Daines Secures Pruitt's Commitment to Hear Montanans' Input on Anaconda, Butte Superfund Sites
U.S. SENATE - During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured Administrator Pruitt's commitment to seek community input at the Anaconda Co. Smelter and Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund sites. "Montana is home to the most expansive Superfund sites in the country," said Daines. "It is critical the EPA prioritize these sites and listen to the input of impacted Montanans as we work to clean up these… Continue Reading
Daines, Senators Push To Avoid Last-Minute Funding Battles
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), David Perdue (R-GA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are asking Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to expedite floor consideration of funding bills and nominees in order to make substantial progress before … Continue Reading
Daines Urges Secretary Nielsen to Address Severe Flooding in Montana
U.S. SENATE - Today during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Steve Daines pressed Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on what the Department is doing to address the recent severe flooding in Montana. During the hearing, Daines asked how DHS is assisting affected communities in Montana now, and how the Department can provide support in the coming months as Montana deals with additional flooding and the upcoming w… Continue Reading
Daines, Warren Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Address Gambling Addiction among Servicemembers
According to Estimates, Nearly 56,000 Servicemembers Meet Criteria for Gambling Disorder Fact Sheet (PDF) Bill Text (PDF) U.S. SENATE - United States Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced the bipartisan Gambling Addiction Prevention (GAP) Act. The legislation would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to begin tracking gambling disorder in its health assessments and instructs the DOD to develop policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling problems… Continue Reading
Daines Urges DOD to Address National Guard Equipment Shortfalls in Great Falls
Calls on DOD to Prioritize National Guard Readiness U.S. SENATE - Today, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize equipment shortfalls in the National Guard. During the hearing, Daines questioned General Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, about the military's plan to strengthen funding for tank units in the National Guard, such as Charlie Company of the 163rd in Great Falls. Watch vi… Continue Reading
Daines' Bipartisan Bill Fights Meth Crisis through Criminal Justice Reform
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his sponsorship of bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017, bringing the total number of bill sponsors to 28 senators. Among other initiatives to strengthen law enforcement, the bill establishes new mandatory penalties to fight the opioid and drug crisis, which includes methamphetamine use. "There is a meth epidemic in Montana," said Daines. "It is destroying families and threatenin… Continue Reading
Daines, Perdue, Zinke, Christiansen Join Forces to Fight Wildfires, Zinke Pledges Support to Repeal Cottonwood Decision
U.S. SENATE - Today, at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke, USDA's Interim Chief of the Forest Service Vicky Christiansen and other congressional leaders joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines in agreeing to join forces to strengthen the fight against wildfires. At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Zinke also affirmed his commitment to work with Daines to fully repeal the Ninth Circuit's Cottonwood decision… Continue Reading
Secretary Mattis Agrees with Daines: America Must Address China's Threat to America's Security, Economy
U.S. SENATE - Following a recent congressional delegation trip U.S. Senator Steve Daines led to China, Daines pressed Department of Defense secretary Jim Mattis on the importance of protecting American innovation from theft and forced technology transfers in China today during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing. The current laws in place do not ensure sufficient protections. During the hearing, Secretary Mattis agreed with Daines about the need to protect American research … Continue Reading
Daines Leads Charge against Harassment within Bureau of Indian Affairs
Daines Secures Interior Nominees' Commitment to Maintain Harassment-Free Workplace U.S. SENATE - Today, during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, secured Interior Department nominee for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Mac Lean Sweeney's commitment to maintain a harassment-free workplace at the Department. During the hearing, Daines highlighted that the BIA repo… Continue Reading
Daines, Warren, Shea-Porter, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Streamline National Guard Promotion Process
Legislation Would Remove Bureaucratic Obstacles to Ensure Guard Officers Receive Pay and Benefits They Have Earned U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who was rated one of the Senate's most bipartisan Senators, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representatives Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) and Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) today introduced the bipartisan National Guard Promotion Accountability Act to address delays in federal recognition of promotions for National Guard members. The… Continue Reading
Daines: Montana Counties Set to Receive over $17 Million in SRS Payments
