Daines introduces bill to increase pay for people with disabilities
Wages grew in Montana during the pandemic, but a group of workers in the state — and across the country — are still being paid below minimum wage. A decades-old federal law allows businesses to legally pay people with disabilities below the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour. There are 16 businesses in Montana — including one in Bozeman — that pay below minimum wage, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. That standard could change. Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines introduced a billon Thursday that would phase out a certificate program created by the Fair Labor Standards Act, enacted in
Daines Announces Over $1.5 Million for MT Drug and Alcohol Treatment Courts
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced more than $1.5 million will be granted to drug and alcohol treatment courts across the state. “I’m glad to see Montana receive these resources to support our ongoing efforts to combat drug and alcohol addiction in the state,” Daines said. The following programs are receiving these grants: $549,956 to the Billings Adult Municipal DUI Treatment Court $565,110 to the Butte-Silver Bow DUI and Veterans Treatment Courts Enhancement Project $580,829 to the Montana Statewide Teleservices Treatment Court Daines helped secure this funding through the U.S. Department of Justice in December 2020. ### Contact: Katherine McKeogh, Katie Schoettler
Daines Succeeds in Blocking Biden’s $450,000 Payments to Illegal Immigrants
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that after leading the charge to stop President Biden from giving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrants who broke the law, Biden has backed off this effort and these settlement payments will not happen. “It’s about time. I’m glad my call to end the outrageous idea of giving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrants who broke the law was successful,” Daines said. “Now, President Biden must finally secure the southern border and end his border crisis for good.” Background: Daines has been leading the charge in the Senate
Daines, Warren Bipartisan Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medals to Service Members Killed in Afghanistan Signed into Law
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today applauded their bipartisan bill to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to the 13 American servicemembers who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks in Afghanistan being signed into law. “This August,13 brave men and women gave the last full measure in service to their country during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. I’m glad to see my bipartisan bill signed into law, which will help ensure the sacrifice of these American heroes is forever remembered with the Congressional Gold Medal,” Daines said. “Today President Biden signed my bipartisan bill with Senator Daines into law –
Daines Secures, Votes to Advance Montana Wins in Bipartisan Defense Bill
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines voted to advance major Montana priorities in the bipartisan defense bill, the “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA), including a 2.7% pay raise for troops and support for Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana’s National Guard. “This bipartisan defense bill gives our troops a much-deserved pay raise, supports Malmstrom and the Montana National Guard, and helps ensure Montana’s servicemembers remain the best equipped forces in the world so that they can help keep America safe,” Daines said. “I worked hard to make this bill better for Montana and our national security, and also successfully worked to strike a provision that would force women into the draft.” Montana Defense Wins
Daines Introduces Effort to Strike Down Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for MT Healthcare Workers
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced another legislative effort to strike down President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The measure introduced by Daines and Senate Republicans would block Biden’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate for Montana healthcare workers. “President Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandate for Montana healthcare workers threatens to cripple our hospitals and hurt our healthcare heroes who have been on the frontlines since the beginning of the pandemic. I’ve heard concerns from health providers across Montana that Biden’s vaccine mandate would further burden our healthcare system, which is already struggling with worker shortages. I will continue doing all that I can to block Biden’s vaccine mandates on behalf of Montanans,” Daines said. Daines’ effort comes after the
Daines Announces Service Academy Nominees
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today officially nominated four Montana students who are applying for enrollment into U.S. Military Academies. “One of my greatest honors as Montana’s United States Senator is to nominate dedicated young Montanans to compete for an appointment to attend one of our nation’s military academies,” Daines said. “I commend these remarkable Montana students for their commitment to serving our nation and keeping Montana’s legacy of service strong. I wish them the best as they continue in this extremely competitive process.” A congressional nomination is a critical step in the process for Montanans seeking admission to the U.S.
Guest view: Working Montanans can’t afford ‘Build Back Broke’ plan
Montana families across the state are feeling the pain in their pocketbooks from inflation and higher prices on everything from gas to groceries to heating their homes. What’s causing this? President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ wasteful spending problems, and their multitrillion-dollar reckless tax and spending spree bill will only make matters worse. Last week, inflation hit a nearly 40-year high, backing estimates that families will spend an extra $4,600 more this year alone. In fact, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, Montana faces one of the highest inflation rates in the country. This year, Montanans will
Daines Statement on New CBO Score Showing Biden’s Tax and Spend Spree Will Add $3 Trillion to Debt
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after the nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a new analysis showing that the true cost of President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ reckless tax and spend spree bill will add $3 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years. “The nonpartisan budget analysis shows that the true cost of President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ reckless tax & spending spree will increase the national debt by $3 trillion. The Democrats can no longer continue to mislead the American people that this is ‘paid for.’ It’s not. To the Democrats, like the