Billings Gazette: Daines: Police must improve response to missing, murdered Native women
LAME DEER — Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., called Friday on law enforcement to better respond to cases involving murdered and missing Native American women. As part of an awareness march in Lame Deer Friday, Daines walked alongside Melinda Harris, mother of Billings West High School graduate Hanna Harris, who was killed in 2013 age 21. Melinda Harris reported her daughter missing when she didn’t come home after celebrating on July 4, 2013. Bureau of Indian Affairs investigators notified the FBI about the case four days later, and Harris’ body was found the next day. Her body was too decomposed for a cause
KXLF: Hanna Harris remembered on National Day of Awareness for missing and murdered Native women
LAME DEER – Hanna Harris was killed on July 4, 2013 and since then, her family has been working to bring awareness to the issue of missing and murdered Native American women around the country. This week, the Senate passed a resolution marking May 5 as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. The day is in honor of Hanna, on what would have been her 25th birthday, and the hundreds of other missing or murdered Native women around the country. “This is a very big day for the family because it
Daines Votes Against Big Spending, No Strategy
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after voting against the $1.1 trillion spending deal and lack of strategy to fund the federal government: “We are seven months into the federal government’s fiscal year without a budget. Washington, D.C.’s govern-by-crisis strategy is the hallmark of dysfunction. Congress has repeated this process for 42 years and it has only worked four times. D.C. only knows one thing to do: Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Montana doesn’t operate this way, families don’t operate this way, small businesses don’t operate this way and the federal government shouldn’t operate this way.” The
Daines Congratulates Manhattan Student on U.S. Air Force Academy Appointment
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Manhattan High senior Alexa Arthun on her offer of appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Arthun is a ranch hand at Daniel Angus Ranch in Fishtail and is a varsity athlete in track, basketball, and boys’ football. She has volunteered with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, National Honors Society and Vacation Bible School. Daines called Arthun today to inform her of her offer and give his congratulations. “Alexa has proven to be a tremendous leader and an exemplary student inside and outside of the classroom,”
Daines Discusses Crowdfunding for Startups with SEC Chairman
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today reintroduced legislation to better the way entrepreneurs raise funds through crowdfunding by repealing regulatory red tape that keeps startups from getting off the ground. Yesterday, Daines met with Jay Clayton, the newly confirmed Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding his bill. During the meeting, Daines handed him a letter outlining his priorities writing, “I encourage you to review the Crowdfunding Rule for opportunities to encourage entrepreneurship and job creation.” The SEC issued a rule in October 2015 to give entrepreneurs an important tool in their belt to make their
Daines Introduces Legislation Authorizing Move of BLM Headquarters to the West
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines this week introduced the Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Relocation Act, legislation that would authorize the move of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) headquarters from Washington, D.C. to one of the following Western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. “The folks who make decisions about our land should have a solid understanding of what it means to have the federal government as your largest neighbor,” Daines stated. “In the West, federal land makes up a lot of our states but those who make decisions
Helena Independent Record: House passes GOP health plan that could eliminate Medicaid expansion in Montana
After legislation that could spell the end for Medicaid expansion in states like Montana cleared the U.S. House on a close vote, some are calling on Montana’s senators to defeat a Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The Montana Budget and Policy Center, a nonprofit that researches budget, tax and economic issues, said Thursday the revised version of the American Health Care Act would effectively end Medicaid expansion in Montana, which has extended coverage to more than 70,000 people. “The bill passed by the US House of Representatives is even worse for Montanans and our state
WaPo: Senate approves measure to fund the government through September
The Senate voted Thursday to approve a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September, preventing a government shutdown. President Trump is expected to sign the measure, which passed 79 to 18. It includes more than $15 billion in new defense spending and $1.5 billion in money for U.S. border security, ahead of a deadline to keep the government open past Friday. The five-month spending measure clears the way for Congress to begin talks over spending priorities for the fiscal year that begins in October. Trump has already outlined a request for GOP lawmakers to slash
Daines Calls for Funding for State Veterans Homes
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging them to support robust funding for State Veterans Homes that help provide long-term care to our nation’s veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or construct new facilities to serve aging veteran populations. For fiscal year 2017, only 10 of the 57 highest priority projects were funded, resulting in a backlog of facilities requiring upgrades or