Tag: Native Americans

Daines Travels to Alaska for Senate Energy Field Hearing

 U.S. SENATE — This week, Senator Steve Daines traveled to Alaska to participate in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources field hearing to examine opportunities for innovation in America’s energy industry.   Daines was joined by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Barrasso (R-WY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Angus King (I-ME), in addition to U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, who testified at the hearing. Daines with Murkowski as they prepare to head out from Anchorage to Bethel, Alaska. Click here to watch.  Daines, Moniz and fellow senators traveled to Bethel, Alaska where the field hearing would be held. Click here to watch.

Tester, Daines lead effort to combat Native American veteran homelessness

Montana senators sponsor bill to permanently reauthorize successful tribal housing initiative (Montana) – To honor the contributions Native American veterans have made to this nation, Vice Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee Jon Tester and Senator Steve Daines have introduced bipartisan legislation to combat veteran homelessness in Indian Country. The Senators’ bipartisan bill will make HUD-VASH funds, which provide rental assistance to homeless or at-risk homeless veterans, permanently available to Native American tribes and tribal housing authorities. “Native Americans serve in the military at the highest rate per capita of any group in the United States,” Tester said.  “This year

Daines Helps Recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines has helped introduced a Senate resolution to recognize the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month. The resolution celebrates the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and recognizes their many contributions to the United States. The resolution was unanimously passed by the Senate. “National Native American Heritage Month honors the importance of tribal self-governance, preserving indigenous languages, the United States’ commitment to strengthening the government-to-government relationship and the importance of Native Americans’ heritage to our country at large,” Daines stated. “This resolution also honors Native American veterans like the Crow Tribe Code Talkers, who played

Daines Honors Crow War Chief in Congressional Record on His 102nd Birthday

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines honored Crow War Chief Joseph Medicine Crow by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record on his 102nd birthday. Medicine Crow comes from a long line of relatives living past 100 years of age, and has proudly served as the Crow Tribe’s historian and storyteller.  The Congressional Record reflects the official proceedings of Congress and will now include Daines’ recognition of Medicine Crow. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record:                IN RECOGNITION OF WAR CHIEF MEDICINE CROW      Mr. DAINES. Mr.

Daines Remembers World War II Veteran Charles DeCrane

Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks.  Earlier today, Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor in honor of Montana World War II veteran Charles DeCrane, a member of the Crow Tribe, who passed away earlier this week in Billings, Montana. Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning: “Today I rise in honor of Montana World War II veteran Charles DeCrane, a member of the Crow Tribe, who passed away earlier this week in Billings, Montana.  “Charlie was an incredible person – he was hardworking, he dedicated his life to

Daines Announces Over $350,000 for Montana State University – Northern

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced $350,388.00 in funding for the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) program at Montana State University (MSU) – Northern in Havre.  The NASNTI program provides grants and related assistance to Native American-serving, nontribal institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals. “Montana State University – Northern plays an important role in providing a quality education every year for hundreds of Montanans, including many Native American students,” Daines stated. “Access to quality education and training services is critical for our students’ futures. I’m excited that Montana State

Daines, Zinke Announce Legislation to Protect Tribes from Costly Obamacare Employer Mandate

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT) today announced the introduction of legislation to protect Native American tribes from Obamacare’s costly employer mandate. The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act, which was introduced today in the Senate and House, will exempt tribes and tribal employers from Obamacare’s employer mandate. The bills prevent massive fines that tribal employers would incur under Obamacare’s employer mandate. “Tribes should not be forced to pay severe fines due to duplicative federal mandates in the President’s flawed health care law,” Daines stated. “These unreasonable fines have the potential to kill jobs

PHOTO: Daines Presents Montanan of the Week to Son of Crow Code Talker

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines presented his Montanan of the Week award to Judge Not Afraid, son of Crow Code Talker, Cyril Not Afraid. Cyril Not Afraid was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for serving in the armed forces as a “code talker,” speaking his native Apsaalooké (Crow) language during wartime in order to transmit and receive military intelligence and successfully avoid disclosing information to enemy forces. Click here to download the photo of Daines and Judge Not Afraid.  “I am proud to honor the memory of Cyril Not Afraid for his brave and selfless service on behalf of

Daines Honors Montanans of the Week: Crow Tribe Code Talkers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today honored Samson Birdinground, Cyril Not Afraid, Barney Old Coyote and Henry Old Coyote of the Crow Indian Nation for their exceptional service to our country during World War II. These four men were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for serving in our armed forces as “code talkers,” speaking their native Apsaalooké (Crow) language during wartime in order to transmit and receive military intelligence and successfully avoid disclosing information to enemy forces. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official

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 Opportunity Council, for a detailed analysis of the various federal broadband initiatives that can be coordinated across agencies to bridge the digital divide and bring rural America into the