daines Talks Montana Ag, Forestry, Tribal Priorities for Farm Bill at Indian Affairs Committee Hearing

July 27, 2023

Welcomes witness from MT association to discuss Tribal access to ag programs U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing discussed Tribal priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill, including the Good Neighbor Authority to promote Tribal involvement in forest management and Tribal access to ag programs. Abi Fain, Director of Policy and Government Relations with the Intertribal Agriculture Council headquartered in Billings, spoke before the Committee. Watch and download Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “As the Senate crafts the Farm Bill, it’s important to ensure that Montana tribal ag producers and their voices are heard so that the next farm bill works

Daines Touts Bipartisan Fort Belknap Water Rights Settlement as a Win-Win-Win for Montana at Senate Hearing

July 12, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing highlighted the importance of finalizing Montana’s last Indian water rights settlement with his bipartisan “Fort Belknap Water Rights Settlement Act.” Daines: Today is historic, it really is. I sometimes wondered if we’d ever get to this point, to have this kind of hearing. When I was first elected to the House 2012 over a decade ago, this is one of the first issues I heard about. I heard about it from the Tribe. I heard about it from the county commissioners, Phillips County, Blaine County. Both sides wanted to set me straight on their strong

Daines Talks Tribal Safety, Sovereignty, and Ag Priorities at Indian Affairs Hearing

March 8, 2023

U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing questioned witnesses on important issues facing Montana tribes, including public safety, tribal sovereignty, water settlements, forest management and agriculture. Daines highlighted the importance of helping Montana tribes maintain their own law enforcement instead of relying on Washington, D.C. for solutions. Daines on the Need to Give Tribes More Control Over Their Law Enforcement “Public safety has been a top priority of mine for years and yet I continue to hear the same concerns from our tribes. I’ve written countless letters and nothing changes. The BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) expects us to just provide them more funding and the

Daines, Tester Introduce Resolution Designating National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week

February 9, 2023

U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester led a bipartisan group of colleagues in designating the week beginning February 5th as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week” to highlight the importance of higher education in Indian Country. “Montana’s Tribal Colleges support, inspire and cultivate the next generation of Montana’s leaders. Just like the Tribes themselves, Tribal Colleges are an integral part of our Montana way of life. I am glad to recognize the work they do to serve Montana students,” said Daines. “Montana’s Tribal Colleges and Universities provide a top-notch education to Montana’s students and prepare them to make a

Daines Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Protect, Return Sacred Native Objects

December 2, 2022

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today lauded the passage of bipartisan legislation to protect and return sacred tribal objects. “Montana tribes add so much to our communities and Montana way of life – I am glad to help take this important step to protect their cultural heritage,” Daines said. Daines cosponsored the “Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021” (STOP Act) with Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). The

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