Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Montana Youth ChalleNGe Academy
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized the Montana Youth ChalleNGe Academy (MYCA) for its work to assist at-risk youth in Montana to develop the skills necessary to become productive citizens. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the
KULR8: Survivor Talks About New Sex Trafficking Act
BILLINGS, Mont. – Thursday was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized the day by publicly supporting legislation to crack down on online sex trafficking. He called it a growing problem in the state of Montana and that we must take steps now to stop trafficking in the community. The legislation is called Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. It eliminates federal liability protections for websites that knowingly assist, support or facilitate online sex trafficking. It also allows state and local prosecutors to prosecute websites that violate federal sex trafficking laws. KULR-8 spoke with one sex trafficking survivor
Daines Statement on Recovery of Canada Lynx
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcement that the Canada lynx may have recovered to the point where it could be delisted as an endangered species. The Service today released the results of a scientific review indicating the Canada lynx may no longer require protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to recovery. Based on the findings of this review, the Service has announced its intention to develop a proposed rule to delist the Canada lynx. “This report is exciting news and the result of two decades of collaborative work between
Daines Calls for Stronger Enforcements to Combat Sex Trafficking
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized National Human Trafficking Awareness Day by supporting legislation to crackdown on online sex trafficking. “Sex trafficking is a growing problem in Montana,” said Daines. “We must take steps now to stop this abuse and protect vulnerable members of our community.” The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act eliminates federal liability protections for websites that knowingly assist, support or facilitate online sex trafficking. Additionally, it allows state and local prosecutors to prosecute websites that violate federal sex trafficking laws. Earlier today, Senator Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate in recognition of
USDA Grants Daines’ Request to Expand Disaster Relief to Farmers, Ranchers
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the United States Department of Agriculture responded to his request to extend the deadline for Montana farmers and ranchers seeking additional relief from last year’s drought and wildfires. “Montana farmers and ranchers have faced severe conditions and need flexibility,” said Daines. “I thank Secretary Perdue for recognizing the severe conditions that Montana producers have faced and for providing these flexibilities. Additional disaster relief funding is needed to help Montana’s agriculture community rebuild and continue feeding the country.” The Emergency Conservation Program is a USDA program that helps farmers and ranchers repair damage
Daines Calls for Protections to Americans’ Privacy
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined Senate and House colleagues in calling for reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to better protect Americans’ privacy. Watch the video HERE. Download the video HERE. Daines is also a cosponsor of the USA RIGHTS Act of 2017, which reforms government surveillance programs to balance Americans’ privacy with effective national security. ###
President Champions Daines Priorities to Support Rural Economy
President Champions Daines Priorities to Support Rural Economy U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the United States Department of Agriculture’s release of the Agriculture (Ag) and Rural Prosperity Task Force report, which includes initiatives Daines championed to support Montana’s rural economy. “Montana farmers and ranchers put food on America’s tables” said Daines. “As the President highlighted today, our rural communities are vitally important to the success of our nation. I will continue to fight for rural development, infrastructure, telehealth and other critical issues for rural Montana.” As Chairman of the Senate Western Caucus, Senator Daines has focused on initiatives to improve the rural
Great Falls Tribune: Public land in Montana should be of use to all of the public
The Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act introduced by Sen. Daines is meant to remove the designation from five Wilderness Study Areas (WSA’s) and return them to the normal forest planning and travel planning process. Many of the following criticisms from letters in the local media are not based on facts. They are simply fear mongering from those promoting more wilderness and they need to be addressed. First, these WSAs weren’t meant to be permanent. Sen. Metcalf’s 1977 law established the WSA’s and stated that they should be reviewed, not protected, by the Forest Service for wilderness characteristics. Within
Montana Standard: Wilderness Study Area release allows more public use
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines recently introduced S. 2206, the Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act. This bill would release five wilderness study areas in Montana that for 40 years have been called “study” areas. According to the law, these and other “study areas” were to be examined for no more than five years by the U.S. Forest Service to determine the validity of a wilderness designation. The main word in the name that stands out is “study.” U.S. Sen. Lee Metcalf carried the bill that designated these and others as WSAs, and it passed into law in 1977. This