News

KHQ: Daines Annonces $1.4 Million for MSU to Increase Public Transportation

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,402,200.00 for the Western Transportation Institute to study how best to improve accessibility and efficiency of rural public transportation. “It’s great to see additional funds being sent to an organization that has been an advocate for rural transportation efficiency and safety for over 20 years,” Daines stated.  “As a graduate of MSU’s College of Engineering, I am proud their contributions are recognized and these funds will be used to improve mobility in Montana and rural America.” The Western Transportation Institute is a department within Montana State University’s College of Engineering.  They have been designated one

Daines Announces Nearly $1.5 Million for MSU to Increase Public Transportation

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,402,200.00 for the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) to study how best to improve accessibility and efficiency of rural public transportation.   “It’s great to see additional funds being sent to an organization that has been an advocate for rural transportation efficiency and safety for over 20 years,” Daines stated.  “As a graduate of MSU’s College of Engineering, I am proud their contributions are recognized and these funds will be used to improve mobility in Montana and rural America.” The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) is a department within Montana State University’s (MSU) College of Engineering.  They

The Hill: Last-Ditch Effort to Prevent Changes to Law Enforcement Hacking Rule Fails

A last-ditch effort in the Senate to prevent changes to a rule that will ease the process for law enforcement to use hacking in investigations failed Wednesday morning, allowing the controversial updates to Rule 41 to take effect at midnight. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Chris Coons (D-Del) took to the floor and unsuccessfully asked for unanimous consent to either pass or formally vote on three bills to delay or prevent updates to the process used by law enforcement to get a warrant to hack suspects’ computers.  “We simply can’t give unlimited power for unlimited hacking,” Daines argued.  The updates to

The Shelby Promoter: Shelby FFA Gains Valuable Experience at John Deere Agriculture Expo

Wednesday, Nov. 16, the Shelby FFA left for another fun and educational trip to Bozeman to attend the FFA John Deere Agricultural Exposition. The annual John Deere Ag Expo is full of competitions and leadership activities designed for FFA members to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge about agriculture and leadership.  The competitions, or Career Development Events (CDEs), included Food Science, Agricultural Communications, Meat Judging, Agricultural Sales, Job Interview, Livestock Judging, Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems, Veterinary Science, Horse Judging and Market/Business Planning just to name a few.  The first CDE Shelby competed in, Meat Judging, was held on

Daines’ Amendment to Elevate Cyber Command Included in NDAA

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the inclusion of his amendment to elevate U.S. Cyber Command to a Combatant Command in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Cyber Command it is currently a subordinate unit to U.S. Strategic Command.  “The elevation of CYBERCOM will ensure that we are always one step ahead of the enemies who seek to destroy us and our way of life,” Daines stated. “As radical Islamic extremists continue to recruit online, it is imperative now more than ever that CYBERCOM has the tools to react quickly and defeat the enemy.” Congress established U.S. Strategic Command

Daines’ Bill to Promote Telehealth Passes Senate

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill to promote the use of telehealth today passed the U.S. Senate.  The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration, to study technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models and the ability of those models to improve patient care and provider education.   “Geographic location should not dictate quality of care,” Daines stated. “This bill will promote opportunities to increasingly open up access to high-quality care in rural communities that is not currently available, such as access to specialists; support

The Daily Inter Lake: Senate OK’s Bill to Improve Rural Health Care

The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill Tuesday that could expand access to specialty health care for rural patients in states like Montana where services are often scattered. The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act, or the ECHO Act, would pull federal resources toward studying telehealth technology and models to improve patient care in communities often separated from medical support. Catherine Todd with North Valley Hospital said she’s watched telehealth spread through the Flathead Valley in recent years. The Whitefish hospital has used telehealth to expand its behavioral health services to people who Todd said otherwise “fall through the cracks.”

U.S. Senate Sends Daines’ Bill Protecting Consumer Reviews to President

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the unanimous U.S. Senate passage of his legislation to protect consumers who want to write honest online reviews of companies, without fear of financial repercussions from the businesses being reviewed.   Daines’ bill, the Consumer Review Freedom Act, would prohibit the use of non-disparagement clauses referred to as “gag clauses,” which are often found in little-read online user agreements.   “Today was a good day for the First Amendment rights of Americans,” Daines stated. “This legislation protects folks who provide honest feedback about the products and services they purchase. I look forward to continuing to read

U.S. Senate Passes Daines’ Outdoors Recreation Bill, Heads to President’s Desk

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill that allows federal, state and local policymakers to better understand the economic impact outdoor recreation has to the American economy unanimously passed the U.S. Senate this evening.  This legislation would inform policymakers and business leaders on the jobs created, and the consumer spending driven by, the outdoor recreation economy. “Montana is well-known for our world-class outdoor recreation that is critical to our state’s economy,” Daines stated. “This legislation will help us to better understand the economic impact of outdoor recreation and the good paying jobs it supports. I look forward to the President swiftly signing this bill into law