The Hill: Senators offer rival bill on student data privacy
The Senate now has competing bills aimed at restricting education companies from selling or using student data for targeted ads. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday introduced the Safe Kids Act. The measure would also require private companies to meet certain data security standards when handling student information. Federal regulators would be empowered to punish any companies violating the bill’s provisions.“The perils of privacy invasion and data abuse must be stopped at the classroom door with laws that match advancing technology,” Blumenthal said in a statement. The Daines-Blumenthal bill is nearly identical to a measure from
Senate bill would lift ban on goods made with legal ivory
GOP senators are trying to stop the Obama administration from regulating lawfully owned ivory found in antique firearms, musical instruments and other family heirlooms. The African Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act of 2015, which Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced this week, would lift the ban the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) placed on the importation, exportation and sale of lawfully possessed ivory in February 2014. Ivory is a hard white material found in tusks of Elephants.“The Obama Administration’s plan to limit the trade of legal ivory — such as that found in legally
Daines, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Protect Students’ Data
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced legislation to ensure proper safeguards are in place to protect students’ data. The Safeguarding American Families from Exposure by Keeping Information and Data Secure (SAFE KIDS) Act protects student privacy by establishing clear parameters for third-party operators when using data collected from students. The legislation empowers parents to control access to their children’s information. The current federal protections for student data, including the tools currently available to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), are woefully inadequate. The SAFE KIDS Act empowers the FTC to oversee and enforce collection, storage and usage of
Daines, Alexander Introduce Legislation to Halt Over-Regulation of Legal Ivory
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today introduced legislation to halt the Obama administration’s over-regulation of lawfully owned ivory found in antique firearms, musical instruments and other family heirlooms and antiques often sought by collectors. The African Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act of 2015 ends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s unilateral moratorium on the importation, exportation, and sale of lawfully possessed ivory, while also making significant efforts to assist anti-poaching efforts in countries with elephant populations. “It’s senseless that the Obama administration wants to retroactively penalize Montanans who have legally owned ivory-containing antique firearms, musical
Daines, Zinke Announce Legislation to Protect Tribes from Costly Obamacare Employer Mandate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT) today announced the introduction of legislation to protect Native American tribes from Obamacare’s costly employer mandate. The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act, which was introduced today in the Senate and House, will exempt tribes and tribal employers from Obamacare’s employer mandate. The bills prevent massive fines that tribal employers would incur under Obamacare’s employer mandate. “Tribes should not be forced to pay severe fines due to duplicative federal mandates in the President’s flawed health care law,” Daines stated. “These unreasonable fines have the potential to kill jobs
Helena Independent Record: Daines taps Library of Congress book trove for Montana libraries
BILLINGS — The Library of Congress receives 25,000 new books every day, and when there are duplicate copies, the extras go to the House and Senate lawmakers — for free. It’s a “who knew?” kind of arrangement that surprised U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and his staff when they recently asked about connecting Montana’s libraries with the nation’s library of record. Daines figured he could take his share of the free publications and ship 150 books to Montana schools and public libraries every month. The first boxes of books went out this month. If there are more books available, the
Daines Speaks at Helena Native Newman’s Swearing-in as NASA Deputy Administrator
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today spoke at the ceremonial swearing-in of Helena native Dr. Dava Newman as the new National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Deputy Administrator. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Newman on April 27, 2015. Click here to download the picture of Newman and Daines. “Dr. Newman is inspiration for countless of young Montanans who are excited about not only space exploration, but also science, technology, engineering and math,” Daines stated. “I have no doubt that Dr. Newman will be a dedicated and tireless public servant who will continue to exemplify our state’s rich legacy of
ABC FOX Montana: Helena Native Sworn-In as NASA Deputy Administrator
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Helena native is sworn in as the Deputy Administrator of NASA. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Dr. Dava Newman to the position back in April. On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke at her ceremonial swearing in. He calls Dr. Newman an inspiration for countless of young Montanans who are excited about not only space exploration, but also science, technology, engineering and math. Newman is a graduate of C.R. Anderson Middle School and Capital High School in Helena.
Daines Applauds Air Force Decision to Maintain RED HORSE Unit at Malmstrom
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded news that the 819th RED HORSE squadron will remain stationed at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base. “This is great news for Malmstrom, the Great Falls community and the state of Montana,” Daines stated. “The 819th RED HORSE unit at Malmstrom Air Force Base holds an important role in our national security and is a critical partner for the Montana Air National Guard’s 219th RED HORSE unit. I’m thankful that the Air Force has recognized the importance of maintaining an active RED HORSE unit at Malmstrom, but our work to protect this critical