News

Daines Statement on Stanley Patrick Weber Losing Tax Payer Benefits

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the below statement regarding the termination of pension and benefits for convicted predator and former Indian Health Service pediatrician Stanley Patrick Weber. “I’m glad to see the Indian Health Service deny Mr. Weber’s federal benefits and cut off his pension. It is outrageous that a convicted pedophile was receiving taxpayer funded pension checks while serving time in prison. I will be reintroducing my bill to fix this horribly flawed system and ensure no predator receives a dime of taxpayers’ money,” Daines said. Background: In 2019, Daines introduced legislation to prevent convicted pedophiles from receiving a federal government

Daines, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Reverse Ban on State Tax Cuts in $1.9T Package

U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the “State Fiscal Flexibility Act” to remove a section in the massive and wasteful $1.9 trillion package that prohibits states from providing tax relief. This legislation will give power back to the states to decide when to cut taxes and get Montana’s economy back up and running.   “The Democrats used the ‘COVID relief’ package as a way to usher in a new era of big government and crush the independence of state governments in the process,” Daines said. “To punish states that offer their citizens tax relief is a shameful federal overreach and has nothing to do with combatting the

Daines Votes No on Haaland Confirmation

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted against confirmation of President Biden’s Interior Secretary nominee Deb Haaland. “Representative Haaland has a hostile record toward made in America energy, natural resource development, and wildlife and land management. She has enthusiastically called for a ban on all new pipelines and is a leading cosponsor of the Green New Deal. I have serious concerns about how Rep. Haaland will use this position in ways that negatively impact the Montana way of life,” Daines said. “In Montana, we have a rich history of balanced wildlife and land management that allows us to enjoy recreation and

$52 million Milk River Project bill introduced

Once again, Montana’s congressional delegation is trying to rescue the crumbling Milk River Project, a critical irrigation artery for 18,000 Montanans along the Hi-Line. U.S. Sen Jon Tester, a Democrat, reintroduced a bill last week to provide $52 million for Milk River Project irrigation repairs. The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Steve Daines, compels the government to reconsider a funding formula that now requires locals to pay for 75% of the project’s estimated $200 million in repairs. In the House, Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Republican, introduced a similar bill. The water system is coming off an epic failure, which left

Daines, Tester, Rosendale Bill to Fund Dam to Provide Water to Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. CONGRESS – Today, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Matt Rosendale introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to provide much needed funding to Montana water infrastructure. The bill, “St. Mary’s Reinvestment Act,” legislation will ensure the St. Mary’s Diversion Dam receives $52 million for rehabilitation efforts, and require the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BoR) to use an ability-to-pay study on what the current water users could afford to pay for the project and set the cost share for the rehabilitation based on that study.                                  “Farmers and ranchers’

Daines offers bills to bolster rural areas’ accessibility to federal grants

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) recently introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at ensuring that America’s rural communities have an equal opportunity to apply for federal agriculture and transportation grants.                                     “This legislation will help ensure Montana’s rural counties have better access in competing for, and securing, federal resources that are important to help grow their local economies,” Sen. Daines said. On March 9, Sen. Daines signed on as an original cosponsor of both the More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) from USDA Grants Act, S. 647,  and the MORE from DOT Grants Act, S. 649, which are sponsored by U.S. Sen.

Daines Introduces Bill to Create and Protect Montana Coal Jobs, Reduce Emissions

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today reintroduced legislation to help create Montana coal jobs while reducing emissions. The bill, the “Carbon Capture Modernization Act,” supports the use of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology by modernizing the Section 48A tax credit for coal facilities. “With American innovation, we can support our coal jobs and still reduce our carbon footprint. As the Biden Administration launches attack after attack on traditional American energy, it’s important we support Montana coal facilities and provide incentives to use this technology,” Daines said. Background: Daines has been an outspoken supporter of carbon capture technologies during his time in Congress. Last September, Daines

Daines urges White House to re-open Canadian border, welcomes Missoula students in D.C.

MISSOULA, Mont. — Senator Steve Daines is urging the White House to quickly and safely open up the border with Canada. Daines says that with COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations down and vaccinations up, it’s time to safely open the border because Montana agriculture and small businesses rely on the commerce. In other news, Daines took time to welcome students from Missoula’s Valley Christian School to Capitol Hill. He met with them to discuss his role as their U.S. senator and answer all their questions.

Daines: Northern Border Access is Critical for MT Jobs, Agriculture, Small Businesses

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines is pushing the Biden administration to allow non-essential travel between Montana and Canada to boost Montana jobs, Montana agriculture and Montana small businesses. Daines emphasized that with COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the decline and vaccinations on the rise, the time is now to move forward to safely re-open the northern border.  “As we approach the end of winter, ensuring that the movement of people and goods across the U.S.-Canada border can efficiently and safely occur is critically important for Montana’s economy. This is particularly true for Montanans dependent on tourism and agriculture, the main