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

Prior to Security Briefing, Daines Releases List of Questions for Biden Administration Officials

February 9, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following list of questions that remain unanswered regarding the Chinese spy balloon that crossed the United States from January 28 to February 4, 2023, spending eight days in American airspace. Daines will receive a security briefing later today from Biden Administration officials where he hopes the questions below will be answered. Daines viewed Top Secret information from the administration earlier this week but many of his questions still remain unanswered. “This situation raises a number of national security concerns and has been a tremendous embarrassment for the United States. The Biden administration’s

Daines Goes to Twitter Jail Over Montana Hunting Picture, Thanks Elon Musk for Reinstatement

February 7, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after his Twitter account was locked because of his profile picture of him and his wife hunting and later restored after Elon Musk announced changes to Twitter policy. Download the picture HERE. “I am grateful Elon Musk reached out to me to resolve this issue and am glad that he recognizes that free speech is a bedrock of our country, and acted quickly to reinstate my Twitter account after being made aware of its suspension. The initial ban over the profile photo of my wife and me after a successful Montana antelope hunt was

Daines Joins Colleagues to Expose Biden Administration for Breaking the Law, Promoting Dangerous DIY Abortions by Mail

January 26, 2023

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today joined his colleagues in condemning the Biden administration’s willingness to knowingly break the law and jeopardize the health and safety of women. “It is disappointing, yet not surprising, that the Biden administration’s DOJ has not only abdicated its Constitutional responsibility to enforce the law, but also has once again twisted the plain meaning of the law in an effort to promote the taking of unborn life. The OLC memo should be immediately rescinded or, at minimum, redrafted to articulate an accurate application of the law,” the senators wrote. In December, the US Department of Justice

Daines Demands Accountability For Failures of VA Health Record System

January 26, 2023

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael Missal concerning the systematic failures of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. “My office has explored an increasingly high number of systematic failures at the rollout sites of the EHRM program. There are rampant complications from frequent software failures to incomplete or incorrect patient records that derail access to care and leave afflicted veterans without the resources they need and deserve. Disturbingly, I have received reports from VA staff who indicate that they have no hope that

Daines, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Empower Parents, Teachers

January 26, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a group of his colleagues in introducing the “Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act” or the “A-PLUS Act” to give local leaders and parents more say over how their tax dollars are spent on education. “Education tax dollars belong closer to Montana classrooms–not in the hands of D.C. bureaucrats,” Daines said. “Montana parents and teachers know what Montana students need best. Congress should empower state and local leaders to have more of a say in the classroom and allow Montanans to better utilize their tax dollars spent on education.” “I have worked to add

Daines Demands Biden Administration Investigate Link Between Rare Cancer and Service at Malmstrom

January 24, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called on the Biden administration to immediately expand the investigation into the possible link between the nine military officers who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after serving at Malmstrom Air Force Base. “I write to stress the importance of the ongoing investigation into the possible increased likelihood of cancer for missileers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. I urge the Department of Defense to re-examine previous studies and expand the current investigation, which is monitoring and screening current and former missileers. It must be a priority to ensure that our nuclear readiness is sufficient and

Daines, Risch: Biden Administration Report Admits Cancelling Keystone XL Pipeline Killed Thousands of Jobs, Cost Billions

January 5, 2023

U.S. SENATE – Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Jim Risch (Idaho) today issued the following statements in response to the Biden administration releasing a past-due report demanded by the two senators and required by law that had the administration give a detailed account of the effects of its decision to cancel construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. President Biden revoked the cross-border operation permit for the project the first day he took office. The report released by the U.S. Department of Energy states the Keystone XL pipeline would have created between 16,000 and 59,000 jobs and would have had a positive economic impact of between $3.16 and $9.6 billion. “The Biden administration finally owned up to what we have known

Daines Statement on Biden Admin’s Heavy-Handed WOTUS Rule

December 30, 2022

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “This is a step in the wrong direction from the Biden administration and it infringes on the rights of Montana farmers, ranchers and landowners,” Daines said. “This overreaching rule threatens Montana ag and natural resources and is unacceptable. I will continue to vigorously fight to protect Montanans from out-of-touch rules handed down from D.C. bureaucrats.” The EPA WOTUS rule defines which bodies of water are subject to federal jurisdiction under the 1970 Clean Water Act. The Obama administration rule was

Daines’ Bipartisan Forest Management Bill Passes U.S. Senate

December 23, 2022

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the passage of his bipartisan bill to facilitate efficient and effective forest management by empowering collaboratives and public-private partnerships. “Collaboration is key in better managing Montana’s forests—I’m glad to see this bipartisan bill to bring everyone to the table to help design, develop and implement innovative projects to create healthier environments, empower rural economies, and prevent devastating wildfires pass the U.S. Senate,” Daines said. The “Root and Stem Act” received broad bipartisan support from Montana forestry and conservation groups – see statements of support HERE. Senator Daines introduced the “Root and Stem Act” with Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in October 2021. See the full text of the “Root and Stem Act” HERE. Senator Daines will continue fighting for

Daines Introduces Bill to Protect, Expand Montana Veterans’ Access to Community Care

December 22, 2022

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced legislation to expand and protect Montana veterans’ access to care in their local communities. “Montana veterans have served and sacrificed for our state and nation – the VA needs to ensure that serving our veterans with the highest quality of care is at the core of everything they do. I am glad to help protect Montana veterans’ access to health care in their communities,” Daines said. The “Protecting Veteran Community Care Act” strengthens the existing community care program, limits the VA’s ability to restrict access to care in the community, and requires the VA to

Author: Samantha_Wiesneth@daines.senate.gov