Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Bruce Bramlette of Fort Benton
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today recognized former Brigadier General Bruce Bramlette of Fort Benton, Montana, on behalf of his lifetime of dedication to the United States and his selfless service on Congressional U.S. Military Academy nomination boards. Bruce has tirelessly served on nomination boards for 25 years, both as a member and board chairman, and has interviewed more than 1,000 young Montana students seeking a nomination to one of our nation’s service academies. 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
Daines Highlights Key Reforms in Major Senate Energy Legislation
“We can’t fully discuss our nation’s energy future without also addressing the President’s moratorium on new federal coal leases and royalty increase attempts for federal coal, oil and natural gas.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to highlight important provisions contained in the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, the first major energy policy legislation debated in the Senate since 2007. This key legislation will help expand Montana energy production, permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and rein in the Obama administration’s overreaching anti-energy regulations. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Today, the
MTN News: Malmstrom officer chosen to serve on Daines’ staff
GREAT FALLS –U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced on Wednesday that Air Force Major Benji L. Johnson has been selected to serve as a Military Fellow in Daines’ Washington, D.C. office through 2016. The Air Force Fellowship Program offers participants the opportunity to work in the legislative branch of the federal government for one session of Congress. Johnson most recently served as the assistant director of operations for ICBM codes for the 341st Operations Support Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base. In a press release, Daines said, “Major Johnson’s extensive experience will be an asset to our office’s efforts to best
Missoulian: Energy bill debate contains numerous Montana provisions
A legislative package now before the U.S. Senate has a lot of Montana issues woven in, including possible permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 began debate Thursday, and is expected to face amendments well into next week before a final vote. Also known as S. 2012, it affects energy-efficiency standards in buildings and cars, cybersecurity threats, next-generation nuclear plants, recycling and loan programs. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., spoke for the bill on the Senate floor Thursday after it cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on a 18-4 vote. “The Energy
Great Falls Tribune: Uncle’s story serves as example for senator
HELENA — When Sen. Steve Daines talked in October to a roomful of people at Fort Harrison about the importance of sharing their military history with others, he spoke from personal experience. Daines had a uncle aboard the SS Dorchester who died when the troop ship was sunk by a German submarine Feb. 3, 1943. The ship is famous for its story of the four chaplains who stood on deck, gave their life jackets to others and held hands praying and singing hymns as the Dorchester went down, killing nearly 700 people. But for some reason, his grandmother never talked
Military Times: Lawmakers push VA to let doctors recommend medical marijuana
Twenty-one lawmakers have written Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald urging him to let VA doctors discuss and recommend marijuana as a potential medical treatment in states where it is legal. Under a VA policy that expires on Jan. 31, VA doctors are not allowed to discuss medical marijuana with their patients or recommend it as a treatment. Senators and representatives — 19 Democrats and two Republicans, including Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada, a physician and Army Reserve brigadier general who chairs the House Armed Services personnel panel — want a new policy that “removes barriers that would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship” in states
Fox News: Senators seek foreign aid cut if ex-Gitmo inmates escape host country
Four Republican senators are calling for cutting foreign aid to Ghana if two former Guantanamo Bay prisoners who were transferred to the African nation escape or return to terrorism. The move marks a renewed effort by security-minded lawmakers to use the power of the purse to effectively pressure other countries considering taking Guantanamo detainees. In the case of Ghana, the country earlier this month accepted two detainees from Guantanamo Bay, part of the Obama administration’s latest wave of transfers out of the prison camp. But the senators, in a letter Wednesday to key committee leaders, warned that Ghana may be
Yahoo: VA under pressure to embrace medical marijuana
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senate and House members sent a letter Wednesday urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to let its doctors discuss and recommend medical marijuana as a treatment in states where it is legal. The letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald comes four days before the expiration of a current directive that prohibits VA physicians from recommending the plant for medicinal purposes. “According to the current directive, VA providers are prohibited from completing forms seeking recommendations or opinions regarding a veteran’s participation in a state-sanctioned marijuana program,” the letter reads in part. “This policy
Daines Leads Bipartisan Effort Urging VA Officials to Allow Discussion of Medical Marijuana with Patients Where it is Legal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to change its current policy to allow VA doctors to discuss and recommend marijuana as a treatment option in states where medical marijuana has been legalized, like Montana. Daines led a bipartisan group of 21 Senators and Representatives in sending a letter to VA Secretary Bob McDonald urging the VA to permit doctors to discuss and recommend marijuana as a treatment option in states where it’s legal. Under the current system, VA doctors are not allowed to give recommendations for patients to receive medical marijuana, even