Daines: Maintain United States’ trade winning streak
America is on a trade winning streak. Over the past five months, President Trump closed the deal on major trade agreements with our four largest trading partners: Canada, Mexico, Japan and China. These four countries alone make up half of America’s total trade, at nearly $2 trillion. Since last fall, I’ve had the privilege of standing with President Trump at the White House on three separate occasions to celebrate these historic trade victories. Through my membership on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade, it’s been an honor to help secure these trade deals for Montana agriculture.
Montana Ag Network report for February 26
Lane Nordlund has the Montana Ag Network report for Wednesday, February 26, 2020: #1: This week potato growers from all over the nation, including Montana, are advocating for the potato industry for the National Potato Councils 2020 Fly-In taking place in Washington D.C. The event gives potato farmers and industry leaders the opportunity to share their story on Capitol Hill. “It’s the one time of year where we can gather whether we’re producers, seed growers, commercial, chippers, all aspects of the potato industry,” said Ronan seed potato farmer Reed Tobol. “We are all here at one time. For one reason. That
Daines presses IHS to release report on doctor’s sexual assaults
The Indian Health Service has yet to disclose a third-party report into the way it dealt with pediatrician and serial pedophile Stanley Patrick Weber, according to U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who wants the report made public. Weber, who sexually assaulted Blackfeet Indian boys in the early-1990s and remained employed by IHS for another 16 years. During that time, the pediatrician relocated to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where he sexually assaulted five more boys, the youngest of them age 9. Weber received five life sentences this month for the South Dakota sexual assaults. On Feb. 10, the pediatrician lost
Montana’s Teacher of the Year
Today, Senator Daines met with Montana’s 2020 Teacher of the Year, Linda Rost. Linda lives in Baker, MT and teaches several different science classes at Baker High School. She earned a master’s degree in science education from Montana State University in 2018 and is currently working towards her Ph.D through Texas Tech. Daines, who earned his degree in chemical engineering from Montana State University, and Linda discussed the importance of STEM education in the classroom and some unique projects Linda’s students are working on! Linda is also one of four nation-wide finalists in the running for the National Teacher of
Missoula terminal project receives $6.7M federal boost as work advances
Construction of a new passenger terminal at Missoula International Airport received a welcome funding boost this week, landing $6.7 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. Announced by Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines and provided by the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, the funding will reduce the amount of debt incurred by the airport as it completes the first phase of its terminal project, valued at $67 million. “What it really means is less debt for the project,” Airport Director Cris Jensen told the Missoula Current on Friday. “It gets us close to the goal of moving into the next phase
Daines touts Medicare program at Belgrade meeting
Montana’s Republican Sen. Steve Daines sat with a group of seniors Friday morning between gym equipment in Belgrade to talk about tapping into care through private health plans backed by the government. A handful of people, selected to talk in advance, described access to places like The Gym of Belgrade through Medicare Advantage — plans offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. Much of the conversations doubled down on Daines’ support for the program that he said covers 50,000 Montanans. “The Medicare Advantage program ensures our seniors have access and, an important word, affordable, an important word, high-quality health
Montana U.S. Senator Daines Visits With Special Olympics Athlete of the Year
U.S. Senator Steve Daines recently met with Kandi Christophersen, the 2019 Montana Special Olympics Athlete of the Year from Billings. Kandi has competed in the Special Olympics for 22 years in over 10 different sports, including two trips to the national competition in 2006 and 2010! Montana Special Olympics CEO Rhonda McCarty was also in attendance. Together they shared stories of what makes Kandi such a fierce Special Olympics competitor. They also thanked Senator Daines for being such a strong supporter of the Montana Special Olympics.
Daines backs bill capping out-of-pocket costs in Medicare Part D
Sen. Steve Daines is supporting a bipartisan proposal brewing in the Senate Finance Committee that would cap annual out-of-pocket costs for seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D. The proposal, known as the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, has the support of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and the Trump administration. “I hear from seniors who are struggling with high, out-of-pocket costs when it comes to their prescription drugs,” Daines told Azar during a recent committee hearing. “I’m glad the administration voiced its support for such a proposal in the president’s budget. It’s an important policy that I’m going
Two Veterans Affairs clinics named after Montana veterans
BILLINGS, Mont. — Two Veterans Affairs clinics will now bear the names of World War II veterans, Benjamin Steele and Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow. The renaming came after legislation authored by U.S. Senator Steve Daines, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, and Congressman Greg Gianforte. “It’s so appropriate that we now have a facility that holds the names of Montana war heroes and its going to be a place where veterans can come and get healed,” says Congressman Gianforte. “It’s such a great made in Montana story — two Montana natives that went on and did heroic things in World War II,”