News

KXLF: Senator Daines helps family persevere through adoption process

BOZEMAN –Adoptions can be tricky and take a long time, even within the United States. One special little boy was able to meet one of the key players that helped reunite him with his family. Senator Steve Daines played a large role in helping to bring Rocky over from the Congo.

KXLF: Butte Community Health Center lands $1.8M in federal funding

U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced Thursday that nearly $7 million in funding will be directed for community health centers in Montana. Butte will receive a big portion of that amount. According to the senator’s office, the aim is to provide improved continuity of care, mobile services to rural locations and increased access to affordable care. Butte Community Health Center will receive $1,819,143.

Daines, Zinke Introduce Measures Demanding Answers to Secure Nuclear Missiles

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today introduced measures that aim to ensure the Department of Defense (DoD) secures the nation’s nuclear assets.    Daines’ bill directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to tell Congress within five days how they will secure nuclear missiles made vulnerable by the insufficient capability of the UH-1N, and implement the necessary mitigation with additional resources within sixty days. Zinke introduced a similar bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that aims to address the security shortfalls of

Daines Hails Passage of Legislation to Improve Montana’s Energy Future

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of bipartisan legislation that works to improve the future of Montana energy. “I’m proud to see the passage of bipartisan legislation that protects Montana energy jobs, is critical to irrigate over 50,000 acres of cropland in the eastern part of our state and strengthens rural water systems that serve tens of thousands of Montana families,” Daines stated. “I’m working to provide certainty for our farmers, ranchers and communities by reducing bureaucratic red tape.” Click here to watch Daines’ statement. Click here to download Daines’ statement.  The Senate today passed the FY 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act

Daines Announces Nearly $7 Million in Critical Funding for Montana Health Centers

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $6,989,615.00 in funding for community health centers in Montana to provide improved continuity of care, mobile services to rural locations and increased access to affordable care. The Department of Health and Human Services will provide funding to improve community health and public healthcare services. “Montana’s community health centers provide reliable and quality healthcare services to thousands of Montanans,” Daines stated. “Through this additional funding these health centers will be able to better serve rural communities and maintain the continuity of services.” Grants awarded today include: Lincoln County Community Health Center: $1,508,655.00 Montana Migrant Council, Inc.: $1,884,532.00

Daines’ Bill to Allow Women World War II Pilots Inurnment at Arlington Heads to President Obama’s Desk

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to allow women World War II pilots to be eligible for inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery is headed to President Obama’s desk for his signature. The U.S. House of Representatives last night passed Daines’ legislation following unanimous Senate passage on May 11, 2016. “This is a wrong that needed to be made right and I’m proud to be part of restoring benefits to our WWII women pilots who trained right here in Montana,” Daines stated. “With the President’s signature, our women pilots will now have the honor that they have always deserved.” Click here to watch Daines’

Great Falls Tribune: Bill would allow female WWII pilots back into Arlington

A bill to make Women Airforce Service Pilots eligible for interment at Arlington National Cemetery is headed to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature. The legislation, co-sponsored by Montana Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Rep. Ryan Zinke, passed both houses of Congress and would fix technicalities in the law that the Army said precluded the WASPs from Arlington burial since Arlington follows Army rules and not those of the Department of Veterans Affairs. “This is a wrong that needed to be made right, and I’m proud to be part of restoring benefits to our WWII women pilots

Defense News: US Air Force Will Hold Competition for Huey Replacement

WASHINGTON — The US Air Force is moving forward with a “full and open” competition to replace the entire fleet of UH-1N Huey helicopters, according to the service. The announcement ends months of speculation that the Air Force would bypass a competition altogether, instead buying Sikorsky’s UH-60 Black Hawks to replace the Hueys for both the VIP transport mission and the job of guarding the nation’s nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. But the rotorcraft industrial base has pushed back on the sole-source strategy in recent months, arguing such a move could have a “devastating” impact on companies investing in independent risk-reduction and research and development. The

CQ: Members Vow Floor Fights Over Helicopters

Members in both chambers are preparing amendments to defense bills that would force the Air Force to start replacing aging helicopters that can no longer protect U.S. nuclear missiles from a possible terrorist attack. An amendment to the House defense authorization bill (HR 4909) by Montana Republican Ryan Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, would put the screws to the Pentagon’s new initiative, announced May 11, to hold a competition to replace the Hueys. No more than 75 percent of the Defense secretary’s “travel and representational expenses” budget in fiscal 2017 would be available until Congress receives a certification that a new