National Security Archives - Senator Steve Daines

Daines in Foreign Relations Subcommittee: We Need to End America’s Dependence on Russia’s Critical Minerals

July 30, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with Jonathan Pratt, the Senior Bureau Official at the Bureau of African Affairs, and Scott Woodard, the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment in a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing. Daines expressed his sympathy for the recent loss of life at Montana’s Stillwater Mine and emphasized the need to end America’s reliance on Russia for critical minerals. Watch the full exchange HERE. Daines addressed the recent loss of life at Montana’s Stillwater Mine: Daines: Before engaging on this topic, I want to take a moment to recognize a community at the Stillwater Mine in Montana. That’s a palladium and

A Peace Deal for Armenia and Azerbaijan

July 30, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines penned an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal explaining the historic potential of a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan and hisinvolvement in the matter. Excerpts from his piece are below. Senator Steve Daines The Wall Street Journal President Trump is on the cusp of bringing about a peace deal in the South Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This would be a remarkable achievement—another step toward stability that advances regional and international peace as well as economic gains that extend far beyond the countries involved… … This year, I traveled to both countries with members

Daines on Fox Business: Iran’s Nuclear Program Will Never Be Peaceful

July 24, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined Fox Business to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and how it will never be used for peaceful purposes. Daines also discussed trade with China and President Trump’s visit to the Federal Reserve. Watch the full interview HERE. Daines on Iran’s nuclear program: “Look I don’t trust this Iranian regime. I trust them about as far as I can throw them. They have no credibility. There’s no veracity to what they are saying. Why is it that we had to send B-2’s with bunker buster bombs to destroy their capabilities because they were hundreds of feet below

Daines Chairs Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing

June 12, 2025

Discusses National Security, Trade, and Alliances With Trump Nominees U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines, chairman of the European Subcommittee on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following opening statement at a full committee nominations hearing. Witnesses included Lou Rinaldi to be ambassador to Uruguay, Art Fisher to be ambassador to Austria, Roman Pipko to be ambassador to Estonia, Stacey Feinberg to be ambassador to Luxembourg, and Nicholas Merrick to be ambassador to the Czech Republic. Daines’ questions to the nominees are also below. Watch the full exchange HERE. Daines’ Opening Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Nominees, thank you for joining us today and

Daines, Trump Ambassador Nominees Emphasize Need to Put America First Abroad

April 1, 2025

Discussed Energy Security, National Defense U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with President Trump’s ambassador nominees to the United Kingdom, Turkey and Italy, and discussed the importance of improving trade relations globally, how we can partner with allies to improve America’s energy security, and the importance of defense cooperation. Watch the full exchange HERE. Daines and nominee for Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, discussed how to advance U.S.-Turkey trade relations: Daines: One of the primary responsibilities of an ambassador is working to develop a positive trade and economic relationship between the United States and their assigned post. If confirmed, how do

Daines’ Bill to Crack Down on Fentanyl Crisis Passes U.S. Senate

March 14, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ “Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act” passed the Senate today. The bill restricts and reduces the impact of deadly fentanyl in Montana communities by permanently classifying fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, which is reserved for drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Today, the bill passed the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. “Under Joe Biden our border spiraled out of control and every state felt the burden, including Montana. Just last week I met with law enforcement in Gallatin County to

Daines, Peters, Sheehy, Slotkin Introduce Bill to Ban Import of Critical Minerals from Russia

February 28, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced a bipartisan bill to protect American mining jobs by banning the import of critical minerals from Russia, including platinum, palladium and copper. “There is no reason the United States should run to Russia for critical minerals that can be found right here at home, including in Montana. Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, American mines were under attack and Montana workers paid the price. We’re turning a new leaf with President Trump and this bill will put American mines and American jobs first,” said Daines. “We cannot

Daines Introduces Bills to Combat Child Trafficking at the Southern Border

January 10, 2025

U.S. Senator Steve Daines this week introduced two bills to combat the abuse and trafficking of children at the southern border. The “End Child Trafficking Now Act” requires familial DNA testing at the southern border, and the “Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension (PRINTS) Act” prevents the abusive practice of “child recycling” by giving U.S. Customs and Border patrol (CBP) the authority to fingerprint non-citizens under the age of 14 at the border. “Biden’s failure on the border crisis has resulted in a humanitarian crisis and the exploitation of our innocent children by gangs and cartels,” said Senator Daines.“We must put an end to this

Daines Bill to Prevent Loss of Cell Service, Strengthen National Security Passes Senate

December 18, 2024

Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) along with Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) announced that their bill to fully fund the “Rip and Replace” program has passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is expected to be signed into law. This bill will ensure providers in rural areas have the resources they need to implement the congressional directive to replace Chinese manufactured infrastructure in our telecommunications industry, helping protect Americans from espionage and service blackouts. Download Daines’ video statement HERE. “I am glad to see this commonsense legislation included

Daines, Pfluger Call on Congress to Fully Fund Rip and Replace Program

November 18, 2024

U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a letter urging Congress to pass the “Supporting National Security with Spectrum Act” to fully fund the Rip and Replace program. “It is estimated that there are over 6,000 sites across the United States in need of this funding. Without it, Chinese equipment will continue to pose a significant national security risk to the United States homeland. Additionally, several recipients of previously deployed funding would have to shut down their networks, leaving many rural and remote areas of the country without access to basic broadband services,” they wrote. Read the full

Tag: National Security