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Tester, Daines Nominated both Montana Seniors for Prestigious Appointments  (U.S. Senate) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today congratulated Max Sechena of Great Falls and Evan Morris of Bozeman on their appointments to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.  “These two young men embody Montana values through and through,” Tester said. “They’re leaders, scholars, and athletes who strive every day to make their communities—and this nation—better. I know they will excel as midshipmen at the Naval Academy and I know our country will be better off for their service.” “Max and Evan are leaders both inside the classroom and

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that U.S. Army Major Brad Caton has been selected to serve as a Defense Fellow in Daines’ Washington, D.C. office through 2017.  Most recently, Caton served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff G8 (Financial Management) for the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas, and deployed to The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as the J8 for CENTCOM Forward – Jordan. “I am excited to welcome Major Caton to our team to help serve Montana’s military members and work to make our nation safer and more secure,” Daines stated.     “I look forward to working

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized John and Stephanie Hekkel of Anaconda in celebration of the rebuilding of Club Moderne.    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 contact form on Daines’ website: http://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve The following is the statement submitted to

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the U.S. Social Security Administration to continue processing Montanans Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. Recently, Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge Nicholas LoBurgio suspended all hearings for SSDI and SSI claims in the state of Montana until at least the summer of 2017 unless there is a dire need.  In letters to Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin and Judge LoBurgio, Daines implored her to find an alternative solution to reduce the backlog of Region 8 cases while still processing claims for the state of Montana.  “Montanans deserve a timely hearing and

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today helped introduce the Improved National Monument Designation Process Act, a bill to facilitate greater local input and require state approval before national monuments can be designated on federal lands and waters. The bill requires, before any national monument can be declared on public land or within the exclusive economic zone, that the following be met: Specific authorization by an Act of Congress; Approval by the state legislature, and for marine monuments, approval by each state legislature within 100 miles of the proposed monument; and Certification of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.  “As a

(U.S. Senate)—Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines kicked off the 115th Congress by introducing bipartisan legislation to grant the Little Shell Tribe of the Chippewa Cree federal recognition. The Little Shell Tribe has sought federal recognition for nearly four decades, and has been recognized by the State of Montana since 2000. “The federal government can’t fulfill its trust responsibility to Montana’s Little Shell Tribe until it recognizes their sovereignty,” Tester said.  “These folks have been waiting long enough for what they deserve, and we won’t stop fighting until we get this bill across the finish line.”   “The Little Shell Tribe has waited far

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of Education, Betsy DeVos. “Betsy DeVos has a passion for education and will be a formidable leader at the Department of Education,” Daines stated.  “I look forward to watching her shape the Department of Education to increase local control of our schools, with policies that originate with the parents, teachers and administrators who are closest to the classroom.”  Daines and DeVos discussed: Increasing local control over education policies and funding and reducing the role of Washington, D.C. bureaucrats. Efforts to ensure

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Montana U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke.   “Commander Zinke is a military hero who served honorably for 23 years and is taking his service to another level,” Daines stated. “Ryan understands the balance of conservation, responsible energy development and public access.”  “I appreciate Senator Daines taking the time to sit down and talk about how together we can Make America Great Again,” Rep. Zinke stated. “As two Montana kids who were at Boys State together in 1979 and who grew up with