Author: Payton Fuller

Daines Delivers Powerful Remarks on the Human Cost of Southern Border Crisis

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate today about the fentanyl epidemic that is a direct result of the Biden administration’s failure to secure the southern border. Specifically, he highlighted Reilly Schrapps, a 24 year old from Butte who died after taking a pill laced with fentanyl last summer.   Click HERE to watch full remarks and HERE to download. Excerpts from Daines’ remarks as prepared for delivery: “When most people talk about the fentanyl crisis gripping our communities today, they talk about the numbers. And the numbers are powerful. In 2022, synthetic opioids, like deadly fentanyl, claimed over 75,000 lives in our country. It’s estimated over 150 people die

Daines Reintroduces Bill to Stop Fentanyl Trafficking into Montana

U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines, along with a group of Republican senators, reintroduced the “Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act,” that would add large-scale drug smuggling as an additional basis for Title 42 expedited removal immigration authority. Montana has seen a 1,100 percent increase in fatal overdoses linked to fentanyl since 2017. “The fentanyl that is coming through President Biden’s open southern border and into Montana is wreaking havoc on our local communities,” said Senator Daines. “We need to be using every resource at our disposal to stem the flood of illegal drugs into the United States, including Title 42. Montanans have had enough of

Daines Secures Commitment from IRS Commissioner to End Improper Audits on Disabled First Responders

U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Finance hearing secured a commitment from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Danny Werfel to end improper audits of disabled first responders. Daines’ bipartisan bill to end these wrongful audits was signed in to law last year, but does not take effect until 2026. Because of this delay many disabled first responders could still be subject to improper outreach and audits from the IRS. Watch the exchange HERE. Daines: “Thank you, Mr. Werfel. I’d like to begin by addressing my ‘Putting First Responders First Act,’ which was signed into law as part of the retirement legislation that

Daines Criticizes Biden Chief Economist Nominee Claims that Administration has “Top Track Record” on Energy Production

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today criticized Jared Bernstein, nominee to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, for his claim at the administration has a “top track record” on domestic energy production. Under questioning from Daines about the unsustainability of the administration’s climate policies. Bernstein claimed the administration is in pro-oil and pro-natural gas, a claim that Daines said was “laughable.” Click HERE to watch the exchange. Senator Daines: “Thank you. I been watching this hearing today, was just curious coming back about the Keystone Pipeline Dr. Bernstein. You refuse to say whether you recommend shutting down the Keystone pipeline

Forest Service Chief Calls for Passage of Daines’ Cottonwood 9th Circuit Court Decision Fix at Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing

U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on common sense forest management and the importance of passing his complete and permanent fix to the Cottonwood 9th Circuit Court decision. Senator Daines: “We need to get that Ninth Circuit Cottonwood fix passed because its looming deadline that now has expired last month and now that has expired, would you agree that a full and permanent Cottonwood solution should be a high priority and a bipartisan priority for this Congress?” U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore: “Yes, sir. I do.”

Daines, Colleagues Stand With Sportsmen, Reintroduce Bill to Stop the Ban of Traditional Ammo & Tackle

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a group of 23 of his colleagues to introduce a bill to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science and state wildlife and fish agencies. “Sportsmen are the original conservationists and play an important role in wildlife management—the last thing we should do is limit their access to public lands by implementing a blanket-ban on traditional ammo and tackle, reduce revenue for important state wildlife

Daines Leads Letter to Biden Energy Department Slamming Gas Stove Restrictions

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a group of his Republican colleagues today in calling on the Department of Energy (DOE) to remove the proposed rule that would ban at least 50 percent of gas stoves in the United States. “Consumers deserve choice. Consumers deserve the ability to decide what appliances are in their homes. We strongly urge you to reject this approach and work towards more reasonable, market-driven solutions that promote energy efficiency and protect the interests of the American people. This means working with manufacturers and consumer groups to find energy efficiency standards that are reasonable, achievable and beneficial

Daines Blasts Biden Administration’s Electric Vehicle Mandate

“Democrats want to tear down and eliminate conventional sources of energy when renewables are not yet ready for prime time” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today delivered the following remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference blasting the Biden administration’s out-of-touch climate regulation proposal that would require electric vehicles to account for two-thirds of new cars sold in the next nine years. “Well, the weather forecast in Montana for more snow tomorrow for those that are playing at home, which is a good thing for keeping our snowpacks high but

Daines Slams Biden for Forcing Burdensome Regulations on Montanans

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released a statement in response to President Biden’s veto of Daines’ challenge to the administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation. “The Biden administration’s WOTUS rule creates unnecessary confusion and burdensome red tape for Montana farmers, ranchers and landowners—that’s why the Senate voted to overturn it by a strong bipartisan margin. The President’s veto today shows just how far he’s willing to go to impose big government regulations on Montanans. The Biden administration’s regulatory agenda is absolutely out of control and must be stopped.”  BACKGROUND ON WOTUS, NWPR: Senator Daines joined all 48

Daines Blasts Biden’s IRS for Misplaced Priorities, Funding Army of Agents

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement today after Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Danny Werfel revealed the IRS’ $80 billion 10-year spending plan. “The Biden administration has once again shown where their priorities lie—expanding the federal government and exerting more control over the lives of hardworking Montanans. Rather than hiring more border patrol agents to tackle the southern border crisis or addressing the massive backlog of tax returns that accumulated over the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS plans to deploy an army of tens of thousands of IRS agents to increase audits on Montana families and