Daines Secures Pruitt’s Commitment to Hear Montanans’ Input on Anaconda, Butte Superfund Sites
U.S. SENATE — During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured Administrator Pruitt’s commitment to seek community input at the Anaconda Co. Smelter and Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund sites. “Montana is home to the most expansive Superfund sites in the country,” said Daines. “It is critical the EPA prioritize these sites and listen to the input of impacted Montanans as we work to clean up these areas.” During the hearing, Administrator Pruitt committed to lifting the court gag order on the conceptual agreement on a consent decree to
Daines, Senators Push To Avoid Last-Minute Funding Battles
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), David Perdue (R-GA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are asking Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to expedite floor consideration of funding bills and nominees in order to make substantial progress before the end of the fiscal year, September 30. Yesterday, Daines and a group of Senate colleagues held a press conference to express their willingness to
Great Falls Tribune: Daines wants Senate to cancel August recess
Daines looking for new airline after Delta ends NRA discount Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines is among a group of senators calling on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to cancel the five-week August recess in order to get what he called a backlog of work done before the Sept. 30 budget deadline. “If we are complicit, we are on track for another last-minute spending battle come September,” the 16 senators wrote in their May 10 letter to McConnell, R-Kentucky. “However, if we take action now, we can break the cycle of continuing resolutions and omnibus spending deals.” In a
Mineral Independent: FOREST PROGRAM BRINGS ADDITIONAL $885,000 TO MINERAL COUNTY
Northwest Montana counties will soon receive more than $8.5 million in payments from the U.S. Forest Service, thanks to reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program. Mineral County received nearly $1 million in funding. Under this program, created by Congress in 2000, the Forest Service compensates county governments with forested federal land for revenue lost due to dropping timber production. These funds are intended for schools and other critical services, like roads and law enforcement. It expired in September 2015, but was reauthorized in the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill lawmakers passed in March. On Monday, the Forest Service released
Missoula Current: Skipping recess not a gimmick to keep Dems from campaigning, Daines said
Sen. Steve Daines on Wednesday continued his push to keep Congress in session through the August recess, saying it was needed to fix the budgeting process and unplug the backlog of presidential nominees. It was not, Daines said, a gimmick to prevent Sen. Jon Tester and other Democrats from campaigning in their bid for reelection. “It’s hard to find a good argument around why we should be recessing Congress when there’s so much work to be done,” said Daines, R-Montana. “I don’t think Congress has any business taking a recess when the people’s business remains unfinished.” Daines, who joined a handful of
Daines Urges Secretary Nielsen to Address Severe Flooding in Montana
U.S. SENATE – Today during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Steve Daines pressed Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on what the Department is doing to address the recent severe flooding in Montana. During the hearing, Daines asked how DHS is assisting affected communities in Montana now, and how the Department can provide support in the coming months as Montana deals with additional flooding and the upcoming wildfire season. Watch video HERE. Download video HERE. “Surging rivers and streams due to severe flooding have affected communities across the state, forcing
Daines, Warren Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Address Gambling Addiction among Servicemembers
According to Estimates, Nearly 56,000 Servicemembers Meet Criteria for Gambling Disorder Fact Sheet (PDF) Bill Text (PDF) U.S. SENATE – United States Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced the bipartisan Gambling Addiction Prevention (GAP) Act. The legislation would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to begin tracking gambling disorder in its health assessments and instructs the DOD to develop policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling problems among our servicemembers. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, an estimated 56,000 active duty servicemembers may meet the criteria for gambling disorder. “Countless service members and veterans suffer from gambling
Daines Urges DOD to Address National Guard Equipment Shortfalls in Great Falls
Calls on DOD to Prioritize National Guard Readiness U.S. SENATE — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize equipment shortfalls in the National Guard. During the hearing, Daines questioned General Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, about the military’s plan to strengthen funding for tank units in the National Guard, such as Charlie Company of the 163rd in Great Falls. Watch video HERE. Download the video HERE. “Montana is home to nearly 2,600 Army National Guard members who are ready to fight for our
AmmoLand: Trump State Department Looks to Stream Line Firearms Exports & Open US Markets
Washington, DC – -(Ammoland.com)- The Trump state department is making headway to transfer authority from the State Department to the Commerce Department over the approval of U.S. small arms exports. All in an effort to open U.S. firearms manufacturing to international customers. Currently, U.S. firearms and ammunition manufacturers faced a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace due to inefficient Cold War-era export controls and held over Obama administration era directives. As many of our industry readers will confirm the current red tape burden under the State Department has prevented many opportunities for American firearm manufacturers to compete overseas. The logical step,