U.S. SENATE - Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Forest Service will allocate over $17 million to Montana's rural and forested counties under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The Forest Service this week released 2017 SRS payment levels for Montana counties following the recent reauthorization of the critical program. "These much-needed funds are critical for Montana's rural counties who have fallen on hard economic times due to declining timber harvests and natural reso… Continue Reading
Daines, Tester, Gianforte Announce Manhattan's Alexa Arthun's Offer of Appointment from the Naval Academy
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte today announced academy nominee Alexa Arthun's offer of appointment from the United States Naval Academy. Arthun lives in Manhattan, Montana where she attends Manhattan High School. "Alexa has an outstanding academic and athletic record and a passion to serve our country," said Daines. "I know she will excel at the Naval Academy and inspire her peers through her leadership." "Alexa is one of the very best Mon… Continue Reading
Daines, Tester, Gianforte Announce Helena's Madison Ward's Offer of Appointment from the Naval Academy
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte today announced academy nominee Madison Ward's offer of appointment from the United States Naval Academy. Ward lives in Helena, Montana. "With her experience living abroad, academic and extracurricular achievements and leadership roles, Madison would be a great fit for the Naval Academy," said Daines. "She is one of Montana's finest and I look forward to following her future successes." "Madison will make Mon… Continue Reading
Daines Secures $2,000,000 Grant for Whitefish Lake Watershed Project
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after securing a $2,000,000 grant for phase two of the Whitefish Lake Watershed project in Flathead County. This grant allows Montana to place a conservation easement on 3,200 critical acres in Flathead County. The area is an important habitat for grizzly bears, the Canada lynx, and also protects water quality within the Lazy Creek watershed for threatened fish species. "This area is critical for the protection of w… Continue Reading
Daines Statement on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Reaffirmation of the Removal of Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bears from Endangered Species Act
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's announcement that its 2017 final rule to remove grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) from the Endangered Species Act's List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife does not require modification. "It's important to see sound science confirming the grizzly bear population has recovered," said Daines. "I look forward to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state as we c… Continue Reading
Daines Bill to Establish National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls Passes Senate
U.S. SENATE - This week, the U.S. Senate passed Senator Steve Daines' bill to recognize May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Daines introduced the legislation to honor the memory of Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who was murdered in July 2013. The resolution commemorates the lives of all American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered. "Tragically, Hanna Harris is just one of … Continue Reading
Daines Calls for Religious Freedom in China
U.S. SENATE - Today during a Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) hearing on digital authoritarianism and the global threat to free speech, Daines called out China for removing the sale of Bibles from Chinese e-commerce websites and pressed for increased religious freedom in that country. "The freedom to practice your religion without a fear of persecution is a human right that knows no borders," said Daines. "The Chinese government must be held accountable for its blatant infring… Continue Reading
Daines Applauds Confirmation of Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate joined Daines in confirming Mike Pompeo as U.S. Secretary of State. "Mike's educational record, military service and commitment to our country as a soldier in the U.S. Army, U.S. Congressman and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, makes him exceptionally qualified for this role as America's top diplomat," said Daines. "I look forward to working with him as he represents and defends Amer… Continue Reading
Daines Calls for Transparency at CBO in First Legislative Branch Subcommittee Hearing as Chairman
U.S. SENATE - Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines called for increased transparency at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) while chairing his first hearing as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee. The CBO has been criticized previously for not providing enough detail to explain its findings in budget estimates and scoring of legislation. "The CBO, along with all members of the legislative branch, must answer to American taxpayers," said Daines. "As Chairman, I w… Continue Reading
Daines Named a Leading Bipartisan Senator
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines has been recognized by a leading research institute as having one of the top records of bipartisanship in the U.S. Senate. The Lugar Center and the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy recognized Daines this week in its Bipartisan Index as having one of the strongest record of working across the aisle in the U.S. Senate. Daines ranked 13th for bipartisanship among his Senate colleagues. "Montanans expect their representatives to work acr… Continue Reading