News

Daines to FCC: Close the Rural Broadband Gap

Daines Joins Bipartisan Call to Expand Mobile Network in Rural America U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan effort urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) Mobility Fund, which is aimed at providing broadband service to rural and underserved areas. Daines was joined by 27 Senators in a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for the agency to prioritize new mobile broadband deployment in areas that support agricultural activity as well as preserve and upgrade mobile broadband where it is currently available.  “Without the certainty that essential mobile broadband infrastructure

Daines Statement on Double-Digit Obamacare Rate Request Increase

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Montana State Auditor Montana Lindeen announced the double-digit requested rate increases under Obamacare insurance plans.            “President Obama promised Obamacare would drive down the cost of healthcare premiums, instead we are seeing astronomical proposed increases in Montana,” Daines stated. “Obamacare continues to take money out of the pockets of hardworking Montana families with no relief in sight. Obamacare is failing Montanans, and we must repeal it.” The average proposed rate filings for 2017 plans for the individual market is a 34.6 percent increase with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana requesting a 62.1 percent increase.

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Tom Kuntz of Madison County

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Tom Kuntz of Ennis for his dedication to the community and the Ennis Community Children’s School.  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 Record:    MONTANAN OF

Daines: Vermont Law is an Attack on the Heart of Montana’s Way of Life

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke out in support Montana’s hardworking farmers and ranchers against Vermont’s law that could impact Montana jobs and the price families’ pay at the grocery store. Tonight, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan compromise with a vote of 63-30 to protect Montana farmers and ranchers. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks.  “Make no mistake, this Vermont law is an attack on the heart of Montana’s way of life,” Daines stated. “It’s an attack on Montana farm and ranch operations, and I won’t stand for it. I will stand up for Montana and continue to fight

Daines Announces over $7 Million to Improve Great Falls International Airport

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $7,175,439.00 in funding for critical construction upgrades for Great Falls International Airport. The funding will be used to construct an extension to the existing (16/34) runway, including improvements to runway safety areas, install guidance signs, install miscellaneous NAVAIDS, install runway sensors, rehabilitate runway, rehabilitate runway lighting and remove obstructions. “Air travel is essential to Montana’s economy and I’m proud the funding I secured will be used to upgrade the Great Falls Airport,” Daines stated. “This funding will ensure that Great Falls International Airport can continue to serve the region and operate at the highest

KGVO: Daines – Zinke React To FBI Refusal To Recommend Prosecution of Hillary Clinton

Two-thirds of Montana’s Congressional Delegation are up in arms over FBI Director James Comey’s refusal to recommend criminal charges against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her email issues. Republican Senator Steve Daines said it seems that there is a double standard for Washington insiders and the rest of the American population. “Our country was founded on the principle of equal justice for all, not just for some,” Daines said. “Secretary Hillary Clinton should be held accountable. What Secretary Clinton has done is put our national security at risk, and it brings into question her ability to hold office.

Great Falls Tribune: Havre airport gets funds for improvements

The Havre City-County Airport is among four Montana airports that will share a $1,465,311 grant for construction projects, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Wednesday. The airport will receive $144,900 to fund the design phase for the reconstruction of 15,000 square yards of the existing apron pavement that needs replacing. This project will fund the initial design phase for the rehabilitation of 3,700 feet of Taxiway A, 250 feet of Taxiway B, and 1,200 feet of Taxiway C needed to maintain structural integrity of the pavements, Daines said. Grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation will also be given

Cherokee One Feather: Native Women victims to be remembered, honored

Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana, went missing on July 3, 2013.  Her badly decomposed body was found five days later near the rodeo grounds on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer, Mont. Due to the decomposition of her body, it was impossible to determine an exact cause of death, but Eugenia Ann Rowland, of Pine Ridge, SD, admitted to beating her and pleaded guilty to second degree murder.  She was sentenced to 22 years in prison in February 2015, and her husband, Garrett Sidney Wadda, who Rowland said was also involved in the

Daines Announces over $1.4 Million in Funding for Montana Airports

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that four Montana airports will receive $1,465,311.00 for critical construction projects. Grants will be awarded to airports in Havre, Dillon, Laurel and Billings.  “Montana’s airports are a critical piece of our state’s transportation system, because they bolster our local communities and connect us,” Daines stated. “This additional funding will ensure that our airports can continue to support the communities and regions they serve.”  Grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Transportation include: Havre City-County Airport: $144,900.00 to fund the design phase for the reconstruction of 15,000 square yards of the existing apron pavement that