Daines: Mattis Has Unwavering Sense of Duty
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Secretary-designee for the U.S. Department of Defense, General James Mattis. “General Mattis is a leader of conviction and resolve. His legacy on the battlefield stands as a testament to his character and moral courage,” Daines stated. “I am confident that General Mattis will lead our Armed Forces decisively.” Daines and Mattis discussed the importance of the mission at Malmstrom Air Force Base and reaffirmed his support for the modernization of the nuclear triad. ###
Daines: Carson Will Revitalize HUD
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Secretary-designee for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Dr. Ben Carson. “Dr. Carson has a passion for improving the lives of his fellow Americans and will work to make our communities safe,” Daines stated. “I know he will promote policies to revitalize rural and urban communities and be the change-maker that the Department of Housing and Urban Development needs.” The two discussed ways to improve HUD to create more affordable housing for underprivileged communities including Native American communities, which Daines
BDC: Montana senators reintroduce bill for Alex Diekmann Peak
Montana’s two U.S. Senators have renewed their efforts to name a mountain in the Madison Range after a prominent conservationist who died in 2016. Democratic Sen. Jon Tester and Republican Sen. Steve Daines have introduced a bill to name a peak after Alex Diekmann, who worked on land deals and conservation easements for the Trust for Public Land until he died of cancer last year. In a statement, Daines said Diekmann brought people together to “protect our public lands.” “I am excited to launch this bill again this Congress and hope for swift consideration and enactment,” Daines said. Tester said
Yahoo: Interior Secretary-Designate Ryan Zinke’s Testimony at Confirmation Hearing Draws Support of Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable
Declaring himself “an unapologetic admirer of Teddy Roosevelt,” Interior Secretary-designate Ryan Zinke testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which is considering his nomination to serve as the nation’s 52nd Secretary of the Interior. His remarks drew praise from the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable, which supports Zinke’s nomination. Referring to former President Roosevelt, Zinke, who currently serves in the U.S. Congress as a representative from Montana, said he believed that Roosevelt “had it right when he placed under federal protection millions of acres of federal lands and set aside much of it as national forests.
Daines, Tester Reintroduce Bill to Name Peak in Diekmann’s Honor
U.S. SENATE — Building on efforts from the 114th Congress, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today reintroduced a bill to honor the life of renowned Montana conservationist, Alex Diekmann, by naming an unnamed peak in his memory. The bill will name an unnamed 9,765-foot peak as “Alex Diekmann Peak”. “Alex Diekmann brought Montanans together to balance the needs of local landowners, ranchers and foresters, local cities and towns, county commissions, and federal and state interests to protect our public lands,” Daines stated. “I am excited to launch this bill again this Congress and hope for swift consideration and enactment. I look forward
Daines Marks Religious Freedom Day
U.S. SENATE —On Religious Freedom Day, U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a resolution to celebrate and reaffirm the role of religious freedom as a fundamental human and Constitutional right. The resolution recognizes the 231st anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and commemorates January 16, 2017 as Religious Freedom Day by an act of Congress. The Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom was authored by Thomas Jefferson and served as the model for the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. “Religious Freedom Day reminds the American people that we are free to live and work in accordance
Sidney Herald: Agriculture leaders applaud Daines’ selection to U.S. Senate committee
Following U.S. Sen. Steve Daines’ announcement of committee assignments for the 115th Congress, Montana’s top agriculture and forestry leaders praised his new membership on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. “Montana’s number one economic driver is agriculture and I’m excited to represent their priorities on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture,” Daines said. Don Steinbeisser Jr., director, Montana Dakota Beet Growers Association, said, “We are happy to hear that Sen. Daines will be serving on the Ag Committee. It will certainly be good for sugar and the state of Montana.” Lola Raska, Executive Vice President of the
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Mack Cole of Treasure County
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Mack Cole of Treasure County, a third generation Montanan and dedicated public servant. 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 the Congressional
Daines, Tester Congratulate Bekah Joy on U.S. Air Force Academy Appointment
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today congratulated Sentinel High School student Bekah Joy on her appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Joy was nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy by Daines and Tester, they both called to congratulate her. Joy is the goalkeeper on her high school varsity soccer team and she is a recruited soccer goalie in the national premier league “Elite Club National League.” Joy is also Key Club Treasurer and is involved in organizing middle school tutoring, Youth Track Club, a blood drive, among other events. “Bekah exemplifies the best of