News

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

Malmstrom Officer Joins Daines DC Office as Air Force Fellow

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced Air Force Major Benji L. Johnson has been selected to serve as a Military Fellow in Daines’ Washington, D.C. office through 2016. Johnson was most recently the Assistant Director of Operations, Codes, for the 341st Operations Support Squadron at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. “I am excited to welcome Major Johnson to support our work on the military and national defense issues facing Montana and our nation,” Daines stated. “Major Johnson’s extensive experience will be an asset to our office’s efforts to best serve Montana’s military members and our continued work to support our nation’s

MTN News: Soldier from Heart Butte honored as “Montanan Of The Week” by Daines

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) has recognized Blake Wombold of Heart Butte, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve, as his “Montanan Of The Week.” Wombold earned the honor for his contribution of new shoes for the Heart Butte High School boys basketball team. This marks the second year that Blake has donated new shoes to Heart Butte’s basketball team.  A press release from Daines’ office says that while growing up, Blake witnessed the sacrifices his mother, a teacher at Heart Butte School, made to provide for him and he wanted to be able to help the community that

Daines Calls on FCC to Clarify Broadband Definition

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today led five of his Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify their inconsistent and arbitrary definitions of broadband, which could detrimentally impact rural Montanans. The letter is also signed by Roger Wicker (MS), Roy Blunt (MO), Deb Fischer (NE), Ron Johnson (WI) and Cory Gardner (CO). The senators expressed their concerns that: The FCC’s arbitrary 25/3 Mbps benchmark speed does not reflect what most Americans consider broadband The use of this benchmark discourages providers from offering speeds at or above the benchmark The definition contradicts the broadband definition used in

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Blake Wombold of Heart Butte

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today recognized Blake Wombold of Heart Butte, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Reserves, for his generous contribution of new shoes for the Heart Butte High School Boys basketball team. This year marks the second year that Blake has donated new shoes to Heart Butte’s basketball team. Growing up, Blake witnessed the sacrifices his mother, a teacher at Heart Butte School, made to provide for him and he wanted to be able to give back to the community that supported him. Daines will present Wombold with the Montanan of the Week recognition later this afternoon

Daines Congratulates Four Montana Students on Receiving West Point Academy Appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today congratulated four distinguished Montana students for their appointments to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The students are Keller Balsam, Macy Newbary, Alliemarinda Phillips and Michael Sewell. Daines spoke to the four students last night and personally congratulated each of them on their appointment.  Keller Balsam, a senior at Helena High School, is a member of his school’s varsity track team and a cross-country runner. He serves as a member of the National Honor Society and President of Helena High’s Mentoring Teens Against Drugs. He recently participated in American Legion Boys State

Daines Statement on Vote to Override President Obama’s WOTUS Veto

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to override President Obama’s veto of legislation to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) egregious overreach through newly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:  “Senate Democrats and President Obama have made clear they don’t care about the harmful effects that this overreaching rule will have on our hardworking farmers and ranchers. The EPA’s greatly expanded powers through this new WOTUS rule is a clear effort by the Obama administration to gain control over Montanans’ livelihoods and private property rights. I will continue