CFTC Acting Chairman to Give Keynote Address at Montana Ag Summit
J. Christopher Giancarlo of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission will be a keynote speaker at Montana Ag Summit 2017 U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Acting Chairman, J. Christopher Giancarlo of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will deliver a keynote address at Montana Ag Summit 2017. “I look forward to hearing Acting Chairman Giancarlo speak at the Montana Ag Summit about his vision for the CFTC and its role in reducing regulatory hurdles to expand opportunities for Montana farmers and ranchers,” Daines stated. “During my time at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, I have made good
Daines Announces Montanan of the Week Completed With All 56 Counties Represented
Honors Rocky Erickson of McCone County as Montanan of the Week BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Rocky Erickson of McCone County for his long run as the voice of Montana sports. McCone County is the 56th county Daines has recognized as part of his Montanan of the Week program. On April 30, 2015, Daines announced a new effort to recognize Montanans who exemplify the Treasure State’s strong legacy of community spirit and leadership. In this effort, Daines has stopped across the state to recognize Montanans in all of the 56 counties. Daines recorded a video earlier today announcing the wrap up of all 56
Billings Gazette: Trump proposes gutting rural flight program in Montana
The Trump administration proposed Thursday that as part of its new budget it would eliminate federal subsidies for flights from Billings to five rural communities in Eastern Montana. The cuts would target the 39-year-old Essential Air Service, which subsidizes Cape Air flights from Billings to Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Wolf Point and Sidney. Without the program, Cape Air would unlikely be able to afford to continue operating the service, which peaked during the Bakken boom earlier this decade. The program has bipartisan support from Montana’s two senators. In 2016, at least 37,106 passengers boarded subsidized Cape Air flights in Montana, down 15 percent
Billings Gazette: Tribes get White House pitch for Gorsuch
Western American Indian tribes got the hard sell from the White House on Wednesday to back Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Representatives from Montana’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes met as delegates of the National Congress of American Indians with Trump staff and Western lawmakers to discuss Gorsuch. The Supreme Court nominee’s Senate hearing is set to begin Monday. Ryan Rusche and Rhonda Swaney were there for CSKT. Rusche didn’t return calls afterward, but CSKT spokesman Rob McDonald said the western Montana tribes decided in February to endorse Gorsuch. “Judge Gorsuch’s record demonstrates respect for Tribal sovereignty and understanding of the
Washington Times: Lawmakers say tribal support will help Grouch nomination
Republican lawmakers from western states said Thursday that Judge Neil Gorsuch’s record of supporting the sovereignty of tribal nations could play a big role in winning Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court. Emerging from a meeting at the White House with tribal leaders, Sens. Steve Daines of Montana and Cory Gardner of Colorado, and Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, praised Judge Gorsuch as a nominee who understands the importance of Indian-country issues. Mr. Gardner said the judge’s record in Native American cases while serving on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver will have an impact with “not only within Indian
Daines: Coats Confirmed for DNI
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, former U.S. Senator Dan Coats. “The threats facing our nation are great and I know Dan Coats will continue to prioritize the safety and security of our nation as Director of National Intelligence,” Daines stated. On February 2, Daines met with Coats in his Washington, D.C. office. During the meeting, Daines hand delivered a letter to Coats inviting him to Montana to deliver a keynote address at the Montana High Tech Jobs
Daines: Senate Needs to Confirm Judge Gorsuch
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the U.S. Senate floor about the importance of confirming Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier today, Daines participated in a discussion at the White House with tribal nations on Judge Gorsuch’s strong judicial record on cases pertaining to federal Indian law, including support for tribal sovereignty and religious freedom. The following tribal nations and groups were represented at the meeting: Navajo Nation, Chickasaw, Central Council of Tingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Choctaw Nation, Caribou Tribe, Native American Rights Fund, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of
Daines Works to Ensure Montana’s Firefighting Needs are Met
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines this week pressed the U.S. Forest Service for answers on their recent decision to reduce the number of Type 1 helicopters. In a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, Daines questioned Tidwell’s decision both from a cost-saving perspective and being best equipped to handle fire season. “I am concerned that these resources may not be available when most needed and may increase costs,” Daines wrote. “As such, I respectfully request a cost comparison for the non-renewed helicopters and equivalent call-when-needed helicopters and an analysis of the Service’s decision-making in terminating the six
Washington Examiner: Bill would expand care for veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure
Fifteen years ago, the Veterans Affairs Department decided to exclude certain Navy veterans from receiving healthcare treatment related to Agent Orange, a ruling that Sen. Steve Daines is trying to change. In 1991, Congress passed a law requiring the VA to provide coverage to Vietnam veterans with illnesses that the Institute of Medicine has directly linked to Agent Orange exposure. But about a decade later, in 2002, the VA decided it would cover only veterans who could provide they had orders for “boots on the ground” assignments during the Vietnam War. The exclusion prevented thousands of sailors, many of them