Tag: Technology

Daines Prioritizes National Security and Secures Air Support for Nuclear Weapons

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today worked to bolster aviation security, cybersecurity and nuclear security. The Senate Committee on Appropriations today marked up and passed the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill and Fiscal Year 2017 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. “It’s unconscionable to imagine that our nuclear warheads do not have adequate air security,” Daines stated. “With my provisions and additional funding, we will have the needed air support for our nuclear weapons until the permanent solution of an expedited procurement is complete.”  Daines secured the following provisions in the Defense Appropriations Bill:  Upgrading UH-1Ns: $75 million in the bill for the Air

Daines’ Statewide Made-in-Montana Energy Tour

Save Montana Energy, Save Montana Jobs U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines this week stopped in ten-cities across Montana on his statewide tour to promote made-in-Montana energy and the good-paying jobs it supports. Daines’ tour included stops in Laurel, Colstrip, Miles City, Baker, Glendive, Sidney, Great Falls, Missoula, Helena and Butte. “Montana is truly an all-of-the-above energy state – we have significant coal and natural gas deposits, oil, hydro, wind, solar and biomass that powers Montana and the country.  And it’s all right here in our back yard– right here in Montana,” Daines stated. “It was a great week speaking with hundreds of Montanans who are coming

USDA Secretary: Biotech Foods are Safe

U.S. SENATE — Under Senator Steve Daines’ questioning, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today stated that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) pose no risk to food safety or threat to plant pest risk.     During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 funding request for the USDA, Daines pressed Vilsack to allow sound science to be preeminent in its rule-making process and to reject harmful regulations that are not backed by evidence. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. During the hearing, Daines specifically

Daines Presses Kerry on Coal

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today pressed the Obama administration on their anti-coal, anti-energy policies and emphasized the important role that innovation holds in America’s energy future.   During this afternoon’s Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs hearing, Daines pressed Secretary of State John Kerry on the Obama administration’s failure to take into account the effect of anti-energy policies on hardworking Montana families including the disastrous effects to tribal and union jobs. Under Daines’ questioning, Kerry acknowledged that coal will continue to be an “energy of choice” because it is affordable. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to

Daines, Blumenthal Resolution Recognizes February 17 as Digital Learning Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today sought to affirm the importance of student data privacy by recognizing February 17, 2016 as Digital Learning Day. Last night, Daines and Blumenthal successfully passed a bipartisan resolution recognizing February 17 as Digital Learning Day. The senators’ resolution, which passed by unanimous consent, highlights the many ways in which technology can enhance the classroom experience while striking the right balance in protecting the personal information of students. “Everyday, students around the globe use technology to enhance the classroom learning experience,” Daines stated. “Digital Learning Day provides the opportunity to raise awareness about

Daines’ Bill to Reauthorize PHMSA Passes Senate Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the overwhelming bipartisan passage of his legislation to help ensure the safety of America’s pipeline network.   The bipartisan SAFE PIPES Act passed out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee this morning. The bill would reauthorize Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) from Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 through FY 2019.  “The SAFE PIPES Act is an important step forward to improve the protection of pipeline river crossings, fill vacant inspector positions and facilitate communication between PHMSA and state agencies,” Daines stated. “This is a strong, bipartisan bill that will enhance pipeline safety, promote economic

Daines Introduces Legislation to Roll Back Red Tape for Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to protect Montana small businesses from burdensome regulations found in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 317-page “net neutrality” rules. The Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2015 would make permanent a temporary exemption from the FCC’s new so-called “enhanced transparency requirements,” which would require Internet service providers to disclose an excess of information about their network performance, some of which may require hiring an engineer. Daines’ bill makes the temporary exemption permanent so that small businesses don’t have to comply with unnecessary and burdensome regulations that would cost small businesses time and money.   “Burdensome

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Pipeline Safety Bill

“SAFE PIPES” Act Would Reauthorize PHMSA Through 2019  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today introduced bipartisan legislation to help ensure the safety of America’s pipeline network.  The legislation, known as the Securing America’s Future Energy: Protecting Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (SAFE PIPES) Act, would reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) through 2019. The SAFE PIPES Act is also sponsored by U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). “Safe and secure pipeline infrastructure is critical to our nation and is especially important to Montanans – both for economic opportunity and environmental

Daines Pushes to Expand Rural Broadband

Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks.  Senator Steve Daines today pushed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to close the gap in connectivity between rural and urban areas. Daines called on the FCC to expand connectivity in rural regions to minimize the divide that currently exists in delivery of broadband service. “Access to technology removes geography as a constraint and allows Montanans to start and grow world-class companies,” Daines stated. “But we still have a lot of issues to overcome to connect our unserved communities and the FCC plays a big role.” Last week, Daines

Daines: CISA Fails to Protect Americans’ Personal Privacy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today expressed his disappointment after the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) passed the United States Senate and reaffirmed his concerns that the legislation failed to sufficiently protect Americans’ privacy and civil liberties: “I have serious concerns that this legislation fails to fully protect Montanans’ right to privacy from government overreach. As someone who spent nearly 13 years in the technology sector, I know firsthand the cybersecurity risks facing Montanans and agree that we must adopt real reforms that better protect Americans from these threats. But these reforms must not come at the expense of Montanans’