In The News

Sens. Perdue and Daines concluded a series of high-level meetings with senior Chinese government officials in Beijing, China.  Prior to the two senators’ trip, Sens. Daines and Perdue spoke with President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Perdue and Daines plan to brief President Trump when they return to the United States.  “Senator Daines and I traveled to China with one goal: to help reinforce President Trump’s efforts to level the playing field with all of our trading partners. We were there to emphasize that the President and his negotiating team have strong support from Congress,”

Republican Sens. Steve Daines of Montana and David Perdue of Georgia met Monday in Beijing with top Chinese legislator Li Zhanshu, according to the official state-run news agency for the People’s Republic of China. Li, chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), according to the news agency Xinhuanet, said history has proven that China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation and a healthy China-U.S. relationship meets the common interests of both countries and the world. He said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China

BILLINGS, Mont. — Senator Steve Daines is making a trip to China next week to represent Montana in trade negotiations.  Senator Daines says there is great potential for Montana Ag to break into the Chinese market. “With 95% of the world’s consumer’s outside of the United States, when you think about the future of Montana agriculture, it is in these export markets, says Senator Daines, “China represents a tremendous opportunity for Montana agriculture.  It’s the world’s second largest beef market.  Our ability to get access to that market — which we are able to get access now thanks to what

On Tuesday, dozens of people gathered on the Rocky Mountain Front to celebrate a new addition to Montana’s public lands. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation held a ceremony to mark the official opening of the Falls Creek property to the public. The foundation purchased the 442-acre property, just off Dearborn Canyon Road southwest of Augusta, and transferred it to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Leaders say the agreement permanently protects important wildlife habitat and provides much improved access to an additional 26,000 acres of public land beyond the property. “It’s one of those iconic things that I think the

A disembodied cockpit and set of screens at Helena’s Fire Training Center simulate the world’s most advanced fighter jet.  The Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II is a state-of-the-art aircraft intended for use by the United States military and by partners overseas. A stealth fighter, bomber and all-round world-beater, the F-35 is intended give America long-term air superiority. “I grew up under President Ronald Reagan and he always talked about ‘peace through strength,’” U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said. “This is a great example of the technology we need, the F-35, for air superiority.”  Sen. Daines and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte were in Helena

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines of Montana says he’s traveling to China next week to continue agricultural trade discussions. In 2017, Daines announced a tentative agreement with one of China’s largest retailers to import $200 million of beef raised by members of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. That effort has stalled amid the escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China. Daines said his trip is meant to bring Montana agriculture to the forefront of ongoing negotiations between the countries. He’ll be travelling with Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue of Georgia.  A spokeswoman says Daines supports President Donald

Sen. Steve Daines toured Montana’s northern border with Canada on Thursday and said he saw new technology and new methods being used to increase security.    Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials showed Daines the latest in aerial and terrestrial technologies — including small unmanned aircraft systems, ground sensors and autonomous towers.  They said these will help to better protect our border while enhancing the safety of the CBP.  “This is a great example of how we are using technology to be a force multiplier here for the men and women who serve protecting us at the northern border,” the Montana Republican said in a

MISSOULA — Fire officials are confident a wildfire north of Missoula will not grow significantly even though the weather is supposed to get hotter. However, they have a plan in place in case that does happen. Senator Steve Daines attended a briefing at the incident base on Wednesday to receive an update on firefighting progress and what to expect in the near future. “We’ve got excellent leadership working together. And consequently that combined with — we have had a few breaks here in the weather the rain that we had a few days ago — means that this fire could

While Congress is in recess, Sen. Steve Daines is traveling the state discussing topics from wildfires to the Endangered Species Act to gun violence. At Bridger Aerospace in Belgrade on Tuesday, Daines, a Bozeman Republican, spoke about a bill he plans to introduce this fall aimed at reducing wildfire risk. The legislation, which he will cosponsor with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, will include efforts like more aggressively thinning trees near roads and trails because he said most human-caused wildfires start within a half mile of roads or trails. “Either we need to better manage our forests or our