Tag: VA

Daines Slams Biden Administration for Continuing to Fail Montana Veterans

Votes against Biden’s pick to oversee EHRM program U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Biden’s nominee for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Tanya Bradsher, who will oversee the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM). “This confirmation will cost taxpayer dollars, is bad for our Montana heroes and bad for the VA. Since President Biden took office, he has shown our Montana veterans time and time again that their needs are not his priority. Not only does Ms. Bradsher not have the experience or managerial skills

Daines: Biden Admin Failing to Serve Montana Veterans

Daines slams new VA labor agreement for lacking needed reform U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement after President Biden’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) signed a master collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) that fails to address significant labor concerns and protects poor-performing employees. “The Biden administration is once again putting Montana veterans last. As veteran confidence in the VA continues to plummet, this new labor agreement will maintain the status quo of poor service and employment difficulties,” Daines said. “I hear from veterans across the Treasure State that they are fed up

Daines: “Biden VA Continues to Fail our Veterans”

Criticizes Agency for Taking too Long to Change Leadership in Montana  U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced changes to the Montana VA Healthcare System. “Montana has one of the highest populations of veterans per capita in the United States yet the Biden administration’s VA continues to fail our heroes who have sacrificed so much for our country. The fact that it took this long for the Administration to make a much-needed leadership change in Montana shows the Biden administration is not prioritizing care for our veterans. Unfortunately, the Democrat-controlled

Following Pressure from Daines, VA Announces Reset of the Electronic Health Record System

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced future deployments of the new Electronic Health Record (EHR) will be halted until concerning systematic failures are resolved. “After serving our state and our nation, Montana veterans must have access to reliable, efficient health services. I’m glad to see the VA finally listen to my concerns and the concerns of Montana veterans with the EHR modernization and address the serious issues with this system. Ensuring proper rollout of the EHR modernization will help resolve ongoing patient safety concerns, ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted and better serve the

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,

Daines Delivers Targeted COVID-19 Relief for Montana

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted for a COVID-19 relief package to help support Montana small businesses, workers, families, schools, Tribes, and farmers and ranchers impacted by the pandemic. The relief package also includes nearly $20 billion for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.   To download the full statement, click HERE.  “This bipartisan targeted COVID-19 relief package is going to help Montana small businesses, workers, families, healthcare heroes, schools, Tribes and farmers and ranchers. It also provides billions of dollars for vaccine manufacturing and distribution which is critical to ending this pandemic once and for all. This has been a tough

Daines’ Blue Water Navy Veterans Bill Heads to President’s Desk

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today celebrated his bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act unanimously passing the U.S. Senate and heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.   “Our Vietnam vets who served both on land and sea deserve equal care for their bravery in defense of our country,” Daines said. “I am happy to see my legislation pass. It is due time we get our Blue Water Vets the care their sacrifices demanded.”    During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam to remove jungle foliage. This toxic chemical

Daines Addresses Montana’s Veterans Long-Standing Concerns

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today moved forward important reforms that increase Montana veterans’ access to healthcare services.  This afternoon, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the FY 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes many of Daines’ reforms that address Montana’s veterans long-standing concerns.  “I am proud to secure important priorities for Montana on behalf of those that served our nation in uniform,” Daines stated.  Daines also successfully included an amendment during the committee process protects veterans’ ability to discuss with VA physicians the use of medical marijuana in states where it is legal.   The amendment would

Daines Makes Important Gains for Montana Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured key provisions for Montana farmers and ranchers.  “As a steadfast champion of our state’s number one industry, I work everyday to ensure that our farmers and ranchers are being heard and well represented,” Daines stated. “I was able to secure important provisions to sustain funding for initiatives to help farmers and ranchers with loans, help stop diseases that are encroaching our forests and expand employment opportunities for veterans in agriculture.”  “The Montana Grain Growers Association thanks Sen. Daines’ for protecting the ARS Insect Research Unit in Sidney and for his efforts to secure increased funding for the

Daines Rallies Support for Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representatives Chris Gibson (R-NY) and David Valadao (R-CA) to rally support for their legislation to ensure Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans are eligible to receive benefits linked to Agent Orange Exposure. Daines at the U.S. Capitol with Senate and House co-sponsors and veterans. Click here to download.  Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks.  Daines introduced legislation to ensure thousands of Vietnam-era Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” vets, who were exposed to the powerful toxin Agent Orange will be eligible to receive disability and health care benefits