Montana has a rich legacy of service, and I’m proud to represent our state’s veterans in Congress. I’m dedicated to ensuring that our veterans receive the care and benefits that they fought for and greatly deserve.
As the son of a United States Marine, I believe the United States must honor the commitment we’ve made to the men and women of the armed forces, active duty troops and older veterans alike. While we can never repay the debt we owe to those who fight for our freedoms, we must ensure that we uphold the promises we’ve made. I’m dedicated to opening up new employment prospects for returning service members, improving medical care for wounded warriors, and ensuring support for veterans in need of assistance.
Daines, Kim Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Pension Benefits for Veteran Families
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) today introduced a bill to prohibit the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) from retroactively collecting pre-approved pension benefits from a veterans’ family following the death of the beneficiary. “Our veterans have served our country at the highest level and deserve our full support. Their families should not be concerned about VA collections calls in their time of grieving because of the VA’s bureaucracy. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to improve the pension benefits payments process and ensure that our veteran families are not encumbered with
Daines Applauds House Passage of Bill to Name Butte VA Clinic in Honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s Last Pearl Harbor Survivor
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to rename the VA Outpatient Clinic in Butte, MT in honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s last Pearl Harbor survivor, who passed away in March 2023. The bill will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Charlie Dowd was a Montana hero who fought with outstanding bravery in World War II and dedicated his life to advocating for veterans,” said Daines. “I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing S. 2385, which will continue Charlie Dowd’s legacy as a patriot and defender of freedom by renaming
Daines Applauds House Passage of Bill to Name Butte VA Clinic in Honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s Last Pearl Harbor Survivor
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to rename the VA Outpatient Clinic in Butte, MT in honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s last Pearl Harbor survivor, who passed away in March 2023. The bill will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Charlie Dowd was a Montana hero who fought with outstanding bravery in World War II and dedicated his life to advocating for veterans,” said Daines. “I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing S. 2385, which will continue Charlie Dowd’s legacy as a patriot and defender of freedom by renaming
Daines Urges VA to Correct Policies Affecting Veteran Access to Care
U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a group of Republican senators in urging Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to quickly correct policy initiatives that are making it harder for veterans to receive care. “Congress has never failed to provide VA with the resources required to fulfill its mission,” wrote the Senators. “If you believe that VA lacks the funding to provide the level of access to care that veterans deserve in VA and in the community, it is incumbent on you to reprioritize resources from non-patient care areas and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, not to unilaterally implement purported cost-savings
Daines, Zinke, Rosendale Call Out Biden for Frontline Job Cuts
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) highlighting concerns regarding the VA’s recent elimination of frontline care providers, despite the VA’s previous declaration that such positions would be protected from job cuts. “Too many people in Washington, including some of our colleagues in the U.S. Congress with direct influence over policies impacting veterans, will make empty promises about fighting for veteran care and will use this report as an opportunity to call for more spending and more legislation that will only add to the
Daines Holding VA Accountable for Misusing Montana Taxpayer Dollars
U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his Republican colleagues in calling out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee corruption and sending a letter to the VA demanding the department repay nearly $11 million in unjustified bonuses that were distributed to senior executives within the VA and calling for the immediate dismissal of the responsible officials. “The egregious mishandling of Critical Skill Incentives (CSIs) and the subsequent lack of accountability demand immediate and decisive action to restore integrity and trust within the VA. This report has brought to light the improper allocation of CSIs to senior executives within the VA. It has revealed a
Daines Leads Letter to VA Following Recent Report that Veterans are Incapable of Making Their Own Health Care Decisions
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) led Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in sending a letter today to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) highlighting concerns regarding the VA’s recent “Red Team” Executive Roundtable Report that only serves to reinforce questionable practices by the VA to the detriment of veterans. Discrepancies in the report highlight the VA’s unethical limitation of veteran access to community care networks. “This report’s criticism of the popularity of community care reflects the VA’s mentality that the average veteran is incapable of making their own health care decisions. These findings are indicative of
Daines Lauds Delivery Date for New C-130J Fleet to Malmstrom
U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced today that the 120th Airlift Wing in Great Falls will start to receive the new C-130J model Super Hercules cargo aircraft in 2026. The announcement follows years of Daines advocating for Montana to serve as the home to one of the military’s newest aircraft. Daines paid special tribute to the leadership of Governor Greg Gianforte and Major General J. Peter Hronek, Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard for playing a critical role in the decision. “This is great news for Malmstrom, Great Falls and all of Montana,” said Daines. “The new C-130s will be right at home in Montana
Daines, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Protect Americans’ Privacy Signed Into Law
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) today announced their “Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act” was signed into law. The bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to remove personally identifiable information (PII), which includes Social Security and passport numbers, from cargo manifests before public disclosure. Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kans.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) cosponsored the bill and Congressmen Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) led the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Safeguarding Montanans from identity theft and fraud is one of my top priorities, which is why I’m glad to see my bipartisan