Independent Journal Review: Montana Senator Demands Action as Impact of Hack Widens: OPM Head Should Resign
Senator Steve Daines is calling for Katherine Archuleta, the head of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to step down amid a hacking scandal which has compromised the information of “an estimated 18 million current, former and prospective federal employees.” According to an emailed press release from the Montana Republican‘s office: “‘Under Katherine Archuleta’s watch, OPM allowed one of the largest breaches of federal employees’ personal information in our nation’s history. More, Ms. Archuleta has refused to take accountability for this great failure – in turn failing the American people, whom she swore an oath to protect and defend,’ Daines stated.
Daines Presses Highway Safety Administrator for Answers on Fire Truck Safety
Senator Steve Daines today pressed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for answers about delayed recall efforts for a failing fire truck component that resulted in a deadly crash outside of Helena, Montana last summer. During today’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing with NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind, Daines recalled the crash and pressed Rosekind as to why a full recall of the defective part has taken approximately one year to institute. Daines also pointed out that the component in question was a NHTSA approved solution to a previous recall in 2003, yet still was faulty – ultimately leading
Associated Press: Missoula Center Pleased with Rankin’s $10 Bill Nomination
MISSOULA – The suggestion by Sen. Steve Daines that the U.S. Treasury put the face of Jeannette Rankin on the $10 bill is being welcomed by advocates of the nation’s first female congresswoman. Betsy Mulligan-Dague, director of the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center, said the development is exciting. “It’s a huge step forward for women to be taken seriously in the world,” Mulligan-Dague said. “It’s way past time.” Rankin would serve as a fitting figure for the bill and for further advancing the achievements of women, Mulligan-Dague told the Missoulian. Rankin was first elected in 1916 and again in 1940. Aside
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Gene Peterson
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today honored Gene Peterson, a native of Culbertson and resident of Missoula, for his fifty successful years of shaping Montana’s broadcasting industry and long history of public service to the state. Peterson was inducted into the Montana Broadcasters Hall of Fame earlier this month. In addition to working in Montana broadcasting for more than fifty years, Peterson has served as president of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and a member of the St. Patrick Hospital Advisory Board and Grizzly Scholarship Association. Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” initiative highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of
Daines Introduces Bill to Honor Jeannette Rankin on U.S. Currency
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to require that former Montana Representative Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, be featured as the first woman on U.S. paper currency. Today, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that it is taking nominations for the new face of the $10 bill. Daines introduced the “Celebrating the First Woman in Congress Currency Act” to require that Jeannette Rankin be the first woman on paper currency. “Jeannette Rankin, a proud Montanan and the first woman to serve in Congress, has left a lasting mark on our nation’s democratic process,” Daines
Daines’ Bills to Provide Critical Funding for Montana’s Rural Water Infrastructure Receive First Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines’ bills to provide much-needed funding for Montana rural water infrastructure received their first Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing today. Daines’ bills— S. 1552 the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act and S. 1365, the Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act – provide much-needed funding and authorization for the construction and completion of critical rural water infrastructure projects in Montana and other states. Daines’ remarks can be viewed here and downloaded here. “Water is a basic need of life. In Montana, we depend on a steady supply to irrigate our crops, water our livestock
Daines Applauds Passage of Critical Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides critical support for the nation’s military and national security. “This legislation is critical to ensuring our men and women in uniform have the funding and support they need to fulfill their missions,” Daines stated. “The NDAA prioritizes the needs of our service members while protecting the important role that Montana holds in our national defense.” Daines successfully included an amendment to the NDAA that would protect military couples from abrupt reductions in their housing allowances. Under the NDAA, current dual housing
Missoulian: Daines to Treasury: Put Missoula’s Jeannette Rankin on $10 bill
Jeannette Rankin is a popular woman this week. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines introduced a proposal to put her face on the $10 bill Thursday, only two days after she became a finalist for the name of a new Billings middle school. The U.S. Treasury announced Wednesday that Alexander Hamilton is getting the boot and a woman’s portrait will be featured on a redesigned $10 bill. Daines is determined that Rankin, the Missoula woman who was the nation’s first female member of Congress, be first in line. His bill mandates that “Federal Reserve notes bear the likeness of Jeannette Rankin before
Daines Secures Additional Support for LWCF
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today secured close to $14 million in additional funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program of critical importance to increasing access to Montana public lands and protecting Montana’s outdoors heritage. During today’s mark up of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2016, Daines and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) successfully passed an amendment to increase LWCF programs by nearly $14 million, bringing the overall total funding for LWCF to the FY2015 enacted level of $306 million. “LWCF is an important program for Montana that helps expand access to