News

Daines Meets With Montana Tribal College Leaders

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today met with representatives from Montana’s tribal colleges to discuss the important role these institutions hold in providing Native American students with the training and skills that they need to obtain good-paying jobs. Today’s meeting comes on the heels of the bipartisan Senate passage of legislation cosponsored by Daines to designate the week beginning February 8, 2015 as “National Tribal College and Universities Week.” The bill also calls on the people of the United States and interested groups to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to support the nation’s tribal colleges

Daines Statement on Closing of Corette Power Plant

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to PPL Montana’s announcement that it will permanently close the J.E. Corette coal-fired power plant in Billings, Montana. “Once again, good-paying American jobs are falling ruin to the Obama administration’s war on American energy. The closing of the Corette power plant isn’t just a blow to Montana’s economy – it’s devastating news to the Montana families who rely on the plant for a stable income,” Daines stated. “The EPA’s misguided agenda doesn’t just hurt Montana’s coal industry— it directly affects thousands of Montana families, union workers and

Daines Works to Secure Support for Tribal Water Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has helped introduce legislation to ensure Montana tribes have the resources they need to maintain irrigation projects on Montana reservations. Daines today joined Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Jon Tester (D-MT) in introducing the Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and Their Economies Act, which will fix critical maintenance backlog issues at certain Indian irrigation projects throughout Montana and the West. Montana currently faces the largest maintenance backlog of Indian irrigation projects. “We need a long-term strategy to maintain and address the

Daines Calls on VA to Name New Montana Director, Address Mental Health Care Challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines is calling on Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald to quickly name a permanent director of VA Montana and take steps to address the mental health care challenges facing the Montana facility. In a letter sent today to McDonald, Daines stressed that the prolonged delay in naming a new director has prevented VA Montana from addressing serious challenges facing the agency – including the recruitment and retention of qualified mental health care professionals. “Among other adverse impacts, the absence of a permanent director providing clear leadership for the entire organization is an impediment to recruiting

Daines, Tester introduce bill to permanently ban government from taxing Internet

(U.S. Senate) –Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today introduced a bill to permanently ban federal, state and local governments from taxing access to the Internet. The Senators’ bill, the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act, would permanently extend the current moratorium on taxing Internet access that is set to expire on October 1, 2015.  Montana is one of a few states that would automatically impose a 3.75 percent tax on Internet access if the moratorium is lifted. “The Internet provides instant access to information, allows small businesses to compete in a global marketplace, and strengthens education and health care,” Tester

Daines Congratulates Billings, Helena Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Richmond Paschall and Jeremy Van Dyke on their appointments to the United States Naval Academy. Richmond Paschall, from Billings, received a nomination to the Academy from Senator Daines and was also nominated by Senator Jon Tester and former Senator John Walsh. He is a student at Billings West High School where he is the current Vice President of the student body and a member of the football and track team. Paschall is also a member of the National Honor Society and attended the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Jeremy Van Dyke, from Helena,

Daines Demands Answers to Secure Americans’ Personally Identifiable Information

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following today’s announcement that more than 80 million Americans may have had their personally identifiable information compromised after a data breach at Anthem Health Insurance, Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) is calling on Congress to strengthen victim notifications requirements and ensure that Americans are promptly informed when their personal information may have been exposed. During this morning’s Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on consumer data breach solutions, Daines reaffirmed his commitment to expediting notification requirements and ensuring that data security standards are up to date.  “Today’s headlines underscore the absolute importance of moving forward to strengthen our cybersecurity