Daines Urges Mnuchin to Lift Financial Barriers to Coronavirus Testing
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to take swift action to eliminate monetary barriers to testing for the Coronavirus disease. This follows Daines’ rollout yesterday of several proposals he’s working on with the Trump administration to protect Montana families and their finances during the Coronavirus outbreak. “I write to you today regarding the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to encourage the Treasury Department to take swift action to eliminate financial barriers to testing for this disease. As insurance commissioners, plans, and Congress work to ensure patients are able to
Pulse Growers Hopeful Trade Resumes with India
An ongoing trade war with India has caused market prices for peas, lentils and chickpeas to crash. But, pulse growers remain hopeful that recent efforts with India will help secure this important export market again. India is the world’s largest consumer of pulse crops, contributing to approximately 27 percent of the world’s consumption. And for Montana pulse growers like Jillien Streit from Chester losing this important export market as hurt their bottom line. “The U.S. market value to India for lentils, dry peas and chickpeas dropped 86 percent from the year 2016-17 to 2018-19” said Streit. “Our prices have plummeted
Daines Introduces Historic Bipartisan Bill to Fully and Permanently Fund LWCF, Address National Park Backlog
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill, the Great American Outdoors Act, which will provide full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address the maintenance backlog in our national parks and forests. The introduction of the legislation follows a meeting Daines held with President Trump and Leader McConnell to secure their support for the historic conservation effort. “As Montana’s voice in the U.S. Senate, I’ve made it one of my top priorities to protect and expand access to our public lands and our Montana outdoor way of life,” Daines said. “This
Daines Unveils Proposals to Protect Montana Families, Improve Economic Stability During Coronavirus Outbreak
U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today unveiled a slate of proposals and priorities he’s working to advance that will help protect Montana families and their finances during the Coronavirus outbreak. Daines is working to ensure impacted families and businesses have paid leave, temporarily waive payroll taxes, provide relief from tariffs, and ensure access to affordable testing. “Montanans and Americans shouldn’t have to choose between their paycheck, their personal health and the health and safety of others,” Daines said. “I will be working with the Trump administration, Congressional Leadership, and Republicans and Democrats in both Chambers to ensure these priorities
Daines Secures Action on Grizzly Bear Management
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) responded to his frequent pleas for better management surrounding grizzly bears and human conflict in Montana. This comes after Daines discussed concerns with U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt during a U.S. Senate Appropriations hearing to respond to new rulemakings concerning the Endangered Species Act. “Until we can retain full state management of the grizzly bear, we need common sense, collaborative methods of managing to reduce human conflict,” Daines said. “I am thankful to Secretary Bernhardt for listening to the concerns of Montanans
Daines Leads Historic Push to Fully Fund LWCF, Address National Parks Maintenance Backlog
U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced new legislation that will provide full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address the maintenance backlog in our national parks. This legislation and announcement follows a meeting Daines held last week with President Trump and Leader McConnell to highlight the importance of these conservation priorities for Montana. During the meeting, President Trump agreed to support and sign Daines’ legislation into law. To download Daines’ full remarks, click HERE. “This is a historic day for conservation, Montana and this nation. I am proud to stand here today
Daines asks Trump for delay on Real ID in Montana
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines has asked President Donald Trump to delay requirements of the Real ID Act of 2005 for one year for Montanans, saying the state was having difficulty meeting the October deadline for compliance. “While the state of Montana continues working to implement Real ID in a timely fashion, large numbers of Montanans will not have Real ID compliant identification by the October 2020 deadline,” the Montana Republican wrote in a Feb. 28 letter to the president. “I ask that you grant an emergency waiver for the state of Montana for one year, as they are working in good faith to comply with
Daines Urges President Trump to Extend REAL ID Requirements for Montana
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to President Trump asking the administration to delay requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 for Montanans. “While the State of Montana continues working to implement REAL ID in a timely fashion, large numbers of Montanans will not have REAL ID compliant identification by the October 2020 deadline,” Daines wrote. “I ask that you grant an emergency waiver for the State of Montana for one year, as they are working in good faith to comply with the law. I look forward to continuing to work with you to protect
Daines Stresses Serious Concerns with USDA’s Decision to Lift Brazilian Beef Ban
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today expressed serious concerns with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) decision to lift its ban on Brazilian raw beef imports. Daines stressed the decision could put food safety standards at risk and questioned how USDA would monitor beef imports from Brazil moving forward. “In 2017, USDA FSIS refused entry to approximately 2 million pounds of beef from Brazil and subsequently announced the suspension of all imports of fresh beef from Brazil due to public health concerns, poor sanitary conditions, and animal health issues,” Daines wrote. “Given that the United States halted