rachel_dumke@daines.senate.gov, Author at Senator Steve Daines

Daines: Confirmation of Jack Lew as Ambassador to Israel is a “Disgrace”

October 31, 2023

“We should be standing up to Iran, not coddling it by confirming an ambassador who will go to Jerusalem and represent the interests of Iran over that of the United States and our greatest ally in the Middle East.” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today after voting against confirmation of Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel: “The confirmation of Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel is a disgrace. Throughout his tenure in the Obama administration Jack Lew coddled Iran by championing the failed Iran nuclear deal, likely gave Iran access to the U.S. financial system and

Daines Highlights Terror Threat at Southern Border, Condemns Rise in Anti-Semitism Around the World

October 31, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference where he highlighted the terror threat at the United States’ southern border and demanded President Biden change policy, including tightening asylum standards, reforming the parole program and finishing the border wall. Daines also raised concerns about the rise of antisemitism in the United States and demanded all instances of antisemitism be forcefully condemned by American leaders. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “The odds that terrorists are coming across our southern border into the United States are increasing on an hour -by -hour basis. Last week if you remember I spoke about Cuba, Iran, North

Daines Honors Montanan of the Month for October: Sherm Anderson of Powell County

October 30, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Sherm Anderson of Powell County for his long-standing dedication to Montana’s timber industry, carrying out his family’s entrepreneurial spirit in his hometown of Deer Lodge and for selflessly serving the greater Powell County community. Through his “Montanan of the Month” initiative, each month Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the recipient’s honor into the Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Month” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE.

Daines Introduces Bill to Improve Indian Health Service for Montanans

October 30, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today helped introduce the “Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act” to address persistent failures and increase accountability at the Indian Health Service (IHS). Consistent shortcomings, unmet staffing needs, lack of oversight and longstanding deficiencies at the IHS have resulted in significant gaps in Montana tribal citizens accessing high-quality care. The bill helpsaddress the many issues recipients of IHS care face by improving patient access to safe and reliable health services. “For too long the IHS has failed to provide Montanans with reliable, quality care. It’s time we enact serious reform and hold IHS accountable in order for tribal leaders,

Daines Introduces Bill to Prevent China, Adversaries from Purchasing Land Near U.S. Military Bases, Sensitive Sites

October 30, 2023

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines helped introduce the “Protect Our Bases Act” to ensure the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) can review foreign land purchases near sensitive military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites by requiring member agencies to annually update and review their lists of these sites. “As President Biden’s weakness on the world stage has emboldened our adversaries, we must take action to protect the United States from potential national security threats,” said Senator Daines. “Purchasing land around sensitive intelligence sites and national labs gives foreign nations increased ability to spy on the U.S.—it must be stopped.” BACKGROUND

Daines Calls on FBI, DHS to Prioritize Prevention of Antisemitic Violence

October 30, 2023

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines joined a group of bipartisan Senators and Congressmen to send a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray to request their immediate attention on resources that help protect the safety and security of Jewish Americans, religious institutions and organizations that are vulnerable to increased threats and violence as a result of the ongoing terrorist attacks in Israel. “As members of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism, we write to express our concern about the increase in antisemitic threats and

Daines, Colleagues Sound Alarm on China’s Dominance in Global Payments Market

October 27, 2023

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines and Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee urged the Biden administration to confront the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) expanding footprint in the U.S. financial system and global payments market. The senators sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, in which the senators warn that rapidly expanding Chinese payment networks may undermine U.S. foreign policy, threaten Americans’ sensitive financial and consumer data privacy, and violate international trade practices. In addition to calling for the Administration to examine the infiltration of Chinese payment networks into the U.S., the senators urge the Biden administration

Daines Introduces Bill to Require DHS To Report Monthly on Terrorist Watch List Encounters at Southern Border

October 26, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide a monthly report to Congress on terrorist watch list encounters at the nation’s southern border. Under the Biden administration, we have seen historic numbers of individuals on the FBI’s terrorist watch list encountered at the southern border. “Since October 1st, hundreds of individuals from Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria – all state sponsors of terror – have entered the United States through our southern border,” said Daines. “We need real policy changes at our wide-open southern border to prevent potential terrorists from putting Americans

At Senate Banking Committee Hearing, Daines Says Biden Administration Needs to Crack Down on Iran’s Support for Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis

October 26, 2023

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Banking Committee hearing highlighted the threat of Hezbollah and Hamas and the stressed the importance of shutting down Iran’s illicit finance networks that fund these terror groups. Watch Daines’ remarks HERE. “Five weeks before the October 7th terror attack in Israel, I was in the Hezbollah terror tunnels on the border of Lebanon, seeing it firsthand, descending 80 feet down with IDF soldiers. And the next day I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem…and we talked about three things: Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. “It’s been very clear to many of us, including clear

Daines Introduces Bill to Prevent China, Adversaries from Purchasing Land Near U.S. Military Bases, Sensitive Sites

October 26, 2023

Author: rachel_dumke@daines.senate.gov