Tag: ISIS

RECAP: Daines’ Bipartisan Senate Trip to Poland, Germany to Discuss Russian Invasion of Ukraine

U.S. SENATE — Following Daines’ bipartisan Senate delegation trip to Poland and Germany where he met with U.S. military leaders, NATO forces and NGOs to discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, he issued the following statement:  “There is good and evil in this world, and we saw that firsthand with Putin’s war of aggression against the people of Ukraine. Meeting with U.S. military leaders, NATO forces and NGOs in Poland and Germany allowed us to gain greater insight into Russia’s invasion, including the terrible humanitarian crisis that it’s created and the importance of having a strong military and energy security,” Daines said. “In Berlin,

Senators Introduce Resolution to Detain ISIL Fighters in Guantanamo

U.S. SENATE — Following the recent announcement that U.S. Special Forces captured an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) leader while carrying out Operation Inherent Resolve, Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today led 14 Senators in introducing a resolution to detain ISIL fighters at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Cosponsors of the resolution include Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), John Boozman (R-AR), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tim Scott (R-SC) and David Vitter (R-LA).  As the United

Daines Discusses National Security with New Regional FBI Leader

HELENA, Mont. — Senator Steve Daines today met with Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Eric Barnhart, the new Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent for Salt Lake City Division, which includes Montana. Daines and Barnhart met in Helena at Daines’ urging to discuss national security issues facing Montana. Daines sought more information regarding FBI Director James Comey’s statement that law enforcement authorities have open investigations of suspected ISIS supporters in all 50 states. Director Comey also estimated that law enforcement authorities have around 900 active homegrown extremist cases, the overwhelming majority of which are related to ISIS.    Click here to download a high resolution

Daines Responds to President Obama’s Address to the Nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following President Obama’s address to the nation, Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement: “Cindy and I are deeply saddened by the acts of terrorism that took place in San Bernardino this past week. It is abundantly clear that we need a strong and aggressive strategy to extinguish the growing threat of Islamic extremism both here at home and overseas. I am disappointed that once again, President Obama is choosing to lead from behind. Rather than establishing a clear strategy to defeat ISIS, the President is using this tragedy to pursue misguided firearm restrictions that would undermine

Daines to President Obama: U.S. Should Not Accept Syrian Refugees

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today called on President Obama to stop the United States from taking in Syrian refugees: “Until we have the capability to complete comprehensive and exhaustive background checks on Syrian refugees before they reach our shores, the United States should immediately stop taking in new refugees from the region. We are at war with Islamic extremists and anything less than 100% verification of these refugees’ backgrounds puts our national security at risk.  “While I have strong sympathy for those caught in the conflict in Syria and the region, the President’s current plan to take in 10,000 Syrian

Daines Calls for Passage of National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today took to the Senate floor to call on the Senate to swiftly pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes critical support for Montana’s military missions. Daines also called on Senate Democrats to stop blocking the Department of Defense Appropriations Act and fund the military.   Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this afternoon: “Montana has a rich legacy of service to our country— from maintaining our nation’s ‘peace through strength’ strategy at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base, where we oversee one-third of

Daines: Americans Shouldn’t Have to Pay the Price for Obama Administration’s OPM Hack

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, today highlighted the growing cyber-warfare threats facing our nation, and the incompetence of the Obama administration that led to a massive breach of personal and security information at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that resulted in the resignation of Director Katherine Archuleta. Click here to watch Daines’ speech. Click here to download Daines’ speech. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this evening: “Mr. President, the headlines in the past few months have been enough to paint a startling picture of how our nation is handling cybersecurity and technology issues these days.  “Before I came to

Daines: Obama Administration’s Refusal to Acknowledge ‘Islamic Extremism’ Jeopardizes American Strategy in Middle East

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today took the Obama administration to task for its lack of strategy in addressing the rising threat of extreme Islamic terrorism in the Middle East. “The Obama administration’s refusal to acknowledge ISIS for what it is — extreme, radical Islamic terrorism — directly jeopardizes our nation’s efforts to extinguish this growing threat in the Middle East,” Daines stated. “It is irresponsible that Secretary Kerry would rather label these terrorists as ‘adventurers and thrill-seekers’ than extremists driven by a radical ideology. The President’s clear lack of strategy in dealing with this threat was on full